What is the percentage of people who move to LA to make a career in Hollywood actually succeed?

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by UB50

If you go look at the Wikipedia entries for high schools around here (like the ones in Burbank or Sherman Oaks), you'll find long lists of alumni who are actors, etc. Just like post production, acting can be a "local" job.

Most of those names were people who got into the gig decades ago. Ever since the mid 2000s less and less Angelenos go into acting unless they just want to make some extra cash being an extra.

[UB50]

Originally Posted by wecaredalot

This thread is highlighting another thing I like about LA. Being in the industry is just another job for most people. I haven't heard anyone brag or treat entertainment as some holy kind of profession. Most folks are just like, "Yeah, I'm an actor/musician. What's your name?" Very straightforward and 'eh' about it. I like that

Heh. Years ago, I was in a bar and this woman started talking about her ex-husband. He was something like "the red Power Ranger" or the "Pink Ninja Turtle." (Never watched either show so I don't recall exactly what he was but it was something like that.) How weird is that? To live in a place where someone's actual profession is "the pink Power Ranger"?

Actually, I find a lot of people don't actually like to talk about it. And I usually don't ask except in the most general terms because I think it's considered rude around here.

[UB50]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Most of those names were people who got into the gig decades ago. Ever since the mid 2000s less and less Angelenos go into acting unless they just want to make some extra cash being an extra.

Younger people won't get their names on the list for another ten years. My best friend's kids all graduated from Burbank High and they are all involved in the biz in one way or another.

[s.lots]

I live in Burbank where a vast majority of the studios are and am surrounded by entertainment industry wannabees. Let's just say plenty work in the industry but your odds of becoming an a-lister are pretty damn low.

[hipcat]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Most of those names were people who got into the gig decades ago. Ever since the mid 2000s less and less Angelenos go into acting unless they just want to make some extra cash being an extra.

As someone who worked on various sets. Im one of the few natives who's working on the set. And alot of those natives tend to work as grips, editing, post production etc. Most of the wannabes who want to get famous in the industry come from s omewhere else.

[maximusa]

Originally Posted by s.lots

I live in Burbank where a vast majority of the studios are and am surrounded by entertainment industry wannabees. Let's just say plenty work in the industry but your odds of becoming an a-lister are pretty damn low.

So sounds like hitting it big, like an 'A lister', are about as rare a becoming a successful musical act. Although still difficult, less notoriety positions seem to be attainable however.

[misstania]

Any advice on networking and job searching for production jobs? Is online the best way to apply for jobs?

[bpeeps]

Originally Posted by misstania

Any advice on networking and job searching for production jobs? Is online the best way to apply for jobs?

I've found all of my post-production jobs online. No connections, no networking. Just having a really solid reel and lot of work experience. But if you're looking to break into production, it is much harder to do online, especially if you're out of state. Companies will throw out non-local address applications because there's a huge pool of people to pull from that are local. Networking in the industry is kind of a catch 22. The easiest way to network is by having a production job where you can meet people who have connections. But you can't really get a good job in production unless you know someone. Do you have any friends in the industry? Knowing people that work in production helps so you can attend events, screenings, film sets as their plus one and network.

Do you have any experience? Education? A speciality? Demo reel? Can you use a friend or family member's local address here to apply for jobs?

[SUPbud]

one-tenth of one percent,
the kind of 'success' you're thinking.

[misstania]

Originally Posted by bpeeps

I've found all of my post-production jobs online. No connections, no networking. Just having a really solid reel and lot of work experience. But if you're looking to break into production, it is much harder to do online, especially if you're out of state. Companies will throw out non-local address applications because there's a huge pool of people to pull from that are local. Networking in the industry is kind of a catch 22. The easiest way to network is by having a production job where you can meet people who have connections. But you can't really get a good job in production unless you know someone. Do you have any friends in the industry? Knowing people that work in production helps so you can attend events, screenings, film sets as their plus one and network.

Do you have any experience? Education? A speciality? Demo reel? Can you use a friend or family member's local address here to apply for jobs?

I do have a few friends in the industry; one friend is getting great work in post. Unfortunately he is out of state for his current project.

I did a concentration at my uni for film and have worked on plenty of local productions in my city. My demo reel is bare because I do not want to pursue acting, nor would I have an editing reel. I am most interested in learning about assistant directing, which I was advised the path begins at PA (production assistant, lowest rung of ladder).