Anything I'm forgetting? (Burbank, Culver City, Westwood: apartment, health insurance, taxes)

[Dean Trails]

Originally Posted by timelesschild

Let's see... You left out "LA is so fake, anti-intellectual, materialistic, superficial, etc., etc." and "California is going to fall into the ocean." <eye rolling icon goes here>

LOL don't worry. The only negative I have experienced is the traffic. You'll be fine.

Don't forget the Earthquakes!!! They are everywhere! There are more earthquakes than gangs!! Forget the Crips and the Bloods.......Beware of the Rock and the Roll!

[Wolfman89]

Originally Posted by Charles

You have a pretty good assessment of what it is like. Did you analyze housing costs, near where you may be working?

Yes and was shocked to find that they are fairly low compared to what I anticipated.


i calculated everything I felt needed to be calculated adn I can definitly afford a house near where I would be working.

[Wolfman89]

Originally Posted by Mike121

The one real negative in moving to LA is making friends. People in LA (or any big American city) are friendly enough but probably aren't looking to make new friends. The way to get around this is to hang out with people that are also new to LA, and thus are also looking to make friends.

I'm not to worried about that. With things like Myspace it is quite easy to find friends in any area and expand to meeting them in person.

[POhdNcrzy]

Put simply, if you make less than about 60k in LA your life is gonna severely stink.

YES, YES, I know there are exceptions, and perhaps this fact shouldn't stop people from chasing their dreams.

But it's good to have a grasp of this reality. Once you hit LA, that reality is gonna be slapping you in the face all day and night. So at least consider this please.

The big thing for you is likely to be: What is gonna tide you over financially until you get the film industry work bringing in steady dough. (That could take many months to make happen.)

Overall, I like your attitude, it will help in LA. Don't be overconfident though, the place is daunting.

[Wolfman89]

I'm going to try to secure some kind of work before I even get there and I've already calculated living expenses fairly well.

The degree I'm getting sets me up with a lot of differant skills including camera operations, lighting, editing and cinematography.

I'm not going to be picky..whichever job that comes along first and pays well..I'm taking.

LA has everything I want and need.

It has the film and television industry which will offer the most oppurtunities for someone in my field.

A nightlife, a beach, diversity, a fast pace(faster than mid sized pennsylvania city anyway), warm weather, palm trees(I refuse to move somewhere that doesn't have palm trees) and new experiances.

[canttakeitanymore]

This is very true about making friends. Join some kind of groups or something where people meet on a regualr basis and you can really get to know people otherwise it's hard. This city is soooo spread out too, so it's even hard to hang with people you work with because everyone lives somewhere that is probably not close to you and that makes it harder to plan things with people from work.

LA DOES have a lot of gangs so you want to be sure you're not living in a bad area. We have a very high population of Latino's so they are primarily the gangsters. I don't feel safe walking anywhere at night alone and I live in a very good neigborhood but I am also a woman.

[KnoxTown]

Originally Posted by POhdNcrzy

Put simply, if you make less than about 60k in LA your life is gonna severely stink.

YES, YES, I know there are exceptions, and perhaps this fact shouldn't stop people from chasing their dreams.

But it's good to have a grasp of this reality. Once you hit LA, that reality is gonna be slapping you in the face all day and night. So at least consider this please.

The big thing for you is likely to be: What is gonna tide you over financially until you get the film industry work bringing in steady dough. (That could take many months to make happen.)

Overall, I like your attitude, it will help in LA. Don't be overconfident though, the place is daunting.

Wrong in soo many ways.

[Wolfman89]

Originally Posted by canttakeitanymore

This is very true about making friends. Join some kind of groups or something where people meet on a regualr basis and you can really get to know people otherwise it's hard. This city is soooo spread out too, so it's even hard to hang with people you work with because everyone lives somewhere that is probably not close to you and that makes it harder to plan things with people from work.

LA DOES have a lot of gangs so you want to be sure you're not living in a bad area. We have a very high population of Latino's so they are primarily the gangsters. I don't feel safe walking anywhere at night alone and I live in a very good neigborhood but I am also a woman.

I'm moving out there with a room mate so I'll have someone. There are people everywhere..chances are I'll find someone worth being around..and I'm not really someone who needs 5000 friends..4 or 5 good ones would be preferable.


I have looked in to the gang problem..they seem primarily to the south, center and east. So I'm looking to move north or west.

I'm from Reading,PA which is about smack dab between Philly, Camden, NYC, DC and Baltimore..so I'm used to gangs. We are the 25th most dangerous city in the coutry. I've learned that as long as you know what your doing you should be fine. I have some friends and aquaintances who are Bloods so I know the gang deal/routine..

I do not know why I would walk anywhere in LA anyway...except maybe going for like a stroll in the day time in santa monica or hollywood.

[impala666]

Two half's of Larger and a pint of Reality please.
Sorry to “burst the bubble” and I hope I'm wrong for your sake but at this moment in time I don't know anyone who would take a “new starter” with no track record into the Film/Tv business without a personal recommendation from a close friend,thats just the way it works.
With the exception of very cute girls and boys,but thats another story and they never expect to see a production set!!
Expect to spend a year making contacts,get your face known for whatever reasons, go everywhere you can get into,go to places you can't,talk to everyone about everything except Film/Tv.
Then maybe and only maybe you might get a break.
Good Luck.

[Wolfman89]

I know how it works.

I've looked in to it.


knowing people is everything.

I'm going to get some contacts and a descent resume together before I even look out there.