Film related questions for Aussie moving to L.A. (Los Angeles: theater, schools)

[Jnr_Pablo]

Hi All,

I'm being granted a 12 month visa to work in the US with my girlfriend and we are packing it all up from Australia to see what's out there in L.A. We're heavily into film and will be, like everyone else, trying to get our foot in the door, but at the same time explore and absorb American culture / people. I've looked at a lot of threads in this forum which have been a valuable resource. The advice the members in the forum has also helped to offset some naivety, a side effect of the inevitable day-dreaming.

Some questions:

1. Besides universities and film schools, are there 'film communities' or collectives whereby one can meet other enthusiasts? Are many people making films independently (short / feature)?
2. Are there many indie cinemas, if so, where?
3. Are there institutions where they offer film related workshops / short courses? (as opposed to certs / diplomas / degrees).
4. The best areas to live in for film (indie and studios). Also I mean arts wise too, vibe is important..

That's it for now, looking forward to being there!

[Lumerian Feast]

You might want to check out the Echo Park Film Center. Geared towards indie/no-budget microcinema. They have events, some classes, etc. Their links page could also point you in some good directions.

[TrueDat]

There are lots of places to see indie/foreign films in LA, including:

The Laemmle chain, with several locations:
::: Welcome to Laemmle Theatres :::

American Cinematheque: American Cinematheque Los Angeles

And the Landmark Theaters:

Landmark - Los Angeles