Does Portland have sufficient media jobs (TV, Film, Publishing, Print, ect) for a newbie? (rent)

[scottyb]

Hi,

I am thinking of moving out of my state to a place where I have a better chance to make it in my field. I have experience with television/film production and writing/literature study from my time at college. I have a B.A. in English and a B.A. in Telecommunications.

I may get an M.A. in English with a Creative Writing concentration before I move, but I have to see how things go this Fall. I was going to move to D.C. this year to do an MFA in Film and Media, but I had to defer for a year for personal reasons.

I would like to work in media of some kind. I don't have any real world experience, besides what I did in school. I do have one short-story published, but that isn't much.

For the last two years, I have been substitute teaching and staying with my parents. I can't do that anymore. I would like to work in anything media related, and would work for a sort of low wage. But I would prefer to do something with creative writing or working in television. I am willing to do unpaid internships at maybe 10 - 15 hours per week with a full-time job on the side, or a full-time internship that is paid. I can probably live off $12 - $15 an hour depending on the rent costs. But if I could get some work in a related field full-time, that would be great.

I need to know if the Portland area is a good place to move for someone in my situation to get started in media production, and if I could find work with my background if things weren't working out in media production. I don't want to serve food or substitute teach again.

I also would like suggestions on where I should look to live. I would prefer to get to work in under 45 minutes. Although, I would like to be in an area that has a small city or a non-congested feeling.

I have lived in rural Michigan for most of my life, but spent four years near our capital city during college. I enjoyed city life a lot more, but we only have (according to Wiki) 454,044 people in the metro area of the capital. However, I was outside of the city in a smaller suburb town of the metro (approx. 46,525 people) during my stay.

For reference, the town I am currently living near has a population of 721 people. It is killing me inside. I actually have to drive 75 miles to watch an 'R' rated movie and do shopping in real department stores. Though, I do like to get out into nature every once in a while and would continue to do so once in Oregon. I would want to do some bicycling while living in Portland as well.

Thanks.