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So my wife and I are looking for a change in our lives. Since going through immigration hell for the last year and a half, we are currently living in a small town an hour from Kansas City, Missouri. I arrived/was reunited with my wife in June 2013 and we are now ready to commit to a big move.
I am currently pursuing a career in acting and writing. While acting is the main priority, I focus my spare time on writing for the stage or screen. I would like to start doing more TV/Film acting, as I have done a great deal of theatre in the past. My wife is a student co-ordinator for a university and looking to have a similar position in a bigger university/college.
The main question is- out of NYC, LA, or Chicago, which would be ideally suited for our first move?
Some points to mention:
1) I am originally from the UK, and have hardly driven in the US since arriving to the US in June 2013.
2) My acting resume is a work-in-progress. I have few professional credits, so hoping this new area would help build it up!
3) My wife has reservations about the lack of public transport in LA- doesn't want to spend her life in a car!
4) We have about $30,000 in savings for the move.
5) I have concerns about lack of TV/Film opportunities in the Chicago...hoping can clear that up.
The fourth option is to move into the heart of Kansas City! But my concern there is having the lack of opportunities that the other cities would offer.
I worked with many creative people at a former advertising job. All of the ones who are doing really well--one writer for 30 Rock; one writer for The Mentalist--moved to Los Angeles. Another writer buddy moved to L.A. as well and is having successful albeit not on the level described above. The guys doing well in New York City act in commercials and do voiceover work. I don't know anyone who moved to Chicago.
From the little I know, and my experience with these people, New York City is the place to be for theater, advertising and modeling. Los Angeles is the place to be for anything TV or film-related.
You would certainly need to drive everywhere in Kansas City. I can't imagine there would be much outside of regional theater.
If you really want to write for movies and TV, then LA is what you want. Many shows are written in LA or produced out of LA even if they are filmed in NY. NY is better for theater, broadcast journalism, commercials, Indie films. There are TV talk/comedy shows produced in NYC that need writers. Chicago has Second City if you are into comedy writing and acting. You need to find yourself an agent. Neither NY or LA are as expensive as London, but NY is definitely higher than LA or Chicago.
If you want to be a screen actor, you really need to reside in the LA area, the epicenter of the entertainment industry. You have to be available on short notice to answer "casting calls." These auditions are not only for major motion pictures but also for TV dramas/sitcoms, commercials and "voice overs."
There are a huge number of aspiring screen and TV writers and you don't have to live in LA to be successful, but it's easier to pitch a story to a producer or agent if you live closeby. The chance of anyone's breaking into the big time in screen acting or writing is very small, but you've got to give it a try.
There are many more job opportunities "behind the camera," offering steadier work. Just look at the credits at the end of a movie and you'll see literally hundreds of names. Good Luck.
Depends on what you are looking for in life. I have known people that came out of the Chicago theater scene and said it was great as an artist. Chicago does have over 300 storefront theaters and tons of regional theaters. The only issue is majority of the theater work in Chicago doesn't pay unless your working for big theaters like Steppenwolf or Goodman. Chicago is a affordable town. For a decent place in Chicago your looking around $1,000/month. North of Chicago have some good areas.
The theater scene in New York has tons of musicals and some plays here and there. New York theater has become very commercialized and has tons of musicals. Majority of the roles that are on Broadway or off-broadway are given to celebrities first. I'm not saying there is no opportunity in New York, by all means, there is tons of Off-off broadway and regional theaters that come to New York to help out the unknown artists. Majority of the plays that are being done are coming from Hollywood. Due to the economy majority of the producers are picking celebrities so they can surpass their budget for the musical or play. New York is twice as expensive as Los Angeles. Los Angeles is congested and expensive as well. Hollywood is more of a business and networking town. If you want to be a writer, you really should start networking. Start writing now and submitting them for pilot season in January.
Los Angeles you will need a car, insurance, gas etc. A good place to live in Los Angeles is the South Bay, Culver City, Torrance, etc. For a decent place in Los Angeles your looking at 1100-1400 a month. Or you can check out Northridge, Van Nuys or further away north of Hollywood.
Best of luck.
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