Filmmaking / Directing : La???? by Don Zorbas

The filmmaking industry spreading all over the nation. Production costs in Southern California is in the process driving the industry to other locations/states - so I don't think you need to be in LA so much anymore. But you do have to find the up-n-coming film centers. You're in Chicago - you should find some activity there.

You can do things via computer now (even take meetings) so create where you are & move to LA when you have a deal.

Face to face is the only way to go - even in these computer driven times. My advice is to prowl locally; although if you're in a dinky little market such as I, you may have to widen your search. I've been in LA - no one could ever pay me enough to actually live there.

Industry Professionals who live in LA work much more than people that live outside of LA. AND the most important thing about living here is making contacts which means that this is the best place for that. Good luck!

Working in Atlanta has given me access to above-the-line folks as well as highly talented below-the-line crew at a fraction of the rent I'd pay in LA. Not to knock LA, but I feel like Atlanta has provided me NUMEROUS opportunities and I feel highly confident in my career-trajectory. Just a thought from someone in an incentive driven market.

James - you got factual, verifiable stats to back that up or you jus' speculating?

Justin yeah, Atlanta is coming on strong as is Austen, New York, Chicago, Toronto and Vancouver and Seattle/Portland are sputtering to life - as are a lot of areas around the country. Except for its very costly giant sound stages, LA has pretty much gotten to expensive.

Sadly I am not making this up. I have witnessed for myself careers lose traction after people moved out of town. We're talking about people still trying to make a name. If you're a big name, you can live in Sri Lanka if you want to. There is a degree of snobishness where even a move to San Diego is viewed as not being committed or serious enough.

Out of curiosity, what do you mean by losing traction?

Last year - maybe year before - the Mayor of LA declared an emergency due to the ever shrinking local movie industry jobs. I think he was just fishing for some federal funds to refill the coffers as the jobs drifted away. Yeah, let's FEMAtize the LA film Industry!

The reasons for the industry diaspora has much more to do with greed, graft and producer payola tax kick-backs than the costs of shooting in LA. Costs and rates in LA have changed very little in many years.

Breaking in depends on what you want to do. Now days independent film work is a great way of getting yourself and your work seen by a lot of eyes. Directors and writers would especially have an easier time just making their own stuff and hoping the right people see it than flying out to LA and getting settled in. Too many gates to go through in Hollywood so it's just better to blow them away with your work than to try and convince them you're worth hiring for a job. Show them you can already do the job and it's tougher for them to argue against it. The important thing is to work. Keep making movies, score a staring role in an indie flick that's heading to the festival circuit. Still no guarantees, but better than trying to con your way through the gatekeepers.

And the best part is, you can do all of that from anywhere in the world.

I personally think there are many other areas that offer opportunities for filmmaking/acting. If you are interested in creating your own content, all you really need now are a decent camera and some ideas, some knowledge of editing, or friends who know how, and maybe a little cash to distribute out to festivals (some fests have a free submission fee). If you need access to actors and live in a small town, check with the local community theatre or college drama department, let them know you need actors or want to hold auditions. If it is acting you are interested in, there are many ways to gain experience without having to live in L.A. I've had opportunities in about 25 independent film projects and nearly all have been in the Michigan, Indiana, Illinois area. A site like this (stage 32) is a great place to search for auditions/job opportunities.

Andrew - So you recognize the industry's diasporic state in LA regardless of the causes; it does exist. The last rate book I had was from a couple of years back so I cannot comment much on current day-rates. It is very true that other states are offering incentives in an attempt to expand their economic base to include film/TV productions - we do here in Oregon and I know that some states are offering more than us.

For someone wanting to break into the film business, there are many more opportunities in a nation wide (let alone global) markets. The LA monopoly is crumbling; so no, you no longer must move to LA to break into the film/TV industry.

Doug - since I stated it was a diaspora that just might mean I recognize it, but to ignore the reasons something is happening is to be blind to the future path it will probably take. If the industry in a given area is only there because of graft and payola, then as soon as that stops the industry flees. Look at the industry in any state that used tax incentives to attract production and then stopped the payola. Takes about a week for the industry to leave. Destroying the dreams of many left behind.

That said, of course you can enter and stay in the industry anywhere in the world. Entry level positions; PAs, various assistants, directors, can and do happen anywhere. If, like the original poster, you have some experience then where will you find people to learn from, peers to work with, and most importantly, to learn what quality production is to advance your skills and career? That is a prime reason for moving to any one of a number of long time production centers around the world, the depth and scope of the knowledge available to you through working on various productions. Los Angeles is one of those centers. Crumbling? No, despite what some people like to tell themselves.

It's funny that you keep referring to a legal tax incentive that benefits many people on both sides as "graft and payola". I assume you're an LA resident? The general theme I've seen from LA seems to be bitterness towards tax incentive states, and yes if an eco-system isn't cultivated in tax incentive states it has no lasting effect. With that said, speaking for Atlanta, the next step is local content creation and financing, Tyler Perry and Will Packer represent the first generation of that transition, while Donald Glover appears to be firing the opening salvo for the second generation. Atlanta will never be New York or LA, but if tax incentives can be sustained through the development of an entire eco-system I think it's absolutely viable to carve out a piece of the market. But maybe I'm biased??

Hi Don, not necessarily. While it may help with getting actual face time with pros, I've been able to have a fairly decent freelance career in writing and animation from GA. In a tech global world, I don't think location is as limiting as it once was for writers.

Steer clear of the moors...

Look at states where the tax incentives were cancelled. How is their industry now? For graft and corruption ending in jail sentences look at Iowa about 10 years ago as a perfect example. Build anything based upon payola, graft and corruption and there is no firm basis for survival.

Certainly pictures can be anywhere. The "democratization" of the industry has illustrated that in the sheer volume of pictures being made. Start wherever you can, work hard to learn from others and develop skills, but decisions will need to be made along the way affecting what you do and where you do it, if the industry is to be a viable career and not a hobby. Life in the industry, as in all comedies, is all about timing.

Depends on what you do in the industry. It won't hurt to leave nearby if LA is your choice.

Thank you everyone!

As a writer - not so important as alice points out. But as a director I think it's important to be in L.A. to break in.

As far as film production goes - I'm pretty small potatoes. I've struggled for years trying to help local young folk develop their film chops - after going through six wannabe Directors in the past three years, along with countless wannabe Actors, DP's, Editors and others - I've given up. I finally realized that I'm surrounded by lots of retired young people who don't want the opportunities. After talking with my latest Director, we agree that we can't produce my little 10 minute short here - we're going to move it up to Portland. But Andrew, I have no intention/desire to move anywhere near the LA basin - I've been there and breathed my quota of brown air.

Doug - Being happy with where you live is very very important. People are amazingly adaptable in where they choose to live and why. I’ve shot on six continents, and regardless of where I go, I try to remember that there is something about the place that the people there love. I try to respect what they see and feel even though I may never fully understand it. I chose to move to Los Angeles. The industry side of being here has perks many do not think of, like rarely a week goes by without me being in a seminar, taking some course, or teaching one, to further my knowledge and skills. The opportunity to learn at the level I wish is just not possible in most other places. On those occasions when I shoot here it is always nicer to be home after a day on a set instead of going back to a hotel.

Sorry to hear that you are having trouble staffing shoots. I’m sure you have thought about why that is happening. Good luck on the next project.

Save your money and invest in a Sure Thing, Doug. ;)

Make your Oregon Project later.

Andrew - Yes I have a pretty good understanding about why it's not happening here - I live in a town where young people go to retire.