LA or NYC for Film and TV acting?
Hello I live in NYC and have been back in forth about taking the leap to LA for 8 years!!! I hear two different stories, go for it, there is so much competition yet work out in LA, and I hear stay in NY keep building up the resume then go.
I am a female in my twenties, that studied in NYC acting conservatory and with Neighborhood playhouse instructors for years, have a decent resume from plays to tv and film built up. I also have a sitcom I created, 3 tv specs and 6 feature films I wrote, should I try out LA or continue to work and build up my resume in Nyc? It just doesn't seem like we have as much work.....
Atualizada:I also have an agent out in LA and a manager who is bi coastal that says I should be out there working.... hmmmmm
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
There is no right or wrong answer here but there are quite a few factors to consider, most of which are outside of your control. First, there is an increasing amount of TV shows and films that are choosing to shoot in NYC for budgetary and tax reasons. For the day player roles that build a resume those shows will typically cast out of NYC.
Second, no matter how built up your resume becomes in NYC, if you move to LA you will be starting over again at ground zero so to speak. The reason being is that there are already too many actors with very solid resumes for too few roles and you will have to build your relationships with casting directors and associates all over again. To my way of thinking, this is an argument for just making the move. The sooner you do it, the sooner you can begin building yourself in Los Angeles.
Third, keep your eye on the world economy and the talk of a SAG strike. A chain reaction of sorts is happening where a certain stature of actor or star if you will is saying yes to roles that a few years ago they would never even bother with. This has the effect of pushing everyone down the ladder. You do not have much defense against this except to build your finances up as much as possible to get yourself settled in LA and weather the financial downturn. It is my personal opinion however that SAG will fall well short of the 75% vote they need to authorize a strike.
Fourth, the writing that you do is excellent but beware that it distracts you from the acting. People in this industry are ALWAYS trying to place you in a box and the quicker they can do that, the quicker they can seek to marginalize you..in their minds at least. Los Angeles however is the where the studios are based, no matter that an actual project may shoot anywhere from Vancouver to Louisiana, this is where the meetings in the crab barrel take place.
Lastly, it has been my experience that the NYC folks who complain the loudest about Los Angeles have either never lived here, or simply couldn't succeed here so they go home (back to NYC) and b*tch and moan about LA.
stay on the east coast until you get a gig that brings you to the watress and waiters equity home LA LA land