Off To California: Any Ideas?

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Aw, I thought this was going to be more of a "I'm taking a vacation to california what should I do out there" Kind of thread. Those answers are simple, San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Disney Land, Knotts Berry Farm, Sight see Hollyweird, then head north for San Francisco for a few days, but be sure to stay away from Oakland.

The real thread though, like so many before me, stay the f away. Any preperation you think you got, you are unprepared. Hollywood sucks. Los Angeles sucks. Its super expensive and there are a million more little bright eyed kids exactly like you.

Or don't, I don't really care.

I think I'll be a bit luckier, in the fact that should I ever decide to take my talents to Hollywood, I actually have contacts in the business.

That said, I'd still say I'm happy that I'm giving myself a backup plan as well.

 

[Knight Rise]

My advice is much the same as the sensible advice already posted, don't go out there, you will be eaten alive.
At least give yourself a few years in your own backyard, making short films/videos, writing your own screenplays, getting better at acting in the local workshops or theatres.
Concentrate on your own screenplays, your own original ideas, there is not much point submitting speculative scripts for already existing characters, yeah, some spec scripts are picked up by studios, but I think it's rare.

Sure, do your fan fiction scripts, any kind of writing will help your writing skills, but don't just think up ideas of your own and put them on the backburner while you do your fan fiction, actually put a lot of your writing time into your own original scripts. If anything is going to get you anywhere it will be a good original script, because producers are always on the lookout for good scripts.

Just spend your time right now making yourself a better artist, as folk have said, making a showreel and a portfolio of scripts.

alright, thanks for the tip

I live in California(Culver City)and I have a few movie ideas,too.I need to find a good script writer and maybe if all goes well,they can be made into movies.

Knight Rider--a script needs to be real good,if anyone can make a movie out of it.

right, which is why ive been doing screenplays and such. this wasnt a "im going to be a huge success, what should i do?" thread. it was for ideas

There are literally millions of people in Hollywood trying to become actors, if you're serious about this, stay in your hometown and try to be the "big fish in a small pond". Meet people, volunteer in theaters, indie films, read books on everything industry related and basically completely immerse yourself in the industry there as best you can. Then hopefully you'll make some connections that will help you get your foot in the door in Hollywood. My .02.

Best of luck.

thanks!

This is essentially what I am doing.

cool

Awww, you're just a bright eyed kid with a dream in your heart, aren't you? Bless.

you arent taking me seriously, are you

Aw, I thought this was going to be more of a "I'm taking a vacation to california what should I do out there" Kind of thread. Those answers are simple, San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Disney Land, Knotts Berry Farm, Sight see Hollyweird, then head north for San Francisco for a few days, but be sure to stay away from Oakland.

The real thread though, like so many before me, stay the f away. Any preperation you think you got, you are unprepared. Hollywood sucks. Los Angeles sucks. Its super expensive and there are a million more little bright eyed kids exactly like you.

Or don't, I don't really care.

....i didnt say anything about being totally prepared. everyone missed the entire point of this thread

 

[Manic]

you arent taking me seriously, are you

Not really. But here's a Langston Hughes poem to cheer you up.



Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

 

[roach]

Before you do anything buy and read "How to make it in Hollywood" by Linda Buzzell. It details everything on what to do, where to go and even where to live.

Nothing wrong with going after your dreams but what separates the dreamers from the people who actually make it...is to make realistic plans. I am in film school right now and when I grad I will have a pretty first rate demo reel....and they tell us not to go to Hollywood without a plan...or at least several other people.

 

[Yurka]

This is essentially what I am doing.

Smart man

 

[Knight Rise]

Why does everyone keep thinking I'm just going to jump in and expect something? I'm making plans and practicing!

 

[roach]

Why does everyone keep thinking I'm just going to jump in and expect something? I'm making plans and practicing!

because from your post it made it seem as if you were just gonna jump on a plane/bus/pogo stick and go to Hollywood.

I'd be interested in hearing what your plans are.

 

[Knight Rise]

because from your post it made it seem as if you were just gonna jump on a plane/bus/pogo stick and go to Hollywood.

I'd be interested in hearing what your plans are.

Here's all I've got as of now

-Active performer at local theater
-Stand-Up Comedian at local music hall
-Took summer improv camp
-Took Theatre Arts I and II in high school
-Took Communication Systems, which allowed me to be under direction in a fan film called "Inevitable Pursuit for Sanity"
-Active reader, bought a whole bunch of different ones recently to expand my views in each genre and how a story is told
-Travel with camcorder and tripod in case I feel like practicing or grabbing something I might never see again
-Took Speech and Advanced English to expand my vocabulary and even learned Spanish and Italian in my spare time
-Enormous movie collection that allows me to study how an actor pertains to his character without copycating him
-Write screenplays for fun in spare time

Really, all im going to do is keep what I have now and slowly progress for a while until I feel the time is right

 

[roach]

Here's all I've got as of now

-Active performer at local theater
-Stand-Up Comedian at local music hall
-Took summer improv camp
-Took Theatre Arts I and II in high school
-Took Communication Systems, which allowed me to be under direction in a fan film called "Inevitable Pursuit for Sanity"
-Active reader, bought a whole bunch of different ones recently to expand my views in each genre and how a story is told
-Travel with camcorder and tripod in case I feel like practicing or grabbing something I might never see again
-Took Speech and Advanced English to expand my vocabulary and even learned Spanish and Italian in my spare time
-Enormous movie collection that allows me to study how an actor pertains to his character without copycating him
-Write screenplays for fun in spare time

Really, all im going to do is keep what I have now and slowly progress for a while until I feel the time is right

no im talking about your plans once in Holywood

 

[Knight Rise]

no im talking about your plans once in Holywood

I didn't say I was going straight to Hollywood, that's insane. I'm going to find a way to evolve my work to it's potential while still keeping myself set financially with a job that pays good

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Smart man

Thanks.

Currently studying theatre in college. Obviously performing in shows on campus. Currently acting in my first show off of campus in a community theatre. Getting good reviews on my acting, and making lots of connections. The director personally asked me to audition for her show. Will be getting experience with writing and directing next semester. In the process, I've also met people who are involved in the school's film department. I have taken some film media classes, including movie history, and more significant, a screenwriting class to learn how to write screenplays. I know some people locally who do films, though I haven't gotten involved in anything yet.

And at the same time, I'm also working towards getting my teaching certification, so if I never get my big Hollywood or Broadway break, I can at least fall back into teaching, and teach either theatre or writing (double minoring in education and writing), which would also be something I would enjoy doing if I never get to make all the big Hollywood blockbusters in my noggin'.

 

[Knight Rise]

Yet how you say you think you'll be a bit luckier than I will just makes you sound full of yourself a bit

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Yet how you say you think you'll be a bit luckier than I will just makes you sound full of yourself a bit

I wasn't trying to imply you specifically. Just in general.

I already have myself connections in the movie industry. What exactly that will mean, I don't know. It's not like I know Tom Rothman or something. But I do know people who work for movie studios.