When Should You Move to Los Angeles?

Sooner or later

Jennifer asks:

I am relatively new to this industry/trying to get my foot in the door. I have a BA in Film and Media Arts from Temple University and past internship experience, but I am really struggling to fully immerse myself in the industry full-time.

My biggest hurdle is location, as I don't live in LA or NYC. I know LA has the most viable opportunities and it is where all of my professors said I needed to be. Moving to LA is a huge step for me because it would mean literally moving all the way across the country, which I am reluctant to do without the safety-net of a secured job. I am more than willing to relocate, and if I just need to bite the bullet and move without a guaranteed job I will, I just figured I should consult with people who were once in a similar situation.

This is a question that anyone born outside of Los Angeles county has to face. In some ways, the answer is unique to each person; but there are some general pieces of advice I can offer.

First, Save Up

I know you’re super excited to begin your career, but it’s not like the old days, where you could just show up on a studio lot with grit and gumption, and someone would offer you a job. You’re going to struggle for a while, trying to find work, a place to stay, and most importantly, friends. All of these are going to be necessary, and they all take time.

The standard rule of thumb is to save up enough to live on for six months. That includes enough for—rent, car, car insurance, food (groceries and eating out/drinking to network), phone bill, electrical bill, cable/internet. And in addition to that buffer, you’ll also have upfront costs, like buying furniture, rental deposit, purchasing an appropriate wardrobe (if you don’t have one), and any tools you’ll be using on the job.

Then again, in just the last decade, we’ve had a pandemic, strikes, the most damaging fires ever, and just a general contraction in the industry. Saving up a year’s worth of costs would be preferable.

Get a Car

You may be used to getting around via ride share, or even public transportation where you’re from, but in LA, you need a car. Period.

Along with a car, you’ll need insurance. But following up on the previous section, don’t neglect maintenance. It’s not enough to fill your tank and go to the car wash every once in a while. Get an oil change ever six months, and a tune up at least every year. If you’re buying a used car, remember that tires only last 6-10 years, and most cares run out of warranty after a decade.

Be Careful Where (And with Whom) You Live

Here’s some advice no one else will give you: find a place in the Valley. It’s quieter, cheaper, and you’re more likely to live close to the studio than if you live over the hill in LA proper.¹

And everything is more affordable if you have a roommate, including rent, utilities, and even food, if you can make that kind of arrangement.

If you’re going to have a roommate or two, I also strongly recommend moving here together. Moving in with someone on the same day you meet them is quite the gamble. You’re more likely to share common values, habits, and tastes with someone from your hometown or an old college classmate.

A spouse or life-partner would be ideal, of course. Especially one who doesn’t work in the entertainment industry (but that’s a post for another day).

Something You’re Not Likely to Have

Don’t bother trying to find a job before you move here. It’s not going to happen, unless you have an extremely solid connection. When someone is hiring PA’s or assistants, they need them right now. They’re not going to wait for you to pack your bags and move cross country.

To bring it around full circle, this is why I suggested saving up—you’re going to be living off of those savings for a while. Life’s going to be unstable for a while. The industry is going to be unstable for a while.

Sooner or Later

So, when should you move? When you’re prepared and comfortable. What you can’t do is wait until everything is guaranteed, because then you’ll never move at all.

1. Not that the Valley isn’t “really” LA; nearly half the population lives there. It’s not really a suburb anymore, so much as the north half of the city.