While you might have been able to find rentals at those prices, chances are very high that they are not where you'd want to live. And a lot of low priced rentals are actually scams, especially if you find them someplace like craigslist. You should really set a budget at a reasonable amount of rent, honestly, ok 1 bedrooms in an ok area (nothing that nice) are $1200, singles are $900. You can probably find a 1 bedroom for $900 and a single for $700 in a not so great, but liveable, neighborhood. I would really check out specific addresses with someone local before considering renting those units, you don't want to come out here unprepared. Typically, rooms for rents in homes cost about the same as singles in the area, and there are usually a lot of rules and drama. Do the math and figure out all the scenarios. Consider looking for another part time job here, even if it's sweeping the floors at a comedy club, look for a job that can help you in your goals. (Jobs are hard to come by in LA right now, just so you know.)
You can't really be an actor without a car, you might have auditions in Culver City, Pasadena and LA in one day, almost impossible to do by bus. Our public transportation is bad! You could give it a try, but it's really a recipe for disaster. You'll need to use your super planning skills to make it work even for a short time.
How much training do you have? Kids out here have been in acting, singing, etc lessons since they were 5 yrs old. The teens in my son's class are extremely talented and work professionally (my son doesn't work, mean mom won't let him even though we're very well connected and he has been offered jobs, and he very likely won't act as a career). They've been homeschooled all their lives so they can audition, and they know people. The competition is very tough, and as ambitious as you are, some even more so. Only 5 percent of SAG members make more than $75,000 a year from acting (which isn't very much by LA standards), 2/3 of members make less than $1000 a year from acting.
Get as much time in front of the camera as you can, student films (college, film schools, even high schools) is a good way, everyone in LA is a film student. (My son has been making films since 5th grade, it's just what kids out here do.) Directors don't have time to teach on set, you need to know what you're doing. You can also see about getting some headshots done by photography students. They need photos for their portfolios, you need headshots. But get some professionally done headshots by a good photographer when you can afford it.
Be careful about signing with an agency. There are legit but scammy agents here. They will sign you and send you on auditions, but they're all cattle calls, auditions you could have found yourself. Then they take a percentage even though they haven't really done any work for you. Do your research.
You're a good looking kid, and an Aries, so you're probably not going to ';listen'; to what I'm telling you. = ) But please do. I can see you have confidence, but the best advice I can give you as someone who really knows, listen to people who may be in the know. Always listen. And if they tell you something much different from what you think, give it consideration, check it out. But that's how you learn. Sometimes you might not realize who you are listening to, and how it can change your life.
Good luck to you!
No comments:
Post a Comment