A reader question from Alistair Kaley:

Do you think it’s worth aspiring screenwriters spending some time (like a year maybe) in LA?

Admittedly, my motivation has been low and my work irregular, but I also can’t help but feel that I’m somewhat handicapped by the fact that I live in the Middle East, and as such am completely out of touch with that industry and milieu. My first (and thus far only) completed script placed in the quarter- and semi-finals of about 5 different contests including the Nicholls, and I’m just wondering whether being in LA might afford me some opportunities to push it. What I’m thinking of is maybe signing up for the UCLA professional screenwriting program… I know it’s available online, but the point for me would be both spending time in LA, and being obliged to focus on producing two original scripts. Best of both worlds, or so it seems. I’d appreciate any feedback you can give me. This is still just an idea for me, with many, MANY logistical obstacles I’d have to deal with… My thanks for an amazing website and your invaluable guidance and advice.

Alistair, my first question to you is this: What is your goal? If it is to write and work within the Hollywood movie system, then there are significant advantages to spending at least some time in Los Angeles, everything from networking opportunities to meeting other writers to getting a good sense of how the filmmaking community operates.

I hear good things about the UCLA screenwriting program (I invite GITS readers who are more familiar with it to provide more feedback in comments) and anything that compels a writer to generate scripts is a good thing.

However if you are interested in working where you live, while a stint in L.A. could be an enjoyable and even helpful one, it’s certainly not necessary. It’s probably more important for you to develop story sensibilities that will help you craft scripts marketable for your country of origin.

Finally while there are benefits to spending time in L.A., the fact is you can be a screenwriter who works within the Hollywood system while not living there. So much of what a screenwriter does is in an office alone and you can do that anywhere. Notes meetings? Meetings with your reps? You can accomplish that virtually via teleconference or video conference. Yes, if you want to be active in the OWA (Open Writing Assignment) market, it behooves you to live in Southern California because you’ll need to take a lot of meetings. But there are plenty of writers who not only break into the film business while living outside L.A., they also sustain their careers, too.

Having lived in L.A. for 15 years, I can vouch for its uniqueness. There is no other place quite like it. And if you’re passionate about working in the film business, there’s a good case to be made for you to relocate at least for a few years. But is it absolutely necessary? No. And if you’re goal is to work outside the Hollywood system, there’s no need to live in L.A. at all. In fact, you stand a better chance of developing your own unique voice living elsewhere than L.A..

GITS readers, what’s your opinion? How about those of you who have relocated to L.A.? Have you found the move to be beneficial to your career in the entertainment business? Any advice for Alistair?



Comment Archive