Stuck in New York{{1}} writes:
I am currently located in NY and want to move to LA. I have worked in post-production as a transcriber and assistant editor for 3 years on different reality shows and it stains my soul. I want to be in a writer’s room or have a position that writing is a part of my job like an associate producer or comedy writer.
What is your advice for a person who wants to break free from one role to another when their resume has them pigeonheld AND what is your advice to a person who wants to find a job before moving? Thanks in advance.
I don’t understand why you’d want to leave! New York would be a great city… if it weren’t for all the fucking New Yorkers.
Seriously, though, a real New Yorker can take a joke. I know, because they’ve all moved here to tell me how tough they are for having lived in New York, and how much better their pizza and bagels and tap water–for some inexplicable reason–are than anything you can find in L.A.
Anyway.
In terms of getting a job before you move here, it’s… probably not going to happen. You have to have a really special and unique skill if you want to expect someone to hire you from out of town. I’m not sure how difficult it is to find an experienced transcriber and assistant editor in L.A., but I’m gonna guess “not very.”
What’s worse is, you don’t even want to do that.
Don’t Look for a Job
The thing about writing is, you don’t actually need anyone’s permission to do it. You can just start writing and producing comedy, if you want.
You can make a web series or a short film or even a movie. What separates you from a kid in film school or someone dreaming Hollywood dreams in a small town in the middle of nowhere is this– you’ve actually done it already.
You’ve worked on professional shows. You know how it’s done. Plus, you know people who also know how it’s done. You have a network of experienced people all around you.
Gather your friends and put something together. If it’s funny and popular, people will be asking you to write for them, instead of you asking them.
If it’s not… oh, well. Try again next week.
Go West, Young Man or Possibly Woman
Moving to L.A. is a great idea. It really is the center of the entertainment industry. You’ll be in a position to make connections with decision makers who can help you reach your goals.
Just don’t quit your day job.
[[1]]Ooh, I feel like a romance advice column![[1]]
