Is it really necessary to move to LA?

[No longer here]

I keep hearing/reading that in order to be a screenwriter you have to move to LA. Does that mean that no agent will work with me if I live elsewhere? Or that no one will option it if I live elsewhere? At what point is it really necessary to move?

[icerose]

I've been working to break in for the last several years. I have had minor successes. I've been asked several times why I haven't taken the next step in my career and moved to LA. I've been asked by some pretty large production companies as well as agencies to call them for a meeting when I do move to town. Until then they won't work with me. The biggest obstacle is I can't come to meetings at the drop of hat. And we're not talking small fish either. We're talking lionsgate and sony entertainment.

Due to current life circumstances that isn't possible for. So I'm left with stepping up my writing enough to where location doesn't seem like such a big deal. But it still means that I'll be left out of the later steps of development due to my location even if I do become a hard to ignore writer.

I'd suggest getting some small work. Prove to yourself and others that you are worth being paid. That your worth is valuable, and then make the move. But that's just me personally from a person who may not ever make it to the next level due to not being able to make that move.

Is it important early in the career? In my experience, yes. Is it impossible to break in from the outside. No, but it sure is one heck of a battle.

[leahzero]

Let me just say that that is one awesome username, NeverEatZombiePork.

[Verbal]

I think "Necessary" is a touch on the heavy-handed side. If your material is great enough, it will rise to the top and eventually get made, as long as you go the extra mile to make sure your stuff is getting read in L.A. I optioned a script to an L.A. company while in NYC. We did all of our development work by phone, and honestly, it wouldn't have matter if I would've lived in the far reaches of Anchorage, Alaska.

But here's the thing. I DID move to L.A. just recently and have been doin' the screenplay hustle since I got here. To date, here's what I have to report:

-The first week I moved here, I met an art director for "Inception" who invited me down to the set of the new movie he was working on starring Brad Pitt ("Moneyball"). He introduced me all around the set as a writer. Needless to say, I was in heaven.

-I joined a screenwriters' group with a guy who's a reader.

-One of the dads in my daughter's school writes for a drama on Fox.

-In the screenwriter group, I met a guy who is a stunt supervisor who wants to get his script made. We became chums, and he's invited me down to the set of the TV show he works on.

-Just today, I found out that yet another guy that I met wants to pay me to write a TV pilot based on the sample teaser I wrote for him. Craig's List is very vibrant here, although you still have to be extremely careful whom you throw in with. And by the way, the first thing he asked me was, "Do you live in L.A.?"

All this is not to say that I'm now on my way or anything. But rather, none of these things would've happened had I not lived here. And don't forget, I've been here a little over a month.

I say, you don't need to live here. But it sure as hell makes breaking into Hollywood a whole lot easier.

[Verbal]

My intention is to move at some point. I'm just trying to figure out if I should forget about finding representation in my current situation or if it's still worthwhile. Should I just focus on writing until I can move? I don't want to waste my time if agents are going to be really wary about working with me because of my location.

No need to give up looking for an agent. It's not impossible. I've gone through three agents who were located in Los Angeles, and that was when I lived in NYC (one when I lived in Hoboken, NJ!).

The writing is the thing. Write a great story and things will happen for you. Maybe not as quickly as you'd like (it never is), but you'll get rollin'.

Write a great story and move to Los Angeles... they may just happen a little quicker.

[WMcQuaig]

From what I have been told from a producer friend...

(This is solely his experience take it for what you will.)

He was explaining to me that you can only grow and do so much from where you live before you get to that point when it becomes necessary to move. He went on to further explain that getting an agent as (solely) a writer is very difficult. He knows writers in NY who have been very well published and produced who can't even buy an agent.

Like I said, take it for what you will. I'm taking it in the way of saying that it is very difficult to get noticed even when your there. So it's going to be an uphill battle the whole way (if your there or not).

[clockwork]

Further reading.... some more relevant than others, but all interesting.

Moving to L.A. to Pursue Screen (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179406)writing (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179406)

"When you come to LA..." (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173810)

Moving to Hollywood. Good or bad idea? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106861)

Working in Hollywood...from clear across the country? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81479)

Hollywood here I come... (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70530)

Do you have to be in Hollywood to succeed? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69791)

Where do all you screenwriters live? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45467)

Is it even worth it? (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37953)

[Stijn Hommes]

I've been working to break in for the last several years. I have had minor successes. I've been asked several times why I haven't taken the next step in my career and moved to LA. I've been asked by some pretty large production companies as well as agencies to call them for a meeting when I do move to town. Until then they won't work with me. That is incredibly depressing. You would expect that with online meeting software and instant email delivery, they'd do away with such requirements. Nowadays you can be reached anywhere in the world almost instantly without travelling as much as a mile.

[icerose]

That is incredibly depressing. You would expect that with online meeting software and instant email delivery, they'd do away with such requirements. Nowadays you can be reached anywhere in the world almost instantly without travelling as much as a mile.

I agree, when I heard that I was ready to quit the business because I simply can't move right now. They wanted me in weekly development meetings and had three features lined up for me. Heck, if it had been every other week I would have made arrangements to be there and told them so but it still wasn't enough. They wanted me to be able to come in on an hours notice. Maybe someday in the future I'll be able to move and make that next step, until then I have to deal with that long quiet pause as they realize I am not within an hour of their office and the painful rejection over my zipcode.

[John Marlow]

It depends on what you're selling. If it's a spec script, no one gives a rip where you live; it sells or it doesn't, and you don't generally take meetings with prospective buyers. No rep is going to say, "Gee, this guy lives in Milwaukee, I think I'll pass up my hundred-grand commission."

If, on the other hand, you want to get assignment work (which is most of the work in HW), you'd better live here or appear to live nearby. (An LA-area phone number and the ability to get here on short notice will suffice.)

If you live elsewhere and come here for meetings, schedule them in clusters--several per day if possible--because cancellations and changes are common, and you don't want to waste a trip.

As to making contacts, you can to a certain extent do that online--but nothing beats being here.

[WriteKnight]

For what it's worth - I've just finished attending the Austin Film Festival - where this was probably the most asked question on any of the panels and round tables. The answer from Agents, Producers, Screenwriters and Managers.

"It's where the work is."

Meaning - you increase your chances by being in LA.

I also sat in on a discussion late one night, where a prominent Dev Exec said - "Look, it comes down to this... are you willing to drop everything and go starve for six months or a year? Cause honestly, if you PUT yourself in that position - if you MAKE THE COMMITMENT - then you have to take your work seriously." - I'm not sure I agree with his assessment - that's the strategy HE took to get where he is - but I understand his point of making the commitment - taking the leap of faith - 'cause there are a thousand folks doing that every week.

Simple numbers game. And yes, if you're looking to work in Television - it's expected you live there.

Now then, does that mean you HAVE to? No. And a couple of good points were made in the panels. DON'T go until you have a BODY of work. At least three really good scripts. Really good meaning top contest placement and wins... or coverage from credible reps. (And they all only recognized about four of the contests as 'worthy' of mention).

You CAN 'break in' from outside - but plan on going to LA for meetings. Plan a couple of trips a year if you can, for several days - and book them full of meetings. IF you're talking with someone on the phone, simply mention "I'm coming to LA next week - I can book a meeting with you now..." THEN book a flight when they say yeah... Can you afford a spontaneous flight to LA and hotel costs? That's another thing you have to consider.

I live in San Francisco - and they seemed to think that was 'doable' - you know, I can be there in an hour on a shuttle flight. I go down to LA on a regular basis - so I'm comfortable - for the moment - with being where I am.

I can tell you, that getting FACE time with people you want to read your scripts is incredibly valuable. I think that's probably the best thing that came out of the Austin Film Festival for me, sitting and TALKING with Development Execs,Producers, Writers, Managers, Agents (not just about film, but food - travel - you know, getting to 'know' someone...) and THEN asking if you can send them an email or query. Invaluable experience.

The Industry is fueled by 'schmooze' - very very hard to schmooze long distance.