godismygoldfish on 8/2/2008 at 04:29
So this this Saturday I'm packing up my bags and leaving my fair Chicago. I'm heading out west for my final semester in film school, taking classes on a studio lot, then etching out a permanent place in the Big, Bad, LA.
I'v already done a crapload of research and gotten a whole bunch of suggestions, but I was wondering if any of you know any things I should be aware of or should keep in mind about the th' city.
P.S. The trailer for my festival-headed short film "A Death in Progress" will be going online very soon here: (
http://www.deathwrites.com)
Scots Taffer on 8/2/2008 at 04:37
off to hollywood to seek your fortune like many a young starlet
good luck
Ko0K on 8/2/2008 at 04:54
LA is a shit hole. Don't come here.
Ghostly Apparition on 8/2/2008 at 04:57
I hear south central is a good place to live.
Tocky on 8/2/2008 at 05:35
Don't forget to stare out at the sign from Griffith observatory and cry. Then you can say, "hey damn they shot that scene in terminator over there" and cry some more. Don't worry, it's a tradition. Break a leg.
aguywhoplaysthief on 8/2/2008 at 07:28
If you're coming from Chicago, pretty much anywhere else is a step upwards.
Fafhrd on 8/2/2008 at 07:30
You have to get reservations, like, three weeks in advance to go to Griffith.
Suggestion wise: The New Beverly Cinema may be your best friend, both because it's a damn good revival theatre (and the only place in LA that always shows double-bills), and it's a solid "meet the geek friendly industry types" place (Edgar Wright recently hosted a series there, and later this month Eli Roth is doing the same thing, and I know for a fact that Diablo Cody was at some of the Wright Stuff shows.)
The American Cinematheque theatres (The Egyptian in Hollywood, and The Aero in Santa Monica) are pretty cool, too. I've only been to each of them once, and I'm still kicking myself for missing Lawrence of Arabia in a new 70mm print at the Egyptian, and Tron in a new 70mm at the Aero.
Bar/Pub wise: My favourite place in Hollywood proper is The Cat & Fiddle Pub about two blocks west of the Arclight Cinema, it's fairly chill, and as the night goes on people tend to stumble out of the nearby clubs and head there for a couple more drinks, and you might have some luck picking up some 75% drunk club girls. In Woodland Hills I quite like The White Hart, but it may be outside of your travel radius, and other than having Fuller's in proper pull taps, there's not a massive ton to recommend it (a couple of cute bartenders, though).
And I'm sure you've already been told, but it bears reiterating: A car is pretty much essential. Especially, as I understand it, if you're working in film. It's possible to get around for errands and such with a combination of a bicycle and the Metro, but for everything else you pretty much need a car.
Ishtvan on 8/2/2008 at 10:01
It will take about one and a half hours to drive from anywhere to anywhere, regardless of what distance you're traveling or what time of day it is.
godismygoldfish on 8/2/2008 at 14:31
Thanks for the advice and info Fafhrd, I've already got a car and planned to have one since day one, so that won't be an issue. I'm in the midst of securing an apartment in Eagle Rock.
Tocky on 9/2/2008 at 03:20
Quote Posted by Fafhrd
You have to get reservations, like, three weeks in advance to go to Griffith.
When the hell did they start this shit? Last time I was there in 98 we walked straight through. It wasn't even crowded by the usual tourist standards. Somebody always has to screw up a good thing. On the other hand, Chris being a city planner, maybe there was some kind of eat me I'm special pass involved. That sucks.
I guess smartasses don't even change the sign to HOLLYWEED or HOLLYWEIRD anymore. I know they took down the old one that had the Toccopola Twins all listed on the back of the H. Damn it somebody is making everything suck and I'm gonna old man punch them in the mouth.
