LIFE IN LOS ANGELES

HOW TO CONTACT AN ALUM TO ASK FOR WORK...

2011-09-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

Here is some advice form a UCF alum on how to write a letter to an alum:

How to (and not to) write a letter to someone in Los Angeles asking for advice
by J. Chapman

Before I moved to Los Angeles, one of my professors gave me contact information for several alumni who were already living there. Meeting some of those contacts resulted in me getting my first job, as well as many subsequent jobs.

Emailing someone you don’t know can be stressful. How do you phrase your email without sounding like you’re just using them to get work, when, in actuality, you’re using them to get work?

Being employed in Hollywood is all about who you know. Relatively speaking, though, meeting people is the easy part—if you know how to get in touch with them. Let me share an email I recently got from a fellow University of Central Florida alumna:

Hi Jesse,

I’m a recent graduate of UCF’s film program, and a good friend of [professor]. She sent me your contact information as one of her “all-stars” out in L.A. I just recently moved out west, and am looking for any P.A. work. If you, or anyone you know needs help with any projects, definitely let me know.

Thanks so much.

This is a good example. Of what not to do.

To contrast, there’s another email I recently received:

Hello Jesse,

I’m a fellow UCF graduate that is moving out to the Los Angeles area. I graduated with a degree in television production and worked as a freelance production assistant in Orlando for the past year. If you are available, I would love to meet and buy you lunch or coffee to talk about work, Los Angeles and any other advice you may be willing to share.

I will be available to meet starting July 24th. You can e-mail me back at this address or call me at [phone number]. I understand if you are busy, but thanks for taking the time to read this e-mail.

The latter email is a clear and substantial improvement over the first email’s not-so-subtle “can you get me a job?” vibe.

Some pointers when constructing your own letter:

* Get to the point. Tell me why you’re writing in the first few lines of the email, if not the first line.
* Keep your emails short. There’s rarely a good reason to write more than 120 words.
* I love the line in the second email: “I understand if you are busy, but thanks for taking the time to read this e-mail.” This is reverse psychology at its finest. The person understands that I’m busy and appreciates that I’ve given their email my time and attention. I’m more inclined to meet with people who understand that my time is valuable.
* If you’re asking a stranger to meet with you and share their life experiences, the least you can do is offer to buy them lunch. “But Jesse, hold on! Moving is expensive,” you say, as you promptly throw down $50 for a night out on the town with your friends and eat out 7 nights a week. Moving is expensive. And part of the money you have set aside to move should be for networking as well. Besides, it’s just classy to offer, even if the person you’re meeting with doesn’t take you up on it.

Ultimately, people will likely meet with you if your letter is considerate. Why? Because in this industry, you are always looking to meet people who you can help, so they can one day return the favor. I was recently able to edit a short film for someone who recommended me to one of my first jobs. What went around, came around.

LIFE IN LOS ANGELES- CULTURE CULTURE CULTURE...

2010-04-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

Don’t ever forget that your life is not your work. You are young, and vibrant and in a big city. Take advantage. There are museums, theaters, restaurants, clubs, symphonies, galleries, concerts, great parks and trails, the ocean, the mountains…GO AND ENJOY THEM!!!! It is amazing to me how many people move across the country to California, and get so caught up in trying to make a living, they forget to live. If you are going to spend all that money, suffer the traffic, the rejections, the smog etc., then why not enjoy the good things? You will only be young once in your life. No mortgages to pay, no kids to feed…you are as free as you will ever be. So don’t waste it. Walk up a trail and see the top of a mountain…Drive up the coast…surf…join a club…get involved with “living” in LA…not just “working” in LA.

And please stay in touch with us here at UCF. We’ll always be happy to tell you what we know, what we think and help in any way we can.

TO DO IN LA:

Some haunts I have discovered over the years and frequent when in town:

FOOD

Breakfast-
-Hugo's on Santa Monica Blvd in W. Hollywood (try the pasta papa!),
-Larchmont Bungalow in Larchmont Village,
-Aroma Cafe on Tujunga in Studio City (excellent place to have a Breakfast Quesadilla and write).
..and then there's Kate Mantallini on Wilshire/Doheny for Sunday pancakes.
-Grub on Seward near Melrose Ave - alum M. Roca recommends. menu looks delsih!

Lunch-
-BLD on Beverly near Fairfax (excellent veggie burger),
Joan's on 3rd.- gourmet sandwiches salads, baked goods and more...and all of it amazingly good
-The Alcove on Hillhurst in Los Feliz.
-Jack N' Jill Too on 3rd St. near Cedars Sinai (good sandwiches and salads that won't break the bank)
-M Street Kitchen on Main Street in Santa Monica (excellent everything)
-Baby Blues BBQ in Venice Beach...nothing like ribs after surfing.

Dinner-
-Terroni on Beverly Blvd. (hip, delicious Italian)
-Hungry Cat on Vine (fresh seafood and fantastic drinks,)
-Mozza on corner of Melrose/La Brea Ave. (Mario Batalli pizza's are amazing and try the burrata!)
-Good Burger on Sunset and Vine (name says it all)
-Wasabi Sushi on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice
-The Library on Main Street in Santa Monica

Drinks-

-The Other Room on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice,

-Good Luck Bar or Ye Rustic Inn, both good dive bars on Hillhurst in Los Feliz

-Hemmingway's Lounge near Hollywood and Vine - have a daquiri...http://hemingwayslounge.com/

-The Falls Lounge (650 S. Spring St. LA 90014) - If you are downtown and need a cocktail.

http://www.thefallslounge.com/

Guilty Pleasures-
-Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles on Gower St. in Hollywood,
-Magnolia Bakery on 3rd St near La Cienega,
and of course,
-Pink's Hot Dogs on La Brea/Melrose (for a good chili dog and celebrity sightings at 2 a.m.)

...or he are some other classic "to do"options

-Bradbury Bldg. – very close to Grand Central market (where they shot Blade Runner)

-Chinatown – close to Union Station, the real thing.

-Grand Central Market – downtown, cool ethnic market

-Little Tokyo – 1^st and Alameda, close to Chinatown and Union Station

-Olvera Street – right across from Union Station

-Union Station -great old train station to walk around in. Have lunch nearby at Philippe’s French Dip, another historic haunt.

-La Brea Tar Pits: nice part of town, near the Art Museum and the George C. Page Archeology Museum

-Hollywood Blvd and the Mann’s Chinese: very touristy, cheap gifts, good people watching.

-Eat Dinner/have a drink at the Formosa Café: across street from the old United Artist Studios in West Hollywood, it’s a classic Hollywood bar, where the “greats” all ate. (You saw it in “LA Confidential”)- they’ve added on a hideous addition, but the original place is still there. On weekend nights you’ll likely see some young Hollywood stars and the fried rice ain’t half bad.

-Griffith Park: a huge park, lots of trails, take a drive or bike through it when you get a chance. The Gene Autry Western Museum is in there, and also very nice. The LA Zoo is there, Greek Theater is there, Train Museum…a great place to kill a weekend.

-Chavez Ravine/Dodger Stadium: Catch a Dodgers game. Have a Dodger Dog…not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

-The Getty Center- a fantastic museum up on a hill overlooking West LA. Stunning views, wonderful art

-The LACMA- another great museum…

-Hollywood Farmer’s Market: A great Saturday morning. Near Hollywood and Vine, it’s packed with produce and delicacies that blow the east coast farmer’s markets away!

-Cat N’ Fiddle: an Irish pub and restaurant on Sunset near Vine. It’s been a common hang for years and always a “last resort” when trying to figure out where to go for a beer.

-The Grove: West Hollywood's outdoor mall. Yes it's a mall ,but it's next to the Farmer's Market and there are movie theaters and restaurants and shops and blah blah blah

-Sunset Blvd. from the beach to Chinatown: drive from one end of Sunset Blvd. To the other. Start in Chinatown, take it all the way. Through the Thai area, the Strip, Beverly Hills, UCLA and the beach.

Rodeo Drive – if you must – in Beverly Hills

-Have lunch at Gladstone’s at the Beach. Very touristy, but hey, you’re a tourist- beer, clam chowder and all the peanuts you can eat, right on the water. Last time I was there I saw dolphins…but that may have just been from all the cocktails.

-Venice Beach on the weekend, on the boardwalk (called “The Strand”) – quite the scene!

-Zuma Beach: take Pacific Coast Highway (the “PCH” or “US 1”) north past Malibu – beautiful beach

-Main Street: Santa Monica’s hip shopping district.

-3^rd Street Promenade: Santa Monica’s touristy shopping district

-The Pier in Santa Barbara: an hour north on the beautiful PCH. Eat some clam chowder and watch the boats...they even have sailboat rentals for you young Magellans..

-Take a Hollywood “Ghost” tour: cheesy but fun, they’ll show you all the classic Hollywood “haunts”. You can catch these on Hollywood and Highland- where Grauman’s Chinese Theater happens to be as well.

-Beachwood Canyon Ranch: an old ranch near the bottom of the Hollywood sign. You can rent horses and take a ride over the mountain.

-Lake Hollywood Reservoir: you can jog, walk around this picturesque water repository.

-Catch Marty and Elaine at the Dresden Room in Los Feliz: they are a hoot! (You can see both in the movie “Swingers”).

or go to the

MOVIES!!!!!

The American Cinemateque at the Egyptian Theater, in Hollywood or The Arclight Theaters at the “Cineramadome” are arguably the best places in LA to catch both first run, art-house and classic movies. And the Landmark Theaters at the Westside Pavilion Mall, have had a great makeover and are all about customer service and quality film watching...but check out the little old theaters as well. They are peppered around Wilshire Blvd. Westwood and Downtown LA.

LIFE IN LOS ANGELES- WORKING IN THE BIZ

2010-04-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

There’s no magic formula to getting a job. The sad fact is there are wayyyyyy more people looking for film work than there are jobs in Hollywood. And most of these people are “qualified”- meaning they have some sort of film school degree and some experience. Damn!

So “who you know” is the way in. Think about connections you have- family, friends, friends of family, alumni from schools, etc. There is no shame in asking for help. That is how they all got their break. Don’t act desperate, don’t lie or backstab. It will come back to haunt you. Don’t be arrogant. Fetching coffee and sweeping stages is not beneath you. You are at the bottom rung of the LA workforce. Unless you are the son/daughter of a studio head, mega-agent or superstar, you will have to pay your dues. I P.A.-ed, worked in mailrooms, sold Timberland Boots and jackets, house-sat, installed insulation, did house carpentry, walked dogs and bartended. Best education I ever had. I met the people who years later got me my first Industry job, my current agent, bought my first script, helped finance my thesis film etc.

Things you will need to find work:

-Resume- one page, easy to read, up to date. Don’t lie. The people reading these things know the business better than you do and can smell bullshit on the page. Most of these are now online. And websites are common. Make sure they are clean, simple to navigate, professional and fast.

-Letters of Recommendation- these might help depending on who they are from, and what job you are going for. Often they will mean nothing. If you have one, use it, but don’t expect it to open many doors.

-Reels: Mostly for DP’s, editors, actors and directors. Make sure they are brief, professional and exciting/interesting to watch. Include a complete scene as well as the usual music video beauty shots version…try to look at reels of people who work. Copy them. They are working for a reason.

-Good Attitude- Be positive, be professional. Arrogance is not an asset. No one cares that you won the Best Student Short Award at the Joe Blow Film Festival. They are hiring a PA, not a director. Be a professional, reliable PA, and they will notice that, and hire you again…and again- Bam! You are on the inside.

“TEMPING”: Can you type? Have a pleasant speaking voice? Neat appearance? Then temp! It’s decent money (anywhere from $15-$25 an hour). And most of the temp jobs put you in film production offices! You temp there, you get to know people, you hear about jobs opening up…bam! You are on the inside. (Sadly, gentlemen, in Hollywood, women get the best temp jobs. Sexist? Yes. Wrong? Sure. But that is the way it goes. Deal.) Make sure that when you seek out a temp agency, you find out whether or not they specialize in working with entertainment and/or media companies. You can find out which temp agencies each major studio or network uses by contacting their human resources departments and simply asking the first person that picks up the phone. Also check as some places ask for fees. Some do not.

Try the following places:

-Barrington Staffing: www.barringtonstaffing.com (5 branches in Southern Cal)

-Elite Placement Group: 1901 Ave Of The Stars Ste 360 Los Angeles, CA 90067-6025 (310) 277-2600

-Permanent Success: 12658 W Washington Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90066-2300 (310) 305-7376

-Career Images: 2029 Century Park E Ste 1400 Los Angeles, CA 90067-2915 (310) 553-5208

...SE HABLA ESPANOL?

You will be working alongside many people of Latin descent. Mostly, but not limited to, Mexican. You will be dealing with people over phones, at vendors, on sets etc. Knowing at least some Spanish can go a long way to not only making your job easier, but people will appreciate the effort and that may come back to benefit you in future, say when you forgot to pick up the extra dolly track on a Friday, for a Saturday dawn shoot, and Chapman Leonard is closing in five minutes and you’re 35 minutes away. Roberto the floor manager might remember your pleasant and professional manner, and stay late for you. Hollywood runs on favors and paybacks. Be a good person, and you’ll not only feel better, you’ll work better.

LIFE IN LOS ANGELES- SAFETY POINTS

2010-04-13T15:06:00.000-07:00

EARTHQUAKES, AND FIRES AND MUDSLIDES..OH MY!

Florida has hurricanes and thunderstorms. California has earthquakes. You live in the area long enough and you will experience a tremor if not an outright shaker. Some folks think this is why people from LA are not “well grounded”. No need to panic. Just be prepared by doing some common sense things:

-If one occurs, get outside away from buildings and telephone poles, or at least get under a heavy piece of furniture like a desk. Get out of carports (see picture below). Getting in the doorway can be a bad idea – it can slam on your fingers. Best to get under the dining room table, or if you have an old cast iron bathtub hop in that and cover yourself with something solid…

-Do not put heavy objects on shelves or in cabinets higher than shoulder height. So if an earthquake occurs, and these things fly off the shelf, they are not falling onto your head. Place heavy objects on low shelves, lighter object on higher shelves.

-Secure shelving and other appliances like televisions and furniture to walls. There are lots of little gadgets you can buy to do this. Go to any hardware store and you’ll find lots of options.

-The most common injury during an earthquake is cut feet from broken glass. So keep a pair of shoes near your bed at night. For some reason most earthquakes occur in the early mornings- when the earth is cooling off, and we are asleep. So a pair of flip-flops by or under the bed is an easy safety tip to follow.

-Keep walking shoes in the car in case you get stranded and have to walk a long way…women who wear high heels, this tip is especially for you (courtesy of Lisa Cook)

Forest fires are common. Ocean areas have mudslides. Rarely do they actually endanger you, but they can be an annoying road impediment and traffic increaser. Rain is rare. And when it does rain, people go into a manic state. They don’t know how to drive when water hits a windshield. You as Floridians are much better rain drivers than the average So-Cal driver. You will laugh at them. Go ahead. It’s normal.

LIFE IN LOS ANGELES- COMPASS

2010-04-13T15:02:00.000-07:00

"WHERE THE HELL AM I?"

...JUST KEEP GOING WEST. WHEN YOU HIT WATER...STOP.

While it is easy to get lost when you first get to LA, a good tip is to use a few landmarks to keep your sense of direction. Hollywood and “The Valley,” are separated by a small mountain range. The Valley is on the north side, and Hollywood is on the south side. The Hollywood Sign (located in the Los Feliz area) is on the Hollywood (or south) side of the mountains. So if you can see the Hollywood sign, you are south of the Valley. And so driving towards the Hollywood sign means you are going north.

So if you know this, then you can figure out which way is west (left) and which way is east (right). The ocean is west of course, and going east is going towards the desert.

Usually the farther west you go, the “nicer” (more upscale and more expensive/exclusive) the neighborhoods and townships become (Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Malibu are “west”).

You’ll also notice that weather gets better the farther west you go. This is due to the marine layer of the Pacific. It keeps the air cleaner and smog free. It keeps temperatures cooler in summer and warmer in winter. There can be as much as a 20-25 degree difference in the daily temps between Santa Monica and say, Pasadena a mere 15 miles east…and the valley? Hotter than hell in summer.

This is a desert climate though- don’t let the ocean proximity fool you. It can get cold at night. People out west, dress in multiple, thin layers. Keep it in mind. It’s also good to keep a blanket in your car for this reason- should you be stranded overnight somewhere, decide to take an impromptu trip to the beach etc.

LIFE IN LOS ANGELES- CARS/TRANSPORTATION

2010-04-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

"Nobody walks in LA”

LA is not so much a city, as it is a vast expanse of suburban areas linked by freeways. As such, the public transit is a joke. There are busses, and even a few subways, but they will take you hours to get anywhere due to the geography, traffic and sheer size of the area. So a car is a necessity. Expect to spend lots of time in it.

…Sitting in traffic. Freeways are working at 110-150% capacity at any point during the day or night. Make sure your car is in good working order, has adequate a/c, and carry with you a gallon of water, gas can, flashlight and duct tape in your trunk for any emergencies such as overheating radiators, or busted hoses. (people will not stop to help you).

The Major Freeways are:

“The 101”- This 12-lane, major artery runs from Downtown LA, north through East Hollywood area, into the Valley, then bends to the left and runs west along the north Valley (parallel to mountain range) almost to coast. Eventually it turns north again and will take you all the way to San Francisco.

“The 405”- Runs from San Diego, north through the West side of LA (it splits Beverly Hills and Westwood/Brentwood areas). It then goes through the “Sepulveda Pass,” and drops you into the Valley at Sherman Oaks (it crosses the 101 here). It then continues north into the deep Valley.

“The 5” – runs north from the East side of Downtown LA, through Burbank and north into the deep Valley.

The “10” runs basically from Santa Monica/Venice area south east to West side of Downtown LA.

These four freeways make a sort of “tic-tac-toe board” around the greater LA area.

There are other smaller freeways off of them (the 110, the 105, 134, 91, etc.), but knowing these four major freeways will basically get you everywhere you need to go, until you figure out the little shortcuts and round-abouts that the locals know.

STREETS/ADDRESSES: There is little rhyme or reason to street numbers. Due to mountains, drainage basins etc. streets will just stop, or wind up mountain passes only to suddenly be named something different. Don’t panic. You have weapons at your disposal. For years the standard glove-box warrior against finding oneself lost and driving through a gangland area of Inglewood, was the trusty THOMAS GUIDE – a book of detailed maps of every city, neighborhood and park in the greater LA area. Easy to index and follow. With the recent advent of GPS in newer cars, they are not quite the vital auto accessory they once were, but if you do not have GPS in your car, or on your iphone or blackberry, it might be a good investment. Last time I checked, you can still buy them in most LA grocery stores, 7-11’s, gas stations etc.

DRIVER’S LICENSE/INSURANCE/SMOG CERTIFS: If you live in Los Angeles, you are required to have an LA license, which also means you need LA car insurance. This is about three times as expensive as Florida insurance. To get LA auto insurance, you will need LA plates and registration. To change a car registration to California, there is a hefty charge- last time I checked it was around $800.00. Also your car will need to be “smog checked” to make sure you pass California Emissions Standards which are much higher than rest of the country. Many folks find it easier and cheaper to just buy a car in LA. The nice thing about LA is that there is a huge glut of used cars, and since it is a desert climate, cars don’t rust, so older models are viable there that would otherwise be hunks of rusty junk in the salty, humid Florida air. Here is a link to the L.A. DMV: http://dmv.ca.gov/vr/vr_info.htm

One more thing- valet parking is the norm. At malls, restaurants, grocery stores…expect to have someone park your car for you and expect to pay and tip every time you get in or out of your vehicle. Also make sure you don’t leave anything valuable in plain sight. Still, it’s almost always safer to valet park – don’t risk your safety to save two bucks…and while they are in the process of changing parking meters to the new ones that take credit cards, it's still a good idea to carry a few bucks of quarters around with you. A quarter wil get you 15 minutes of meter time in most areas...fyi.

LIFE IN LOS ANGELES- APARTMENT RENTALS

2010-04-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

While there are always lots of rentals in and around Hollywood, and most tend to be decent sized unlike New York or San Francisco, the prices have gotten steep. There are also areas of LA you might wish to avoid and others you’ll prefer living in –based on safety, proximity to work/recreation areas, cultural preferences, etc. The relatively “safe” areas for first-time LA dwellers to live in include:

-West Hollywood ,Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Los Feliz (near/north of Sunset Boulevard), Silverlake (north of Sunset Boulevard), Westwood/UCLA area, Brentwood, West LA (north of the 10 Freeway), Santa Monica

There are other areas like Echo Park, Encino, Pasadena, Eagle Rock, South Pasadena, Venice and the southern beach areas that have good pockets and bad pockets. Check them out and see how you feel.

Downtown LA is questionable. There is a loft district, which is arty, but surrounding areas are industrial and therefore vacant at night. Best to scout out prospective apartments at night as well as rush hour and daytime hours to get a better picture of the environment. Avoid Inglewood, Highland Park, and areas near USC. They are “sketchy” to put it mildly.

PETS: Pets can be an issue. Most places don’t allow dogs and the ones that do are in high demand. If you can find one, great, but expect to pay a hefty additional pet deposit when you move in.

WHERE TO LOOK: ALWAYS CHECK THIS SITE FIRST www.westsiderentals.com

THEN try looking for apartments in LA Times, LA Weekly, Apartments.com, AFI and UCLA FILM school bulletin boards- always some students with apartments, houses to share. Just go to campuses and ask where they are. AFI is east side, UCLA West side. Ask friends in the area.

REFRIGERATORS: Here’s a little trivia- many/most LA apartments do not come with refrigerators. Why? Who knows? It’s a “west coast thing”. So you’ll have to buy one. There are used appliance stores all over the valley. Avoid rust and “smells”. Don’t buy from garage sales. And you can also rent a fridge from various companies. If you split the costs with roomates it's not so bad, at least at first. Once you settle into a place you plan to be in for some time, it might be worth a purchase.

RENTAL COSTS: The types of rentals generally fall into these categories: studios, bachelors, one bedroom, two and three bedrooms, guest houses and lofts. Assume you’ll have at least one roommate in your first rental.

-Avg. rental on 2 Bed/2 Bath Apartment in relatively safe neighborhood: $2,000.00-3,000.00 a month.

-Move in costs:

First/last month rent + a 1.5 month security deposit $6,000.00-$7,500.00

Hook ups- gas, power, cable etc. $300.00-400.00

Total estimate move in cost $8,300.00-$10.900.00