Working in Hollywood When You Don't Live in Hollywood
Making it in the biz from your hometown
Many aspiring young performers and their parents wonder just how far they can take their careers if they don't move to a city like Los Angeles or New York. Children In Film has great news for those of you who currently wish to stay local: The entertainment industry is not isolated! But...it isn't as simple as jumping on board as the lead of the next big film that comes to your town.
Can you become a successful working (and even paid) performer if you don't live in a major hub? Yes. But can you become the next top-grossing movie star without ever getting on a plane bound for a big city? Probably not.
Yes, Hollywood is expanding its boarders and productions are happening all over the country. This year alone, major productions have gone on in cities like Shreveport, Louisiana; Wilmington, North Carolina; Austin, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Additionally, there is a lot of production going on in Canada. However, the business of the business still takes place in the major hubs. What this means is that even if a California production company films in Wilmington -- like it did for The Avengers and The Hunger Games or in Atlanta where The Hunger Games: Catching Fire began shooting in September -- the casting of the major players will likely take place in Los Angeles while the extras and some supporting roles may be cast locally.
The take-away here is that while there may be some opportunities to get involved with productions locally, if your goal is to develop a detailed resume that can stack up against the major players, you will likely need to hop a plane to a major city a few times each year. Your goal, afterall, is to become connected to top representatives at top agencies -- those pros who work regularly with the major casting directors.
Showbiz moves quickly and opportunities pop up fast. A young performer will often need to be available within hours of receiving a call. Unfortunately many parents believe that all they need to do is make that first connection and then worry about the details later. After all, "if an industry professional loves my child, they'll pay to bring him/her to LA for an audition, right?" We're not sure where this misconception popped up, but a newbie having all of his/her expenses paid from the get-go is a rarity, if not completely unheard of.
Now, let's shift the focus to what you can do if you don't live in a major hub because we do want to reiterate that if your goal is to become a successful, working young performer, it is completely possible to realize that dream, but you have to be willing to work for it, and you have to understand the casting process.
Children In Film has developed a step-by-step guide dedicated to those of you who do not live near New York City or in the greater Los Angeles area. This guide works hand-in-hand with our KidStart Program in which every aspiring young performer and his/her family should participate, regardless of your home-base. If your child dreams of becoming a working performer, but you're not ready to make a permanent move, we highly recommend that you read through this information.
To read our guide to becoming a paid performer from the comfort of your own home town.
