Question:

Hi,

I lived in both NYC and LA, NYC I found too competitive, LA much more possible but I left to try New Orleans.

I had some friends who lived here and I heard that there’s a huge movie industry here but being here I discovered that almost all the actors are being cast from Los Angeles, so it seems pretty tricky to get any parts here.

Was wondering if you have any advice or thought on this?

Thanks Isobel

Answer:

Hi Isobel,

Thanks for the email.

Well, you’ve discovered something that most “film-incentive” based cities and states are realizing, namely that all the really interesting jobs are still for people from out of state.

The deal with places like New Orleans is that, in order for the film producers to qualify for whatever tax incentives are being offered, they have to devote a certain percentage of their budget to “local hires”.

Almost all of those “local hire” dollars are going to be spent on crew positions and if for talent at all, it will mostly be for extra work or under-5′s at best.

If you want to work as an actress in any meaningful sense, you have to be in LA or NYC. And, in that regard, you will have to be operating at a level that is at least as high as the level of the job you want to do.

Meaning, you have to be really good, both artistically AND technically. There ‘s just no way around it. You always have to realize that working professionally as an actor or actress means that you will be up against some of the best, most technically skilled and emotionally prepared actors in the world.

There aren’t any shortcuts to becoming one of them, it’s a rare combination of traits. Only time and effort will tell you if you’re one of them.

Hope this helps and best of luck out there!