Opinions Please: California or Florida?

K

kennethml224

Hey All,

I've lived in Texas all my life (25) and it's time for a change. There's a lot to love about Texas but, as soon I get the resources and take care of some unfinished business, I want to move to one of the coasts-somewhere I can walk along side an ocean that isn't the color of mud... I've visited both Florida (Jacksonville) & California (San Francisco, will be visiting Burbank soon), like them both, and am beginning to do research on jobs, cost of living, etc.

What do you think about my choices in terms of indy film production? My day job is in IT, but I want to write and direct a few more shorts and eventually give a serious go at an original feature. It's my understanding that if you want to be an actor or crew, L.A. is the place to go if you're really serious about it. Is it the same for independent writers and directors?

My perception is that everyone in L.A./California is trying to make it in the movies and everyone's trying to get money out of them. Plus, doesn't the state of California tax films and film-makers to $%&# and back? I imagine it's harder to put together a decent cast/crew and locations for little/no money, no? As an independent film maker, would I be better off going anywhere but California? Or is going to California worth it to make "connections"?

Your opinions would be appreciated, especially if you've had first hand experience living or working on films in either location.
 
fernando97echeverria said:
Simple. California.
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But why? I understand the reasoning if you're trying to get the "big boys" to let you play in their sandbox. If you're going to make your own movie, though, what advantages are there?

Just look at Winter's Bone (2010). It was nominated for all kinds of awards, even won some of them, and was picked up for distribution. It was made outside of California with mostly local actors who did a damn fine job. So, if movies can be made OUTSIDE California, why is it an advantage to make them INSIDE California, as long as you have all the ingredients for a good film: talent, experience, good story, good actors, etc... What's the advantage?
 
I imagine it's harder to put together a decent cast/crew and locations for little/no money, no?
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Hasn't stopped anyone from tryin'. :lol:

Just take a look through Craigslist, and count all the "No Pay" gigs in the filmmaking section. Wannabe filmmakers are afraid to be seen not workin' on somethin'... or making that connection'... or doin' sumthin'.

My question would be, why move anywhere else to make a movie for no money? You can do that quite easily in Texas, without having to include Los Angeles cost of living into your budget.
 
If I was still young and single and without major responsibilities...

Vancouver.​

filmleader1.gif
 
Zensteve said:
Hasn't stopped anyone from tryin'. :lol:

Just take a look through Craigslist, and count all the "No Pay" gigs in the filmmaking section. Wannabe filmmakers are afraid to be seen not workin' on somethin'... or making that connection'... or doin' sumthin'.

My question would be, why move anywhere else to make a movie for no money? You can do that quite easily in Texas, without having to include Los Angeles cost of living into your budget.
Click to expand...

You're right about Texas, in fact making films might even be easier if I stayed in Texas, but I want to move for reasons that have nothing to do with movies. I'm tired of living inland and Galveston is kind of gross. I want to go somewhere new while I don't have any major life commitments (like a family) forcing me to stay in one place.

If I were to move to California, I wouldn't move to L.A. There are several cities in California that I've read are good places to find IT work. I suppose you're probably right about the no pay thing... What about taxes, though? I've heard on TV that a lot of big film makers take their films out of California because of taxes. Is this even a factor for the little guys? I mean, this would be a nice problem to have: making enough off of a film to be taxed, but still... Is there anything like that to watch out for?


Vancouver sounds nice. I'd love to visit, but I'm not adventurous enough to want to move out of the country. Austin, too, I might even be able to transfer there, but meh...
 
Simple as this IF you want to be the best you have to roll with the best... The better people you hang out with the faster you become better(this is a proven fact and also a proven fact that California is the best place to make films). Therefore California is the option for you. If you are worried about people working for little/no money don't worry there are always people willing to do it for free as long as they get credited correctly they can benefit off of it and be happy. Now this decision is in my opinion and you don't have to move their but if you wanna be the best then i'm sure this is for you.
 
First, figure out what cities you would consider.
Since there's sure to be plenty of banks in every city pick a city near a film festival that strikes your fancy.
Since it sounds like you don't have a wife/girl or kids you can go anywhere and do anything, but that doesn't mean be silly.

STAY NEAR THE FILM ACTION!
http://www.filminflorida.com/wh/ff.asp
http://www.statereports.us/2011/02/list-california-film-festivals/

Then start looking at the whole entire state, especially from a more practical income tax vantage point, followed by a cost of living aspect.
http://www.bestplaces.net/state/florida
http://www.bestplaces.net/state/california

http://www.calculatorslive.com/Cost-Of-Living-Comparison-Calculator.aspx
Example: "Your current of cost of living at $5000 in the state of Florida will amount to $6666.67 in the state of California. This cost of living comparison calculator factors in all types of expenses such as healthcare, housing, grocery, utilities, transportation and various miscellaneous expenses that make up the living costs."

Comparison of potential salaries might be relevant:
http://swz.salary.com/costoflivingwizard/layoutscripts/coll_start.aspx

See what the BLS thinks income opportunities are in each state.
http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1122.00?redir=15-1071.01#WagesEmployment

With all that as some perspective and context go back to the cities and start comparing them.
http://www.moving.com/real-estate/compare-cities/index.asp
 
rayw said:
First, figure out what cities you would consider.
Since there's sure to be plenty of banks in every city pick a city near a film festival that strikes your fancy.
Since it sounds like you don't have a wife/girl or kids you can go anywhere and do anything, but that doesn't mean be silly.

STAY NEAR THE FILM ACTION!
http://www.filminflorida.com/wh/ff.asp
http://www.statereports.us/2011/02/list-california-film-festivals/

Then start looking at the whole entire state, especially from a more practical income tax vantage point, followed by a cost of living aspect.
http://www.bestplaces.net/state/florida
http://www.bestplaces.net/state/california

http://www.calculatorslive.com/Cost-Of-Living-Comparison-Calculator.aspx
Example: "Your current of cost of living at $5000 in the state of Florida will amount to $6666.67 in the state of California. This cost of living comparison calculator factors in all types of expenses such as healthcare, housing, grocery, utilities, transportation and various miscellaneous expenses that make up the living costs."

Comparison of potential salaries might be relevant:
http://swz.salary.com/costoflivingwizard/layoutscripts/coll_start.aspx

See what the BLS thinks income opportunities are in each state.
http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1122.00?redir=15-1071.01#WagesEmployment

With all that as some perspective and context go back to the cities and start comparing them.
http://www.moving.com/real-estate/compare-cities/index.asp
Click to expand...

Ok, this strategy makes sense to me! Festivals and the cost of travel hadn't even entered my mind... Thanks for the homework assignment; this looks like a good direction for my research.

Conner's reasoning does make sense. So the best "roll" in California... But do they roll outside of L.A.? I'll visit before I decide, but even with a really nice job, I don't expect L.A. would be a place I would want to live. Do the same caliber of film-makers live and work in other cities throughout CA or are they mostly centered in L.A.?
 
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I currently live in South Florida. I have also visited Las Angeles a few times. Let me tell you, Florida sucks! All the talented people from Florida end up leaving for New York or LA. Miami doesn't have nearly as much going on culturally as LA, NY, Chicago, Seattle, or any other major city.

Sorry if I sound a bit negative towards Florida, I am just itching to get out of here. Especially after visiting a lot of major cities in the US for film festivals, it really opened my eyes to have much better it is outside of Florida. I'm aiming to move to LA real soon. Wherever you choose though, best of luck to you.
 
Have you considered the weather, political and cultural aspects for filmmakers in these two states? Unless you live in Austin, these three things likely also points towards getting out of Texas. Florida is much like Texas, only with beaches and humidity. California, hands down.

That is my 2 cents.
 
GuerrillaAngel said:
Have you considered the weather, political and cultural aspects for filmmakers in these two states? Unless you live in Austin, these three things likely also points towards getting out of Texas. Florida is much like Texas, only with beaches and humidity. California, hands down.

That is my 2 cents.
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I'm pretty conservative, but the only thing that I really don't like about CA is its gun laws (I am a Texan, after all..) and since I don't own any CA banned weapons (I think...) that I'd want to bring, even that's not much of a factor, really. I'd rather be working on a film than getting into politics or social issues with people.
 
I haven't shot anybody important in years with my handgun.

Psshhht!

Trade them in on a nice new NLE workstation. ;)
 
rayw said:
I haven't shot anybody important in years with my handgun.

Psshhht!

Trade them in on a nice new NLE workstation. ;)
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LMAO! Well, as long as they weren't important...

It is a cultural thing here. My mother went to CA to visit my aunt and a friend of her's asked "Is it true that every Texan owns a gun?" to which she replied "No. Every Texan owns at least three!" completely deadpan. This is obviously an exaggeration, but the Californian believed her and appeared to be frightened. lol Then again, my CA aunt was scared when she came for a visit to TX and saw the billboards that say "Don't Mess Texas", not understanding the anti-littering campaign was not meant to be a threat... I think Californians have a humorous perception of us. Too funny.
 
RVA is the new Austin! Just sayin.

Cali vs. Florida? Why Florida? I can't think of any advantage for a filmmaker there, no different from most any other state.
 
If you can take the weather, Seattle wouldn't be a bad place to be. 2 1/2 hour drive to Vancouver, so once you sort out passport/work permits/etc, it's close enough to get involved with shoots there. Plus Seattle is a lot of fun. You've got an ocean to walk by, though it's not the same as, say, a california beach. It's always been my second choice place to live (I kinda love Pittsburgh).

Speaking of, the film scene here isn't bad at all. No oceans, and it does get cold and rainy here (second only to, well, Seattle. I like it, but some people like the sun more than I). Close enough to Cleveland, bit of a haul to Philly, Buffalo or Cincinatti, but all close enough for a day trip, if necessary. Cost of living is pretty low here too, and some decent non-film culture (one of my favorite museums, The Mattress Factory is here, second only to the Menil Collection down in your neck of the woods).
 
They don't print enough money for me to live in California. About two years ago I turned down a significant raise that would have put me in six figure land that required a relocation there.
 
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