Oct 30 2008
They almost kicked me out of Hollywood
Hollywood is full of catch 22’s, if I haven’t said this already. The trick for a new actor moving here is somehow to have a job that pays the bills, and yet still have time open for auditions and roles. This is difficult because there are, literally, millions of actors here. If there is just one thing that makes the role more difficult for the producers, they can find someone else who does not have that one thing — they certainly will not reschedule for you when you are a new actor, an unknown, a nobody.
Filming goes on here 24/7, so no matter when you work your real job, it will conflict with something you want to do. I’ve been doing odd jobs, losing various jobs (not my fault, I promise!) and generally struggling like a maniac to make ends meet. Well, this past week it almost all fell apart.
Pulling the weeds out
I think that Hollywood kind of works like college calculus — it is simply there to weed out people who can’t hack it. The weeding process here like this — can you somehow work, pay extravagant rent, eat, keep your car working, go to auditions, improve your craft with classes, get an agent, get into SAG, and build your resume all at the same time? No wonder people give up all the time, it’s a daunting task.
Last week I found myself facing a near eviction, phone being turned off, my car insurance expired, ramen and beans to eat, and an empty gas tank. I had been writing a screenplay for someone that I expected to be finished weeks ago — and now it was done and I needed to deliver it to the client about 60 miles away. Except that I had no money to print out the script, and maybe enough gas to get down there, but not get back. I was paid in cash last time so I figured he might do cash again and I could get some gas to go back home. Otherwise, I guess I’d be stranded in Costa Mesa.
Why didn’t I borrow some money? ‘Cause I already had! The people I usually ask didn’t have any for me or had just lent me some. That was just the way it was. So, I figured I’d drive down and see what fate had for me. I’m actually not going to tell you what I did to make it ’cause it wasn’t pretty — but I did get down there and get paid.
I found myself missing North Carolina, my steady job, place to live, normal work hours, getting enough sleep, much less stress… but I’m sort of trapped here being broke. I couldn’t get back if I wanted to.
These are signs you see all around L.A. They are all the same, yellow, with an arrow, text written both ways. It means this way to the set of this movie. Sometimes the title is a false name they are using for the movie that only cast and crew knows so people don’t try to crash the next Brad Pitt set. I wanted to show you one since they are a part of the Hollywoo d experience.
Anyway, well, I’m here for now. I’m still out of half of stuff I need (thanks Donald for the toothpaste and deodorant!) and low on everything, but if I keep going now I should be at least livable in a few months. I may have to take a break from auditions — hell who am I kidding, I haven’t been out to auditions for months because I’ve been desperately looking for paid work. Anyway I’m going to scrape by for now, and try not to let this happen again. I don’t think I could make it if it did — I’d just have to join the pile of weeds.
Now if I was visiting I would have been following those signs trying to get back to the highway. 8P
Isn’t that the sign you took a picture of while we were going to Kinko’s and all that, that one day? That looks like a familiar patch of sidewalk.
Don’t worry, at least when Obama assumes the presidency next year you’ll eventually be getting a tax cut and might be able to afford luxuries such as food and deodorant. Can’t say the same about McCain and that nutjob Palin you love so much. *snicker*