Toronto or LA for acting?

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Paul L

By the phrase "better life" would you be referring to job availability or quality of life?

Hollywood at the moment is in a mad scramble about a possible strike by actors, writers and I believe tech support next April. Many actors are making sure they have in their planning pre and post strike options including the phrase in their contracts they are to be paid regardless if the movie is made or not. What will happen to the television industry is difficult to say but one suspects it will be the summer of re runs(whatelse is new) and reality shows will be the saviour of the networks.

Why not get yourself an agent for LA and continue practising your craft here in Canada? Or an agent in NYC that would allow you to audition close by and leave you the opportunity for stage work and movie/television roles as they become available?

No one knows what is going to happen next April, but for the moment I would stay where you are where you have some security and continue to explore the many different options open to you. The Shaw and Stratford circuits are great training ground and I suspect many will be applying for next season with the threat of a strike in the US. Why not beat them to the punch and be first in line?

Maryn

More competition, surely, but many, many more opportunities for work as well. Plus connections to be made, live theatre, and the advertising industry.

If you can afford to live in LA, your chances seem better--assuming you're good.

Carl

With the increase of value in the Canadian dollar you are going to be seeing less and less acting opportunities up here, at least in film and t.v. I think the best choice is either New York or LA. Good luck.

SteveN

There is less of a savings for American movie production companies to come up to Canada now with the dollar doing so well. That means that if they hire local actors to be in a production, they will hire locally to where they are shooting the film. When the dollar does well here in Canada, that means they can film in Montana instead of Calgary for westerns, Chicago instead of Toronto for city scenes.

In my opinion, you would do well to get an agent and put your portfolio out to any casting firms in L.A. You can start off in commercials and work your way into bit parts here and there until you get noticed and signed to something bigger.

Of course, if you prefer live shows and the theater instead of TV and movies, then go to New York and try to get spots in broadway or off-broadway shows.

It all depends on how good you are and what type of jobs you want to do. You could earn a decent wage starring in movies made by Canadian production companies, and still be living quietly in a Toronto suburb.

James Dean

You'd probably have a better chance of "making it big" in LA ofcourse.

chris a

toronto is better LA well too msuh competition tehre less publicity and less bitches

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