Looking to move to Los Angeles, California to be in the Hollywood film business, can you help?
Hello all!
I currently reside in greater Boston but want to move to LA to pursue a career in the film business. I plan on screenwriting, and at the same time holding down a mindless job that pays the bills while I get my foot in some doors in Hollywood.
Here a few of my questions (in list format):
1) Do I need a car in Los Angeles, or is getting around in public transportation good enough?
2) If I do need a car, would it be better to buy one where I live now or to buy one in LA? I’m not sure of the insurance and tax stuff in NH compared to LA.
3) I am looking to live in a nice, low-crime area by renting an apartment. I can afford up to $900 a month. Do you recommend any particular areas of LA that might fit my budget?
4) Do any of you have further tips on finding good apartments in LA, besides using apartments.com or Craiglist?
Well, that’s about it 
Any help from you all will be much appreciated.
I look forward to all your answers, thanks.
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Don’t go to that hellhole.
1. Yes, absolutely
2. Doesn’t really matter
3. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I hope you like roommates.
4. See #3
1) You generally need a car. Public Transportation is not incredibly user friendly in the LA area, and the LA basin is so spread out that it really really helps. If you have a meeting in Topenga Park at 1pm and then a shoot in Pomona at 4pm, a car is really going to help.
2) It won’t really matter where you buy the car. You’ll still have to pay to register it in LA.
3) $900 a month for a studio won’t get you a low-crime area for the most part. At least not in the major LA area. You may be able to find something in a seedier area of Hollywood or Torrance, but most nicer apartments are well over $1000-$1500. Some super seedy or super distant places can be found for closer to $750, but they won’t be safe or nice.
4) Also try the LA Times classified section and possibly the LA weekly. And don’t forget the roommate option. There are thousands of people like you in the LA area and renting a 2BR place in the Hollywood area can sometimes be a great plan.
Good luck to you!
1) Yes. Public transportation is ok, but you will need a car.
2) Cars and insurance is much cheaper in LA. Wait until you get here.
3) Here are some reasonable priced areas: Glendale, Hollywood, Echo Park and North Hollywood. I moved here from NYC and found a nice place in Hollywood for $875.
4) WestSideRentals.com. There is a fee for this, but it’s a great last resort if craigslist doesn’t work out. Also try your college Alumni Association.
Good Luck!
You want to live in north Los Angeles around Burbank, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, UCLA, Santa Monica. $900 or less should do it. Hollywood is somewhat seedy, but it’s not dangerous like East LA. Santa Monica/ Venice Beach is nice.
They have a lot of buses running in those areas.
At Yahoo, use a directory search (Web, News, Shopping, Directory, etc…) type in apartments & Hollywood, or Burbank, or Santa Monica, etc…
What athos said.