Hello everyone,
Do I necessarily have to go to college in order to get internships in LA? I know most people recommend college because they have connections that will help me get an internship. However, I am worried about the chances of not getting a full scholarship. If I do end having to pay for the expenses of college that can be very costly. As a result, I am trying to avoid going to college for screenwriting.
I know there are great sources out there to educate me about screenwriting. I know that an internship would be beneficial for the experience. If there are any resources you could suggest to me that will help with getting an internship without going to college, that would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance,
Angel
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Hmm, I think it's illegal for a company to hire you as an Intern if you're not in school.
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Yeah, generally you have to be enrolled in a university where you will receive college credit for the internship in order to intern. This came about because of the labor violations that were taking place when companies would "hire interns" basically as free labor.
Every once in a while you'll see a low-pay internship, but they are usually gobbled up very quickly.
Have you considered enrolling in a Community College? In CA, community college is relatively cheap (~$550 per semester), but it's a great way to meet other filmmakers, grow your craft, get access to school equipment to make some films, and it'll make you eligible for for-credit internships.
Plus, you could work towards an associates degree (or transfer to a 4 year down the line).
I actually go to a community college now for college credits here in Maryland. So I guess transferring to another community college in CA won't be so bad. Especially, if I'd be eligible for credit internships
Allen Roughton I actually go to a community college now for college credits here in Maryland. So I guess transferring to another community college in CA won't be so bad. Especially, if I'd be eligible for credit internships
Jason Mirch thanks for letting me know. I didn't know that is was a labor violation, but it makes sense,
Allen Roughton do you have any CA community college recommendations?
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LA City College has a fantastic Film dept. Mimi Leder and Tarsem Singh have taught classes there. Tuition is dirt cheap and the campus is walking distance from Paramount Studios.(But nobody walks in LA).
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Santa Monica College is a great choice too. Strong Film Production and Film Studies programs. TAP transfer priority status partner with UCLA.
Also keep in mind that LA is a very expensive place to live; internships go to the students at the top of the class; and that the tuition difference between "residents" and "non-residents" at some schools is beyond crazy. UCLA is like 30K for residents, and over 60K for non-residents, and the school that David mentioned costs 5x more per unit for non-residents, and UCSB triples it. USC and Loyola-Marymount don't gouge non-residents at all, but both cost quite a lot, too. NYU Film School - L.A., Columbia College, and L.A. Film School aren't cheap either, but some of those are pretty proactive in helping students get as much aid/grants/loans/scholarship money as possible.
If money is an issue with you, maybe moving to L.A. for a year to establish residency is an option. You would probably need a car to get around, and could expect to pay at least $600 a month in a roommate situation, and maybe more. I hear that anything that you see advertised for less than that is a scam, unless you get really really lucky. Your car insurance would probably double from what it is now, and maybe triple. And you might spend $200 a month in gas, if you're not close to work/school/the scene. Eating out/grocery shopping is probably a lot more than where you live now, too. So you'd need to be making at least $2,000 a month before taxes just to get by, and maybe even more, depending on your rent.
But you would have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the scene; hopefully make some relationships; and devote as much time to writing/attending events that you can. And you would probably discover how many really good writers live there, and how difficult it is for some of them to get writing gigs, or to sell their screenplays. In a lot of areas of L.A., almost everyone is a writer. And after a year, you'd have residency, and could then maybe afford to be a full-time student and still have a full-time job.
I'm just telling you the reality of what it costs to live in L.A.,; what schools cost in L.A.; and what you might have to do to get by. I'm not trying to discourage you, or encourage you, but it's the truth. I lived there for ten years, and love L.A.
Best fortunes to you in your creative endeavors, Angel.
Angel Marie, I don't have a personal recommendation, but everything I've heard echoes what Dan said, LA City College seems loved by it's students. That said, LA is huge and filled with traffic, so where you decide to live may have more of an impact on where you choose to go.
Bill Costantini thanks for taking the time out to exactly tell me the reality of living out in L.A. to pursue a screenwriting career. Your tips and advice were very helpful and just what I needed. I needed to know exactly what I was getting myself into so that I could prepare and I am truly thankful for that!
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Angel, you're welcome. And there's actually a subway/train line in L.A. if you don't have a car, and L.A. City College that Dan mentioned is on one of the lines, too.
You really need to hook up with someone who lives there, and who might be able to be your "inside person." Going to L.A. cold and with nobody there on the inside to help you is extra hard, unless you have a good job waiting, or unless you have a pocketful of cash. And Stage32 has a lot of members who live in L.A.
And the last thing you want to do, as Allen stated, is to spend several hours a day driving, and especially if you're in school and working. Thinking you can save some money on rent by living farther away from things actually can cost you more in the long run with gas; can waste a lot of time each day; and can make you late for work or a job. A lot of people live and work in the heart of it all, and don't have cars. There are bus routes, too, but the subway lines are pretty nice and convenient.
That's a major, major move, and especially for a young person on a tight budget. But there's no better time than to do something like that - when you're young and have a lot of energy, and don't need as much sleep as when you get older...and older...and older.
Best fortunes to you in your creative endeavors, Angel!
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LA sucks so why not intern in one of the companies near where you already live and you don’t need any degrees.
Dan Guardino well I figured I'd need to be in LA because I'd have access to better connections. Are you saying that's not needed?
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LA is not the only place in the world where they make movies. Most people that go there to become screenwriters end up waiting tables.
Dan Guardino well what would be your recommendation?
Angel. If you can afford to live in LA and it doesn't matter to you where you live then LA is not a bad choice. I lived in Pasadena for a few years and I still own property in the Hollywood Hills so I am not a hundred percent against LA but you can always write screenplays from where you now live and it is a big city so you might be able to intern with a filmmaker there. I know contacts in this business are everything but you can use the phone and internet once you've have a few screenplay under your belt to make contacts. Anyway whatever you do decide I wish you the best of luck.
Dan Guardino Thanks for reaching back out to me, your suggestions and wishes are truly appreciated.
Anytime.