Letter to a young actor in Minnesota
Editorial
Editor's Note: Our community lost a special soul last week when Karen Landry passed away. Though she mostly lived and worked out of Los Angeles, she kept her deep ties in Minnesota and returned here regularly to work in theater (Park Square, Mixed Blood, etc.). She made a deep impression on anyone who knew her, worked with her, or met her even briefly (like myself). Years ago, she proposed this essay to MinnesotaPlaylist because, well, she was a generous person and she wanted to help you.
Thank you, Karen. You are missed.
Dear Young Actor: I hear you want to move to L.A. and become a film and television actor? Well, come on out! The weather is fine (now that monsoon season is over). Yes, it's sunny and in the low 70's here on the Westside. In February, I know that has a special meaning for Minnesnowtans. I have just returned from my daily trek to the beach where I watch the waves and the surfers riding them, and I remember to be grateful for my life here. Then I go home and contact my agents. Show business in Los Angeles is truly about business. And it's large—industrial-sized. It takes time to develop a career here. If you are unsure whether to come to L.A. or not, let me ask: Do you want to concentrate on the theater? If so, then stay in Minnesota, or go to New York. Theater is not the reason to be in L.A. There is plenty of it here, and some of it excellent, but other than the Mark Taper Forum or South Coast Rep, and a few others, most of it is done for free (as in "a showcase"). "Equity-waiver" is the term you'll hear connected with most theater in LA and it means, "professionals acting for no pay." Minnesota, on the other hand, has a terrific theater scene. I often go back to my home state to work onstage, and I am always impressed by the talent in the Twin Cities.The place to be for film
But if you are interested in film and television, then Los Angeles is the destination for you. This is still Mecca for that industry despite the fact that much of the filming is done in other areas, like Canada, Louisiana, even Iowa. I recently worked on a zombie movie in Iowa City , and my hubby, actor Chris Mulkey, is in New York this week shooting Boardwalk Empire, a new series for HBO. But wherever films go, they still cast the bigger roles out of L.A. Writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, they all tend to base themselves here. Two costume designers live on my block and next door is a property master who works on huge films. On the other side of me is an editor. We are indeed a film community. So if you want to have a career in film and television, you want to be here. And you know it won't be easy. (To quote my mother: "If it's easy, it's not worth doing.")How do you pack a contact?
So, what items will you be essential to your move?- A car
- Money
- Contacts
- A union card
- Passion