85 ADVICE FROM ALUMS RELOCATING (LOS ANGELES) MARY GRAFF ASHLEY Class of 1997 Behind the Scenes Editor Disney/ABCTelevision Group Los Angeles, California “For moving to Los Angeles, give it a fair, solid 6 months. Don’t drive out and see what you think and then go back to Michigan. Save up the money. Get the financial, logistical, and emotional support you need from friends, family, and colleagues. Get a place. Might take a few months to find work. Might not take that long. Give it a fair shot, and if it still doesn’t feel right after 6 or more months, you can always move home.” GEORGE KITSON Class of 2004 TV Writer, Producer Marvel Los Angeles, California “Save as much money as you can before moving out. LA is an expensive city, and you want to give yourself time to get settled and look for work. Do your research, know what you want, and stay focused, as it can be easy to get sidetracked by jobs that are not helping you towards your ultimate goal. Work hard; be positive and kind to everyone you meet. Lastly, you have to be your own advocate: be confident, speak up, and don’t be afraid to remind people what you are ultimately working towards.” JASON HONEYCUTT Class of 1998 Staff Editor, Director, Editor, Director of Photography for Music Videos and Commercials FX Network Los Angeles, California “The key to getting into the industry in Los Angeles is attitude on top of talent: staying humble, appreciating the opportunity you have been given. Get your foot in the door with an entry-level job of any kind or use your college connection to get an internship and time it around your graduation. Or even do a one-credit after-graduation internship (like I did) as an excuse to get in somewhere to prove yourself. I’ve seen so many internships turn into full-paying jobs, so do your internships at the end of your college years so you’ll be available to be hired immediately. You spend a lot of time with a crew, and the main thing people want is someone who’s great to be around and is talented.” A.J. BEDARD Class of 2017 Editor Project X/AV Burbank, California “For those looking to move to Los Angeles I have to say it can be a tricky place to navigate (in every sense of the word). Work opportunities come and go so quickly that it will make your head spin. But if you know what you’re passionate about and looking for, you can buckle down, apply to as many openings as you can, and land an opportunity to start your career. It will take time, and you’ll need to be fine with that, but once the door is opened you’ll be off and running.” STACY WALSCH Class of 2000 Writer, Editor, Writing Coach, Teacher, and Podcaster Freelance West Olive, Michigan “Put your time in, and pay your dues. Particularly in LA, people notice hard work, consistency, and genuine warmth and friendliness.” 1 2 5 4 3 Class of 2010 Digital Media Producer Northville, Michigan “If you want to find work easily, go to production centers such as New York, LA, or Atlanta. If you’re in a technical field, join the unions there, they will train you and get you setup. If you want to be a Director, Producer, AD; then become an assistant or a Production Assistant. Those will lead to more possibilities that could lead to something else.” Jonathan Sessions 6
