Los Angeles vs Atlanta 2016

​I can’t even believe this is my first blog post of 2016.
 
I guess I fell out of love with documenting my journey and more in love with just trying to present for it. However, it still amazes me how many people reach out to me based upon one blog post about “Los Angeles vs Atlanta.”
 
It’s a growing topic and the industry in Atlanta just doesn’t seem to be slowing down. I’m not even sorry about it. I honestly did not mean to be here for as long as I have been here but I have recently renewed my lease and I’m well into my third year here in Atlanta. Maybe I’ll buy a house. I’m still holding on to my Beverly Hills area code and my driver’s license is still from Cali because I had sincere intentions of returning during the summer of 2015.
 
I go back to LA as often as I need to and I’m about a month out of my most recent trip and here are the things that stand out the most to me that are still different between the two cities:

1. LA still has more resources than Atlanta does. I am not sure how long it will take to close in this gap for Atlanta but from where I’m standing, it’s never going to happen. In other words, Atlanta is for building. And this is where it gets confusing. It’s a great place for new actors because they cast smaller roles out of Atlanta. It’s not a great place if you’re specifically on the market for training. So get trained in LA or NYC, and then come to Atlanta to build.
2. If you have a short project you want to debut while you’re there, try the Indie Night Film Festival. If you tell them you’re in town only for a short while, they’ll work with you about showing it. The ManCave is also great for screenings (I hear), but I haven’t been there.

3. The hustle in LA is real. I have more writer friends than I realized and seriously, every single one of them write everyday. They are self-disciplined. They claim some real estate at coffee houses and they work on their projects. Doesn’t matter if they have sold a show or not. They write. In the same regard, actors act. I ran into one of my Instagram followers 5 times in 8 days and each day he was performing. I saw him in my old acting class, singing back up for Tisha Campbell at her nightclub, and the other nights, he was still performing or doing something artistic. I was blown away by his passion and dedication. I’ve never seen anything of the sort in Atlanta. 
Because this topic is only going to get more and more popular, I’m releasing an updated edition of my book: The LA Actor Conquers Atlanta. It’s already been two years. I have booked roles, met lots of new people, and taken even more casting director workshops. I am still excited about my journey and I hope I’m helping you with yours!