So, you have a film degree in your possession, you’ve garnered experience and credibility working on numerous small productions and you feel that you are finally ready to make a name for yourself and establish a career in film; but where do you go? It is very likely that your first choice would be Hollywood, California because it is the self-proclaimed “entertainment capital of the world.” But depending on where you live and what your projected cost-of-living budget, coupled with troubling climatic data and some controversial standards and practices, Hollywood may not be the ideal place for you to establish a career in film. To fully understand why, you must first know how Hollywood became synonymous with the entertainment industry in the first
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To begin with, because Hollywood has become the epicenter for film production in the United States, tourism has led to a higher cost of living. In fact, the overall cost of living in West Hollywood is 46.4% more expensive than in Atlanta, Georgia (“Comparison”) whose film industry has generated $9.5 billion in economic impact during the 2017 fiscal year. (Hensley) This is the result of many sound stage complexes running operations in Atlanta including Pinewood Atlanta Studios, EUE/Screen Gems Studios, Atlanta Metro Studios, Tyler Perry Studios and Blackhall Studios. (Hensley) In addition, the very same climate in Hollywood that was once inviting to filmmakers has become one of the things that is driving them away with rampant wildfires that can last for days, drought-like conditions, and the constant potential for earthquakes like the Northridge earthquake of 1994 which, at $20 billion in property damage, was the costliest natural disaster in the United States until Hurricane Katrina. (Bartholomew) But geographic and economic problems are not the only reasons why productions are moving away from Hollywood, it is also due to shady business practices and controversial behavior within the Hollywood system. The most recent example of troubling behavior is the numerous sexual harassment claims against Hollywood moguls and celebrities including producer Harvey Weinstein and actor Kevin Spacey. A recent survey was conducted by USA Today which showed that out of 843 women, 94% claimed they have experienced sexual harassment or assault. (Puente and Kelly) And not only are women frequently being targeted for sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood, but there is also a sexist agenda in regard to women obtaining jobs in the film industry in Hollywood. In films that have female directors,
To begin with, because Hollywood has become the epicenter for film production in the United States, tourism has led to a higher cost of living. In fact, the overall cost of living in West Hollywood is 46.4% more expensive than in Atlanta, Georgia (“Comparison”) whose film industry has generated $9.5 billion in economic impact during the 2017 fiscal year. (Hensley) This is the result of many sound stage complexes running operations in Atlanta including Pinewood Atlanta Studios, EUE/Screen Gems Studios, Atlanta Metro Studios, Tyler Perry Studios and Blackhall Studios. (Hensley) In addition, the very same climate in Hollywood that was once inviting to filmmakers has become one of the things that is driving them away with rampant wildfires that can last for days, drought-like conditions, and the constant potential for earthquakes like the Northridge earthquake of 1994 which, at $20 billion in property damage, was the costliest natural disaster in the United States until Hurricane Katrina. (Bartholomew) But geographic and economic problems are not the only reasons why productions are moving away from Hollywood, it is also due to shady business practices and controversial behavior within the Hollywood system. The most recent example of troubling behavior is the numerous sexual harassment claims against Hollywood moguls and celebrities including producer Harvey Weinstein and actor Kevin Spacey. A recent survey was conducted by USA Today which showed that out of 843 women, 94% claimed they have experienced sexual harassment or assault. (Puente and Kelly) And not only are women frequently being targeted for sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood, but there is also a sexist agenda in regard to women obtaining jobs in the film industry in Hollywood. In films that have female directors,