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Originally posted by Aspiring mogul

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Do you mean a producer who made it big without ever working
in LA, NY, or Vancouver?

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CI, yes, that's what I mean. Frank Capra would be a good example - I'm learning. Make it big as in Steven Spielberg or George Lucas or Francis Ford Coppola - that's the rule of thumb for opportunities. If someone made it big in one center, then that is the place with lots of opportunities for an aspiring modul.

Take high tech - you can build a world class tech company outside Silicon Valley, as in Boston, Waterloo (Canada), or Japan. So there are opportunities for aspiring tech tycoons, or, for that matter, someone wanting to move sideways in his career. So you go to these centers, which would, on average, have more opportunities - you don't have to limit yourself to Silicon Valley.

By the way, I'm now convinced that Silicon Valley has lost its ability to be creative and innovative, and there will be opportunities for a new area that will astound the world in leading creative high tech research. I think it will be in the US, which has the most creative can-do culture on Earth, but where in the US, I don't know yet. I'm keeping my eyes and ears tuned.

Now, for film, I don't know of any company who has made it big in North America outside the big three. There are, of course, many film companies in Japan who have established world icons, like Godzilla and the Japanese anime's. But I'm not talking of them; I'm talking of the US and Canada.

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Well, ultimately, it's about the product a Producer helps create more than where he created it. So, in terms of that, no, you don't have to be glued to any particular city.

However, the "biggies" in the industry have either started their careers in LA or NY or at least spent significant time there. Currently, most PRODUCERS who you might have heard of (Bruckheimer, Grazer, Lucas...) and many you haven't do live and work primarily in LA although they have second homes elsewhere too.

Some people who Produce from time to time earn most of their living from directing or acting, so I don't know if they count toward your question. But most of those too, also live and work in LA or NY (Spielberg, Scorcese, Howard,...)

The bottom line is that for the best chance of meeting the right people who have the money you need to get your projects going, you have to be around them, and they mostly live and work in LA or NY.

You COULD live and work in some other smaller city or town and "develop" a project, but at some point, you'll need financing so you'll have to contact those with that kind of money. There's nothing to say that you can't live in a smaller place and then just travel when you have to. If you already know people who have access to that kind of money, then by all means, live somewhere else. I would!

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

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Originally posted by Aspiring mogul
Now, for film, I don't know of any company who has made it big in North America outside the big three.

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Me neither.

Which of the big three are you going to choose?

I know people in banking and finance, so that's not an issue, especially since I go to NY quite often.

But I was referring to the talent pool - LA and NY would have more and better directors, key grips, and stuntmen - that's what I'm referring to. As for meeting the bigwigs, I can do that without having to move.

I may be moving, but, after discussing with you and CI, I'm beginning to think that's not too important. I live on the West Coast, so LA is not that far away - and I go to NY quite often, as I said.