Now that filming is everywhere, do screenwriters still need to live in Hollywood?
Advice from a TV writer/showrunner
With various cities offering major tax incentives, film and television production is fleeing Los Angeles. Production studios can now be found in New Mexico, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Nevada just to name a few.
This means that film and television writers no longer need to live in Hollywood, right?
Not so fast.
Even though production is moving, the vast majority of writing is still being done in Los Angeles.
That’s just how it is.
During COVID, most writing staffs convened online, so it was possible to write from anywhere. It was better than nothing, but most would agree that the work generated wasn’t as good as it was in person.
Today, most writing rooms are back in person.
But just as importantly, how are you supposed to make the connections you need to get hired in the first place. The agents, the studio executives, the showrunners… they’re all in Hollywood.
Hollywood is still the hub, even if shooting is moving elsewhere.
Does that mean it’s impossible to break into Hollywood unless you move Hollywood?
If you had asked me twenty years ago, I would’ve said yes. But the industry is evolving rapidly. So today, my answer is different.
If breaking into Hollywood as a screenwriter is your goal, I have a ton of useful info in the archives of this Substack. Most of it is behind the paywall, but if you subscribe for a year, it’s only $4/month.
Go get it!