Writing in LA/ Shooting in NYC

** This is a dupe post from my myspace.com page.

So for those of you who don't know, I'm moving to L.A. next summer to write.
The plan is to take a reputable month-long acclimation/refresher course (which happens to be Christian in orientation) and then to try to get some film and tv assignments. The program I'm applying to is well known for helping good writers find work after they complete the course. I might try to sell a script or two. But that's the plan--move to LA, get paid to write.

The problem is, as most of you know, that I'm also a filmmaker. But I'm a snob. I LOVE the east coast. All my stories take place on the east coast in big cities or on small farms. I lived the east coast, I grew up with the grit and the mug and the attitude of the east coast, and that's what's in me.

My ultimate goal is to start my own production and development company so that I can hunt down and nurture kids like myself who have stories to tell to touch people where it's right. I don't think I want to do that in LA. I think I want to do that in New York. Mind you, I've only had limited work experience in New York. The bulk of my work has been in Philadelphia as a student/freelancer/photographer/poet. I've done CRAZY experimental run-and-gun guerilla video work (I eschew film) and I thrive on the vibe. But it's not conducive to your health as an artist or as a Christian. I nearly went stark raving while I was in Philly (close enough for people to think that I was either going nuts, or possessed by a demon). Moving right along.

Moving to LA is something I want to do for myself as a 22 year old developing human/Christian/artist. I want to get a real apartment (not a studio in the sex district, or a room in the ghetto), sleep on a real bed (not a futon), have a dining room table (one that doesn't fold up and go behind the fridge), and actually celebrate God/Love/Art. I don't want to hate myself for not being poor, or eat ghetto chinese food at 2 am because I didn't have breakfast til 5 pm, and haven't been able to stop eating since. I want to grow up. I want to get cable, and decide for myself that I don't want to watch it. I want the freedom to have woodchuck apple cider in my fridge without feeling like I'm going to go to hell for drinking it. I don't want to give away my car because I'm ashamed of being able to pay for private parking. I want to like myself again. I don't want to feel like less of a man, or less of Christian, or less of an artist because I'm not all up in someone's click.

Granted, a lot of these issues are not geographical in nature, but I really want to take advantage of the fresh start to...start fresh. I'm more than familiar with the "anywhere but here" mentality, but that's not what this is about. I just need to change, and be on my own with God and whoever he puts in my path. I'm thankful for my past, but I'm looking forward with anticipation to my future.

And if I die here in Texas tomorrow, that'll be fine too. To live is Christ; to die is gain. It's crazy, but true.

So to tie it all in, the goal is to write for money, build somewhat of a reputation, and then to take the money and the reputation back to the east coast to open a NYC studio.

And I sort of feel bad for being so money-driven...but I've been around the block in most media cirlces and I've rarely been paid anything near my worth for my art/craft. Once I got 500 bucks for 8 hours of shooting and consultation on a public art project, and another time as an actor, I made $150.00 for a one-night show about tolerance and respect (2 wks of rehearsals)...I also got a school hoodie for that one. Big whoop. Thankfully, I have a stable family that has always supported me and the literal need for money has never been a problem. There have been times when money's been really tight, when I've had to forgo a semester of school, or when I've had to work at home (isntead of traveling or bumming around) during school breaks, but by-and-large, I haven't felt the poverty bug that much...so getting paid for my work has honestly never been a priority. But now I look around, and I have goals of doing bigger things and I think it's time for there to be a dollar ammount attached to the projects I do. I'm also keeping the possibility of getting married in mind. But fear not. Hill City Parable will always be your Daddy. The free Hill City Parable Projects will always be there. I could name a few high profile ones that I've just completed, but that'd be grimy...And I might be ugly, but I'm not grimy.

Man, this would have been a nice podcast. All things in due time.
Peace and octopi.

Adam Tillman-Young