Too many young actors and actresses who move to Hollywood, think it’s all a big party scene. They think their life will mirror TV shows like: The OC, Laguna Beach, Gossip Girl, or The Hills. It won’t. Life in LA is so much more difficult, expensive, urban, dirty, poverty-stricken, stressful, and oftentimes, just plain boring, than you can ever imagine. What we see every week on TV is nothing like the reality of the hard slog of being a professional actor. If this is a surprise to you, then maybe you’d better rethink your move to LA!

Because it’s so hard to live and work in LA, many acting professionals can get easily lured into a crazy kind of lifestyle, and many get quickly burnt out. How can you come to LA and be prepared for all the stress? …

When I first moved to LA, waaaayyy back in 1989, I came by myself. I was moving there to be part of the USC Masters in Acting program, so I knew I’d meet new people. But I have to tell you… it was a very lonely first year. I’d wake up alone in my cute little apartment, and look out the window into the (always) bright blue sky, and instead of saying, “Yeah! I’ve made it!” — I’d think, “God, not another boring cloudless day!” I felt so alone. I’d spend many hours crying myself to sleep, wondering what in the hell I’d done, running around the Fairfax High School track, to keep in shape, saying, “I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!” But I was pretty lonely.

For those of you …

Since no one walks anywhere in LA, and since everything is about 1/2 an hour to 45 minutes away from everything else in LA, you will need to own a car. Might I also add here that LA is hot as you know what in the summer. If your car doesn’t have air-conditioning, good luck arriving at meetings looking fresh!

As a working actor, you will be expected to drop what you are doing with one phone call from your agent, and head out the door 5 minutes later to go on an audition. This makes life a bit difficult if you have a full time job (which you will!) and if your job is at the Macy’s in the Valley, and your audition is in Santa Monica. That being said, if you have a reliable car, you won’t …

Because LA is so much more expensive than most people think, I’ve tried to make up a rough monthly estimate of what you will need, money wise, to live comfortably in Los Angeles. Keep in mind, I’ve estimated low in most cases. And of course, I’m not talking luxury living here, this is actually the bare basics. You could delete a few of these items, of course, and survive, but let’s face it: no one likes a smelly sick actor with a broken down old car and headshots from 1998! You WILL need money to have a competitive advantage, or even just a sane, normal life.

Estimated Monthly Costs Of Living In LA

Rent: $1000 ($2,000 without roommate, doesn’t include $1,500 deposit)
Car Gas: $300 (this is low if you drive an SUV)
Car Insurance: $150 (this is low basic for LA, you’ll need …

Although acting and modeling aren’t exactly the same thing, they share many similarities. And even though I’ve never had much experience working in the modeling world, other than a few modely type commercials, and a few print auditions, I still find myself oddly addicted to ANTM! Why? Well, I think it’s because it reminds me so much of the whole experience of acting professionally. Also, I am constantly impressed with the dedication Tyra Banks shows to the young women in her show. She is a compassionate and supportive teacher and role model to so many young women, and she believes in helping future models understand the truth and reality of making it in the modeling world. That, and she’s so darned BRILLIANT! I’m sure many of you reading this post will agree, that if you’re …

I hope posting the email excerpts between myself and Bethany and Dee, in Part 1, can help a few other Christian actors and actresses realize that they are not alone. I know there are many Christian film and acting groups in LA. One, I believe, meets at the Hollywood Presbyterian Church. And another meets through the Beverly Hills Episcopalian Church, I think. You can also find out more about Christian filmmakers by going to Ted Baer’s Movieguide Website, or also, The Media Wise Family Website; and you can even volunteer to go and work at the Movieguide Awards every year (considered The Christian Oscars) where you will meet many other like minded people like you!

You will find that if you run into any Christian filmmakers or producers or actors, you really are …