International Resources
Pilot Season
When to Go
From January to around the end of April.
US studios cast many of their test television programs, in the hope networks will commission full seasons for the following fall’s schedule.
Most of the castings takes place in LA, and it’s this manic crazy period that is known as pilot season.
LA is abuzz with Actors during pilot season, with hundreds of roles up for grabs.
Trade publications announce new castings by the minute. While talent agents & managers fiercely pitch their clients, as thousands of actors line up daily outside casting Agents doors, hoping to score winning auditions.
Over 80 pilots are shot by the major US studios each pilot season. There is a lot of risk with Pilots costing approximately $4 million each. Securing a role in a pilot is a possible dream come true for any actor. But it is just the first step as relatively few pilots end up going to series.
It’s an emotional roller-coaster where opportunity meets luck for many actors.
He also has a word of warning: if you don’t have US representation, pilot season is just about the worst time of year to arrive. LA reps and casting directors will be too busy to meet new faces.
VISAS
Under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), most Australians can travel to the US for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Travelling under the VWP should suffice if you’re making your first trip to the States to take meetings and secure representation. If you’d like to stay longer, consider applying for a B1/B2 Business/Tourist visa, valid for 12 months or five years. However you should be aware that neither the VWP nor the B1/B2 will allow you to take up paid employment of any kind in the US (consult https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/612/~/foreign-embassies-and-consulates-in-australia more information).
If you’re lucky enough to be offered an acting gig, the production company will often arrange an ‘O-1 visa’ on your behalf. Best to give yourself a fighting chance by arriving with some of the documents your employer will need. These often include letters of endorsement from other (preferably famous) actors, ratings and box office reports, evidence of any awards or nominations you have received and copies of press clippings, along with materials like headshots, showreels and CVs, as they can set off alarm bells at customs if you’re entering on a non-working visa. You will also need to prove your temporary visitor status with a return ticket.
Production companies are increasingly reluctant to arrange O-1s for foreign actors, or in some cases even to audition them. If you’re serious about making a commitment to LA, she suggests getting a green card. However it’s a long and expensive process. A cheaper but less reliable avenue is the Diversity Lottery Program (or Green Card Lottery). It offers a total of 50,000 permanent resident visas annually to natives of countries with low rates of immigration to the US (including Australia).
However it’s not necessarily smooth sailing if you make it through the initial selection. It will still take six to 12 months to get organised.
LIVING IN LA
Almost every actor who’s visited LA recommends subletting via craigslist.com. Lung also uses westsiderentals.com, where it’s possible to find a nice place in West Hollywood (a preferred area because of its proximity to the major agencies in Beverly Hills) Or the ‘Newtown feel’ of Los Feliz. tip is to check the noticeboard at the Screen Actors Guild (5757 Wiltshire Boulevard) for notices from actors looking to sublet when work takes them interstate.
The expat community’s hire company of choice is supercheapcar.com, where rentals per month (hire car cover may be included in your travel insurance, so check your policy before handing over any extras). Over 18s with a valid driver’s license from their home country don’t need a California license until such time as they find a job there or become a resident (see dmv.ca.gov). You will also need a California licence if you want to buy a car. Online classifieds recyler.com and also visited the LAPD’s impounded vehicle auctions (visit nationwideauction.com for details).
You will also need a directory: the classic LA companion is the Thomas Guide, although Glenn prefers the more comprehensive Not For Tourists Guide (notfortourists.com) that includes listings for post offices, cafes and petrol stations – helpful for killing time between auditions. Of course all this adds up, especially if you’re visiting on a non-working visa, so budget for at least AU$3500 per month, and be prepared for some hidden financial burdens. These include getting a prepaid cell phone, setting up a post office box, having US-style head shots and reels done, and retrieving your car when it’s impounded (which, in LA, is frequent). A popular way to balance the stress is to set up an exercise routine like hiking, yoga or joining a local gym.
SEEING AND BEING SEEN
For a taste of old school Hollywood, you can’t beat a drink amongst the glitterati at the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard. The Standard hotels and the Skybar in West Hollywood’s Mondrian Hotel are equally nice places to visit, although you probably won’t want to stay in any of them until such time as someone else is footing the bill. For a more reasonably priced stargazing experience, Mauro’s Cafe at the Melrose Avenue department store Fred Segal.
LA is famous for its health-consciousness, and some of the picks include Elixir teahouse (Melrose), sugarfree bakery and café Mäni’s (Fairfax), The Farmers Market (3rd and Fairfax), health food chain Whole Foods Market and organic restaurant Axe in Venice. For cheaper eats, head to Koreatown, Thaitown or the Mexican fast food chain Baja Fresh.
Once you land a job, you’ll be far too busy to enjoy the nightlife, so see some live acts while you can at Johnny Depp’s Viper Room (Sunset and Larrabee) or the Los Feliz restaurant Tangier. The Hollywood strip joint Jumbo’s Clown Room is a favourite haunt of industry types but for a less stimulating drink, look out for the cool, hidden bars in Chinatown, such as Mountain Bar.