I moved to Los Angeles in 2004, and the city has changed a great deal since then. There are more people because no one leaves. There’s more traffic because there are more people. And rents have gone up because of that whole “more people” thing. But looking back, there’s a part of life here that has gone down: the level of in-state TV production.
Thanks to the cost of doing business in California, many of our shows have packed up and moved to other states. Hope you like hushpuppies and sweet tea, because tax incentives have turned the Southeast into the new place to shoot. I’ve got clients working in New Orleans and Richmond, Virginia, and Tyler Perry’s backyard.
Some studios have even chosen to produce their pilots in other countries, like Canada, Wales, and South Africa. Hell, one of the shows from last year was shot in Serbia. That’s right, Serbia.
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Now that pilot season has arrived, a lot of actors will be testing for series regular roles, and when they receive their test option agreements, they’ll see some relocation language in there. This will happen even if the project is being made in Southern California. Why? Because budgets change and relocation could be a factor down the road.
Here’s an example of a basic relocation clause:
If Studio exercises the Series Option and requires Performer to relocate for production of the Series, for the purposes of Performer’s initial relocation, Performer will receive a one-time relocation fee of $7,500 and one (1) round-trip airfare between Los Angeles and the Series production base location.
Let’s take this one step at a time: If you book a series regular role on a pilot that shoots on location, all the basic rules apply. Production will fly you there and they’ll provide ground transportation at both ends. You’ll stay in first class accommodations and you’ll receive a standard union per diem. Then, when production wraps, you’ll soar back home to your crappy apartment and you’ll chew your nails off waiting to hear if the pilot is destined to become a series.
In this case, congratulations! That’s exactly what happens. You get the good news in May and the studio picks up your option in June. Now is the time to consider your relocation options because this bad boy is shooting in the Big Easy. Laissez les bon temps rouler!
If it’s a network show with a 22-episode order, you might be on location for nine months, so you should consider renting an apartment there on a month-to-month basis. The $7,500 relocation fee will cover part of that cost but you’re responsible for the rest. That shouldn’t be an issue because as a series regular, you’ll be putting some serious scratch in your pocket.
If it’s a cable show that’s only shooting 10–13 episodes, there’s no need to actually move because you won’t be on location that long. It would make more sense to apply the relocation fee toward an Airbnb or a hotel room.
(Either way, you’re no longer an L.A. hire, so you won’t be receiving a per diem.)
Being on location for an extended period of time is an amazing life experience. You’ll get to know a new city and you’ll grow as a person and as a performer. So congratulations and have a few beignets for me!
Ready to catch your pilot season break? Check out our Los Angeles audition listings!
