Welcome to L.A.!

Aloha, My Dear Readers, (Whomever and wherever you may be!)


To my American friends, I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July weekend! I heard that fireworks shows were cancelled back home in Florida due to the rain. If it makes you feel better, fireworks are against the law where I live because the climate is so dry, the mountain in our back yard might catch on fire. You laugh, but that is exactly what happened about eight months ago! My roommates described it as something straight out of Lord of the Rings. (Movie geeks. You gotta love them!)


It has been about three weeks since I moved to Los Angeles (already?!?!) and I have been hitting the pavement virtually nonstop since I have arrived, searching for employment. On one hand, I feel that I was born to be here because there is so much emphasis in the arts and just about anything else you like to do here. On the other hand, I have never seen so many out-of-work or under-employed artists in my life! LOL!


I contacted an old neighbor of mine from Boca Raton, Florida who is producing his own film in L.A. right now. I told him that I just applied to be a crew member for about 22 featured films shooting within the next few months. He says, "Great! Now you only have about 400 more to go!" Wow, what am I getting myself into?


Since I have arrived here, my only gigs have included being a paid audience member for the T.V. shows "Minute to Win It" and "Don't Forget That Lyric." Tia Carrere was a celebrity guest star, playing for charity on "Don't Forget the Lyric." I thought it was hilarious that a Grammy winner and former rocker on "Wayne's World" got every song wrong! They actually had to stop taping to help her with the first couple of songs. I admit, I probably would have failed horribly on that show as well. If I was in her place, the directors of the show would probably receive text messages from the audience in all CAPS reading, "KICK HIM OFF THE STAGE!!!"


I also got to be a part of the (un-paid) audience for the Jay Leno show, where Queen Latifa was a guest star. In my opinion, she is such a classy, fun, and wonderful woman and role-model (unlike the incredible vane reality show star from "Jersey Shore" who also appeared that night and will remain nameless).


I absolutely love it here in Los Angeles. However, being without a source of income is becoming nerve-wrecking. I'm am beginning to rapidly understand all the stories I've read about people volunteering themselves for medical experimentation, plasma blood donations, and other means of supplemental income. The military is starting to look very tempting right about now. Welcome to L.A.!


On a productive note, I bought a great book for writers, called, "Write the Perfect Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why" by Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman. After reading some very useful tips, I changed my book title (3 times) and finally completed a pretty darn good first draft book proposal. I feel confident to start sending query letters to literary agents for my first nonfiction book. Today, I think I may also have found the perfect agent for me. Wish me luck!


Mahalo! (Thanks!)


Luis
www.GlobalQuestGame.com