What Made you Smile/What Ticked you off Today?

[REPO Man]

You can get friends in other cities.

I can also make friends in NYC.

I’m sorry I’m a little new to the conversation. What’s the reason for the move to NYC?

I'm looking to break into filmmaking, and NYC's film industry is the best on the east coast and second only to LA in the whole world.

I've also considered branching out into other endeavors, most of which are easier to do in NYC.

This is a LONG story that's been litigated to death. REPO is stuck in BFE where nobody appreciates his "eclectic" tastes, he has no friends, and he's working too many hours at minimum wage dead-end jobs. Moving to New York will allow him to make friends, meet his dream partner, and find his dream job/life in content creation in movies and/or on Broadway[/quote

That's a very basic version of it.

, plying the skills he has none of YET because he has no time or resources to develop them. Moving to NYC will provide REPO with many of the resources needed to cultivate and expand his abilities, while most skills accrued on the Outer Banks only really prepares one for life on the Outer Banks.

Fixed.

Either that or this is a really long troll that could also be a desperate cry for attention and recognition.

No.

I wouldn't go as far as to call his taste awful.

Thank you.

My biggest beef though is that I've never seen him saying WHY he likes or dislikes the stuff. A lot of directors, including ones he loves like Godard, started out as critics. Plus, there's the fact that all I've seen him write is one chapter of a King of the Hill fanfic. He's gonna have to practice a hell of a lot more than that.

Most times I'm posting from my phone or tablet and can't type as efficiently. I've tried using a Bluetooth keyboard but performance has always been less than stellar. So I don't always have the ability to regurgitate plot points and explain my thoughts on them. And I know I have to practice more than that.

Like I've said before, I even listen to stuff like reductionism, onkyo, and power electronics. I can't find people who share my taste in the city, but I find people who appreciate it, and even people with polar opposite tastes are still fun to hang out with. I believe that is cause my taste is sincere. I admit, I was a snob when I first started out exploring music and films in-depth, but I believe that was a sort of venture of me trying to "improve myself" and slowly becoming an expert in another avenue. Keep in mind, I live in an INCREDIBLY boring city. I won't say where, but there were memes and stuff that made it internationally about how this city is, and I can STILL find tons of people to hang with.

The problem with me is that I live in a very provincial town, where everyone pretty much likes all the same things and whenever I try to introduce someone to something new they usually snub their nose at it without knowing anything about it. At least when I "snub my nose" at something I know enough to know I won't like it.

He wants to write for something like SNL or 30 Rock

30 Rock ended ages ago and SNL, if what I've heard is true, is a three-ring circus of bullshit.

and has ambitions of showing up on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, or be on a talk show.

I wouldn't hate it TBH.

There ya go REPO. That’s your in. Trade school. Chop chop.

Given that I'm trying to pursue filmmaking, wouldn't film school be more up my alley? And considering how expensive it is, wouldn't it be more prudent to learn the necessary skills on my own?

After spending the first year or year-and-a-half of busting my ass, I'd focus on making short films and music videos for unsigned indie bands. Once I've cultivated a decent portfolio I'd be able to have an easier time of getting funding for my full-length feature film debut. Right now I'm thinking something realistic, very slice-of-life and can be shot for little money (like in the ten-thousands range).

[fastbilly1]

Never assume anyone in the film industry is going to just do something. I know people that have made 100 million dollar budget films that made their money back, and they cannot get 10 million* together to make a passion project.

*10 million gets you a 30 person crew, a dozen locations, and a b list actor if they are passionate about your project, if not you are in c/d list.

[Gucci]

Against my better judgement, I'm going to go down this path...

You say that NYC is the best place for the filming industry: where are you sources that state this?
How do you even know what resources are available here? Have you gone to NYC? Have you met and spoken to industry vets?
Who do you currently know who is working in the industry now in NYC that can corroborate the above statements? Performing arts is very much a "who do you know" type fields.
Can they help you get a job lined up prior to your move here?
What exactly does New York offer to the aspiring filmmaker that you can't get in a city closer to you, such as Charlotte, NC?
Do you have capital and the ability and expertise to acquire capital for future projects?
Given the vastness of the internet today, why can't anything you want to do be done where you currently are?
How do you know it'll take a year and a half to get to a point where indie bands would want to hire you? Where's your sources that it would take that long?

Filmmaking school costs money. Based on what I've read here, r/personalfinance would have thrown you out from their sub.

Edit: https://www.productionhub.com/directory/profiles/film-production-companies/us/north-carolina/charlotte
That was a 20 second google search in Charlotte, NC. Have you looked into something local like that? Have you tried to get a job with one of these companies?

Edit 2: https://www.charlottefilm.com/
Edit 3: https://charlotte.axios.com/234610/north-carolinas-film-industry-is-gaining-momentum-again/

This is comical. You have every resource available to you so close to home.

[marurun]

Gucci, you're hitting the same points we all have. Those in the forums who live in NYC, their opinions don't matter. Those who work in or adjacent to the film industry, their opinions don't matter. NYC is his dream, not his reality, and you can't contradict a dream because it's never going to happen anyway.

And that's why I strongly suspect this is a con. Because otherwise I have to assume some things that would make me a bad person.

[Gucci]

Gucci, you're hitting the same points we all have. Those in the forums who live in NYC, their opinions don't matter. Those who work in or adjacent to the film industry, their opinions don't matter. NYC is his dream, not his reality, and you can't contradict a dream because it's never going to happen anyway.

And that's why I strongly suspect this is a con. Because otherwise I have to assume some things that would make me a bad person.

I suspect the same. This is my first foray into this rabbit hole and I'm already *this* close to losing my shit.

Edit: not for nothing but Charlotte looks like a pretty dope city. Maybe when it’s a bit cooler out I’ll take the drive out there for a weekend or something.

[Ack]

I love it. The drama is always highly entertaining.

[PretentiousHipster]

I kind of see, and have been, in this situation, so I feel almost obligated to help. I got my first kiss at 27, had no friends until then, and even though my job was "fancier" it still felt like a dead end. College was my "NYC", but instead of doing nothing I overworked on it. I will say this: NYC won't satisfy him. The expectations are literally so high now that they will never be met, and that's if he even accomplishes this goal.

You can say that the problem is more of an existential nature. If it's like me he sees life as an empty void, and barely anything fun, and NYC is his way "out" of it.

This goes beyond achieving goals. Yes, going to another city could help. Getting in my first relationship and finally getting friends helped me. But, I didn't get those from achieving my goal. It was all from within. I do think in his case moving out will help, but hell he won't even have to leave the state.

I hate to say it, but I feel like at this point it'll have to be the same as me, which is hitting rock bottom. For my case it was being institutionalized in the psych ward. It gave me so much time for introspection, and a reflection of my direction in life. Everything was scary during that time, but I was able to change.

I just really hope that REPO will reach that point before hitting rock bottom, because that stuff is never fun.

[PretentiousHipster]

Gucci, you're hitting the same points we all have. Those in the forums who live in NYC, their opinions don't matter. Those who work in or adjacent to the film industry, their opinions don't matter. NYC is his dream, not his reality, and you can't contradict a dream because it's never going to happen anyway.

And that's why I strongly suspect this is a con. Because otherwise I have to assume some things that would make me a bad person.

I suspect the same. This is my first foray into this rabbit hole and I'm already *this* close to losing my shit.

Edit: not for nothing but Charlotte looks like a pretty dope city. Maybe when it’s a bit cooler out I’ll take the drive out there for a weekend or something.

This probably could apply to everyone, but I actually do recommend going to Toronto or Montreal, especially if you are into the arts. I dunno how the video game scenes are there though. If anyone stops by there, shoot me a PM and I'll say where I am if you wanna have a quick stop. There are a few decent video game stores here, but the best one is only open on Sundays.

[marurun]

I just really hope that REPO will reach that point before hitting rock bottom, because that stuff is never fun.

This is why I would much rather this was a long-troll. Because if that's the case he's an ass and not headed for a serious life crisis that will hit him like a MAC truck.

It's also why I'm not pushing him harder to move to Atlanta. Ack would kill me.

[Gucci]

I’ve been to Montreal once in my early 20s and I really wanna go back. Toronto is on my list. All three cities are drivable as I have a silly fear of flying. Montreal is about 8-9 hour drive. Same for Toronto. Charlotte is almost 10. All three doable.