What is the film/TV industry like in Boston? Theater too.?

Question

I am thinking of moving from San Diego to Boston and wanted to feel out what the liklihood of my being able to stay in my field of Television casting or teacher theatre would be. Does Boston have a strong foot in the industry. I know NY and LA are better choices. But I have done NY and now what to stay near my family who might be moving to Falmouth. Advice is appreciated!

Answer 1

If your casting is limited to TV not films, I think you are going to run into a tougher situation. Even with film, it is a politically based answer, as the MA film commission has gone from being one of the strongest in the US, to horrid, but they reorganized and are working hard to offer incentives to try to bring business back to the state. And obviously the more filming, the more casting.

For TV, if you take the biggies (CA, NY) out of the equation, MA does a fair amount of commericals and industry pieces, so there is some casting room there. There are a few established agencies that generally handle that...have you tried talking to them to see what the availability is? That is something only they could answer.

I had clients in this field so I can speak in generalities of the local industry, but sounds like you need some current specifics. If you need their names I could get them, but would assume you know them.

As for teaching, that is where you likely would have success. Keep in mind that Boston has the highest concentration of Colleges and Universities of any city. And many, such as BU, Emerson, and others have good sized theater departments. I'd check their web sites for available positions in them.

I hope you are not considering moving to Falmouth to do this though, as that would be a horrid commute. With no traffic, Boston to Falmouth is about an hour and a half. But there is always traffic in Boston PLUS in the summer you would have the Cape traffic nightmare ontop of the usual commuting nightmare. So hope you are thinking of living closer to Boston and just being able to visit family often (it's nice to have folks to visit on the Cape!!).

I think timing is the most important factor here...there definately are jobs, but they aren't plentiful. Hopefully if it's the right place for you to be (to get mystical lol), the perfect one will pop up.

Good luck with it!

Answer 2

In regards to teaching....you could check out Dean College (located in Franklin,MA....just an hour away from Boston). One of the biggest theatre programs in the region.....

Otherwise,with the right connections, you could find some pretty good jobs in TeleCasting services around Boston......and some great and really original performing arts too....ever been to the midevil manor?Great fun,great people...great old friends of mine..

In any case, good luck :-)

Answer 3

The thing is, if you do get a part in something, you will probably be asked to move to california! I think I better idea is to stay in california