Hollywood on Extreme Mode: Editing Inside vs. Outside the Hubs
Do you need to live in LA or NYC to sustain a career as a film editor?
The short answer in today’s industry landscape? In my opinion, it is an overall, resounding NO. That is probably bad advice though to someone starting their career. I’ll explain.
Now, whatever anyone says (me included) is just an opinion built from their own learned experience. Honestly, I’ve never bought into the idea that moving to a ridiculously expensive city for a money hungry, billionaire led industry that doesn’t truly care about artists is a hard requirement. BUT…and there’s always a but here…there are clear advantages to being in the center of it all. Here is how I see the reality of the debate.
The Reality Check
If we’ve met or you’ve followed my story, you probably know I’m not living in LA or NYC while working as a film and television editor. Never have. And honestly I assume you are probably tired of hearing it if you do know me lol. But any time I meet someone new there is a genuine shock that I’ve been able to sustain a career living outside these cities. And sometimes I’m shocked the more and more I tell people.
Today’s landscape in post production is shockingly grim for so many people. FilmLA recently issued their Q4 update, and while there is some talk of momentum from new tax credits, the numbers tell a heavy story. Overall, 2025 finished with production activity down over 16 percent from the year before. Feature films and TV dramas took even bigger hits, with some categories sitting nearly 50 percent below their five year average. Even with 119 projects recently awarded incentives to stay in California, the overall volume of work is still at some of its lowest levels outside of the pandemic.
Now, with Paramount purchasing Warner Bros., the entire framework of filmmaking is in question. The industry won't look the same, and honestly, it hasn’t for a while. I assume outside of the hubs in places like Atlanta, this data gets even more depressing. I have met and talked to so many editors, assistants, and VFX producers that have left for the corporate world altogether. These are people working directly in the center of the expensive LA or NYC industries and struggle to find enough work to continue in a field they love so much. It’s depressing.
Work is still being done, don’t get me wrong, but if you view Hollywood as a microcosm of the country at large, you could metaphorically say the middle class (the majority of working editors) is struggling while those working at the top shows seem to get rehired over and over again. Those editors have cemented their career status in these respective cities and the show budgets are huge. And I respect them all because working at that level is no joke with tons of pressure to land a bazillion dollar film or show on the post tarmac.
Working on a top scripted show in LA or NYC as an editor could net you $5k+ per week. That kind of salary consistently can really help you sustain a quality life in those cities. But as we all know those budgets aren’t plentiful. Short or feature film indies can be next to nothing and sometimes even deferred. You can work on amazing projects and go to the best festivals in the world and still have to work at Starbucks to make ends meet and pay rent. There’s a reason the starving artist term exists. It feels lately it applies more than ever.
So I get back to my original thesis: Does it matter where you live then? If people in these cities also struggle to make ends meet and the top editors get the top jobs, what’s the point of living there to break in? I’ve had the privilege to be a part of American Cinema Editors and serve on multiple committees. The honorary society is Hollywood’s top organization for editors. It’s a who’s who in post really. Being involved has pushed me to meet more and more people in these cities and also travel and absorb what their collective experiences are living in the hubs. So I’m going to list my pros and cons as I see them of living or not living in the industry hubs.
Why do the Hubs still matter?
While I advocate for the "anywhere" approach overall, let’s be real about what you lose by staying away. These are very real and important aspects and you should know them:
Access to the Pulse: In places like NYC or LA, you aren’t just getting movies; you’re getting constant access to people, high-level art, and independent films with diverse voices that you simply won't get in the middle of nowhere Alabama. Exposure to that specific brand of "fringe" creativity and variety is vital to your growth as a filmmaker. Empathy is built through this and is such an important trait as an editor.
The Power of Incentives: This is a huge, practical piece of the puzzle. Many states offer aggressive tax credits to incentivize production and post-production, but there’s often a catch: you have to be there in person for filmmakers to take advantage of them. If a production needs to hit a certain "local spend" or hire a specific percentage of local talent to unlock millions in credits, being a resident of that hub makes you a much more attractive hire.
Creative Immersion: Being able to walk into a screening, a museum, or a random industry mixer on a Tuesday night is a massive creative level-up. That kind of immersion keeps you sharp and ensures you’re part of the conversation as it’s happening, not three months later when it hits the trades.
Now let’s continue reviewing some of the FAQ’s I get a lot…
Can I make films outside of the cities?
No brainer. You can make a movie or content anywhere. I mean Mr. Beast HQ is a few hours from me and he’s producing the most watched content on YouTube along with Beast Games on Amazon Prime. Danny McBride has a production company in Charleston. Tyler Perry has a huge studio in Atlanta. I have had the chance to meet and work with amazing people like Erika Arlee and Kristi Ray from Honey Head Films, a female led production company based in Wilmington. The list goes on.
Does it matter where I live when trying to network?
Yes and also a no here too, but a yes leaning. When people want to live and breathe film or TV they tend to move where it’s made. Hurray for Hollywooddddd! I always think of that song when talking about the industry. MGM Studios in Orlando had The Great Movie ride all about the movies and that was their closer. I loved it. I digress…Moving there is still the current norm. For how long? I don’t know. I have doubts personally as the industry evolves. But those working in LA and NYC tend to be the ones working on the shows and movies you watch. The filmmakers live there. Especially within narrative. So, being in these cities DOES matter because you have access to these people for meetings and industry events.
But after saying that, you CAN network outside of those cities by outreach emails, visiting for meetings, social media, and more. It’s what I’ve done for years. But it’s hard work because a digital request or meet up is so easy for people to dismiss. We’re busy and it’s hard enough to stay in touch with the people physically in our lives. People don’t always want to take time out of their day to respond to someone they don’t know. And they DEFINITELY aren’t going to give you a job just by you reaching out. But meeting people this way is normal now. I’ve built great friends by doing this.
How do you get jobs not living in LA or NYC?
This industry I’ve experienced is not a meritocracy. Don’t believe anyone who says otherwise. It’s built on who you know. Or better yet WHO KNOWS YOU. There’s an awareness campaign you must do. Branding yourself is so important now more than ever before. If you don’t live in LA or NYC, finding a network is so much harder to do when you can’t build relationships consistently.
Meeting people is how you get jobs. If you don’t know anyone…well…you’ll find yourself hard pressed finding work. The best gigs aren’t posted anywhere but through back channels like agents, text chains, private groups, and industry mixers. Fair or not it’s just how the industry operates. So if you live outside these hubs, you’ll now have to find creative ways to meet the people who can let you in on the conversations. That takes persistence, time, trust, soft skills, patience, and just being a good person honestly.
If I want to live somewhere else, should I move to LA or NYC for a few years to build a network?
I never did personally, but this probably is the more rock solid strategy if the end goal isn’t living in LA or NYC. Building real relationships is how you sustain work. Building that network in person is unmatched. Face to face will always be better than remote meet ups. Like it or not.
Does it look bad if you aren’t from these cities?
Maybe I’m naive and honestly this has gotten better post COVID with all the remote work out there. BUT I think there’s a stigma sometimes that if you don’t live in Hollywood, you don’t truly know how to do the jobs correctly. And there is truth to that to some extent. You don’t know what you don’t know.
But that’s not an obstacle you can’t conquer. I was never a true assistant and as I started to learn workflow moving into scripted work, I had to relearn everything I thought I knew. Ask people for advice, take specific courses like UCLA extension or Master The Workflow. Learn how to do tasks the way the industry has made the standard. You can’t always assume the way you do it now is the right way. Or just read my Free Post Resource Guide and learn the way I did.
Living outside of the hubs, where does the work come from?
For me, the majority of my work comes from companies and people outside of my city. Mostly LA or NYC production companies or filmmakers. I’ve met them through my previous gigs and they go to bat for me because I went to bat for them. I cannot emphasize enough how important relationships are. But it has to be mutual. You can’t rely on people just to find you gigs. Real relationships with zero expectations is the goal. Just work hard, be a good friend and person, put yourself out there, and see where that takes you. I promise you, you’ll land somewhere. And at the very minimum you built a friend. That’s a better deal anyways.
Why do you live outside of the hubs?
Financial security is a big priority for me. I want to follow my passion and make a quality living. That’s not a lot to ask is it? (😂😬) I saw my own family struggle growing up financially and I feared I could repeat a cycle so when I saw a job opportunity in North Carolina I took it even though it wasn’t a clear path to Hollywood.
I never wanted to stay stagnant. I wanted to always have money coming in even if it wasn’t a ton. I followed the gigs where they took me. Since then, the lower cost of living has helped me save. This savings allows me to take lower paying gigs or passion projects as I continue to build my own career and still live comfortably. Family was also a big factor. I grew up with a large close family and wanted to be as close as I could to them as I chased my dream. They were after all the ones who supported me to do so and I never wanted to see a life of distance from them all. And as time passed by and we lost some of our family members, my time with them was even more valuable. Life and careers are always at odds. You have to remember to keep perspective on your goals. Chasing dreams at the end of the day is meaningless if you can’t celebrate with the ones you love. See my first documentary I ever made about my family dynamics and how it set me on my filmmaking journey.
What should I do right now if I don’t live or can’t afford to live in LA or NYC?
Build your brand. Don’t ask for permission to start. Start letting people know who you are now any way possible. Email, social media, in person events. Let people know you exist. Don’t just lurk in the background. Add your voice to the conversation. Help people where you can.
So do you HAVE to live in the hubs?
The answer here I think is a no, but you must understand the fine print outlined above. It’s so much harder to live outside of those cities and keep up with the people living in them. The industry is insanely competitive. By living outside of the centers, you increase the difficulty setting. Networking, friendships, industry news, mixers. There’s just so much happening that you can’t keep up with it all. Trust me, I try…
But if you want to build more financial security with a lower cost of living, you might want to give it a try and put in that work. I spend a lot of money to fly to events, meet people, and manufacture meetings as best I can. There are trade offs to every decision you make in life. Each one informs the next. If I chose LA over North Carolina, I wouldn’t have been able to afford a home for a very long time.
On the flip side of that I may be working on a studio film if I had moved there making a good salary to buy a house. You never know, but I don’t live in that what if world. You just have to do what is right for you in a specific moment in time. Bet on yourself and go with your gut.
I met Zack Arnold at EditorFest a few years back and I asked him some of these same questions about trying to make Hollywood dreams happen while living outside of LA or NYC. His answer to me was simple: Why not?
As always, please reach out if you have other questions or comments to add to this topic and my insane takes 😂