Oh, Canada!

Canada is one of my favorite places to visit. Butchart Gardens is so nice, I visited twice! Canadians are incredibly friendly, the streets are super clean, and I can still remember the twinkling Christmas lights reflecting in the water in Calgary. Also - the drinking age is 19!

But sometimes, you know, the grass is greener in California during a major drought. Or something. Keep reading.

Hi Lira,

I discovered your blog today and have been binge-reading you for the last 3 hours:) 

I really like your down to earth attitude about this business and feel that I share your zeal and no-nonsense way of thinking and offering advice.

When I moved to Vancouver, BC 3 years ago to go to acting school I was oh-so-green and didn't know a thing about the business. As I've been learning and had a few small roles I have been itching for more. (Not to mention actually getting acceptable amounts of Vitamin D which this rain-forest of a place can't provide for 90% of the year)

For the last year or so I've been seriously craving a move to California (been there twice already) and I've been googling until my fingers hurt but it is so darn convoluted as to the steps and processes to get there. (I like lining everything up into steps and attacking them one by one)

When I asked my agent I felt she wasn't too thrilled with the idea and assumed I was like ever other 'hollywood hopeful' but even with all my explaining, I kept getting the same answers "you need a bigger resume," "Many people try and even if they have agents don't make it."

While I accept that this is true for the greater majority I refuse to let it get me down and stop me from giving it my darndest.

That was essentially my long way of asking if you know any Canadians who have successfully crossed the border and been allowed to stay or if you know anything about the process yourself. 

I'm a bulldog when it comes to things I want and I am committed to making this happen even if it takes years and mounds of paperwork. I will do it and I will do it legally damn it!

Sincerely, someone who really wants to be in America:)

Alicia

Hi Alicia! Thanks for all your sweet words!

And here's my opinion on what's going on:
You want to get out here to get more work. Unfortunately, to do that, you need a visa, and a company that will sponsor you, and more and more things I'm not even going to pretend I know.

What you're basically saying is that you want to be a teeeeeeeeeeeeny tiny fish in the biggest pond in the world.

So I'm going to parrot back what your agent is saying: Don't. And read this for more backstory.

Don't come out here until your resume is much, much bigger, and you're getting flown down here for roles. Establish yourself as a very good actress first. The LA roles will come later. In the meantime, be creative, write and film stuff for yourself, and appreciate everything you have up there. We'll see you soon enough. Even though it might not feel like it, and you don't want to hear me say this, you have Plenty of Time to work up there and come down here later. When your resume is bigger, better, longer, your current agent can call LA agents and get you hooked up that way. It's easier all around if you wait until you're a big fish.

See you in a few years! :)