With its $10 juices and $1 tacos, jaw-dropping sunsets and sweeping smog, and constant influx of New York transplants mixed with naive newcomers on an endless quest to “make it”, it is reductive to say that Los Angeles is a city (erm, county?) of contradiction. But for many young creatives, it is precisely this contradiction that made them fall in love in the first place—that, and the cheap rent, of course. With ethereal portraits shot by Berlin-based photographer Miriam Marlene Waldner as inspiration, INDIE sat down with five female creatives to discuss everything from their wide-ranging plans for the future to why Los Angeles will almost always be better than New York.
Paige Elkington, Actress and model
What is it like being a creative in LA? How has the city influenced your practice?
Ideal. It has really brought the comedic/performance artist side of my personality out. Maybe because there is so much to parody.
Why did you choose LA as a base? Are you from California?
I’m in LA because I like being able to escape the city very quickly to enjoy nature and it’s cheaper than New York. I’m from Knoxville, Tennessee.
Pros and cons of creating in NYC vs LA?
I think you have to be a lot more focused in NYC. Productivity is so important there. I wouldn’t go to NYC if I was trying to experiment with different creative projects because you simply can’t afford to do that. It’s easier to try things that aren’t income generating and still get by in LA.
I wouldn’t say there are many risks, but you definitely need a gateway friend to introduce you to other friends and opportunities. If you don’t know anything about the neighbourhoods, how the city works, or have any friends to start with, the city can seem impossible to crack. It’s imperative you have one outstanding person showing you the way.
Is there a good support system/network in place for non-male creatives in LA? How can it still be improved?
I think so! I think that womxn who are successful in their field and have resources should create more opportunities for other womxn.
Where do you hope to be in 10 years (geographically or otherwise)?
I hope to have an only increasingly sexy career and a cute little family.
Charlotte Ercoli, Musician and video editor
What is it like being a creative in LA? How has the city influenced your practice?
You have to be talented and work hard for it to all work out. I work nine hours a day in television post-production so I can stay home and record music in my free time. You can live that life in any city, but I do it in LA because I’m a video editor and there’s really no better place for that. I like sitting in a chair and staring at a glowing screen all day, so I feel very fulfilled in my life.
Why did you choose LA as a base? Are you from California?
I came to LA for college. My plan was to move to Italy after that (where my family lives and is from) but falling in love kept me back in LA.
Pros and cons of creating in NYC vs LA?
I’ve never lived in New York, but as a Jewish person, I think a pro would be the Jewish population. Very different than LA Jewish people. Both are amazing but I’m blown out of the water every time I go to New York over how many human muses I find… I think that if I lived there I’d have probably made a movie by now. Fran Lebowitz lives in New York, and Jerry Lewis was “basically” from there, so for that reason alone it would be cool to live there. I’d want to work at the Friars Club in Manhattan as a serving wench or whatever so I could watch all the old comedians do their schtick and take note. A con of living in New York I think would be wanting to commit actual suicide. Seems like the maximum worst place to try and make ends meet.
What would you say are the risks of moving to LA? Do you have any advice for newcomers?
Please try not to, but if you insist on moving here, don’t try to make it in the entertainment industry unless you’re so amazing you just have to. We don’t need another model-slash-actress. Please. All I ask.
My advice to you is not to join any social scene or circle because you will be at risk of getting swallowed up in a tornado of the the world’s worst, most vapid people. Spend at least three years trying to make two solid friends. It will, and should, take you that long. Just “work hard so you can play hard”. It hurt to type that but it’s SO true. The best way to live in LA is to work a job so you can create your own world and devote yourself to your creative projects freely/purely in the spare time. Then you can have 100% control and then eventually sell out. Too many people here don’t have to worry about paying rent and have too much free time on their hands and they never do anything cool because they don’t appreciate time or money.
Is there a good support system/network in place for non-male creatives in LA? How can it still be improved?
No idea. I have myself and a couple great friends of both the genders, my family, and that’s good enough for me. I think that’s all you need.
Where do you hope to be in 10 years (geographically or otherwise)?
I hope I’m just eating delicious food and watching TV in bed and in love. Exactly what I am doing now is what I could do forever. But in 10 years, I hope I’ve just made a lot of stuff that I think is great. It would be my honor to sell out as an editor by then and have enough money to feel free enough that I can keep making music. And obviously I’d like to be healthy and (happily) married with several kids in a peaceful place where I have a big room that’s just for me to do whatever I want.
Natalie Mering, Musician
What is it like being a creative in LA? How has the city influenced your practice?
Like being a succulent peach floating in a stream of sweet cream. Can go either way, good or bad. I’ve definitely become accustomed to a routine that fluctuates as gently as the weather—basically a steady mix work and existential crisis.
Why did you choose LA as a base? Are you from California?
I am a 6th generation Californian!
Pros and cons of creating in NYC vs LA?
Not even comparable in my opinion. NYC has become too expensive for most artists, but if you had unlimited money there’s definitely a certain poetry to the city that LA doesn’t have. LA has a suburban sprawl and a mystery to it that takes years of unraveling. It’s more smoke and mirrors. It’s the Wild West. It’s not supposed to exist..way more of a fantastical myth.
What would you say are the risks of moving to LA? Do you have any advice for newcomers?
Getting way too dry. It’s a desert after all… People can seem really nice, warm and open but don’t be fooled—loyalty and genuine kindness are rare commodities in any big metropolis. Shallow water is fun for quick dips but not great for a deep dive. Find the good people and tread lightly at the tower of Babylon.
Is there a good support system/network in place for non-male creatives in LA? How can it still be improved?
Almost! We’re all working on it. In the world of music, it could be improved by more female producers and sound engineers. The studio is still a deep bro zone most of the time.
Where do you hope to be in 10 years (geographically or otherwise)?
Living on an ocean cliff with a couple of pet parrots.
Ariana Papademetropoulos, Painter
What is it like being a creative in LA? How has the city influenced your practice?
I’m from here and it’s all I know. But the duality of this city continues to interest me, along with the cults, architecture, facades, emptiness, and indulgence.
Why did you choose LA as a base? Are you from California?
I’m from Pasadena and Venice. My dad built me a treehouse after high school to lure me to stay in LA and I did—I lived in there for 9 years. It was magical. Other then the treehouse I love my friends, and I can’t seem to find a place I would rather be long term.
Pros and cons of creating in NYC vs LA?
I think those two worlds are narrowing. I think the advantage of LA compared to NYC was that it was inexpensive and you could get away without having a full time job and having low rent. That is quickly changing, and it is not what it was even just a few years ago. In New York, it’s easier to get to know people and make friends; in Los Angeles, it’s harder, everything is more hidden and closed off socially.
What would you say are the risks of moving to LA? Do you have any advice for newcomers?
I wouldn’t recommend it. As someone who grew up here and loves the uncultured cheap sprawling freak show, I say stay out so we can try to keep it that way! To be truthful, it’s very hard to find a place to live, people can be really shallow and fake, and the health craze is getting out of control. I’d say if you move, have a network of friends here because it’s hard to know where to go or what to do. Los Angeles can be awful if you just follow a tourist manual.
Is there a good support system/network in place for non-male creatives in LA? How can it still be improved?
Yes, I have loads of female friends who are creating incredible things. I’m doing a residency in Greece at the moment, and not having that network makes me realize how important female friendships are. I think right now creative women are in a good position. It’s trendy to show female artists. I hope it’s not a trend, and that woman continue to have opportunities, because a good artist is a good artist. Improvement lies in that—I hope at some point I won’t be labeled as a female artist but just an artist.
Where do you hope to be in 10 years (geographically or otherwise)?
Probably LA. I’ll own a themed hotel that has a cave bar inside. My paintings will cost a fortune. My husband will be an Italian documentary film maker who works for National Geographic and sometimes we have to move our family to remote tropical islands and live with monkeys. I will throw the most extravagant themed costume balls in castles.
Cameron Rose Woods, Painter and writer
What is it like being a creative in LA? How has the city influenced your practice?
Being a creative in LA is nice because it’s such a large city and there’s inspiration everywhere, but, just like every city, it has its cons as well. That’s why I just try and focus on my art when I’m here.
Why did you choose LA as a base? Are you from California?
I moved to LA for art school. Then dropped out and now I just work full time and paint.
Pros and cons of creating in NYC vs LA?
Personally I love NY and love creating there vs. LA. I would definitely live there if the rent wasn’t so high but soon I’m hoping to live bi-coastal. Possibly after I come out with my art show in September. We’ll see!
What would you say are the risks of moving to LA? Do you have any advice for newcomers?
Risks to living in LA…well, I’d definitely say it’s easy to lose yourself if you get caught up with what everyone else is doing here and how they think. The biggest [piece of] advice I’d give to newcomers here is stay true to yourself and your morals. No matter what.
Is there a good support system/network in place for non-male creatives in LA? How can it still be improved?
I think you can find a good support system anywhere, it’s just especially hard [to find] it in LA. If you’re looking for a good support system I wouldn’t recommend moving here because I’ve noticed it’s “one man for himself” here. That’s why, for me, it’s vital to create all the time and travel.
Where do you hope to be in 10 years (geographically or otherwise)?
In 10 years, I hope to be living somewhere aside from Los Angeles and having shows across the globe. Enjoying life doing what I love. Producing.
Photography MIRIAM MARLENE WALDNER
