Is Chicago a good city for film/TV/creative jobs? (Venice: neighborhoods, living in)

[i'm not a cookie]

Hey guys,

I was just wondering if you think Chicago is a good city for working in the creative field(can be anything from film to tv to advertising/commercials). I have a degree from USC in TV&media studies with a minor in Advertising. I currently work for a large film studio. I am sick and tired of Los Angeles though. I recently visited Chicago and fell completely in love with the city. I have done some research and it looks like there are some creative jobs(from google to McDonalds to advertising) and some TV film jobs, but research can only do so much.

I was wondering if, from a local perspective, Chicago would be a descent city for someone looking for work in the creative field. I just turned 25 and I want to explores a new city, I figured that being in your 20s is the right time to do it. I also wanted to know how realistic it would be to live alone in downtown area? My budget would be 1,500/1,600 ish.

[ipkl07]

I was looking to move to Minneapolis, St.Paul area for a fresh start in the IT field last year. I wanted to take my time and make sure it's what I really wanted. If I felt the same way in one year I was going to go ahead with my move. I am really really really glad I didn't do that move. The only thing I suggest is make sure it's what you really want and to not move on impulse, because you may not feel this way in one year time. I would think the Los Angeles market would be a lot larger market compared to Chicago's market for TV&Media. This is a move I don't think I would do if I were in your position. Exploring a new city in my opinion wouldn't be enough of a reason for me to move. Visit Chicago in the winter time make sure you love all the seasons and put together a pro's and con's list and write it out! Then see where you are and see if this is something you truly want to do and will you be happy here years down the road?

[OyCrumbler]

What do you do within film and television? There’s not nearly the same scale of industry in Chicago as there is in LA, but Chicago’s tv and film production has been growing for seven consecutive years with several shows produced in the city.

[frimpter928]

For film/TV I would think it's average. The only cities where you will find a lot of opportunities in that are NYC and LA. To a smaller extent Atlanta and Miami (Latin American TV and film). Then maybe Chicago comes after that, but it's a huge gap from the top ones.

[BOBNCHI]

Chicago is very active and these links may help you.

https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/whyil...s/default.aspx

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...lm_office.html

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...lm_office.html

[i'm not a cookie]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

What do you do within film and television? There’s not nearly the same scale of industry in Chicago as there is in LA, but Chicago’s tv and film production has been growing for seven consecutive years with several shows produced in the city.

I'm in the marketing/advertisement side right now!

[frimpter928]

Originally Posted by i'm not a cookie

I'm in the marketing/advertisement side right now!

Okay marketing and advertising Chicago is a great city for this. Probably the second best for Advertising after NYC and after third best in marketing after NYC and LA (maybe SF as they tech industry really requires a lot of marketing).

I work in marketing and those opportunities are abound here in Chicago.

[Swandaddy]

I'm going to flip the question the other way -- are there specifics as to why you are sick and tired of LA? Just wondering as I ❤ love ❤ it there when I go visit, a lot of my closest friends are there (either from being from there or moving there), and a lot of the time I'm not super in love with Chicago. Buuuuut -- for me my I'm-done-with-Chicago side may have to deal with other non-Chicago things that are specific to me -- such as I love to travel and don't travel enough, a ton of my friends have moved away, etc etc. LOL so if you and I were to switch cities what would I hate about LA?



From a practical standpoint, Chicago is great for major cities as far as cost/ease of access to amenities/etc. CTA + Uber/Lyft makes Chicago super easy to get around. I live close enough to Wrigley I can hear the roar of the stadium before the 3 second TV delay and I pay $875 -- keeping it cheap by living in a studio. And no car just the $105 monthly CTA pass which means everytime I get an I-wish-I-lived-in-LA thought the budget says wait a minute. The financial value of Chicago all things considered is incredibly awesome. You should be able to find a place downtown near within your budget.



When I'm in Chicago, I'm usually in a relatively smaller area -- the transit connected north side neighborhoods as compared to LA where I usually bounce around from Venice to WeHO to Koreatown to DTLA to Silverlake and will also venture to San Diego and occasionally Long Beach as well. Also when I'm in LA I'm there just for fun so I'm not dealing with the day-to-day of work/errands/paying bills/etc.



As for TV/film/marketing -- I'm not in your field so I can't comment on that side, but there are a lot of jobs in a lot of fields in Chicago, and a very diverse economy. But I know LA reasonably decently so I can help in the city comparison.

[emathias]

Obviously LA and NYC are the big ponds in the US. Chicago has always been okay for film and television, but hasn't been a top contender for 100 years now.

But, as others have said, with the opening of Cinespace studios a while back, it's been a growth industry here, and with political problems in Georgia, Chicago may absorb some fallout from that.

The fact that you're in advertising marketing instead of production, too, makes a big difference. If you're flexible about what you market, there is a lot of marketing opportunity here - Chicago is a top marketing center for the U.S.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by i'm not a cookie

I'm in the marketing/advertisement side right now!

Ah, should be fine then. I say do some more research, but otherwise give it a go.