Member resources
Moving is the most expensive decision an actor makes, and the one most often made on a feeling. This page is the practical version: which market, when, on what money, with what visa, and what actually happens in the first year.
Start with the masterclasses Go to the libraryIf you are not American, watch the O-1B class before you plan anything else. The visa timeline drives every other date.
One masterclass on choosing and making the move, one on the visa that most working actors need.
1Journey 10A · 1h 09m
Relocating To A Major Market For Acting
Choosing a major market and moving to it. Timing, money, and whether you are actually ready to go.
2Journey 10C · 2h 31m
Understanding The O-1B Visa With Elke Osadnik
The O-1B visa in full, with immigration advisor Elke Osadnik. Long, detailed, and worth every minute if you need one.
Class downloads
Four downloads with each of these masterclasses
Open the masterclass and you will find them under the video: a Class Summary Booklet so you can read it instead of rewatching, a How To Guide laid out in the order you do the work, a Goal Checklist to tick off as you go, and a 50 question Test with the answers at the back.
Short guides pulled straight from the masterclass. Handy to share with an actor friend, too.
Free guide
How to Move to LA as an Actor: 12-Month Plan
Which market, how much money, where to live, and what to do 12 months, 4 months and 1 month out.
Free guide
O-1B Visa for Actors: What the Process Involves
How credits and press are weighed, what a deal memo is, and how to vet an attorney. General information, not legal advice.
Free guide
How to Get an Acting Agent (Without a Referral)
Vet agents on IMDbPro, ask for referrals the right way, and follow up until you're signed.
Two-minute answers, straight from the casting directors, agents and managers in our library.
Actor question
How to Learn an American Accent for Acting
Placement drills, how long it takes, and when you are ready.
Actor question
How to Join SAG-AFTRA: Cost, Timing and Benefits
The credit you need, the fees as of October 2026, and when to join.
The questions members ask before, during and after a move.
Where to live, what to save, whether you need a car, and the traps of the first six months.
LA, New York, Atlanta, Vancouver, Toronto, Australia. Comparing them honestly.
O-1B, timelines, evidence, cost and what happens if it goes wrong. Mostly with immigration counsel.
Local hire status, regional agents, and getting represented in a market you do not live in yet.
One more thing. Nobody regrets waiting six more months to move with money in the bank. Plenty of people regret arriving broke and taking the first job that stopped them auditioning. The move is not the goal - being able to work once you get there is.