What does one need to "break into" the Hollywood industry? (Not necessarily acting.)?

Hollywood is a location - not an industry or a lifestyle. The film industry is everywhere. Most US states are now following the successful model of Louisiana and Canada and putting more effort in building their own part of the film industry.

Most "Hollywood" films are not filmed in Hollywood. They are not even filmed in Los Angeles. They are filmed all over the world. The current pop culture coupled with many advanced in technology have allowed production to take place "on location" versus in the studio.

Many "Hollywood" projects are currently being filmed in Louisiana due to the incredible advantages of Louisiana's tax credit system, but some film in Louisiana due to limited budgets or availability/high-cost of studio space in California and New York. These are several reasons why we expanded into Louisiana.

Some projects film elsewhere. James Bond, Transporter, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean are all movies that primarily filmed outside of the "Hollywood" studio and mostly outside the US. Yes, these projects are sometimes backed by major Hollywood studios for certain distribution rights and some financing, but they are primarily projects that are outside of Hollywood in locations that add much more realism often for less cost as compared to a studio that must be acquired and then retrofitted. Michael Moore & Morgan Spurlock documentaries, reality television, most of Discovery Network's programs, and epic games like "The Amazing Race" are other examples of projects that film outside of Hollywood.

Plus, if you need "studio support" or major financing, Hollywood is not your only option. New York (often joked as "Martin Scorsese's backyard"), Europe (France and the UK), Asia (China, Japan, and india -specifically "Bollywood") are other places where you can get good support - especially if your project is not typical American "cookie-cutter" script.

Want to know how easy it is to become a famous filmmaker, scriptwriter, editor, director, producer, set designer, or distributor? Thanks to technology, just pick up a camera and start filming. Edit the video on your computer, and you have your product. Now send it in to CreateSpace (or a similar service) and you instantly have your product on Amazon (or another distribution service) for sale worldwide. Get a website or make one yourself about your movie. Now put up some signs, a few ads in key locations, some videos on YouTube and other similar sites, and let the fun begin!

Not only can you create your projects anywhere and virtually distribute them from home. You can also start photography, scriptwriting, and other "Hollywood" jobs from home. You don't have to go to Hollywood, New York, or Louisiana. More and more local "film schools" are popping up all over. One of the biggest secrets in film schools is the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film in Lincoln, NE. Even then, most of the favorite american legends in film did not go to film school. They merely tried telling stories in different ways. Robert Rodriguez is one of the current big supporters and masters of this technique.

Remember that creativity is all about your own application of vision. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are good at using new technologies to their advantage. Martin Scorsese is well known for using his intimite knowledge of New York, its culture, and its people to great advantage. Robert Rodriguez likes to try new angles and approaches with cameras and light. Michael Bay is awesome at mixing the abilities of all the mentioned directors and applying them. *Find the documentary (currently on HBO) about how "Mike" fused all these traits to film Transformers, and you will understand.

Whatever you want to do, find your niche in that field and expound on it.

My heavens, I never have been flashed, but I did unintentionally flash a few folks once. I was in the hospital some time back and decided to take a stoll to the vending area. Well, I wasn't thinking about what I was wearing and, let's just say that those hospital gowns don't leave a lot to the imagination on the backside. The nurse came up from behind me and put a blanket over my shoulders . . . I was wondering why it was a little drafty back there!

E-mail me and we'll talk. I live in Hollywood CA and I manage many band and put on may shows seven of them at the House of Blues. Opened up for Edgar Winter Group on one show I did and opened up for Berlin on another show at the H.O.B. I also do acting so e-mail me and ask me something and I'll see if I could be of help

Great skill, training, experience in student and indie films,

Talk to people.

Talk to people who can talk to people.

Talk to more people.

That, BTW, works in any industry.