Apart from just moving to California, how can a person be noticed?

For the tv industry?

And I don't mean "sleep with the executives", though I'm probably that cheap...

I've been thinking of becoming a writer...

that has celebrity and movie exec clientele and become a waiter or bartender?

:shrug:

actual working friends.

and you'll need an agent -- but start writing first and cultivate those working friends -- they can get on the right track.

screenplays only or theatre as well?

Or as a co-writer.

I might know somebody too... (hard to believe, my social life comparable to that of hair lice on crack and all...)

do have stuff to show him/her?

''can i show you my routine?''

dude, go for it -- get what you can together and show it.

see where there is to go -- it's good work and you're certainly witty enough.

She's helping me out, too.

Bone up on the ol' Spanish.

Write short films. Put on internet. JibJab-like.

my friend's family except for her works in teevee and they all have to live out there, one works as a writer and does okay but there are long periods of not working and then he suffers from clinical depression, one is well you have definitely seen her name on hit shows so i won't claim it here and appear to drop names, but she makes a fortune and is rarely out of work because she is an editor

what is cute abt it is that the editor sister was able to get a character inserted into a story on one of her shows, based on my friend, the eccentric sister, it was too cute!

i'll be honest, it sounds like you really have to network and game the system, if you're not into heavy socializing and schmoozing i think you would have a hard time, to me it sounds like a pretty good working definition of hell (hell is other people) but the editor sister especially really loves it so it comes down to your personality

teevee is a collaborative medium, if you're a control freak and don't like it when editors stick oddball characters or love interests in your screenplay, you are prob. not going to be happy even if you make a fortune, and i hope you do!

if you enjoy collaborating to produce something you could never do alone, a hit teevee show, i should think you'll have a blast!

My cousin's husband has been a sitcom writer since 1998. He would probably be working in a 9-5 office job back in New Jersey if his college roommate's dad was anything other than a Hollywood producer. Having that connection made all the difference. The roommate's father introduced him around and found him an agent. He's been steadily employed ever since and now has some producing credits as well - which means more $$.

My husband grew up in Burbank, CA. When Burbank HS had "career" day, speakers showed up from all the big area employers. The NBC guy was totally honest with the kids when he told them, "If you want to get into tv or movie production, you have to know somebody. Otherwise forget it."