I've got to get out of this place.

Well, I've been blessed by the recent news that my sister in LA is going to pay for me to go over, stay with her for a few months and do some acting courses over there as well as-hopefully-doing some local student films and maybe collaborating with her on a short film of her own. I'm naturally overwhelmed by the news and as I-like all graduates who did drama-aim to one day grace the big stages or silver screens of the world. It's an opportunity that I'm grateful beyond words for because if this had not arisen then my gap year would have surely consisted of me lazing around half the year doing maybe one or two shows and the same amount of student films and eventually getting a job as I became disheartened by my goal to do as much acting-theatre or screen-that I could this year. Who knows if I take kindly to La la land I may even stay on longer. But it brings up the sad point that Perth really offers not much future for young inexperienced actors-less for older-even experienced actors normally have to move interstate or overseas to survive on their work. The current Barnett government has done little to fix this problem which has seen funding and thus opportunity for actors dry up in the last decade. In fact the point that Barnett cares very little about the arts is evident in his shunning of the opening night of the PIAF (Perth International Arts Festival)[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/wa-premier-colin-barnett-missing-from-opening-night-crowds/story-e6frg8n6-1225827595096] and the bundling of Planning with culture and the arts (Minister John Day), two seemingly incompatible portfolios. this governmental incompetence has seen the states artists forced to ask big business for funding, with obviously limited success. Let's hope the next resource boom does not see the arts in Perth again overlooked by the public sector. My last blog seeked a continued involvement in theatre by the youth of the state. but really continued growth in the arts can only be achieved by an increase in funding. Currently this can be achieved be one of two things 1. current projects need to become more lucrative and promise more returns for any investor. or more realistically 2. The business people need to get more generous and give money like there's no tomorrow. unfortunately in the current economic climate wayward is the last thing on the minds of the entrepreneurs of the state. So will it be generosity or viability that saves the arts in Perth? I don't care as long as one of them works. Better that then see Perth cement that Dullsville tag further by neglecting of one of the most colourful aspects of any city. Ps. does anyone know any thing I should do in LA eg courses or how to go about getting work. and I'm probably heading to London after so some experiences of these two city's would be awesome to hear.