What’s your historical Los Angeles and New York connection?
I grew up in Westchester county New York, about 30 miles north of the city. I moved to LA after I graduated from Fairfield University in Connecticut. Most of the friends I grew up with moved to NYC after school, but being a bit of a movie buff, LA always held a certain allure for me. When a good college buddy of mine told me he planned to move out West, I thought ‘why not’.

Describe your experience in LA.
It was very different city from NY, but exhilarating all the same! I was young, didn’t have much money, and no real job prospects. I lived in LA for just under two years, the last six months of which I had one foot out the door back in NY. If one really wants to succeed in either city, he needs to fully embrace the environment and location. If I could do it again, I’d immerse myself in LA.

What was the biggest challenge of moving from NYC to LA?
Network, or lack thereof, and timing. I’d just finished school, and having grown up so close by, I had a few in-roads in NY. When I got to LA I really didn’t know anybody outside of a group of friends who were in the same boat.

How can NYC and LA best engage with each other?
The internet. Working in motion graphics and VFX production, I work with companies in LA all the time and with FTPs and high-speed connections, passing work back and forth is pretty seamless.

Favorite LA secret spot
Father’s Office (or as I like to call it, Daddy’s Study) on Montana in Santa Monica. Best burger in LA. And Amoeba records can’t be beat.

Favorite NYC secret spot
It’s not a secret spot, necessarily, but Nitehawk cinema is one of my favorite places in New York. The theater is intimate, screens a nice variety of flicks, and they tie the food and drink menu to the film being shown! And after the show, you can discuss the film at the adjoining bar which also holds movie trivia during the week. No better way to catch a movie.

If you were not at Juniper Jones, what would you be doing?
I’ve always wanted to run an art house cinema. It’s one of the reasons I love Nitehawk, since they do it right. Maybe one of these days I’ll get off my butt and make it happen.

From the 2462 Miles newsletter: connecting NEW YORK CITY + LOS ANGELES