Living the life in ‘La La Land’
The camera rolls during filming of The Viridian Jewel.
Making it in the Los Angeles film industry requires a lot more than just acting ability.
Taupō’s Peter Winkelmann headed for the bright lights and excitement of Los Angeles in 2020 because he wanted to “go to the source” to learn how to be a screen actor.
“I wanted to light a fire under my backside and put myself in a position with no safety net, no community to lean on and absolutely nothing to distract me from my goals.”
And it has worked, although in a different way to how people might perceive life as an actor.
He has kept himself busy with projects including an experimental horror/thriller during Covid-19 called Trolled, plus the lead role in short film The Viridian Jewel which won Best Film Noir at Cannes.
He had a major role in feature film Rolling, where he plays a bratty Kiwi frat-boy who gets his comeuppance and most recently had a starring role in a scathing mockumentary called Red Snelling for Mayor.
Both films are in the final stage of post-production or distribution.
He says the most important piece of advice he could give to others looking for a career in the film industry is that it doesn’t work like it used to because the industry is going through a period of contraction.
“An actor in 2025 is an actor, writer, producer and sometimes director. You have to be generating your own opportunities and finding ways to be indispensable in an industry that is immensely oversaturated.”
The cost of living in Los Angeles is “astronomically high”, making it difficult to survive as an artist.
A loaf of bread costs up to US$7 (NZ$12) while fruit and vegetables are of lower quality and much higher price than back home.
Peter Winkelmann
“You pay a premium price for health out here in pretty much every way. It means you always have to be on the hunt for free stuff: Free furniture on the street, free events, free experiences etc – especially free food!”
And there was “no secret” that being an immigrant in the US is challenging, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), border control and Visas getting denied.
“But on a more day to day basis, it’s tough out here. No matter which way you cut it, New Zealand is a kind place. If you don’t believe it, come live over here for a bit! I find that a lot of the time, rules and regulations around insurance, utility bills etc are deliberately misleading with severe punishments for getting caught out.”
He says his own challenges as an immigrant “pale in comparison” to those for whom English is their second language, or who haven’t had the same access to education.
Despite that, he loves being in LA.
“The kinds of people you meet out here are extraordinary. This is a big ecosystem, way bigger than New Zealand. There is an endless number of creatives you can meet out here.
“LA is a tough and ugly place to live, which means if you’re out here, there’s a pretty dang good reason for it.
“The people I’ve met out here are some of the strongest, most interesting and resilient people I’ve ever met.
“Film work may be leaving LA pretty quickly, but this place is still the city of dreams and that’s not going to change.”
He doesn’t get back home much, partly because of a “hyper focus” on his career.
“But it’s mainly because I’m an immigrant building a foothold in LA and every time you cross the border, there’s a level of risk – speak to the wrong person on the wrong day at the border and your visa is cancelled. For me, it’s too risky.”
He wants to continue to grow his craft and seek more exciting opportunities as an actor, develop his own projects as a filmmaker and maybe one day return to New Zealand, or maybe Europe.
The highlights of his time include “meeting the love of my life”, graduating from top conservatory Stella Adler where he was on scholarship, flying to Oregon to star in Red Snelling for Mayor and being on set with Brad Pit, Spike Jones and Damien Chazelle in Babylon.
I’d like to reach a level in this industry where I don’t have to be tied to LA and can live abroad, maybe return to New Zealand or Europe.