There’s a lot of talk about the decline of Hollywood. Yet, I find the creative spirit of Los Angeles thriving, especially during my visits to a local Starbucks in the city.
It seems LA has developed a strange habit of producing its own eulogies. Studios are slashing budgets, and film production is shifting to other regions.
Still, I remain hopeful for Hollywood’s future, even in the face of job losses. The entertainment industry and the creative culture that fuels it are not necessarily the same, and thankfully, the latter is alive and well.
Every time I stop by Starbucks on McCadden Place and Hollywood Boulevard, I encounter people who embody the true heart of Hollywood.
At the register, there’s this upbeat twenty-three-year-old whose energy makes you feel both old and protective at the same time.
He works alongside a more experienced colleague who jokingly claims to be “thirty, but emotionally forty.”
I only found out that the young man was an actor after I asked how he was doing. He mentioned feeling as if he’d “just fallen off a horse.”
To which I replied, “Don’t we all?”
He then clarified, “No, really. I fell off a horse yesterday.”
He was learning to ride for a role in a movie. With that, he proudly showed off his green apron.
I began calling him The Actor, who is also taking clowning classes—not the big red nose type, but more akin to Buster Keaton’s style, blending performance art with humor. Here’s this guy who’s drizzling caramel syrup at 8:00 a.m. and is actually an immersive theater actor.
As for my cheerful barista, he’s not just serving drinks; he’s also making short films.
He’s currently filming one project and has another in post-production, focusing on stories about musicians.
Every day he takes orders and sends them to The Actor, who prepares colorful concoctions that have strayed quite far from their coffee origins. But their connection runs deeper.
The Filmmaker recently assisted The Actor in staffing for a feature film. He’s also in the works for a music video involving two additional barista-musicians.
The fact that a group of unique creatives congregates under the roof of a corporate coffee giant leads me to an inevitable conclusion.
This may not be a popular opinion, but after nine years here, I can confidently say I’ve seen my share of ups and downs.
It’s still a wonderful place.
Now, I’m not denying that there’s a downturn in the entertainment industry. For a large part of the twentieth century, filmmakers had no choice but to flock to LA to find work and studios.
Since the 1990s, however, Hollywood has gradually lost productions to cities with lower expenses and enticing tax incentives.
LA doesn’t hold a monopoly over the film industry anymore.
Yet, amidst all this change, one thing has persisted: a community of passionate creators.
My baristas aren’t idly waiting for Hollywood to hand them opportunities. Instead, they are creating films and collaborating on projects—all while donning matching green uniforms.
Sure, production might be moving to cheaper cities like Vancouver, Atlanta, or Nashville. But those cities lack the essence of LA. And Nashville often feels like an endless blur of bachelorette parties that make me feel like I’m significantly older.
Culture is a complex phenomenon. It’s connected to industries, undoubtedly. But it’s also intertwined with a city’s identity, making it too entrenched to vanish just because the original industries fade.
Detroit, for instance, still carries the title of the Motor City long after its automotive industry diminished. Chicago has lost its famous stockyards and steel mills, yet its vibrant character remains.
If Chicago is solid steel, then LA is more of a collective illusion. Our culture thrives on a desire for artifice and the unique human ability to embrace fictions.
Interestingly enough, it looks different depending on who’s observing.
In other words, LA is a sensation.
The Filmmaker has shared that he connects with many artistic regulars at Starbucks who share his creative aspirations.
He never anticipated that his job there would open doors to so many other artists, and he’s thankful that this space exists.
I share his gratitude.
