Thousands of people move to Los Angeles each year to become a part of the world’s finest movie industry. But while many seem to arrive in Los Angeles with unrealistic expectations and no education, others come here with both feet on the ground, a take on how to succeed and a constructive mind-set.

One of these latter folks is Justin Paul Rubin, who moved from New Orleans to Los Angeles after finishing his bachelor’s degree in communication and drama, about three years ago. “I had the expectation that LA is a city where you can find anything at anytime,” Rubin said. “And I have found that to be true.”

Rubin said that his experience of being a struggling actor in LA seems to be a lot different than many other wannabe actors’. “Everyone I talked to before moving, hated it here,” he said. “But I love it, it is my new home and I would love it here even if I was not acting.”

After living in Los Angeles for a couple of years, Ruben has some suggestions for the ones who want to try to make it in Hollywood. “My No.1 advice it that you should go after what they want fully, which includes getting a good education,” he said.

Taking additional acting classes in Los Angeles is also good, Rubin said, since it teaches students not only about acting itself but also about people in the business and about how the business really works. “Plus both the personal and professional connections [you get through the acting classes] are priceless,” he said.

“However, it is important for aspiring actors to have other interests than acting. Nothing is less attractive than an actor without a life,” he said. “And any great artist should be well rounded in life.”

So far, Rubin has had plenty of acting jobs, from supporting roles in movies to leading roles in different plays. But his best acting gig so far was when he played Bobby Kennedy in the play “Marilyn’s Murder.” ”The play ran for months and the critics just loved it,” Rubin said.

Nevertheless, getting acting jobs in Los Angeles is not always easy and the competition is fierce. “Depending on who you are and who your agent is, it can be both extremely hard and fairly easy to get auditions,” Rubin said. “I personally love to go to auditions because it means that you are in the game, at least. It also means that you are just a few steps away from being a working actor.”

For the moment, Ruben teaches karate to children and is waiting tables at a restaurant. “In the mornings, I go to my acting class and then I drive around to auditions or do drop-offs to casting director or talent agents…and then I go to work,” he said. “So it is not so glamorous.”

But Rubin has an optimistic view of both his life and his career. And he believes that new technology, such as putting his portfolio on the Internet, might create new possibilities for him. “It is really good, since it will give me more exposure,” he said.

Rubin also thinks the key to his success will be a good attitude, a positive outlook and tenacity. “Also,” he said, “it seems like when you focus on something else and you let go a little, life hand you what you really need – so if I become a successful actor, then that is suppose to happen.”

By Annica Sundstrom