Before diving into how I left the USA, let’s talk about why.
Spent my life working in film and television as an independent contractor, constantly trying to get into the union. Union membership meant access to healthcare and retirement, but breaking in was nearly impossible. The only real way to join was by working on a non-union production that “flipped” to union status—something entirely out of my control. Otherwise, nepotism was the golden ticket. While some unions technically had waiting lists, few made it in this way. However, this is just one small part of why i left USA. There are many reasons, outlined right here.
Success in my side of the film industry had little to do with skill or work ethic and everything to do with luck and connections. I had neither. By the time I hit 33, I was staring down a long career with nothing to show for it—no savings, no security, just years of paying rent and hoping for a break that never came. Even if I had managed to get into the union, I would’ve been working until 70 just to afford retirement. Then COVID hit.
Covid
With productions shut down indefinitely, I lost my job, my home, and my independence. I had no choice but to move in with my father, surviving on food stamps and whatever odd jobs I could find. I hit rock bottom, and buried myself in alcohol and pills. By the time the industry reopened, I was physically wrecked, mentally broken, and in no condition to return to such a demanding line of work.
That’s when I started looking into life abroad. I fell down the rabbit hole of YouTube and TikTok videos showcasing expat life in different countries. And it hit me—America was a scam. The grind, the lack of security, the constant stress. There had to be a better way to live.
At first, I set my sights on Argentina, captivated by its beauty and culture. But political turmoil was one of the things I wanted to escape, and Argentina was in the midst of its own struggles. Then, I discovered Malaysia. English is widely spoken, healthcare is high-quality and affordable, and U.S. citizens can enter visa-free. Everything about it seemed perfect. I decided: I was moving to Malaysia.
But there were obstacles. I had no money, no job, and a serious drug addiction to overcome. I was attached to so many things—pills, alcohol, toxic relationships, debt, and the false sense of security that America had drilled into me. But Malaysia became my light at the end of the tunnel, and it was time to start climbing out of the hole I had dug for myself.
Breaking Free
Leaving the U.S. wasn’t just about moving to another country—it was about breaking free. Free from a broken system, free from addiction, free from the belief that life had to be an uphill battle. And that’s exactly what I did.
I want to share my journey with you, step by step, because I made it out. Today, I am alive, sober, and living a life I never could have had in the States. In making this journey, I became the man I always wished I was—stronger, happier, and with a true sense of purpose. Leaving the U.S. didn’t just change my location, it changed my life.