Since the day I decided to start up a production company I always wanted to get involved with businesses. Events are ok on the side but I enjoy working with businesses a lot. With that said I have put all of the necessary equipments together both production and post. I would like to get the word out and i dont want to burn up the money by advertising that wont give back.
1. Living in LA how can i go head to head with the big boys who have been around?
2. what are the best sources of advertisement?
3. being me I can satisfy basically whomever that walks in. I have the skills to do graphic design, motion graphics, editorial, dvd authoring, and so on....
how do i come up with whom to target(what types of businesses or clients or organizations?)

while at it i thought of passing out some flyers in the neighborhood to transfer VHS to DVD. is there still a market for this? with the recorders that everyone can buy from best buy and so on?

thanx for any ideas folks

2- Most people in the film/video industry get most work through word of mouth. People you've worked with will usually work with you again. You may also get jobs from them recommending other people.

To build more word of mouth customers, you can take a look at the following article:
http://www.creativecow.net/articles/lindeboom_ron/successful_follow-up/index.html

You should also have business cards and tell everyone you know what you do for a living (i.e. ask them what they do).

Other ideas:
Online marketing such as Google Adwords, Yahoo Overture. see http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20040321-3551.html (Not video-specific, but the same concepts should apply.)

Chamber of Commerce meetings/networking events
One thing you could do is a presentation (not necessarily selling yourself but could be telling people how videos can help their company).

Not related to video, but the same concepts can apply.
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=293359