There's a list of studios available in the city over here : www.myspace.com/pixincla - there's also a list of photo assistants, rental houses, set builders, digital techs on that page too. helpful photo community links.

As for places - downtown's kinda cheap, so is Echo Park, Silverlake and Los Feliz. Silverlake is hipster heaven while Echo Park is more hispanic/gentrification ... Highland Park and Atwater Village are a bit further away but not as bad - up-and-coming places. Hollywood - avoid it - it is overrun by tourists and I wouldn't recommend living there.

You can try www.westsiderentals.com or craigslist to figure out prices.

Just remember, the further away from the ocean, the cheaper it is. Figure about $800+ for single, $1,000+ for 1 bedroom around the 213/323/818 area. There might be some good deals in 626 but that's in Pasadena, Altadena, etc. It ain't cheap

good luck !