Roadtrip Nation

After reviewing my WIP documentary design films list, I've decided to share Roadtrip Nation with y'all today. This particular piece is interesting to me (and relevant to our class) for several reasons.

1. Roadtrip Nation is a compilation of interviews from experts all over the country. In class, we've discussed interviewing techniques and the importance of first-hand (primary) research. This documentary is a compilation of many people's stories that help inform and guide others. 
2. Roadtrip Nation is a project that stemmed from recent graduates who had no flippin' clue what they wanted to do... sound familiar? Transitioning from college to "real-life" is (I can only assume) different for everyone. I remember graduating from undergrad and not really having any definitive idea of what I wanted to do. Actually, I was always jealous of those students who had it all figured out with their life plans and goals... I had what I like to call, shiny object syndrome... where I wanted to pursue everything and anything that inspired me, and I would do it for a month, and then I would start doing something else... anyways, long story short, we all have a story and a path. This documentary is about discovering the story and paths of others and reflecting on how it effectsthem.

http://roadtripnation.com/

Here is some info about the project pulled from the website.

The Roadtrip Nation “epidemic” started in 2001 with “The Open Road” movie but it didn’t really tip until 2004 when PBS decided to make it a series.

It all started with four friends and one dilemma: “what do we want to do with our lives?” Fresh out of college and unsure about the career paths in front of us, we were determined to expose ourselves to more than just the traditional life roads. We hopped in an old 1985 RV, painted it green, and hit the road to talk with 85 inspiring people from all walks of life, to find out how they came to do what they love for a living. The trip showed us that, just like the people we met on the road, we could create lives that one day we could look back on and say: ‘I stayed true to myself every step of the way

Since 2001, every summer, Roadtrip Nation sends students out in their big green RVs to learn the stories of fascinating people across the country. They filme their experiences and shared them with the world on the 12-part documentary series on PBS.

Link to the 2001 original road trip: http://roadtripnation.com/watch/watch_episode.php?x=50&s=1