This weekend I kick off an 8 month documentary project titled “The People’s Car.” The concept behind the documentary is to capture what it means to be a VW enthusiast. I plan on filming 9 events, including traveling there and back, get togethers, as well as interviews with members of my local club chronicling how they came to be an enthusiast, why they do it, and what challenges they face financially, socially, etc., to keep their passion going.

I am really excited about this project. I haven’t really had a chance to take a concept through to completion. I have done event coverage in the past, but it wasn’t structured and didn’t try to convey anything besides capturing the event. This feels much more story driven which means I have to actively think about everything that I am filming and how it will fit into the greater picture. I also like the idea of filming a documentary because try all you will to shape it, the content has a tendency to shape itself.

I am also excited to work on a project with a broader target audience. Typically projects I have done in the past apply to a very niche group, which makes it easy when it comes to gathering content and editing, but you don’t really get the same satisfaction as something anyone can watch. I will certainly have to keep reminding myself who I am shooting for and make sure I don’t wander one way too much, but again, I only have so much control as to where the project goes.

I have also never worked on a project that is this long. When doing the events coverage I have done in the past, I shoot for that day and only think about that day as far as what I am shooting. This will be a little different. I will still cover an event but it will need to tie in with the project to provide cohesiveness.

This leads to probably the best part of the project; it’s a challenge. I have been searching for something to work on that would provide a challenge to me and help push me further in my trade and this is shaping up to be a really great opportunity. It will be hard to keep the drive going for so long; the project probably won’t be truly finished until December of this year, which is a long way away. The other challenging aspect is producing, directing, writing, filming, and editing the entire project by myself. I am not sure I fully understand the amount of work that this will involve.

I will try and post up clips throughout the project so keep checking back.

• BROWSE / IN TIMELINE
• » RIAA Worst Company in America

• BROWSE / IN personal
• » RIAA Worst Company in America