DVD Review: Collecting Somedays by the ALT PROJECT

[DBrentMiller]

Alternate Travels Through the Vistas of America

Can you recall the number of times you have said, “Someday, I’m going to do that.” Or, “Someday, I’m going there.” Or, “Someday, I want to visit ….”

That is the essence of this independent film, Collecting Somedays, but it is so much more than just a title. It is a well constructed film, a documentary of travels by two groups of travelers from Pittsburgh headed to the Pacific Ocean by two different routes. One group travels by motorcycle and support vehicles. The other group travels by specialized van to accommodate one of the producers.

Collecting Somedays A Film by The ALT PROJECT Producers Al Labriola, PhD, Jim Vota and Nick Sinagra Duquesne University 99 Minutes running time $14.99

Producers Jim Vota and Nick Sinagra direct the production during the travels. Producer Al Labriola, PhD, oversees the project known as The ALT PROJECT.

“ALT” is a term designated for alternative routes around the United States. The ALT PROJECT expands the meaning of this term to represent alternative methods people use to explore this vast landscape. This crew travels over 15,000 miles around the nation to reveal wonder and splendor within our borders just waiting to be seen.”

One of the key elements of producing this film is its source. When I was a professor of journalism and photojournalism, I worked hard to find my students internships and work opportunities, anything to help them build their portfolio. This film has done exactly the same thing, for it is a production of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. The producers and directors are faculty in the Department of Journalism and Multimedia Arts, and the crew is a collection of students and former students. What an incredible portfolio building opportunity.

The film starts with a long introduction, but fairly describes the project. Music by the Delaneys gives the film a down home feel.



The larger crew starts off with two Kawasaki KLR 650s and two Chevy Suburban support vehicles. There are plenty of riding scenes on pavement, gravel, and crossing streams to follow a back road. And of course, there is the occasional turn around because the creek has overflowed and the water is too deep.

In Tennessee, they rode the Trans America Trail. In Kentucky, they discovered and stopped at the Jefferson Davis Memorial. Flooded roads required detours in Oklahoma. They got stuck eight miles from town, sunk into the Bonneville Salt Flats. Vota’s advice for those thinking about driving onto the flats, “Just remember, driving on the Salt Flats is considered to be off road, and AAA will not cover a tow. We found that out the hard way.”

The bikes performed fairly well, but the support vehicles had plenty of difficulties including flat tires in the middle of no where. In Oregon, the crew stopped to see the scenery at the Alvord Dry Lake Bed, and they noticed four flat tires on the two vehicles. With only two spares, they were able to make one vehicle whole and called a tow truck for the other vehicle–about an hour from Burns, Oregon.

Both crews meet up in Eugene, Oregon, and proceed to the Pacific Coastline at Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area where the trip and film concludes. In the final credits, Vota’s KLR is pronounced DOA. He said the bike literally died on the last day at the last stop. He returned to the bike from the ocean shoreline, and it would not start. The vehicles that had the most problems during the film were the Suburbans–many, many flat tires.

The smaller crew in a specialized van accommodates Nick Sinagra, who is confined to a wheelchair by his Muscular Dystrophy. His travel portion of the film documents the challenges and ability to travel even under the demands of physical limitations. His story is inspiring, and with the motorcycling portion, both trips demonstrate alternative modes of travel to see the great vistas of America.

As if this film was not enough, Vota says they received a grant to produce five films! Yes, there will be more from this group, and I can’t wait. In fact, where do I sign up to crew in the next film?

Brent

This review was originally posted at Sojourn Chronicles. http://www.sojournchronicles.com/200...ting-somedays/.

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Im looking forward to this years Travels!!!! Looking forward to meeting you next week!


Greg