So here I am, 21 ... almost 22 years later ... and I have no fucking clue where to go or what to do.

I've often come to these boards for advice, the total randomness and variety of the oppinions since the members of these boards come from all walks of life ... its theraputic in a way. So once again I have come to the boards for the very same reason. I've begun my job search, and maybe its the fact that George Bush has bent the economy over, or maybe its the fact that Washington DC is littered with interns from accross the country who will work for free for the summer, but it seems that all the great jobs don't exist. Since graduating I've gone through 3 jobs ... a bitch work job at Discovery Channel where I'd be logging tapes, a graphic design firm that totally wasn't my thing, and now I'm working freelance web design (the hours and pay are great, but its not my passion). I am starting to wonder ... what if ... what if I can't find that awesome job that I'll actually be happy to go to work in the morning for.

And then the other night it hit me, I was reading "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson. Its a comedic story about him taking on the longest trail in the United States, the Applachian Trail ... spanning from Georgia to Maine ... his 6+ months and $20,000 or so adventure. I always liked camping in the Boy Scouts ... maybe, just maybe I could do something like that too.

I've realized that my life has lacked that one great adventure, and I may as well take the time and do it while I'm young and have no one to depend on me economically. I could even document the whole journey and edit it together and make one hell of a documentary. I've got the money, I've certainly got the time. Now here's where you, Ayonae Ro, come in ....

What do you think would be more interesting to see on screen? I'm figuring a full length, 2 hour documentary. The ideas I've so far tossed around with a few of my old professors and my old AU Mentor Darryl Frank (VP of Television @ Dreamworks) and they've all given me some great professional feedback but I'm curious what you, the consumer and potential audience, would think. I don't plan to sell the documentary, but maybe spread it around a few film festivals and to build up my portfolio, so when the time comes and I do find that dream job I can get it.

Here are the ideas, abridged:

1 - The Appalachian Trail - clearly a man vs nature, as well as a man vs himself struggle to survive on his own walking from Maine to Georgia over a 6 month period. This would include conversation with fellow hikers and information about the trail as well as the inner monologue of the backpacker as he attempts to finish the feat.

2 - The Homeless - another idea I've thrown around a lot was the homeless of the city ... I'd pay one a few hundred bucks to let me hang out with him for a few weeks and follow them to get to understand their way of life. Darryl loved this idea, but my mom didn't ... its a trade off :lol

3 - The Road Trip - perhaps the most overdone "adventure" and yet somehow calling to me the most. The best Road Trip I've ever seen was "The Journey" www.journeyfilms.com where Eric traveled the country asking famous and important people to share advice with the upcoming generations. I'd need some sort of goal, some information to get out of this trip other than simply to drive from DC to Florida to Texas to California to Washington to Michigan to Main to DC again.

Of course these 3 pitches are totally abridged but I'm curious what people's initial reactions are and any other ideas people may have. Once I settle on one idea I'm gonna write a full treatment and submidt it to Darryl, he seems to think he can get me around $20k to shoot something if its worked out right and well thought out. I know I'm leaving something out, I've talked about this "project idea" for so long now with so many people that its scrambled in my brain. Anywho ... oppinions / ideas?

I would vote for #1. Two and three are either overdone or just plain depressing.

If it were me, I would be tempted to tour the country's establishments of ill repute. Of course, getting a camera in would be a major challenge and your audience would necessarily be limited.

Maybe another more reasonable idea would be to follow a circus or carnival around the country. That could be interesting as well I would imagine.;)

2 - The Homeless - another idea I've thrown around a lot was the homeless of the city ... I'd pay one a few hundred bucks to let me hang out with him for a few weeks and follow them to get to understand their way of life.

I recently read The Street Lawyer by Grisham and ever since I havnt been able to look at homeless people the same way. Granted, theres not many in South Georgia, but I digress. I dont know, it seems like this is the one area of American society that people just do NOT want to see. It scares them that people like themselves can drop so low to be in this situation, and they dont want to be reminded of the fact. They also dont want to be reminded of how little money they give to people that are hungry and homeless. Done well I think this subject could be extremely powerful. Course, by done well I mean you truly living like youre homeless for a few weeks... No cash, food where you find it, no roof... You dont go to a motel room after shooting for the day :p I find just thinking about it very scary.

Slant, the real inspiration for that was ... god, I can't even remember it. It won the student oscars a lil while back, a guy lived with some children diagnosed with AIDs on the streets in africa for a few nights. I remember it being so powerful, and I would like to do something like that ... the problem is getting the balls to do it.

The circus is another interesting idea.

Do something that precludes having an Internet connection.

One thing I can say mate, is be happy. You seem to have some great prospects infront of you, and whatever you choose, be happy you can.

Most people don't get The Choice.

if i were you i wouldnt pick the second...their situation is just too serious to play around 'i wanna some adventure' and play 100bucks for that.

if i were you i wouldnt pick the second...their situation is just too serious to play around 'i wanna some adventure' and play 100bucks for that.

I disagree. Even if he DID have a flippant attitude towards the endeavour (and I dont think that he does), there is probably nothing in the world that would sober him up more quickly than this precise 'adventure'. We dont take enough care of our homeless and hungry, and if done well this could help. Not fix, but help. In the long run thats much more important than having a good time.

Street Lawyer...read that as well...#2 would be interesting but if i were you i wouldn't do 1 bum

plus you never know what exactly could happen with that bum and what he does...

in LA, some bums wouldn't be the type that youd wanna associate with...

although, one of my Teachers Aids in elementary school told me about 2 of her friends who lived in Bel Air who dressed up as homeless vagrants and begged for money, obviously some mental problems but...to each his own?

it would be very interesting to dress as a homless person, live like one, try to assimilate but with a hidden camera...a live one would make people react possibly in ways they normally wouldnt

Number 1 for sure.

www.nols.edu (http://www.nols.edu)

you know, a lot of people don't get 2 things...

1 You may not realize what The Adventure is yet. Just go for experience. Maybe your first job out of college is the big adventure you've been looking for. Maybe ownin your first car and your first big road trip is the adventure. Maybe the chick you fall in love with 10 years from now is the big adventure.

2. You're 22. I know you don't realize it right now, but your life isn't over. You're NOT SUPPOSED to have had all your life experiences by now, in spite of what the WB network tells you.

Relax, dude. If you wanna do something, do it. If you wanna film it, film it. If you need money, get a job. If you start a project expecting it to be this big adventure, you'll end up disappointed.

I am 31 years old and didn't find my niche in life til last year. I was completely unsure of what to do with my life until I became a firefighter. Now I have no doubt what it is I was born to do. I also know a few folks who didnt figure out what they wanted to do until their 40's. Take your time man try lots of things. You'll find it. :)

Couple other options,

Try the Army/Air Force/Any other branch of the armed services, if you're worried about getting your ass shot off in Iraq, I'd suggest the Air Force, not the Marines or Army.

Or if the Military isn't for you, you might try peace corps, be a good way to get out into the world, and do some good, and learn about yourself.

Damn you Elemak. You said the exact same thing I was going to.

Kel, you're only 21, like others have said, you arent supposed to have had all your adventures yet. If the military isnt your cup of tea, look in to the Peace Corps. I have a couple of friends who did the PC for 4 years I think, and really enjoyed it. Granted they lived in some absolutely butt crack miserable places, but the satisfaction they derived from doing the work is still with them, 10+ years later.

Good luck with whatever choice you make.

Your first step is to quit blaming others for your "lack" of great jobs.

As for your choices are you looking for harder journalism (the homeless) or more feel good journalism (road trip and app. trail).

Between the two, I think the road trip would be more interesting. The app. trail is nice but I do not think it would translate well into film (here's another tree, wow another squirrel in the path).

One thing I think would make a good documentary would be to travel the country visiting nursing homes and record human life stories with elder people. Their stories can be absolutely fascinating. I recall reading a book from the someone wrote from interviews with my great grandmother (more of a family book) about growing up in the aftermath of the civil war in rural Alabama and it was very interesting.

Thats a hella good idea too Furtivus. I did a little bit of that back when I was in highschool with my JROTC unit. Would visit nursing homes and just spend time with the residents there.

There are some really amazing stories to be heard from them, and it would be a great tribute to them and their lives to have their story told in a book. Maybe a collection of stories?

The app. trail is nice but I do not think it would translate well into film (here's another tree, wow another squirrel in the path).
He could always get stuck under a boulder and cut himself free with a pocket knife. That'd be interesting...

OR, or.. cut his leg OFF with a pocket knife, to scramble free.

Talk about action.

OR, or.. cut his leg OFF with a pocket knife, to scramble free.


Actually, I think that's what Sanchek was talking about...

Recently, there was a hiker out here in Colorado/Utah (Moab?) who was trapped by a Boulder for a few days and eventually cut his own arm off with no more than a swiss army knife...

Now THAT is some iron will.

--Cen

So you are saying you have a job that has great pay and hours, but its not your pashion? Well, given that, here is some advice:

1) Wear a condom. If you knock up some Betty you will sudden find that job that is "not your pashion" is suddenly your career. Nothing like having a few mouths to feed, a mortgage, a couple car payments and a lawn that requires constant attention to almost completely eliminate most choices

2) Move to a new city. Sometimes a good fresh start is what you need.

3) If you have a Bachelor's degree, maybe pursue a Masters. It will buy you somemore time and maybe expand your horizons more. Has the fringe benifit of more pay when you get done too.

4) Go work someplace tropical for a while.Perhaps two years or more renting out Jet Skis. After that much time on permanant vacation, you will find some focus.

5) Work at a ski resort. Same as above, only colder.

6) The aforemented Peace Corps and Military service. If you have student loans, the military will pay them off and a degree means you can go in as an officer, not as a grunt. Peace Corps allow you the same travel to 3rd World nations, only without all the risk of combat.

7) Move home with Mom and Dad, play an online game all hours of the day, and be a general sloth. Its a good bet that eventually they will find a way to motivate you.

Ah Lummus, I've missed ya :)

The Peace Corps was exactly something I didn't even concider, but should have. AU (my university) has the highest percentage of students that go into the peace corps than any other ... its been beaten into my head since day one that its a great opportunity. Haha, even our graduation speaker mentioned it.

As to the others, I know I don't need to dwell on the fact that I haven't had these adventures ... but as Lummus said, right now I don't have those other mouths to feed and a lawn that requires attention. I'm free ... I've got the money saved up from working all through high school and college, and it'd be a great time to run off and make a few of these adventures for myself.

Furtivus, you definately hit on another great idea. It lead me to think about when I was in high school every summer I dedicated to the Appalachian Service Project where I built houses for people who couldn't. "Warmer, Safer, Dryer" was the motto or something like that. It'd probably be interesting to follow a church group through their preparations for the project, and spend the summer learning about the impact ... while still picking up a hammer and some nails.

I dunno, I just have so many different ideas and can't really solidify on any of them. I guess thats the beauty of working from home at the moment ... I work a lil bit, then process these ideas in my free time (see: always)

I appreciate all the imput!

I've got the money saved up from working all through high school and college, and it'd be a great time to run off and make a few of these adventures for myself.
On a serious note, I'd advise you to be very careful with your savings. It's amazing how hard it is to re-build a nest egg, starting when you're older.

Buy a play ticket to Las Vegas, gamble all of your money away. (If you win, gamble your winnings away to). After you are completely broke, go into a rampage at the casino assaulting at least two security guards, and stealing as many chips as you can. Make sure that when your before the judge you plead guilty. Then swear at him, and tell him you have murdered twelve people, and then ask for a reduced sentence. Now, your in prison. Call all of your family, and tell them that you hate them and that you never want to hear or see from them again. Work out daily in Prison until your super strong, then find some scrawny Mexican boy named Tino and make him your bitch. Get raped by 400 lb Russian inmate. Get assaulted by guards. Get some huge ass prison tattoos (eagles and shit) After your few years in the slammer are up, get started on writing your book. Sell your book to a publisher and title it "The life of Kelraz: How Everquest ruined my life", PROFIT $$$$$$$...



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Or, just invest your $20k into a house, keep your job..find a hot chick, get married and bang her till your old and grey (Kids optional)

Travel. Take yourself out of your element. Without telling anyone, buy a one way ticket to a random city you may or may not be interested in. Make a life for yourself, document it on some online diary or something if you need the validation of an audience.

Become cultured!