HOBO HEROES
It’s no secret that making an indie film involves dedication to one’s project in the face of numerous challenges, and yet some filmmakers have to deal with more serious problems than others.
A year or so ago, Jeff Stone was living in Costa Mesa, California, making short films with his friend Vern Moen, and the two were planning on finding an apartment they could share which they could afford on their meagre budgets. This plan hit a snag, however, when circumstances conspired to make Stone homeless, and he ended up camping at a nearby RV park. This experience inspired him to suggest that he and Moen get an RV: not only would it be cheap, mobile accomodation but they realised that they could turn Stone’s initial bad fortune to their advantage.
Since the start of 2006, Stone and Moen have been living in ‘Dick’, the 1973 Winnebago motorhome they bought together and moving around the greater Los Angeles area as they try and break into Hollywood in their own, distinctly unconventional way. They have been chronicling their hobo lifestyle on film, as well as on the blog on their website, The Winnebago Experience.
The pair’s frugal ways have also allowed them to self-finance numerous projects, and they have posted the fruits of their labors – everything from music promos they’ve shot for über-cool bands such as Cold War Kids to videos of their seemingly numerous attempts to crash industry awards bashes – on the site for people to enjoy. An ongoing project is a documentary on the modern hobo’s life, portions of which are already online.
Check out The Winnebago Experience, and be inspired.
-
miss janet
-
Anonymous
