It is finally summer, the season of travel, and it’s the perfect time for a road trip to shoot footage for the documentary you’re making.
“The best way to avoid costly travel is to plan well,” said Johanna Divine, director of the Media That Matters Film Festival winner, Young Agrarians. “Always budget more than you think you might need.” The film was shot on a road trip from Palmer, Alaska to Tumacacori, Arizona in the summer of 2003.
Travel can be expensive and, on a small film budget, you’re going to want to save money any way possible. Here is your on-the-road guide to cutting costs when it comes to your vehicle, lodging, and food so you can focus on getting that footage you’ve been needing to capture.
Vehicle and Travel
An important factor in a road trip is the type of vehicle that you drive. Essential traits that your vehicle should have are: safety, reliability, and good gas mileage. You also want to make sure that there is enough space to accommodate your equipment and possible crew.
According to Divine, the best vehicle to drive is either a minivan or a station wagon. “They have accessibility and space, which make it easy to work out of your car,” she explains.
Divine also suggests having a storage box on top of your vehicle to store the things that you do not immediately need. As long as you lock the contents of the box in your car at night, or bring them inside with you, your possessions will be safer.
Before leaving on your trip, make sure that the vehicle you’re using has recently been inspected. You don’t want any avoidable problems to arise when you are on the highway far from home. Also, it is a good idea to get AAA services, in case an unforeseen emergency happens, such as running out of gas or a flat tire.
To protect yourself from other unexpected damage, Divine suggests getting a short term insurance policy for your equipment.
“I’ve heard nightmares of people getting equipment taken from their cars,” Divine said.
An unavoidable expense on your road trip will be gas. However, there are small things that you can do to ensure you get the best gas mileage. Driving slower, using cruise control, and using less air conditioning can help your car be more fuel-efficient. Every gallon counts when you’re driving long distances.
Another way to save on gas is to plan your route beforehand. Divine likes to contact all of her sources before leaving so she can “figure out the route that makes the most sense.”
Divine also says it’s a good idea to call your sources a few days before you show up to make sure the plans are still on.
“People appreciate time and people want to know your questions ahead of time. You get a better response,” she contends.
There are many tools on the Internet that can help you plan your route, such as Google Maps and Mapquest.
“My overall advice is to do as much as you can during each visit. In some respects, the need to travel really makes you focus on what you want to get,” said Elizabeth Miller, director of the Media That Matters Film Festival winner, Water Warriors.
Miller traveled from Montreal to Detroit to make the film. “If you are prepared and have done all of your pre-production, you can get a lot done.”
Food
Eating on the road is also something that you need to think about before embarking on your journey. Simply eating at the nearest rest stop along the way can be unhealthy and expensive.
The best way to ensure that you eat healthy and save money is a combination of stopping at grocery stores and farmer’s markets along the way and choosing healthy, cheap restaurants.
