Kristy and I appeared on HGTV’s “RV 2009” show. During the filming of “RV 2009,” a TV crew followed us as we toured “America’s Largest RV Show” in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The premise of the show had us shopping for a larger RV. Unfortunately, we had no Airstreams to tour at the Hershey event. If they’d had a 30-foot Classic, you know what we would have chosen.
So if you ever see this show on HGTV, check it out, and look for us in the mix. We’ve been told that a couple million people will see this TV show, so hopefully YOU will be among that number.
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Amongst the general public, RVs have something of a mixed image. Some people just don’t appreciate the difference between a motor home and a mobile home. To the uninformed, there’s a thin line between a campground and a trailer park. But walk onto any Hollywood back lot, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by RVs.
Los Angeles is replete with “Star Waggons,” travel trailers that are used on location as temporary living and working quarters for actors and crew. The world’s most publicized and glamorized celebrities spend a great deal of their working time aboard RVs. And many of these folks have taken the RV lifestyle along with them after departing the movie set.
In the Airstream community, A-list celebs like Matthew McConaughey (aka Ol’ Washboard Abs) and Pamela Anderson have helped to make the classic aluminum trailers hip and current. Heck, People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive lived full time for years in his trailer, which was parked alongside a Malibu beach.
We’ve toured the Marathon Coach factory in Oregon that builds $2 million Prevost bus conversions for people like Tom Cruise. It’s said that Will Smith, Sly Stallone, and Robert De Niro have built extraordinarily plush RVs, customized to their tastes. De Niro’s coach reportedly is three stories tall and has a dozen TV sets. (Elvis would approve.)
Those of us who have fully explored the RV lifestyle understand that there’s literally no limit to how nice these things can be. For many of us, the RV lifestyle combines the best of both worlds — the comforts of home are paired with the enjoyment of travel. You don’t need to be a celebrity to live the life.
When we bought our first RV, we had no idea where we’d take it. Or rather, we had no idea where our cozy little Airstream would take us. So far, we’ve gone from from our driveway to Hollywood to HGTV, as we participated in the filming of that network’s “RV 2009” show.
I really like that host and the programs HGTV puts out regarding trade shows. Do you remember her name?
Your video has great production. I’m a new subscriber, and new Vintage Airstream (’78 Safari) owner, so I’m looking forward to more shows!
Jude
Jude, the host’s name is Chi-Lan Lieu. She’s really great. She’s a fast thinker (trust me, this “talking on TV” stuff is a lot harder than it looks) and is also very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about RVs.
HGTV wanted us to comparison shop amongst different towable RVs, so we spent a lot of time looking at 5th wheels. Sadly, there were no Airstreams at the show!
Congrats on your vintage unit… Kristy and I love vintage Airstreams. To me, that’s the real beauty of an Airstream — they are timeless! Enjoy, and we’ll strive to keep the shows coming…
Awesome entry once again. I see you have added colored filters and lighting to change to “feel” of the blog looks GREAT!!!! So how much did you pick from their sound guy and the camera guy tips and stuff. I saw the audio mixer they used what brand was that, do ya know? As you very well know I am a gadget freak and would love to see what lapel mic they were using. So many questions so little time!!!!! Oh god help me I am so high maintenance. Time to hit the coast and go to Big Sir and the the Hearst Castle. Great place and the bus ride up and back is one the remember!
Thanks Matt! I’m not sure about the brand of sound mixer, but it was nice. The lavalier (lapel) mics were the Lectrosonics brand. (If you want to have some Web browsing fun, go to bhphotovideo.com and start browsing the goodies.) My impression of the TV production was that it’s kinda similar to our video blog production, but bigger (bigger crew, cams, scope, etc.). I guess the basics of visual storytelling are the same, whether you’re shooting a video blog or a TV show or a Batman flick.
As for Hearst Castle, that sounds awesome! Not sure if we’ll make it there this trip, but who knows. We originally planned to be back home off the road by now, but here we are in Southern California…so anything’s possible. 😎
My Tivo is set. Really great site. My wife and I are just getting started on the RV thing and have enjoyed watching the videos. I blog about our travels at – http://sichblog.wordpress.com/
Cheers,
Scott
Thanks Scott… It’s going to be an interesting experience seeing this show. Bear in mind that we filmed it 6 months ago! There’s quite a turnaround time on these things (and you thought my blog was slow! ha ha). I am as curious as the next person to see how it turns out. Hopefully it will prove to be Tivo-worthy. 🙂
BTW, I checked out your site, and it looks like you’ve had some impressive travels yourself! Congrats and well done….
Sean
See… good things happen to good people… grin.. While you were looking at the camera.. others were also looking… but, I can’t say who… grin..
Yep love the filters… your last blog though was a little over kill…
by the way did you get the camera guy to show you his toy…?? now that is a camera Sean.
We are up north.. in the snow.. making movies right now.. but, glad to see your climb up is coming along good… now do you still want the job on the island? More fun here. More fun going to AK this year during their 50th… you know..
We will see what can be done to get you on the set… if your up for it..
Some discussion of the remake of the long long trailer… has been going on.. except this time… guess what they are thinking about using and who’s script (real life blogs provided) Just needs a good story line… grin.
Indeed we use our AS for the back side of the movie… its much less stress when you have your own habatation… The reasion that your not seeing too many AS is because they don’t have all that much room…for everything. Most don’t pull their own either.. a service provides the transportation of the units.
Now as to the AS you mentioned… its down at malbu right now…. where he is using it when he gets a chance…after filming… he loves the beach… we only talked about AS as we were passing… Might want to see if he wants to do a interview for one of your blogs… on his AS and what you all have in common.
Might want to check out a old state trailer park… down at doheny, ca. Can’t say much but its a old old state park.. that has a vast background for surfers and campers… including a old gent named Pop Warner… that we used to also know when we were kids…
Hearst Castle… is a icon… but so is solvang… and a host of others as you come up the coastline… but, don’t let the northern border stop you… gold beach and the mail boat ride… comes to mind as a fun time too…
Keep up with the camera learning.. I can see a improvement… grin.
LOL GMAs, you have certainly raised my curiosity. I get the impression you run amongst an interesting crowd!
You are probably right about my overkill on the filters! I try to keep such things in check, but also don’t want the image to look too plain. Sometimes it’s hard to find the right balance, especially since we don’t have much time/energy to dedicate to lighting. On a narrative shoot you might spend most of your time lighting, but we don’t have the luxury! The challenge here is to make a solo project look as pleasing as possible.
With regard to MM, we would LOVE to contact him for an interview. He seems like a genuine Airstream enthusiast and a great all around guy. He did an interview for the RVIA a couple of years ago that was really nice.
Hey, we are definitely up for getting on the set! Just say the word and we will be there. I would appreciate the opportunity to learn. 😀
Ahhhh well… we don’t want it to be known.. who we run with… as some of them are really hollyweard. Their are rules.. written and un-written that must be maintained.
I will see what we can do about … inviting you to the shoots. I think you may find it VERY interesting and helpful. Again I suggest that you look up USC and see what they can help you out with… learning. Its the best around. .
On the back lot … one can see how its done.. but as you said… it looks easier than it is. (some think that you just need a camera and your all set… atttt wrong) That is the signature of the director… as I once was told.. the writer is a artist in coming up with the idea… but, its the directors job to portray this written script into something that has the visual appealment to the viewers.
something to add to your production… thoughts… as you already have probably found… video presentation is made up of four things… action, location, dialoge and…. sounds. So far Sean, you have developed the action, dialoge and locations but next your adventure into sound needs to be…. so you can enhance your blog… (my humble suggestion) If you go back and watch your movies… this time note the score.. sounds… that enhance and set the treashold for the next …. as utoa said… close your eyes and listen… does the music and background do anything for you??? Indeed it is one of the senses that movies play on quite a lot… sets the action.. enhances….
So the first step is really … screen scriptwriting… their you can learn about how to think movies. Then its on to production… where you learn all the mechanics of making it happen… and finally the top of the mountain… directing. Ahhh the agony and stress of trying to get all the people to agree on something. Not to mention the weather, lighting changes, actors fussing, bad hair days… and equipment failures. All of which are a normal days work. (lock the door on the AS when your home) … oh and you want to get into the picture.. write the studio and let them know you and krisite are good technical advisors on the issues of traveling with the AS … submitt some of your blogs trailers) who knows… what happens then.
Lets not even mention the public who some THINK that they should be in on the silver screen… you will have that next when you get more popular… then where you going to go? You will never be alone…!!! See it all comes with a price to pay.
Now as to meeting Mr. MM… (nice orginal touch) If you head north from hollyweard… their is a great trailer park with a pier … just south of Malibu.. lots of movies were made in it.. (you almost could do a travel blog on the place showing historical outtakes on moves that were made their… ) you still can park their too as its a working trailer park… I would go see the park…with the pier… just down from the colony and walk up past the lagoon… for whale watching… (grin) Its a nice place to camp for the weekend as well as hobknobing with the other folks. It is their that you will find what you seek grasshopper.. according to the locators. ..right now. Jogging along the surf line is fun and interesting too. Lots of people do it around their. hint hint… So take Kristie for a nice … ahhh …walk… but, remember… privacy is …
let them know your looking for a interview conserning his trailer… who knows … magic things happen.. huh… he seemed real talkative about the AS when we passed him..
Be looking for the blog on “a trailer for a star” … oh and try and keep Kristie from oggling,druling and zombism… after all he does put his pants on one leg at a time too.. you know… moreover have fun… hey he just might ask Kristie to go surfing with ’em… now that we would like to see… Kristie surf city USA. LOL.
Happy trails… the adventure contenues…. back to work.
I finally got to see the show. Turns out to be on about the same time as a major wind storm blows my dish out of alignment. I climb up on the roof with the relay team telling me when the signal is back. I get it zoomed in run back down just in time for the commercial.Still got to see a good portion of the show. We have looked at the Carriage trailers they are nice. That’s all for now…
Sorry to hear about your dish!
Yes, the Carriage was the best of the bunch we viewed. But we’re really happy with our Airstream. Traveling with those big rigs would be a very different proposition compared to what we do now. I feel that with our 25-foot Airstream we are pretty nimble and can go just about anywhere.