Driving for Dollars

As the producer and director of the documentary “Freeway Philharmonic” I have a bit of an outsider perspective.

Out of interest I recently reviewed some of the original interview questions I asked the musicians in 2005. “Do you enjoy this lifestyle
and what are the rewards?”, “”What are your goals for the future?”, What are the struggles of balancing work, finances and your personal life?”,”Tell me about the freeway community”.

There was a lot of depth and openness in the musicians’ answers. While filming and getting to know the seven profiled musicians over a period
of three years, I got a sense that these questions were contemplated over and over even when the cameras weren’t rolling.

What struck me the most was that in the face of these daily and relentless challenges – driving countless miles, scheduling, preparing for auditions, having personal and family time, etc., ‘driving for dollars’ musicians continue to do what they love, mainly because they must to be true to themselves and to pursue their passion. As a filmmaker that’s a wonderful underlying theme to work with.