The Truth About Group Travel
Riding the high of my Costa Rica trip, I eagerly joined another group tour, this time to the Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t live up to my expectations, largely due to tensions within the group. There were some petty dynamics, and one girl was an outright bully. When it came time to edit the footage, I found myself stuck. Creating the film for Costa Rica had been effortless because I had such an amazing time. Capturing memorable moments felt natural, and expressing the significance of those moments came easily. This time, however, the magic just wasn’t there. There weren’t many standout moments to record, and I struggled to find a meaningful narrative in what I had captured.
Two immediate questions ran through my mind. How do I make something engaging with not a lot of engaging footage? How do I authentically depict my experience without sounding ungrateful? For three months, I sat on my footage, not knowing. I wasn’t even certain I wanted to make anything with it, but I realized I couldn’t be the only one who had felt disappointed while traveling. Over the next four months, I found my answers. What resulted is a short movie that represents my experience while honoring what travel can and should be x RJA
PICTURED BELOW FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Nick posing; Hotel room views; Beach dancing; Sunsets like you’ve never seen; The best tour guide; Poolside.
