On the Road: A Filming Trip Tour Diary
There’s something about the road that sharpens your focus. Last week, Michael and I packed our gear and flew into Detroit for a production sprint that would take us from Michigan to Chicago and back again—with voiceovers in hotel rooms, sunrise filming by the lake, and some incredible conversations with people who trusted us with their stories.
Inspired by the tour diaries of ‘90s bands, this post is part reflection, part production journal, and part mixtape. Because what’s a road trip without music?
Day 1: Detroit Arrival & Pre-Production
We landed in Detroit on a crisp Tuesday afternoon. I’ve never been before, but I’ve loved the city from afar—especially through the lens of Detroiters (yes, we rewatched an episode on the flight). We stayed just steps from Comerica Park, the buzz of a Tigers game echoing through the streets. That night, we reviewed our shot list and mapped out a plan to film with Mary, who lives with a rare kidney condition.
Soundtrack for the first day:
Derrick May’s “Strings of Life” reminds me of the high energy and possibility at the start of every trip. I listened to this the moment I touched down in Detroit!
Day 2: Filming with Mary, Then On the Road Again
Early morning call times hit different when you're still on West Coast time. We woke at 5am, caffeinated hard, and spent the day with Mary—interviewing her, filming her daily routines, and trying to capture the strength she brings to her story.
By late afternoon, we were back in the car, heading west to Chicago. That leg of the trip had big highway-movie-energy. Michael drove. I DJed.
Road music highlight:
Iggy Pop’s “The Passenger” feels appropriate b/c we had a five hour drive from Detroit to Chicago. This track reminds me of the sobering reality of a long road trip.
Day 3: Western Michigan Voiceover Break
Halfway to Chicago, we remembered: we had a VO recording scheduled. We pulled into a random hotel off the highway, booked a room for two hours, and dialed in for a Zoom session with the narrator. Strange? Yes. But also kind of perfect.
Mood music while waiting for files to upload:
Helado Negro’s “Outside the Outside” has just the right kind of bop for this interstitial moment. We’re not close to our destination, but we need to keep some light at the end of the tunnel for more driving.
Day 4: Sunrise on Lake Michigan
We woke before dawn to meet David, one of our subjects, for a 7 a.m. shoot by Lake Michigan. The light was unreal—glass-like water, barely a breeze, a perfect way to start the morning.
Then we drove later that night straight downtown to Chicago to meet our subjects. Another interview, more b-roll, lots of stairs. The day ended capturing a donor event for the client. We wrapped after 10 p.m.—a full 15-hour day.
Evening wind-down vibe:
Tomoko Soryo’s “I Say Who” is one of my go-to tracks, especially navigating nighttime city driving.
Day 5: Final Interviews & Heading Home
Friday morning started early again—we shot a dual interview and filmed final reflections. By 2 p.m., we were packing up gear and heading for the airport. I made it home in time for a Saturday morning blueberry picking trip with my daughter.
Chicago Classic:
Adonis’s “No Way Back” is the only track I wanted to hear after getting packed up and back in the car headed to the airport.
What Stuck With Me
Trips like this are a blur—gear cases, early call times, last-minute brainstorms—but they’re also when Michael and I do some of our best thinking. We plot future work. We reflect on past projects. We push each other to think sharply about how we tell stories, especially for organizations doing real work in the world.