hillary dixon rust

The site has been "up" for about a week and I have gotten a ton of amazing feedback and advice. Some people even explain to me how to make the technical changes since I still have wobbly legs when it comes to sailing the web-building seas.

One area that has caused a few people concern is the focus of the documentary as a whole. What is my goal? What is the "Why?" if you will. It's something that has been on my mind from the beginning and I'm really glad other people think about it too. I mean, what exactly IS interesting about me riding halfway across the country? Why should anyone be interested? What makes me doing it more profound than someone else? 

People literally race from coast to coast. RAAM (Ride Across America) is like riding two Tour de France's back to back only in half the time. Why is me meandering around the Southwest supposed to evoke any kind of emotion or curiosity?

I guess the main reason is it is something I want to do. I love to ride my bike and want to ride all over the country and meet people and see all the things I've never seen. I think this country is amazing and want to experience everything it has to offer. I also want other people that can't take the time to actually get out and do it themselves a chance to see the hidden corners and pockets of beauty. 

I also want to ask and hopefully answer a lot of questions. Why should someone in Florida care about people and places and things in New Mexico? Or vice versa? What is a Marfa and how did it end up in Texas? What about water? How can we make a difference? How is Phoenix even possible and doesn't it seem like we should consider the consequences? Who makes Southwestern art? Do we need the government to tell us we have to reduce the amount of waste we create? Why do people choose to live in Sedona or Gallup? Why are those places important to America? If they disappeared would the country collapse?  

I want to find out why so many people are so opposed to change. I want to know where "away" is when we are referring to trash. I want to see how people cope with drastic conditions. I want see what "regular" people think they can do to help. Are they overwhelmed by our collective problems? Is recycling even an option? How much water do really need to use? Is there such a thing as a sustainable lifestyle?

Like I was saying, I need to focus. Or, at least that's what people keep telling me and I'm normally inclined to think that other people are right. My concern is that in focusing down the original concept will get lost somewhere and it will all become about one thing. Or somehow it will turn into a commercial. I don't want it to be too produced. I'd love to have some scheduled interviews with environmentalists and inventors but being forced into arbitrary time frames and schedules seems to deaden it to me. But what do I know? I've never made a TV show or documentary before. And I want it to be as interesting as possible. 

Hmmmmm. I