Roadtrip Nation finds its way

Trio known for TV and book series guiding recent grads settles into their own fast lane in life.Who needs a business plan when you have a manifesto?

“As a generation, we need to get back to focusing on individuality,” read one of the lines from the “Roadtrip Nation’s” most coveted doctrines. “Self construction rather than mass production,” the manifesto continues. “Define your own road in life instead of traveling down someone else’s.”

It’s those words that first encouraged Mike Marriner, Brian McAllister and Nathan Gebhard to take the road trip of their lives, a search for answers from people who are lucky enough to work at jobs they love.

Trying to find inspiration for their own career paths after college, the three surfers would eventually discover they were embarking on their own self-fulfilling prophecy. Now, four years after taping their critically acclaimed cross-country expedition, the trio has built a successful production company that films and markets road trip documentaries to public television stations. The production is a little more sophisticated, but the cast remains the same -- nervous soon-to-be-graduates who aren’t sure what they want out of life.

“The reason we’ve been successful is that we’re still doing this for the same reason we were doing it four years ago,” Marriner said. “We didn’t do this because we wanted to start a business. We did it because we didn’t know what we wanted to do with our lives.”

Now it seems the answer may be producing the popular half-hour television show from their makeshift production studio on the west side of Costa Mesa. Wedged in the middle of their lobby is the original sprawling green RV from the trio’s first trip. Parked around back are three lime green RVs; the recording studio, stage set and sleeping quarters for the production of the annual 12-part series.

Beginning in early spring, the production staff begins taking applications from students at more than 100 college campuses in the U.S. Eventually three teams of three students are selected, each group is given their own RV, a wad of cash and film team to document the adventure. Everything else is up to them.

“They plan everything from beginning to end,” said McAllister, a 30-year-old Newport Harbor High graduate and former lifeguard.

The format sticks closely to the original film made by Marriner, McAllister and Gebhard. In their book, “Finding the Open Road,” the trio detail how they set up to travel across the country and talk with people who were passionate about their careers.

“We spent weeks brainstorming individuals we could interview. If we were hanging out in a bookstore, we would put the person who started it on the list,” the book reads. “If we were reading a National Geographic magazine, we would comb the masthead and find someone interesting there to meet with.”

The first journey had the three interviewing dozens of business leaders, from Venture Capitalist Dan Regis to Pulitzer Prizewinning novelist Jane Smiley. They also took the time to talk with Volcom founder Richard Woolcot, a lobster fisherman in Maine, broadcaster Larry King and legendary ladies man Hugh Hefner.

Each interviewee had his or her own story of success, Marriner said, but most shared one common theme. Most careers were usually found on accident, often a by-product of pursuing one’s passions. Like the three filmmakers, many of those who shared their stories said they too were lost after school and spent years wondering what they were going to do with their lives.

Each interview opened up new opportunities for the trio and eventually led them to an obvious realization: the three had already begun doing what they loved -- making movies and sharing with others. Four years later the three have built a successful production company with corporate sponsorships from big names like State Farm, Microsoft and Starbucks.

“I tell people to boil it down to the basics. Find something you love to do, and stick with it,” Marriner said. “If you’re passionate about something, don’t worry about the money. It’s about having a good idea. Experience is overrated.”20060206iu8mnqncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)The production staff of Road Trip Nation pause for a team picture in front of the conspicuous Green motor homes used in the show at their offices in Costa Mesa.