Interview with Jennifer Clymer and Marijane Miller from ‘Be Prepared to Stop’ documentary
‘Be Prepared to Stop’ sheds light on an invisible trucking industry
What do you think when you see a big truck on the highway? Are you annoyed? Scared? Hypervigilant with your driving? Or maybe you just do your best to speed past and continue on your day. That’s how I felt before watching a new documentary called Be Prepared to Stop — which sheds light on an industry we so often forget exists. After watching the film, I have a greater understanding and appreciation for not only those working in the trucking industry, but the complex issues with which they deal.
For Be Prepared to Stop executive-producer and co-director Jennifer Clymer, the film had very personal ties:
We have completed this feature documentary about the transportation and trucking industry because my grandfather was a truck driver and I am very frustrated with the current state of our national highway system and the fact that the transportation industry for all of our freight and the goods that we consume is pretty much invisible. People take it for granted and need to understand that this is an essential part of how they live their lives and there needs to be a little more respect and give and take on the roads.
Like many of us might first think, producer and co-director Marijane (MJ) Miller wasn’t so sure it would make a compelling film. But once she began researching, it became clear that the issue needed to be addressed:
Jen came to me talking about doing a documentary on the interstate highway system and I said, “What? Are you nuts? That’s the most boring thing I’ve ever heard. Get away from me.” [laughs] And then, I started reading about it and saw first of all what a fascinating topic it was in general. For someone who has no investment in that industry, just looking at the alliances, the conspiracies. The good guys. The bad guys. The government. The independent trucker. There’s just so much drama going on that it instantly was a really good idea.”
It was three years from this moment until the film was complete — which in documentary terms is pretty fast. MJ and Jennifer spent about the first 18 months researching and working on securing funding, then shot for about a year and took about 9 months to edit the film. They want to make sure young filmmakers aren’t discouraged by a sometimes long and arduous process — which does come with a lot of hurdles. Jennifer had this advice:
“Filmmaking is a difficult process. Go from the very first story you heard MJ say. I talked to her about it and her reaction was “no.” Until she started looking into it a little bit more, and that’s what you come across as a filmmaker more often than not. You have to have the intestinal fortitude to continue talking through the “no.” Whether that’s a collaborator or someone that you’re really dying to interview, or someone who you know will eventually see the benefit of giving you their $20 to help you make your film. So, the knee-jerk reaction of “no” is an ever-present obstacle that any filmmaker has to overcome.”
The film dives deep into the complexity of our transportation problems in the United States. There’s old (and unsafe) infrastructure, a lack of investment in public transportation, truck drivers being underpaid and undervalued, and even how the ability to order anything you want and have it delivered the next day has an impact. Each of these factors impacts our trucking and transportation industry, even if we might not think about it every day.
For example, here’s a video from the film of what would happen if we didn’t have trucks for as little as five days:
So as you can tell, this is not only a complex issue but an issue that has many sides. Be Prepared to Stop does a good job telling the stories of many of the stakeholders — interviewing truck drivers, politicians, and those who work within the industry. MJ told us a little bit about that process of finding people who would share their stories:
“Most people are not asked about the thing they love very often. You call a truck driver and you say, “ I wanna know about your life,” and they’re so stunned that anybody gives a hoot that they’re happy to talk to you. You talk to a historian and outside of the three books he’s written nobody’s ever asked him a question. You know? And he’s delighted to sit down and share what he’s passionate about.”
Perhaps that’s one great lesson to learn from the film. The recognition that there are people behind those big trucks you see. Remembering to drive cautiously for the safety of everyone around you. Doing your best to make the roads safer in the little ways you can — starting with your own driving habits. This has made an impact on Jennifer (and others who told her it had a similar impact on them after watching the film):
“I am very cognizant of letting trucks get in front of me. I give myself extra time on the road because I want to be more courteous to people who are sharing the road with me.”
“I have the understanding that it’s not just a machine, it’s a person and their life next to me, in front of me, behind me, beside me.” — Jennifer Clymer
If you’re looking to make a documentary on an issue important to you, Jennifer has advice for you:
“You have to choose something that you’re passionate about if you are going to do this independently. It’s a very hard road. It’s something that you’re going to be living with and eating and sleeping and breathing for years. And if it’s something that you’re doing ’cause you think it’s going to earn you money, you’re doing it the wrong way. ’Cause it won’t. What you get from it if you’re passionate about what you’re illuminating for people is a real sense of ‘Mission Accomplished.’”
So what can we do? First of all, educate yourself about the issue by watching Be Prepared to Stop. Ultimately, the film doesn’t give one exact solution to the overarching issue, because the issue is complex and requires different solutions for every person, city, and country. MJ agrees that there is no “one size fits all” solution:
“There needs to be a coalition of funding solutions. It can’t just be a gas tax. It can’t just be toll roads. It has to be a lot of things all working together. But the absolute, bottom line, silver bullet to solve this problem is to get people off the roads. However that happens. Ride a bike. Walk. Take public transportation. Carpool. There are too many cars on the road. And that’s it. That’s the math. You can only make the roads so wide. You can only make the cars so non-polluting.”
But Jennifer did give one example of something simple we could each do today:
“I am a proponent of calling your congressmen. Be politically active because it’s in their title. They’re your representative. And if they don’t know what you’re feeling they’re not going to be able to represent you. So don’t be bashful about expressing how you feel. And if your feelings change, don’t be bashful about expressing that either. It’s perfectly fine. Situations change. But you have to be in communication about what you’re feeling.”
“‘Get out of your car’ is a really good, simple way to make an impact every single day.”
Did you know? Combining shipments when making online purchases rather than ordering items individually puts fewer trucks on the road. Plus, sometimes there are even benefits to you personally choosing a less expedient option. If nothing else, watching Be Prepared to Stop will give you a new perspective and view of a world that impacts you directly but you probably take for granted.
Here’s the full trailer for Be Prepared to Stop:
Thank you, Jennifer and MJ for shedding light on this important part of our world that so often goes unappreciated and is misunderstood.
Find out how to rent or purchase or see if there’s an upcoming screening of Be Prepared to Stop near you by checking out their website. Plus, follow them on Twitter, and start to think differently the next time you see a truck on the road. You can watch the film via Amazon or Itunes.
Editor’s Note: Smart Girls General Manager, Maggie Chieffo, was a co-producer on Be Prepared to Stop!
