After almost a year of hard work, our short documentary Marshall Goes West is finally ready to share with the world. What started as a simple road trip turned into an unforgettable experience full of friendship, discovery, and plenty of teenage chaos.
Paula, a community rep from Marshall, Arkansas, piled into a van with a group of international exchange students and hit the road for eight days across the West Coast. They saw the big sights like Los Angeles, Sequoia National Park, the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, and San Francisco. But what made the trip special were the little moments. The group tried In-N-Out Burger for the first time, left the van doors wide open in the parking lot of a Walmart, jumped into the Pacific Ocean, and even had a lost heirloom bracelet found in the sand by a kind stranger with a metal detector.
To make sure the story was told in the most authentic way possible, we sent a young videographer, Edmond Lee, along for the ride. He traveled in the van with the students, capturing their laughter, their nerves, and their growing friendships. The film was then shaped by our director Daniel Clayton and brought to life with original music created by producer Nick Testa.
Before landing on YouTube, Marshall Goes West was selected to screen at the Atlanta Children’s Film Festival and the Nooga Underground Film Festival. Those moments were exciting, but what excites us even more is sharing the film with you.
Hosting an exchange student is about more than just opening your home. It is about experiencing life together, creating memories, and seeing the world through new eyes. We hope Marshall Goes West inspires you to think about hosting and shows how rewarding the experience can be.
You can watch the full film on our YouTube Channel.
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