A six-year project by filmmaker Eric Bricker, ALUMINATION is an independent documentary film about the Airstream community, the company’s historic legacy, and its one-of-a-kind founder, Wally Byam. The film is now available on demand to rent or buy, along with deleted scenes and bonus features. Stream this incredible ode to the Airstream way at home today.
ALUMINATION is a documentary produced by an independent filmmaker outside Airstream, Inc. to which all proceeds are directed.
Narrated by Kate Pierson (of The B-52s), ALUMINATION is a compelling, feature-length documentary capturing the spirit of Airstream founder Wally Byam. Nearly 90 years ago Wally began his quest to produce a travel trailer possessing the finest engineering and design in order to facilitate his vision for travel and adventure. The film captures Wally’s vision and the innovative, adventurous spirit that has carried the iconic American brand and its community of passionate road warriors through a century of exploration. From never-before-seen archival footage to interviews with today’s fervent fans, ALUMINATION is a deep dive into American innovation and the joy of travel.
Rent or buy ALUMINATION and watch it at home. Now available on demand, along with deleted scenes and bonus features.
Wally Byam with his dog Chica at the 1957 Palm Springs Airstream Rally
Directed and produced by filmmaker Eric Bricker, ALUMINATION tells an authentic story of groundbreaking design, life-changing journeys, and passionate resilience.
“Ultimately, Wally Byam didn’t just create a tool for travel; he created a platform for living.”
Bricker made his debut with the award-winning documentary feature VISUAL ACOUSTICS: THE MODERNISM OF JULIUS SHULMAN celebrating the life and work of renowned photographer Julius Shulman.
ALUMINATION is the culmination of nearly a decade of work for Eric. He has traveled around the country, interviewing Airstreamers and forming new friendships in the community, as well as poring through never-before-seen archival footage to capture the Airstream World, past and present.
“The spirit of Wally is embodied in every Airstream travel trailer and is activated by every person that uses it,” Bricker says. “He not only created a company but also formulated a magical elixir that delivers everlasting youth for those who embark upon the adventure.”
The project began when Lisa Hughes, the film’s producer, called Eric on the phone in May of 2013 with an idea: What about a documentary on the Airstream travel trailer? For Eric, it was an instant yes. Hughes’s idea was that – from a design standpoint – it was the perfect follow-up to VISUAL ACOUSTICS. They began their quest with a conference call to Airstream President & CEO Bob Wheeler, and began shooting at the end of July 2013 at Airstream’s headquarters in Jackson Center, Ohio.
Wheeler and Airstream CMO Mollie Hansen recommended the ALUMINATION team get in touch with Wally’s second cousin, Dale “Pee Wee” Schwamborn, and Airstream Life publisher and editor Rich Luhr. Their research trip was a whirlwind introduction to a story Hughes and Bricker knew nothing about: The impassioned community of Airstream fans. They uncovered a storied history in their conversation with Pee Wee, and discovered the modern continuation of that adventure in their meeting with Luhr.
“The community is as exceptional as the travel trailers,” said Bricker. “It’s quite rare to feel such a sense of instant acceptance anywhere.
Photo stills from ALUMINATION (2021)
1963-1964 Around the World Caravan
Bricker discovered that no matter their background, Airstreamers share a common passion that melts differences.
“Everyone focuses on the excitement and what they can do together in pursuit of adventure, fellowship, and fun,” he noted.
Although Bricker and Hughes thought they would finish the movie in 2016, the process of bringing ALUMINATION to life stretched to the average seven-year documentary feature production timeline.
“We wanted to make a movie that served as a passport to the world of Airstream,” said Bricker. “It was quite the epic journey in charting the terrain of the Airstream world and then distilling it down to 80 minutes. We shot in 16 states, spoke with hundreds of people, and struggled for years in trying to weave together all of our footage into a singular story we felt conveyed the spirit of Airstream, both past and present.”
As he wove the narrative together, Bricker discovered new archival footage that he hadn’t seen. He reached out to former Airstream Archivist and Historian Samantha Martin, and learned that Airstream had recently tripled the amount of digitized historical footage they had in the archive.
“It became clear that Airstream today continues on in the spirit that Wally Byam and his cousin, Helen Byam Schwamborn, created all those years ago,” said Bricker. “Once we understood this, and had the footage to support this idea, it changed the entire trajectory of the film as we worked the historical together with the contemporary in a compelling narrative.”
The result is a compelling portrait of Wally Byam’s genius, and a celebration of the community that keeps the Airstream dream alive today. The film had its world premiere in September 2021 at the documentary-focused Freep Film Festival in Detroit.
Helen Byam Schwamborn
Bricker admits that after years of editing, shooting, revising, and screening, releasing ALUMINATION into the world is a surreal experience.
“This project has been the challenge of a lifetime,” Bricker said. “One thing (among many) I learned from studying Wally Byam is a commitment to “making things better,” no matter the situation, is a really sound direction for forward movement. We believe the message of Wally Byam and Airstream is one of inspiration and joy and hope that those who embark upon this journey we call ALUMINATION find the same.”