The three-month, 14,000-mile journey to conduct 200 interviews across the country has begun.

Four recent graduates of the University of Arizona — including James Whiting, 23, of Thousand Oaks — are in Ventura County and the Los Angeles area this month to interview people who love their work.

Traveling in a tour bus provided by major sponsor Jobing.com, they are filming a documentary, writing a book, and creating a program from which students can benefit through internships and exposure to passionate people in the work force.

Whiting's companions are Brett Farmiloe, 22, of Santa Rosa, and Zach Hubbell, 24, and Noah Pollock, 23, both of Tucson, Ariz. They are interviewing business people from different fields and sharing the interviews on their Web site.

Each member of the group has a role. Whiting, who majored in communications, is responsible for multimedia. Hubbell, an accounting major, handles the administrative role. Pollock, a creative writing major, is the writer. Farmiloe is the leader.

"It wouldn't have worked out so well if we were all accounting majors," Farmiloe said.

This group was formed when Farmiloe did not know what career to pursue and thought that he'd ask others how they found jobs they loved and were passionate about.

Now, helping people find their career paths has become a career for Farmiloe.

His goal is to "create a resource to help others determine their career." He said he wants to "provide them with the guidance and support they need."

Whiting, on the other hand, has other career plans. "Video editing is a newfound passion; it tells the story fluidly."

The Conejo Valley native said he saw this as an opportunity to make connections, discover what he likes and help other people do the same — also to tour.

"It feels great to be back in Thousand Oaks," he said.

One of the people he will be interviewing is a chiropractor and dietician, Dr. Douglas Markham of Newbury Park.

Whiting said he injured his back in high school and gained weight, and Markham helped him get through that time.

The quartet has interviewed a range of people, including a real estate agent, accountant, culinary artist, entrepreneurs, pilot and reporter.

"Everyone that I have interviewed has impacted me in some way," Farmiloe said. "I can't pick one person who has influenced me the most because that's like determining your favorite food; there is just so much to choose from."

One of the first interviews he did was the most important of all. He talked with Hall of Fame basketball coach Lute Olson of the University of Arizona.

"Those 45 minutes gave us the confidence we needed," he said. "He really encouraged us."

Whiting said he was inspired by one of the more recent interviews in San Diego. He interviewed the owner of Studio West, Peter Dyson, a native of England who went to San Diego from Austin, Texas, in 2004.

"This interview made a big impact on me because I want to own a studio one day," said Whiting, who is in a music group. "This is really the biggest studio in San Diego."

With every interview, Whiting said he grows as a person and as an artist. Each person makes him and his team think that it was "by far the best interview."

Whiting said he can't wait to see how next interview will turn out.

The overall advice given to the group is that "you shouldn't hate your job. You should enjoy it, the environment, the people you work for, the people you work with, and sometimes it's just a matter of whether or not you have a window," Whiting said.

"Find your niche."

On the Net: The interviews and other information about the group are posted on http://www.pursuethepassion.com.