NEW SHORT FILM SHOWS How 2 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CIRCUMVENT VANCOUVER'S HIGH RENTAL COSTS.

By Chandrayee Roy Choudhury, Canada: A new short film shows how two international students at the University of British Columbia have chosen to live in a camper van to cut costs. 



Italians Alessio Brandolese and Paolo Ferronato say they figured living in a van near University of British Columbia's Point Grey campus was a reasonable alternative to dealing with Vancouver's sky-high housing costs. 



Local filmmaker Jonah Lee-McNamee, working with Vancouver news channel, captured a day in the life of the two students trying to make it in a city where, as Brandolese says, houses "are only for millionaires."

The two came up with the idea back in Italy before arriving in Vancouver in September. Living in a van, they say, has helped them cut costs, allowing them to afford activities such as skiing. 



It's also taught them to focus on what's "essential," Brandolese said.