Really Good! Fresh Jerky
- Directed & Produced by: Cami Buckman
- Stage:
- Location:
- Updated: May 5, 2026
- Project Type:
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Logline
Gus loves three things: his family, his town, and his famous beef jerky. But a new highway threatens the legacy of all three.
Clips
Participants
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Gus
Participant
Gus
Meet Gus. The brains and the brand. Gus is the beloved patriarch whose unwavering humor and optimism shines through even in the face of life’s greatest challenges. Gus is the heart of this project. -
Nancy
Participant
Nancy
Meet Nancy. As the youngest of Gus’ daughters, Nancy is the bold visionary fighting to keep her father’s dream alive. She’s forging her own path, and trying to save the town she loves in the process. Through her, we see Gus beyond the billboards, the family behind the famous jerky, and the deep roots that make this more than just a business. For Nancy, jerky is personal. -
Vasie and Terry
Participant
Vasie and Terry
Meet The Neighbors, Vasie and Terry.
Vasie is a lifelong Olancha resident and Gus’s best friend. Vasie’s roots in the region run deep, his family has lived here for generations. He’s watched the town change and become shaped by state policies that few locals had a say in.Terry is a retiree who arrived in Olancha more than a decade ago. He finds solace and community in the quiet desert town.Together, Vasie and Terry’s perspectives offer a powerful window into California’s overlooked rural communities.
Team
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Cami Buckman
Director & Producer
Team
Cami Buckman
Director & Producer
Cami Buckman is an Emmy-award winning documentary producer with a background in print and broadcast journalism. She has produced for traditional newsrooms, network television, and popular digital platform shows. Her reporting and short-documentaries have been seen in VICE, HBO, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and Youtube Originals. Her work blends humor, history, and people-centric storytelling. Cami was proudly born and raised in Los Angeles. When she's not working you might find her making homemade pizzas for friends or writing comedy sketches. -
Chris Pieper
Director of Photography
Team
Chris Pieper
Director of Photography
Chris Pieper is a cinematographer and camera operator with a strong background in narrative, documentary, and commercial work. He was a participant in the prestigious ASC mentorship program under Michael Bonvillain. His short films have been recognized on the global stage, with screenings at the Cannes International Film Festival. His commercial portfolio includes work with clients like Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus, A24, Google, and Spotify. -
Sean Brandt
Editor
Team
Sean Brandt
Editor
Sean is a director and editor whose body of work ranges throughout several narrative, documentary, and commercial projects. Sean’s work has screened on national television as well at the Cannes International Film Festival (with Chris!). Brands he’s worked with include Stanley 1913, CASETiFY, and Nike Air Jordan. But Sean’s favorite projects are ones with friends about small offbeat stories with a lot of heart and a lot of flavor. -
Rita Carmona
Sound Designer
Team
Rita Carmona
Sound Designer
Rita is a skilled sound designer with a passion for crafting immersive audio experiences in both production and post-production. A graduate of UCSC with an MFA in Social Documentary, Rita has worked on numerous short documentaries and fiction films. Her background as an organizer in Chicago has shaped her approach to filmmaking, focusing on underrepresented stories and the power of community collaboration. She currently is freelancing as a sound designer and post production mixer.
Budget
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Grants & Awards
- 2026 Switchboard Short Grant Winner
Stills
Our Ask
Really Good! Fresh Jerky is a story about family, small towns, and the worlds you pass when you don’t stop to pull over. It’ll make you laugh, cry, and maybe crave some jerky.
Production is done, and now we need help fundraising to the finish line. We are raising $12,000 to complete this film and share it with the world. Stay tuned for our Seed & Spark campaign launching June 2026, or email the director if you'd like to make a contribution before then.
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