Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa (2007)

Directors:

Jeremy Stulberg
Randy Stulberg

Writers:

Jeremy Stulberg (writer)
Randy Stulberg (writer)

Release Date:

20 May 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

25 miles from town, a million miles from ordinary.

Plot:

Twenty-Five miles from town, a million miles from mainstream society, a loose-knit community of radicals live in the desert, struggling to survive with little food, less water and no electricity, as they cling to their unique vision of the American dream. |

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Austen	...	Himself
Cowboy	...	Himself
Gecko	...	Herself
Dreadie Jeff	...	Himself
Dean Maher	...	Himself
Maine	...	Himself
Moonbow	...	Himself
Mama Phyllis	...	Herself
Robbie	...	Himself
Stan	...	Himself
Virginia	...	Herself

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

New Mexico, USA

Company:

Still Point Pictures

Quotes:

Cowboy: We are not renegades out here. We are simply free people who want to remain that way.

Soundtrack:

Tomorrow Will Be Better

"...a film about f@ck-ups in the desert..."

Many people out there have this urge, a wonder, a desire, to leave society as we know it. To live off the land. To revert back into a way of life that's just more, simple. But then there's a very loud voice telling you that it's not the right choice. And you wouldn't even dare consider voicing this idea to your friends and family. This is where a lot of the people that live on that Mesa in north New Mexico differ from us. They have just, had it.

The walk of life that lives here are a mish mash of mostly sad tales when it comes down to it. The majority of them are people that have simply lost patience and hope for their daily life, war vets, and runaways. And when it comes down to it, this is a perfect idea and spot for them to reside. It's difficult and kind of extreme, but with a mainly peaceful community that abides by good morals and sticking to their guns (literally), it's entirely functional.

The elements, the government and themselves are their own enemies. Young runaways that live on the mesa known as the Nowhere Kids threaten the peace of the community, the government threatens their freedom, and the elements threaten their health. But with such a steadfast and happy community at it's core, they continue to persist with smiles.

Off the Grid delivered an informative, in-depth, emotional peak into the unique way of living that the people on the mesa experience. At it's bare bones it seems like it's "a film about f@ck ups in the desert", and at times seems like it's also the modern wild west. But more than anything it's a fascinating peek into an unknown way of living, fueled by the unique characters involved.