COMING SOON
SYNOPSIS
Along Highway 395, tucked beneath California’s Eastern Sierra Nevadas, lies a forgettable town with an unforgettable roadside pitstop.
The town: Olancha. The business: Gus’ Really Good! Fresh Jerky.
With its unmistakable billboards, sticker-covered walls, and sample-ready products, this tiny jerky shack became a California staple for travelers headed to Mammoth Mountain.
It was built by none other than Gus, an Argentinian immigrant who was drawn to the desert’s freedom and quiet country life. Gus and his family transformed a forgotten stretch of highway into a landmark. For a while, this felt like the American dream.
But all good things must come to an end.
For years, Olancha lived under the threat of a highway bypass that would divert traffic and isolate the town. In 2024, that worst-case scenario became a reality.
Today, Olancha is a ghost town, and the fate of Gus’s iconic jerky shop hangs in limbo. This is a short documentary about legacy, and fighting to preserve the people and places we love. It reveals the unseen forces shaping a town, and the quiet battles waged beyond what a tourist sees driving by. It’s a love letter to California’s lesser-seen spaces, offbeat roadside pit stops, and the people who run them.
…It’s also a story about some really good, fresh jerky.
meat the team
~
meat the 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 is a born and raised California girl with a deep love for her state’s rural communities and weird roadside attractions.
Her favorite jerky from Gus is Teriyaki.
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.
His favorite jerky from Gus is Mango Habanero.
RITA CARMONA
SOUND DESIGNER
Rita Carmona is a passionate sound designer and re-recording mixer whose approach to sound is shaped by her background in music and community organizing. Motivated by rhythm and the power of story, she found her place in ProTools while completing her MFA in Social Documentary at UC Santa Cruz. Her work has screened both nationally and internationally at festivals like LALIFF, NFFTY, Watsonville Film Festival and LAAPFF. In 2026, she started as a post production sound resident with Industry Standard x Netflix, now working full time with the residency at Mezzanine Media.
Her favorite jerky from Gus is Cowboy.
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.
His favorite jerky from Gus is Sweet n’ Spicy Brisket.
MICHAEL JAMES & ANDREW MÖRNER
COMPOSERS
Michael and Andrew are a bi-coastal composing duo based in Los Angeles and New York City. Michael is a songwriter and musician who spent his twenties touring, recording, and performing with a variety of West Coast indie & folk artists. He now primarily makes music with Delving, EBT Brass Band, & TV You. Andrew is a creative director and graphic designer who grew up inspired by his mother’s guitar playing. Now as a guitarist and singer, he’s entering an exciting new chapter of composition. Together, Michael and Andrew share a love of simple acoustics, ambient melodies, and classic California sounds that translate into the music of this project.
Their favorite jerky from Gus is Teriyaki.
Follow us on Instagram
HOW TO HELP US
Use the form below to make a tax deductible donation to the film!