Deep Dive: Craigslist Joe (2012)
Film Lens
Craigslist Joe is a 2012 documentary that follows Joseph Garner as he travels across the United States for a month, relying entirely on Craigslist for food, shelter, and transportation. Garner does not use any currency or contact anyone he knows, depending solely on the kindness of strangers he meets through the platform. His only possessions during this experiment include a laptop, a new cell phone, a passport, and minimal personal items.
The film captures Garner's experiences in major cities such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, where he even meets Craigslist's founder, Craig Newmark. Garner's cameraman, Kevin Flint, documents their travels, resulting in 80 hours of footage, which was later edited down to a 90-minute film. The documentary raises questions about social interactions in the age of technology and the impact of social media on human connections.
Why Watch
- •Meet Joseph Garner and his unique experiment.
- •See how strangers helped Garner across America.
- •Find out what Garner learned about kindness.
Did You Know
•Joseph Garner traveled for 31 days without using any currency.
•Garner visited cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
•The original rough cut of the documentary was 12 hours long.
•Garner hired his cameraman Kevin Flint via Craigslist just a week before starting.
Perfect For
Social media effectsHuman kindnessTravel documentaries