Twelve years ago the movie For Richer For Poorer with Tim Allen and Kirstie Allie dabbled in the arena only they were scammers hiding from the IRS and posing as Amish farmers in Pennsylvania. The script was kind of lame but the concept is more timely than ever. There are plenty of former Wall Street brokers and real estate hustlers out there. It's not hard to imagine one or more of them trying to rehabilitate bank-owned properties in the southwest.
Remember the old CBS TV series Green Acres? Maybe it's time for an updated remake or a feature based on a similar premise. The knee-jerk response would be Paris Hilton trying to make it as a farmer's wife but then we've already had that haven't we? How about a comic actress who can pull in the young male audience in what is essentially a chick flick? Someone like maybe Anna Faris?
When I was in Austin I met a man who was building a "green" house in the country. A great idea, very "in" and cutting edge but a tough go because he was doing it on a shoestring budget. He and his young wife bought some land about 40 miles south west of Austin and started raising their ambitious DIY dream house.
They used well water and solar power for their utilities. They're officially "off-the-grid" but there have been a lot of problems in construction due to unexpected expense. downturn in the economy and lack of funds. She got pregnant in the meantime and, last I heard, left him to go live with her mother in a "civilized" home.
Sometimes the truth is tragic but the concept may well be worth developing. Not long ago a reality show contacted me on a similar idea. They're in the process of casting a series based on real people in a real recession and what they're doing to survive. They'll have their pick of contestants but I think I'd rather see a larger-than-life, comedy version.
