In 2010 David Crowley, an Iraq veteran, aspiring filmmaker and charismatic up-and-coming voice in fringe politics, began production on his film Gray State. Set in a dystopian near-future where civil liberties are trampled by an unrestrained federal government, the film’s crowd funded trailer was enthusiastically received by the burgeoning online community of libertarians, Tea Party activists and members of the nascent alt-right. In January of 2015, Crowley was found dead with his family in their suburban Minnesota home. Their shocking deaths quickly become a cause célèbre for conspiracy theorists who speculate that Crowley was assassinated by a shadowy government concerned about a film and filmmaker that was getting too close to the truth about their aims.
Editing
Brutal juxtaposition of Crowley's vision and reality.
Direction
Nelson refuses to validate conspiracy theories.
Director
Erik Nelson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Crowley's trailer went viral in 2012 libertarian circles, attracting interest from Glenn Beck and Alex Jones before his death.
The film's title refers to the military term 'gray state'—neither peace nor war—mirroring Crowley's own unraveling sanity.
US
