The Lowdown on Ben McKenzie's Crypto Exposé
Actor Ben McKenzie Unveils Cryptocurrency Documentary: "Everyone Is Deceiving You for Financial Gain"
Gearing up for its debut, actor Ben McKenzie, renowned for his roles in "The O.C." and "Gotham," is shaking things up with his directorial debut – a tell-all documentary titled "Everyone Is Lying to You for Money." Scheduled for premiere at SXSW London in June, this project promises to shed light on the murky world of cryptocurrency.
As reported by Deadline, McKenzie has delved deep into the cryptocurrency landscape, interviewing key figures, including a trip to El Salvador to examine the regime of President Nayib Bukele, who made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021.
The actor share a blunt take on his motivations: "When I started warning people about crypto fraud during the fall of 2021, I faced a lot of flak from the online crypto bros. Now, many of those guys are in jail, and unfortunately, millions of investors lost their shirts to these swindlers."
"Everyone Is Lying to You for Money" features highly-anticipated interviews with Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of FTX, which collapsed into bankruptcy in July 2022, as well as Alex Mashinsky, Celsius co-founder who faced the same fate in November of the same year.
McKenzie first dipped his toes into the crypto sphere in 2021, as the world battled the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, he has been a vocal critic, testifying before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on the collapse of FTX.
Sharing the big screen with McKenzie's documentary is his 2023 book, "Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud," written in collaboration with journalist Ben Silverman. Both the book and the documentary touch on similar themes, exploring the world of crypto through a critical lens.
McKenzie’s message is clear: "Why is the false narrative of crypto still spreading? That's the question I set out to answer with this film." He promises "Everyone Is Lying to You for Money" to be a no-holds-barred comedy, treating the crypto and its promoters with the cynicism they deserve – none at all!
Andrew Hayward bestowed his editorial touch on this piece.
Stepping Outside the Frame:- Ben McKenzie, a Harvard economics graduate, crafted his documentary, Everyone Is Lying To You For Money, addressing the cryptocurrency landscape[1][2].- Some notable interviews in the documentary include Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) and Alex Mashinsky[2].- During the creation of his documentary, McKenzie showcased his skepticism towards cryptocurrency, challenging popular narratives and questioning the financial motivations in the crypto industry[2].
- Ben McKenzie, a Harvard economics graduate, has crafted his documentary, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, delving into the cryptocurrency landscape, featuring high-profile interviews like Sam Bankman-Fried and Alex Mashinsky.
- The documentary, scheduled for premiere at SXSW London in June, promises to shed light on the crypto industry, focusing on themes such as fraud and the motivations driving the financial industry's players.
- In addition to his documentary, McKenzie has penned a book, Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud, co-authored with journalist Ben Silverman, providing a critical examination of this digital economy.
- McKenzie's work, both in the documentary and the book, exposes his skepticism towards cryptocurrencies, challenging popular narratives and questioning the financial motivations behind the crypto industry.
- With his documentary and book, McKenzie seeks to answer questions about the spread of the false narrative of cryptocurrency and promises a no-holds-barred, satirical approach to treating the crypto industry and its promoters with deserved cynicism.
