Vitalik: An Ethereum Story - Feature Documentary Film

I recently had the privilege of interviewing Zach Ingrasci and Carrie Weprin, the director and producer behind the documentary film, "Vitalik: An Ethereum Story." This film, a testament to the power of community and the transformative potential of blockchain technology, offers a captivating glimpse into the Ethereum ecosystem, focusing on the enigmatic leader Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum. The film's release is particularly poignant as it coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the Ethereum white paper, which Vitalik famously penned in Toronto, the very city where the film recently premiered to two sold-out screenings.

The Infinite Machine: A Story Reimagined

For those familiar with our founder Camila Russo's acclaimed book, "The Infinite Machine," Vitalik's journey from a young, ambitious programmer to the leader of a global movement is well-known. The book paints a vivid picture of his struggles and triumphs, highlighting his unwavering commitment to his values and vision. "Vitalik: An Ethereum Story" builds on this narrative, offering a more intimate and personal look at the man behind the technology.

A Community-Powered Crowdfunding Success

The film's production was made possible through a crowdfunding campaign on the Mirror platform called Ethereum: Infinite Garden. With the help of many Ethereum supporters, including co-producer Linda Xie @ljxie and NFT artist @pplpleasr1, the team set out to raise 750 ETH.

The campaign was a resounding success, raising 1036 ETH from 662 individual backers in just 51 hours. This not only secured the funding for the film but also fostered a growing community of support. It is one of the few projects that have used an NFT crowdfund successfully to raise and launch a media production in a matter of weeks. Three years later, they delivered what they promised, the feature film documentary “Vitalik: An Ethereum Story.” The team also delivered five other Ethereum-inspired short documentary films called Ethereum Stories, which are available for minting. Backers of the Ethereum: Infinite Garden crowdfund campaign received production credit on the film in the form of “special thanks”, which rolled during the film's credits. There's likely no other feature film on the planet with as many “.eth” names cited in the production credits.

Holders of the NFTs also received airdrops of a variety of other “digital film merchandise”, including a free pass to watch the stream of the Vitalik documentary online, which is available to stream as of today! While each NFT holder received an airdrop of a proportional share of the $INFINITE token, director Zack Ingrasci confirmed, ‘there is no value nor utility to the token.’

Capturing the Essence of Ethereum

Zach Ingrasci, co-director with Chris Temple from Optimist, and Carrie Weprin from Strange Design, faced the challenge of making the complex world of Ethereum accessible to a wider audience. They intentionally avoided technical jargon and focused on character-driven storytelling, with Vitalik Buterin at the center. The film's narrative unfolds through intimate interviews, candid moments, and behind-the-scenes footage, providing a unique and insightful look at Vitalik's journey and the evolution of Ethereum. The film was shot from March 2021 to May 2023, and over 200 hours of footage was acquired, according to Ingrasci.

A Purpose-Driven Leader

One of the most striking aspects of the film is its portrayal of Vitalik as a non-traditional tech founder. He's not driven by fame or fortune but rather by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to create a more equitable and decentralized world. This resonates strongly with the themes explored in "The Infinite Machine," where Vitalik is depicted as a young leader driven by values of community and individual freedom. Watching "Vitalik: An Ethereum Story," it is clear that he remains true to these principles, inspiring others with his unwavering commitment to improving our community and humanity as a whole.

The Premiere and Beyond

I had the opportunity to attend one of the two sold-out screenings of the premiere in Toronto, one of 30 theaters around the globe premiering the documentary film. The Toronto premiere was particularly special as it was in this city that Vitalik wrote the Ethereum white paper after his family emigrated from Russia. Vitalik's father, Dmitri Buterin, along with other family members, were in attendance, and we had the opportunity to interview them and other fans of the Ethereum film, including honoured guests from @DefiToronto.

The film's release has been met with great enthusiasm, with a potential record number of movie trailer mints on Zora, over 46,000 as of September 20th. You can stream the film now for $20. We’re working to secure a discount for our audience, so like, follow, and subscribe to be notified.

Conclusion

"Vitalik: An Ethereum Story" is a must-see for anyone interested in the future of blockchain technology and the power of community-driven innovation. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Ethereum project and the visionary leadership of Vitalik Buterin. The film's exploration of the Ethereum story serves as a powerful reminder that even the most complex and ambitious ideas can be realized through collaboration, dedication, and a shared belief in a better future.