It was a sunny day in Marin County in 2021 when Morgan Beller first introduced us to Vitalik Buterin. Living out of a 40L backpack, and cracking dad jokes while typing up his latest blog post on verkle trees, we were struck by Vitalik’s down-to-earth demeanor given the outsized role he’s played in the crypto revolution. He defied the “cryptobro” and “egomaniac founder” stereotypes we were used to seeing in mainstream media.
The deeper we stepped into the Ethereum ecosystem, the more surprises awaited us. In the weeks following our meeting with Vitalik, we connected with the incredible Linda Xie, who would become our trusty guide through this quirky and wonderful ecosystem. Before we knew it, we were quickly onboarded into the space, and launched a pplpleasr NFT crowdfund with Denis and his team at Mirror.xyz. In just 51 hours, we raised 1,035.96 ETH, with Leorad.eth, PleasrDAO and Mariano Conti snagging the top spots on our leaderboard.
The film world quickly took notice of the unorthodox approach, and we were able to bring Steve Jang's Lone Palm, Time Studios, and Big Beach into the fold. This incredible support allowed us to create a fully independent film without pressure from a major media company to sensationalize the story. We simply started filming and asking questions, with the Ethereum community and our crowdfund supporters helping us learn along the way.
Over three years of filming, our cameras witnessed history unfold: the NFT boom, a war upending the world order, scandals toppling bad actors, and the most ambitious software upgrade in history. During the rollercoaster of 2021-2023, the Ethereum community experienced some serious growing pains. But no matter the chaos and challenges, Vitalik remained an anchor, steadfast in his vision for an open internet accessible to all.
We began filming expecting to make a single documentary about Ethereum, but our journey led us to something bigger.
Vitalik: An Ethereum Story is our feature documentary about the humanity and heart behind a technology. This is a film for community members, the crypto-curious, and skeptics alike. We’ll be the first to admit, this film can't capture the full story of Ethereum—this is an ecosystem too diverse and vast for one film—but seeing the community through Vitalik’s eyes helps make this story accessible and human.
This film is the centerpiece of our “Ethereum Stories” series. The additional stories will be shorter, easily digestible, and take viewers into the very heart of the community. Expect to learn about the history of generative art, feel the democratic power of ConstitutionDAO, relive the launch of GitcoinDAO, witness the innovation of Uniswap, and much more.
Through our Mirror crowdfund, we experienced first hand the incredible power of decentralization. And as our film industry goes through its own reckoning, we want to harness this community-powered technology for how we distribute our work. Partnering with the teams at Zora, Bonfire, and Base, we've decided to put the power into the hands of people, not big distributors, by making the film and full series available onchain.
Minting the trailer, tickets and ancillary content for the film not only unlocks viewing access but will help to fund the feature documentary’s self-release in theaters and on streaming platforms worldwide, making it accessible to people both within and outside of the crypto space. Join us for a story three years in the making. One that chronicles Ethereum from the eyes of the people most committed to keeping it vibrant and infinitely evolving.
-Zach, Carrie, Chris, Jenna & Linda
Film distribution has long been controlled by a handful of powerful intermediaries, leaving creators little control over their work’s reach and monetization. But the advent of blockchain technology and the rise of the Ethereum community presents a unique opportunity to disrupt this broken system. By embracing onchain funding and self-distribution, we can revolutionize how films are financed, distributed, and experienced.
In the past five years, we’ve seen the consolidation of major media companies, significantly limiting distribution opportunities and narrowing the type of content produced and distributed. Creators and audiences are at the mercy of media giants with business models that favor certain types of genres and algorithms that create echo chambers. We miss out on discovering stories that expose us to new ideas and challenge us with different perspectives.
We think there’s a different way. One that celebrates and supports independent creators, diverse perspectives, and alternative distribution platforms. The Ethereum community has been building decentralized alternatives in finance, art, and social media. It’s time to bring that disruption to the entertainment industry.
Drawing inspiration from the Ethereum ethos, we propose a new approach to the distribution of Ethereum Stories, a multi-faceted documentary series, and our flagship film, Vitalik: An Ethereum Story. This isn't just a documentary project; it's a bold experiment in community-powered storytelling.
By harnessing the power of crypto for the film's trailer, ancillary content and ticketing, we’re creating a distribution model that gives the community direct access to the film while funding a decentralized release of Vitalik: An Ethereum Story in theaters around the world and on a traditional streaming platform. This is your chance to be more than just a viewer. Every click, every share, every ticket helps build a new world of decentralized film distribution.
Mint the film's trailer on Zora to power the film’s distribution.
Trailer releases as a “Zora Mint”. The trailer can be minted an unlimited number of times, with every mint, you’re helping to fund the distribution of the film.
Public Goods split with Protocol Guild to help support Layer 1 infrastructure.
72-hour Minting Leaderboard Challenge on ethereumfilm.xyz (Locks at 12pm PT on July 26th, 2024).
Rewards:
Top 3 minters (based on number of mints):
Private pre-premiere screening set up in a theater of their choosing for 25 guests with a virtual Q&A with the film team.
"Contributing Producer” credit in the animated end credits.
Onchain ticket to stream the film via ethereumfilm.xyz.
Top 4-10 minters:
2x tickets to an in-person world premiere of their choice.
"Infinite Thanks" in the rolling end credits of the film.
Onchain ticket to stream the film via ethereumfilm.xyz.
Top 11-20 minters:
1 ticket to an in-person world premiere of their choice.
Onchain ticketing powered by Base to stream the film on ethereumfilm.xyz.
250+ worldwide IRL premieres via Gathr's decentralized, community-driven platform.
Release of Ethereum Stories as we countdown to the global launch.
Original Mirror crowdfund supporters to receive exclusive perks, including a ticket to stream the film.
30-days to stream the film for ticket holders on ethereumfilm.xyz.
Bringing together local Ethereum communities around the world with IRL premieres of the film on screens across the globe!!
Bring communities together through in-person events and cinematic screenings.
Film is available globally on traditional streaming platforms (TBD).
Major marketing push to bring these Ethereum stories to new audiences.
By combining the best of crypto with traditional distribution methods, we’re empowering the community while maximizing the film’s reach.
Vitalik: An Ethereum Story isn't just about watching a film; it's about being part of a movement that's redefining how stories are told and shared.
This is going to be fun! We hope you’ll join us.
"Special Thanks" in the rolling end credits of the film.
Onchain ticket to stream the film via ethereumfilm.xyz.
wow wow goosebumps reading this and anticipating how we can all spread the ethos and values of Ethereum by contributing to the distribution of the film about Ethereum in a decentralised way. Bit like the universe looking at itself when I experience ego-death during a psychedelic experience.
Thank you for the love, cosmic warrior!
This is basically most of the things I love combined into one. Can't wait to be a part of the minting/distribution experience and watch the film. And what about film festivals? I would love an in-person screening here in Perth, Australia. Thanks and well done team!
Fear not! in-person screenings will be available in Perth and worldwide in our decentralized theatrical release! Tickets for in-person screenings will go live on July 26th.
When does the minting for the trailer start? Is it open now. Confused as Phase 1 has the date of July 23rd but also states that the Leaderboard lock is at 5pm PT on July 11th?
Thanks for catching that! We've corrected the copy. To confirm, the trailer will go live on July 23rd at 9am PT and the trailer's leaderboard will close on July 26th 12pm PT.
We're doing an @ethereumfilm team AMA right now with directors @zachingrasci @christemple and producer @carrieweprin Send us any questions you have about the film! You can check out the full trailer and mint at ethereumfilm.xyz
Thanks all for the great questions!
what was the most surprising thing you learned while making the film?
Honestly, I thought decentralization was a buzzword until I really saw the community of builders in action around the world.
truly! didn't fully grasp what the term "digital nomad" meant until we started making this film!
Excited for the movie! I'm curious about your decision to focus on Vitalik. His contributions are undeniably amazing, but I'm interested in understanding the choice considering Ethereum's unique structure where no single person owns it
+ curious too! would be kinda ironic if a film about one of the most important pieces of decentralised tech focused on a central figure lol (even if it’s more than deserved, i think symbolically it matters a lot)
https://warpcast.com/zachingrasci/0x5f2b3a33
Documentaries always evolve in the process of making them because we never know what story will unfold. It’s the fun and challenge in making them. Focusing on Vitalik, and taking a character-driven approach to the film, allowed us to make the film more accessible to a broader audience, while also allowing us to focus on someone who we felt represented the larger values and ethos of the community. This film is the centerpiece of our “Ethereum Stories” series. We’ll be sharing additional stories each week starting on July 30th that focus on topics like community, generative art, DAOs, public goods, DEX’s and more—all through a human lens!
sounds amazing zach. looking forward to the film and that series as well.
I would love to know what the most surprising or interesting thing that you learned from the experience is. And I always like to ask people, “would you do it again?” Thanks for putting this on and for creating the documentary. Looking forward to it! 🤙🏼
100% I'd do it again! I grew in a family that only used Linux operating systems and was obsessed with open source idealogy. This was my chance to finally scratch that old itch and learn from people who are a modern manifestation of that community. It was a challenging film to make accessible to a broader audience but I hope we finally got there in the end. I think the experience I will treasure the most was when Vitalik and I visited Ukraine for the Kyiv Tech Conference and were able to talk to local hackers who were part of the hackathon there.
Wow thanks so k uh for sharing dude. I would love the chance to go to a hackathon with @vitalik.eth. 🤯 Thanks for the film and AMA
will the film be only about vitalik, or will it expand beyond him?
Vitalik is a core part, but there's so much more in it. A single film couldn't capture the full story of Ethereum—this is an ecosystem too diverse and vast for one film—but seeing the community through Vitalik’s eyes helped us make this story accessible, human, and focused. This film is the centerpiece of our “Ethereum Stories” series where we’ll be sharing additional stories each week that focus on topics like community, generative art, DAOs, public goods, DEX’s and more—all through a human lens!
hi— do you have subtitles in different languages? Personally looking for Spanish, but also would be great to hear it’s been done in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese as well!
The film is available in English with subtitles in Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Portuguese. We will be taking requests for other languages on a case-by-case basis. Please let us know of you'd like the film in other languages!
first q: can i mint the trailer in a farcaster frame here? :) second q: how did you guys find each other and decide you were the right team to direct and produce the film together?
Trailer mint is native here with Zora! https://zora.co/collect/base:0x923b382f3205c26efe706c53d69f71f0817aa954/1
1st: Yes, you can! We've added frames to the trailer posts on @EthereumFilm. 2: Zach and I have been working together as co-directors for over a decade as the founders of a non-profit called Optimist. We then met Carrie when we were working on another film in the crypto space called "This Is Not Financial Advice" that premiered at Tribeca last year.
1. What was hardest thing during making it? 2. What has been most strong (positive/negative) moment for team during production?
88 $degen gr8 questions!
1: For me, the hardest part was the edit. We had to synthesize such a complex story of moving parts into a single documentary film under 90 minutes that was understandable and relatable to a wider audience. We had hundreds of hours of footage and interviews to wade through!
Are you planning on doing an extended version of the film to dig deeper on some topics? Or perhaps new films for that. What are your next filmmaking plans after this one is out?
2: For me, spending time with Vitalik and Dima to get to understand Vitalik's childhood and upbringing! Dima shared some amazing stories that I think y'all will love.
To @linda: what is the most interesting thing you've learned about film production from this experience? To the production team: what is the most interesting thing you've learned about Ethereum?
Honestly just learning how long editing takes for a feature documentary, had no idea before. Standard to have 1 month of editing work (or more) for every 10 minutes of finished footage
That's a hard question to answer in such a short format! The technical elements have been fascinating undoubtedly, but I think personally I've loved seeing how the decentralized coordination actually happens in practice. We're so used to a traditional top-down corporate structure, that we've loved seeing the messy, beautiful process of consensus.
congrats on finally putting this out. 1. is this also focused for people outside the crypto space to get more aware of the industry? 2. how was the first day of the shoot looked like?
1. We definitely hope the film is for community members, the crypto-curious, and skeptics alike. We often say documentaries are bad at information, but good at emotion and story. So we leaned into showing the heart and humanity behind the technology through Vitalik and the builders behind it.
2: The first shoot was with Vitalik and Aya. It was a whirlwind for our team because it felt like an entirely new language and world to learn!
thanks, @christemple - all the best for the launch ahead!
The full trailer for ”Vitalik: An Ethereum Story” Our @ethereumfilm documentary premiering worldwide on Sept 18th! Mint the trailer at ethereumfilm.xyz
so exciting, great trailer!
Thank you! If you like this, just wait till you see the full movie
so pumped ?8^)
This is SOOOOO good. After a year of criminals like SBF and Do Kwon, toxic maximalist Bitcoin bros, and villain arc SV power brokers trying to take ownership of "crypto," I'm relieved that projects like this centered around an icon that lives the ethos of decentralization are coming to the mainstream. I hope he takes his rightful place as the face of the industry as it explodes into the mainstream. Technological movements need a messenger and we couldn't ask for a better person to take the helm to offer a proper contrast to all of the chaos.
Wish you could write the film’s review :)
Ha ha. I'll do my best to be a public advocate and move it through the communities I'm a part of. Let's make this navigate and build momentum organically through onchain communities, one person, one node at time, so its resilient and ever lasting. How it should be. ✌️😁
Minted :)
check this out, your video was transformed to a gif, so that it could be displayed inside a frame. why? because frames are fun stay tuned: /vibra
exciting! great trailer
Awesome trailer! Minted 🩵
Super excited too watch it. Thats like 1000× better any scoop in a life of "X-anyone" on youtube.
Minted! love to see this coming to fruition!
Really excited for this! Great trailer. So what was your involvement in this Linda?
A co-producer on it. Was the main crypto person on the team so helped guide/make intros throughout + worked on the onchain crowdfund and distribution/release stuff
That’s awesome! Took a couple of years to complete?
this is amazing! CAN’T wait for the documentary. congratulations @linda.
It’s fake This is a the real trailer
check this out, your video was transformed to a gif, so that it could be displayed inside a frame. why? because frames are fun stay tuned: /vibra
We showed a sneak peek of our @ethereumfilm documentary trailer publicly for the first time tonight at @ethglobal Brussels It was so awesome to see that finally out in the world. 3 years in the making! 😊 Trailer will be live on July 23
CONGRATS 🎉 can’t wait to see the full film!
This is sick! can’t wait to see it!
GO LINDA GO LINDA GO
Thank you! HUGE team effort with a lot of people behind the scenes
Loved it! Can see what an insane amount of work went into it, can’t wait to mint it and watch later this year!
Were you involved in making it?
Yep am a co-producer on it
Looking forward to see it 😊
Nothing like seeing your work on the screen after all the work. Congratulations Linda ! 🙌
That's amazing! massive congratulations
congrats linda! can’t wait.
wow! congrats! this is so exciting!
congrats 🎊 where can we stream the movie when available?
Highly recommend following @jaredhecht.eth (investor at USV, was founder of groupme and fundera). He's one of the first people I go to to get feedback on something for Bountycaster. He's really sharp, direct, but also has empathy for founders since he did that for 11 years Plus I've been working with his amazing wife Carrie on the @ethereumfilm documentary for the past 3 years :)
Followed both!
Carrie gave us lots of alpha and sneak peeks into the documentary at our /fbi community call today. Mad work!
I followed both. I learned that the movie will be released soon. I'm looking forward to it!📽️
Followed both of em! Can’t wait for the film 😬
😊
@jaredhecht.eth has quickly become a favorite follow. appreciate the recommendation
We just had Carrie on the FBI community call yesterday. Complete joy listening to her experiences of shooting the documentary. We’re planning on doing premiers together in Bangalore, Dubai, and NYC.
Done! 🌐
Is Carie on Warpcaster as well?
Not that I know of or at least not active
Thanks for sharing Followed <3
I just collected Not Just A Film on Paragraph. I heard there is a alpha drop regarding at Ethcc
Don’t miss the biggest & best vibe party next to the conference! Lu.ma/regenaissance