Author Topic: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary  (Read 6221 times)

MrNYBudget

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 17
  • Age: 40
  • Saving, Investing, and Yes, Living in NYC
    • The New York Budget
When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« on: December 21, 2013, 07:26:02 AM »
About FIRE in general - I feel as though there are so many things to touch on that would be interesting:

- Individual personalities
- The differences in our society today vs years ago when people had to work to survive (produce their own food or something valuable to trade for food)
- The way it is done
- The lifestyle and philosophy behind it

There's probably more, but that's just what comes to mind now. Any aspiring filmmakers out there on the forums?

Russ

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2211
  • Age: 32
  • Location: Boulder, CO
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2013, 07:32:33 AM »
Instead of a nebulous "they", why don't you do it? I'd watch it; sounds like you have some interesting ideas

MrNYBudget

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 17
  • Age: 40
  • Saving, Investing, and Yes, Living in NYC
    • The New York Budget
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2013, 07:49:08 AM »
Ha - well, I would be happy to help out with the development of the story and be a consultant, but I am not interested in the actual filmmaking/production side of things and I don't have the skills in that area.

Big_Paul

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 17
  • Location: Melbourne
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2013, 06:08:18 PM »
Great idea. It will definitely happen. Hopefully a few will come out. Maybe MMM himself will make it? He's a handy fella. Presented the right way it would be the perfect tool to get family on board and make the world a better less wasteful place.

RootofGood

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1361
  • Age: 43
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Retired at age 33. 5 years in, still loving it!
    • Root of Good
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #4 on: December 25, 2013, 10:51:55 PM »
Good idea.  You could crowdsource it and ask for ~2 minute video submissions of what FIRE means to them, what their plans are, and how they think it will make their life better.  Then find some aspiring filmmakers to edit it into a documentary. 

frpeebles

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 97
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2013, 12:21:03 AM »
Really an ideal section of such a documentary could be following MMM through his downsizing / renovation. It's mustachian overdrive with him at the moment.

MMM

  • Administrator
  • Stubble
  • *****
  • Posts: 183
    • Mr. Money Mustache
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2013, 09:46:02 PM »
Aww, thanks Frpeeples. It's more like Consumer Overdrive for me at the moment, as I'm buying all sorts of stuff and making a pretty fancy house for us. It would probably be alienating to lower-income people to see such a thing in a documentary, presented as if it were taking any sort of minimalist step. If we were building one of those 200SF "Tiny houses" on a flatbed trailer, THAT would be another story!

But in general, a documentary would be great. I would totally participate in making such a thing, and I already had a couple of email conversations going with filmmakers about the idea. As our movement continues to get bigger and more interesting, I think it is inevitable!


swick

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2877
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2013, 12:10:27 AM »
Hey Everyone!

I have been tossing around some documentary ideas for a while, and wanted to check in with MMM to see what he was up to. He mentions a possible documentary in his Dough Roller interview:
http://podbay.fm/show/743822914/e/1387386007?autostart=1

MMM is pretty busy until next fall, but we could start laying the ground work now.

I think it would be totally awesome to create a crowd-sourced (from the boards) documentary or series of Youtube videos. It would be really neat to profile a wide variety of Mustachians from recent converts, to old hats, and the guy who started it all.

I don't have the videography experience, but that can probably be found among the community or outsourced, or heck, I can learn. My background is in getting stories and presenting them in an engaging format - through my stint as an Oral History Historian/Curator for our local museum.

Anyway, thought I would put the idea out there. I would be happy to get the ball rolling on a documentary project and  see where it goes, anyone interested in joining me?

jdoolin

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 155
  • Location: Eastern Ohio
    • Just My Blog
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2013, 08:57:58 AM »
I would gladly be a participant.  Count me in for a "Median Income Family" living in a very low cost of living and somewhat rural area.  I may even have someone who could help me film something.

MrNYBudget

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 17
  • Age: 40
  • Saving, Investing, and Yes, Living in NYC
    • The New York Budget
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2013, 12:46:29 PM »
Woo hoo! I have been out of pocket for the holidays, but I am thrilled to see all the interest in a documentary!

I am also happy to help in any way possible. I think a section on a big, expensive city like NYC would definitely be fun to collaborate on. I can also try to network on the ground here with NYU film students or the film community in general!

mrm

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 7
  • Location: Sarasota FL
  • Mike and Lauren on YouTube
    • Mike and Lauren
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2014, 02:24:45 PM »
I've been meaning to do this for a few years now, but we're finally getting around to documenting our early retirement journey on video. 

Here's a link to our latest video:

http://youtu.be/Qqr9KKb1SXQ

I've also got plans to start doing some video interviews with other bloggers who have already achieved FI, or are on their way.  2 new ones are in the works right now.

MMM if you're open, I'd love to work with you on one!

MustachianAccountant

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 433
  • Age: 45
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2014, 08:29:59 AM »
I'd love to see a documentary on "The McDonald's Budget."
Where someone tries to live on minimum wage for a year using Mustachian principles. Of course, it would include mustachian ways for that person to be improving their future in that year (like taking TreeHouse courses).
This would be a great discussion starter for all the bloggers that were outraged at McDonald's (admittedly lame) attempt to educate its workers on personal finance.

Plus, MMM himself gave a good starting point:
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/07/28/you-can-spare-us-both-the-outrage/
« Last Edit: January 30, 2014, 08:33:00 AM by MustachianAccountant »

RootofGood

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1361
  • Age: 43
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Retired at age 33. 5 years in, still loving it!
    • Root of Good
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2014, 08:48:11 AM »
I'd love to see a documentary on "The McDonald's Budget."
Where someone tries to live on minimum wage for a year using Mustachian principles. Of course, it would include mustachian ways for that person to be improving their future in that year (like taking TreeHouse courses).
This would be a great discussion starter for all the bloggers that were outraged at McDonald's (admittedly lame) attempt to educate its workers on personal finance.

I have thought about doing exactly this now that I'm retired. 

Start over in life right now at age 33.  Can I make it again?  Basically a mid-life reboot.  I'd give myself a year to reestablish myself and get back on my feet.  How well could I do in one year's time?

Give up all my material things (like my car, my phone, my computer).  Come up with a good cover story on what I did for work in my 20's and early 30's.  Something very low skilled so I wouldn't have any help in getting a job.  Maybe I relocated to the east coast from the midwest because I was tired of the cold winters. 

Get a lowly job, bust ass, move up, branch out, hustle, make money, win. 

I'd have to use the computer and internet at the library until I could afford to buy my own computer and internet/phone.  I'd have to "buy" my car from myself if I wanted to use it (other wise it's bike, walk, or use transit). 

I'd have to do some shadow accounting since I'm not sure I would want to leave my family for a whole year.  But I could pay to rent out a room in a house (my own house!) and split utilities or something.  Or maybe pretend I'm renting my whole house and include my whole family in the charade's finances. 

Just an interesting idea I came up with.  It'd be good material for a book or documentary.  I mentioned it to my wife and she wasn't too receptive so I'm taking a pass for now.  :)

MustachianAccountant

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 433
  • Age: 45
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2014, 09:06:38 AM »
I'd love to see a documentary on "The McDonald's Budget."
Where someone tries to live on minimum wage for a year using Mustachian principles. Of course, it would include mustachian ways for that person to be improving their future in that year (like taking TreeHouse courses).
This would be a great discussion starter for all the bloggers that were outraged at McDonald's (admittedly lame) attempt to educate its workers on personal finance.

I have thought about doing exactly this now that I'm retired. 

Start over in life right now at age 33.  Can I make it again?  Basically a mid-life reboot.  I'd give myself a year to reestablish myself and get back on my feet.  How well could I do in one year's time?

Give up all my material things (like my car, my phone, my computer).  Come up with a good cover story on what I did for work in my 20's and early 30's.  Something very low skilled so I wouldn't have any help in getting a job.  Maybe I relocated to the east coast from the midwest because I was tired of the cold winters. 

Get a lowly job, bust ass, move up, branch out, hustle, make money, win. 

I'd have to use the computer and internet at the library until I could afford to buy my own computer and internet/phone.  I'd have to "buy" my car from myself if I wanted to use it (other wise it's bike, walk, or use transit). 

I'd have to do some shadow accounting since I'm not sure I would want to leave my family for a whole year.  But I could pay to rent out a room in a house (my own house!) and split utilities or something.  Or maybe pretend I'm renting my whole house and include my whole family in the charade's finances. 

Just an interesting idea I came up with.  It'd be good material for a book or documentary.  I mentioned it to my wife and she wasn't too receptive so I'm taking a pass for now.  :)

Yup, pretty much what I was thinking. And the "actor" would explian the rationale behind the decisions. "Here's why I'm looking for a job close to my apt, etc." It would be cool to see something even more "pure" though - no "buying the car from yourself" but actually buying a car, no "renting a room in your own house" etc. Maybe also include a discussion of what sorts of public aid you would/could have in that situation and adjust for that as well?
Minimum wage is a hot topic right now, so it's a great time to introduce mustachianism subversively. (sp?)

I agree it would probably have to be someone who isn't married, so that leaves me out of the running as well (plus I still work!).

RootofGood

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1361
  • Age: 43
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Retired at age 33. 5 years in, still loving it!
    • Root of Good
Re: When Are They Going to Make a Documentary
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2014, 09:20:48 AM »
Yup, pretty much what I was thinking. And the "actor" would explian the rationale behind the decisions. "Here's why I'm looking for a job close to my apt, etc." It would be cool to see something even more "pure" though - no "buying the car from yourself" but actually buying a car, no "renting a room in your own house" etc. Maybe also include a discussion of what sorts of public aid you would/could have in that situation and adjust for that as well?
Minimum wage is a hot topic right now, so it's a great time to introduce mustachianism subversively. (sp?)

I agree it would probably have to be someone who isn't married, so that leaves me out of the running as well (plus I still work!).

Yeah, I think you'd have to do it for at least a year to really "prove" anything.  A Morgan Spurlock 30 Days experience is almost meaningless.  You don't make decisions based on merely the next 30 days.

I'm not quite willing to uproot my life for a year just to show "it could be done", because I've seen too many actually do it to know it's possible (we call 'em immigrants). 

I could provide logistical support (fake background, cover story, fleshing out the framework of the experiment, etc).