Trailer For HBO's New Documentary FAKE FAMOUS which Debunks Social Media Influencer Fame
HBO has released a trailer for its upcoming documentary film titled Fake Famous. The doc explores the meaning of fame and influence in the digital age through a social experiment. In this experiment, they take three regular people from Los Angeles and attempt to turn them into famous influencers. It shows us how the whole thing is manipulated and fake.
I am personally not a fan of social media. In fact, I hate it. While many of these are trying to show the world how beautiful and popular they are, social media is just ugly. I have two teenage daughters and it makes me sad seeing how their lives are affected by social media. It also drives me a little crazy, so when I see a documentary like this come out that pulls the curtain back on the madness of social media, it makes me a little happy.
The doc comes from tech journalist Nick Bilton. This is his first feature film, and the synopsis reads:
Bilton, a technology journalist, explores a fundamental question: What is fame and influence in the digital age? There are now hundreds of millions of people on social platforms who have such large followings that they are considered to be a new kind of celebrity. But are they really famous? Bilton and his team set out to explore what it all really means by launching an experiment that begins with an open casting call in Los Angeles, with the goal of transforming three people into famous influencers. The young trio he selects – aspiring actress Dominique, fashion designer Chris and real estate assistant Wylie – proceed to have wildly different experiences as their fake followers grow by the thousands each day. Each of their stories illuminates the ephemeral world of online influence and the realities of a lifestyle based largely on fantasy.
Fake Famous will debut on HBO Max on February 2nd.