Inspiring Vitalik Buterin: A Human Story Beyond Ethereum in New Crypto Documentary

Are you curious about the people behind the technology shaping our future? The new film ‘Vitalik: An Ethereum Story’ offers a unique perspective, focusing less on complex crypto mechanics and more on the human journey of its creator, Vitalik Buterin. This documentary, by filmmakers Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple, not only tells Vitalik’s story but also demonstrates a powerful use case for Web3 filmmaking itself.

Discovering Vitalik Buterin Beyond the Code

Filmmakers Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple initially planned a different documentary but were so struck by Vitalik Buterin’s unique perspective and humility that they shifted focus. Despite being a billionaire, Vitalik challenged their stereotypes of the crypto space. His commitment to decentralization and his quirky, funny nature inspired them to explore his story and the Ethereum community more deeply.

Web3 Filmmaking: A Use Case for Crypto

One of the most compelling aspects of ‘Vitalik: An Ethereum Story’ is how it utilized crypto tools for its creation and distribution. The filmmakers launched an NFT crowdfunding campaign, raising nearly $2 million in just 50 hours during the 2021 NFT boom. This approach offered significant benefits:

• It allowed them to maintain ownership of the film.
• It freed them from being beholden to traditional stakeholders or platforms.
• It provided the resources to follow Vitalik globally for over two years.

This demonstrates a practical application of NFT crowdfunding for independent creators seeking creative control.

The Human Element: Exploring Vitalik’s Journey

Ingrasci and Temple traveled extensively with Vitalik, visiting Ukraine, Montenegro, Toronto, and Colombia. They even spent time with his family, exploring his upbringing and how it shaped his values. The goal was to paint a deeper picture, understanding how the creators of technology like Ethereum embed their values and perspectives into the final product.

Making Ethereum Accessible Through Story

A key challenge for the filmmakers was making a crypto documentary accessible to a mainstream audience. Early screenings revealed confusion among non-crypto natives. However, they found that connecting viewers to a human story, particularly Vitalik’s relatable and inspiring persona, provided an entry point into more abstract concepts. The film intentionally uses Vitalik as a ‘human hook’ to break stereotypes and make the world of Ethereum more understandable and engaging.

From Imaginary Worlds to Real-World Utility

The documentary touches on Vitalik’s childhood fascination with building worlds, like his 100-page manifesto for bunnies created at age seven. This echoes his current ambition with Ethereum – building a new world with real utility. A powerful example highlighted is Ethereum’s role in facilitating quick, cross-border fundraising for Ukraine during the war, raising over $130 million when traditional banking systems were disrupted. Witnessing this real-world impact was an emotional moment, showing how the world Vitalik imagined is coming into reality.

The Power of Speaking Out: Vitalik’s Struggle

The film also explores the tension Vitalik faces as a public figure. While he sees himself primarily as a builder and thinker, others look to him as a leader of the entire crypto movement. The documentary shows him wrestling with how much to use his voice, eventually deciding to speak out against excessive speculation, emphasizing that Ethereum was designed for more than trading digital collectibles. This human struggle with public responsibility and staying true to one’s values adds another layer to the narrative.

Distribution Powered by Web3 Filmmaking

Beyond crowdfunding, the filmmakers also leveraged Web3 tools for distribution. They executed a movie trailer drop via Zora and an early onchain release on Bonfire. While the onchain release was challenging for non-crypto users, these efforts helped generate funds for marketing the film to mainstream audiences. This demonstrates a potential path for independent filmmakers to gain marketing leverage often lacking in traditional documentary distribution.

The Dream: Helping People Feel Seen

Ultimately, the filmmakers’ dream was to create a film that could translate the world of crypto and Ethereum in a way that resonates. Hearing reactions from people in the crypto community who felt ‘seen’ and ‘understood’ as technologists was incredibly rewarding. The film is now available on mainstream platforms, fulfilling the goal of making it accessible. It poses important questions about technology’s potential to improve lives, especially when used for good and focused on real use cases, a belief central to Vitalik Buterin’s vision for Ethereum.