Oppenheim explains Billy Evans' full-frontal shower scene in 'You Can See Everything'
Co-director Lance Oppenheim told GQ he doesn't know why Billy Evans agreed to be filmed naked in the Elizabeth Holmes documentary. Separate interviews describe a "kill switch" clause Nathan Fielder negotiated with A24, and the film's strong box office.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 1Lance Oppenheim, who co-directed the A24 documentary "You Can See Everything" with Nathan Fielder, told GQ he does not know why Billy Evans, Elizabeth Holmes' partner, agreed to appear in a full-frontal shower scene. VarietyLC ““I honestly don’t know,” Oppnehim said when asked why Evans would agree to appear naked in a recent GQ interview.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1Oppenheim said the scene was filmed with a camera in the bathroom, one on Fielder and one outside the bathroom, and that after Evans leaves, Evans looks at the camera and smiles. VarietyLC ““There’s a camera in the bathroom, there’s a camera that was on Nathan, there’s a camera outside the bathroom” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1According to Oppenheim, the idea came on the car ride back from the gym: after Oppenheim said the crew would give Evans time to shower, Evans asked, "Want to film me showering?" Oppenheim said they offered to film in a way that avoided showing Evans' genitals, but Evans said they didn't care about being seen naked. VarietyLC “Billy responded, ‘Want to film me showering?’ I offered to film him in a way that could avoid seeing his genitals, but Billy said he didn’t care about being seen naked.”” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 1Oppenheim said the footage gives the impression Evans may have been excited that people could see everything and that there was full access, but added that it "really beats me, honestly." VarietyLC “maybe he was excited that people could see everything and that there was full access, I guess,” Oppenheim continued. “But it really beats me, honestly.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1Before the film's release, Evans said on the "All-In" podcast that they had not seen it, that they might think it was "the dumbest thing I have ever done," and that Holmes "looks insane" in the trailer. VarietyLC ““I haven’t seen it. I might think this is the dumbest thing I have ever done,” Evans said on the podcast, admitting that Holmes “looks insane” in the trailer.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1In a separate IndieWire interview, Oppenheim said Fielder negotiated a provision with A24 before filming that let the pair abandon the project at any time if they found nothing, which Oppenheim called Fielder's "kill switch." The A.V. ClubLC “Fielder, who negotiated an iron-clad escape hatch with the distributor before filming.”“the unusual arrangement (which he called Fielder’s “kill switch”) offered unprecedented freedom.” Read at The A.V. Club ↗
Left · 1Fielder told Wired that the shoot with Holmes and family lasted 34 days before Holmes reported to prison, and that Fielder and Oppenheim had expected at least "an interesting week or two" as a story. The A.V. ClubLC “Calling the fruitful, intense 34-day shoot with Holmes and her family before she reported to prison” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 1The A.V. Club reports the film's budget as $7 million and says it has drawn Oscar buzz and near-universal critical praise. The A.V. ClubLC “has garnered Oscar buzz (including from some unexpected quarters), near-universal critical praise”“the film’s eventual $7 million budget” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 1Variety reports the film opened in theaters on Oct. 16 and took $15.6 million from 855 theaters in its opening weekend, the best start for a nonmusical documentary in 20 years, then another $19.5 million from 2,655 venues in its second weekend. VarietyLC “bringing in $15.6 million from 855 theaters in its opening weekend (the best start for a nonmusical documentary in 20 years) and adding another $19.5 million after expanding to 2,655 venues” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 1The film is eligible for best documentary feature at the 99th Academy Awards and, per A24's awards site, will also be submitted in categories including best picture and director. VarietyLC “In addition to being eligible for best documentary feature at the 99th Academy Awards, the film will also be submitted across the board” Read at Variety ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets relay director interviews: Variety leads with the Evans nude scene and Oppenheim's puzzlement over it, while The A.V. Club leads with Fielder's "kill switch" deal with A24.
- Emphasis
- Behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the directors, the film's box office and awards prospects.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet includes comment from Evans on the scene itself after release, or from Holmes. Neither covers the film's legal or ethical aspects.
- Charged language
- “jarring shower scene”“unhinged look”“startlingly intimate, mind-bending portrait”
- For example
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“a full-frontal shot of Elizabeth Holmes’ partner Billy Evans wasn’t something many foresaw experiencing in the theater.” — Variety
“is one of the year’s most unexpected success stories.” — The A.V. Club
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- You Can See Everything is an A24 documentary co-directed by Lance Oppenheim and Nathan Fielder about Elizabeth Holmes.
- Oppenheim's comments came from interviews with outlets such as GQ and IndieWire.
- The film has been a critical and commercial success.
Lance Oppenheim person
Says he doesn't understand why Evans agreed to be filmed naked, offered to shoot the scene to avoid showing genitals, and speculates Evans enjoyed the full access. Also credits the "kill switch" deal with freeing the filmmakers to explore.
““It’s beyond me, but I’ve heard interesting theories that people have when they see it,”” — Variety
““I wish I could have that for every project, because then it really feels like you’re just operating purely out of curiosity.” — The A.V. Club
Billy Evans person
Per Oppenheim, volunteered to be filmed showering and didn't mind being seen naked; before release Evans said they hadn't seen the film and might regret it.
““I haven’t seen it. I might think this is the dumbest thing I have ever done,”” — Variety
Nathan Fielder person
Says he sought a deal letting the pair deliver nothing to A24 if the project failed, because he lacked a clear angle but felt something was worth exploring.
““I don’t really know what the angle is, but there is something tickling in my brain.”” — The A.V. Club
Left2 articles
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Nathan Fielder negotiated a "kill switch" if You Can See Everything turned out to be nothing
Celebratory Presents the film as a surprise success and explains the "kill switch" safety net Fielder secured, drawing on IndieWire and Wired interviews.
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Mixed Entertainment-news piece centred on the full-frontal scene, using Oppenheim's GQ comments, with a note on the film's box office and awards push.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 25 Oct 15:53 First The A.V. ClubLC Nathan Fielder negotiated a "kill switch" if You Can See Everything turned out to be nothing
- 25 Oct 21:50 +5h 57m VarietyLC ‘You Can See Everything’ Director Lance Oppenheim Says Billy Evans ‘Didn’t Care About Being Seen Naked’; Evans Asked, ‘Want to Film Me Showering?’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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