A trailer for a documentary about Elon Musk lists its subject among the cast, as if he were a supporting actor rather than the entire subject of the film. That is the joke at the heart of Musk, the new documentary from director Alex Gibney, which arrives in theaters this month with a poster that features a cast list with his name on it.
The film, described as “an incisive look behind the legend of Elon Musk, the world’s most heralded ‘inventor-entrepreneur’ who has enormous influence on the world in which we all live,” opens in select theaters in Los Angeles and New York on October 9 before expanding nationwide on October 16. Tickets are available now through the film’s official website.
The Cast List That Names Its Subject
The marketing materials are the star of this story. The official poster for Musk includes a cast list, and the only name on it is Elon Musk himself. It is a curious choice for a documentary whose whole premise is that Musk is the subject. The movie is about him, so the cast list is redundant — unless it is meant as a joke, or a statement of how the man has become the story.
The film’s website also offers a full set of assets, including the trailer and promotional images. The site also lists the film’s release dates, theaters and ticketing information.
Director Alex Gibney and Guest Ronan Farrow
Director Alex Gibney is the filmmaker behind the project. In this case, the film promises an “incisive look” at Musk, the world’s most heralded “inventor-entrepreneur” who has enormous influence on the world in which we all live.
The trailer itself is brief. It captures the tone of the film, and it is available to watch now.
The trailer also points to a Q&A session with Director Alex Gibney and special guest Ronan Farrow. The session takes place at AMC Lincoln Square in New York on October 9 at 1:30pm, following the film’s New York premiere.
Release Dates and Ticket Information
The film’s release schedule is straightforward. It opens in select theaters in Los Angeles and New York on October 9, with a national rollout following on October 16. The website provides links to purchase tickets directly, and separate links are available for Q&A sessions with the director and guest speakers.
| Date | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|
| October 9 | LA & NY | Premiere |
| October 9 | NYC | Q&A with Director Alex Gibney & special guest Ronan Farrow |
| October 16 | Nationwide | National rollout |
The national rollout means the film will expand beyond its initial cities, reaching audiences in more theaters across the country. The Q&A sessions offer a chance for audiences to hear from the director and guest speakers in person.
What the Trailer Promises
The film is described as an “incisive look behind the legend of Elon Musk.” That description suggests the documentary will peel back the layers of the man who runs Tesla, SpaceX and several other companies, and who has become a dominant figure in technology, space exploration and politics.
The film opens in theaters on October 9.
Our View on the Cast List
The trailer for Musk is a marketing tool, and marketing tools are rarely subtle. But the decision to include Elon Musk in the cast list is a strange one, and it raises a question: what is the point?
If the film is about Musk, then listing him as a cast member is redundant. He is the subject of the documentary, not a supporting player. The only logical explanation is that the filmmakers want to emphasize how central he has become to the story of modern technology. He is the subject of the film, and the film is the story of his influence.
The film’s title, Musk, is simple and direct. It names its subject without ceremony, and the marketing materials follow suit. The cast list is a small detail, but it speaks to the larger theme of the documentary: the man who has become the story.
The film opens in theaters on October 9.
See the a run of 13 images at bleeckerstreetmedia.com.
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