August 14, 2024 • 54min
BTC195: Making THE Bitcoin Movie w/ Kelly and Brian Estes (Bitcoin Podcast)
We Study Billionaires - The Investor’s Podcast Network
Key Takeaways
- Brian and Kelly Estes created the documentary film "God Bless Bitcoin" to educate people about Bitcoin and its potential impact on society
- The film has received an overwhelmingly positive response, with over 200,000 views and 10,000 likes on YouTube in less than a week
- It covers topics like the history of money, flaws in the current fiat system, Bitcoin's technology, and how different religions view money and Bitcoin
- The filmmakers decided to release the movie for free to make it accessible to everyone, in the spirit of Bitcoin's open-source nature
- The movie aims to explain complex Bitcoin concepts in an easy-to-understand way for newcomers
- It features interviews with many prominent figures in the Bitcoin and tech world like Michael Saylor, Kathy Wood, Tony Hawk, and others
- The film explores how Bitcoin could potentially reduce war by removing governments' ability to print money to fund conflicts
- It discusses how Bitcoin aligns with principles in various religions regarding ethical money
- The creators view the film as a gift from the entire Bitcoin community, not just themselves
Introduction
In this episode, host Preston Pysh interviews Brian and Kelly Estes, the creators of the documentary film "God Bless Bitcoin". The conversation covers the overwhelming positive response to the film, the inspiration behind its creation, and how it addresses the intersection of faith and finance. They also explore the challenges they faced during production, the impact they hope the film will have, and their future projects.
Topics Discussed
Overwhelming Positive Response to the Film (1:16)
Preston opens by highlighting the film's incredible reception:
- Over 200,000 views on YouTube in less than a week
- 10,000 likes and zero dislikes (which is extremely rare)
- Overwhelmingly positive comments praising the film
Brian and Kelly express their surprise and gratitude for the positive response, noting that during production they often wondered if it would be well-received or not.
Inspiration and Creation Process (4:37)
Brian explains what inspired the film:
- Read the book "Thank God for Bitcoin" 4 years ago
- Became curious about how other religions viewed money and Bitcoin
- Felt compelled to share this knowledge through a film
Kelly describes her role in helping Brian articulate his vision:
- Has a master's degree in writing and background in education
- Helped organize Brian's extensive knowledge into a coherent narrative
- Challenged Brian to simplify complex concepts for a general audience
Key Themes in the Film (11:26)
The hosts discuss some of the major themes explored in the documentary:
- Historical context: How money worked before 1971 when the US was on the gold standard
- Flaws of fiat currency: Issues with the current monetary system
- Bitcoin and war: How Bitcoin could potentially reduce conflicts by limiting governments' ability to print money for war
- Religious perspectives: How various faiths view money and Bitcoin
- Generational impacts: How millennials have been affected by the current financial system
Technical Challenges in Explaining Bitcoin (39:16)
Kelly discusses the difficulty in explaining Bitcoin to newcomers:
- Bitcoin is an abstract and complex concept
- Challenging to explain without getting too technical
- Focused on how Bitcoin solves problems to make it more relatable
Brian adds that they had to distill 10 years of knowledge into an 89-minute film to accelerate viewers' learning curve.
Decision to Release the Film for Free (40:58)
Brian explains their decision to make the film freely available:
- Originally planned as a for-profit venture
- Realized those who need it most might not be able to afford it
- Decided to release it for free on YouTube and other platforms
- Allowing anyone to host screenings or distribute the film
Kelly emphasizes that it's a gift from the entire Bitcoin community, not just them.
Personal Insights Gained from Making the Film (43:56)
Brian shares a key realization he had while making the film:
- Discovered the commonalities between major world religions
- All share core beliefs from the Old Testament
- Realized people are more similar in their beliefs than different
Kelly discusses her expanded perspective:
- Previously focused on how Bitcoin could help those in poverty
- Realized it's also crucial for middle-class wage earners and college graduates
- Broadened her view of who needs and could benefit from Bitcoin
Notable Interviews and Content (24:32)
The hosts highlight some standout moments and interviews from the film:
- Preston's own interview about his military experience and perspective on war funding
- Rabbi Daniel Lapin discussing the Jewish view of money as "appreciation tokens"
- Harris Irfan explaining the Islamic concept of "riba" (usury) and how Bitcoin aligns with Islamic finance principles
- Natalie Brunell's powerful segment on how millennials have been impacted by the current financial system
Production Challenges (34:00)
Brian and Kelly discuss some of the difficulties they faced in making the film:
- Time commitment - over two years of work
- Conducting and editing over 60 interviews from around the world
- Condensing 75 hours of footage into a 90-minute film
- Multiple rounds of editing and refining
- Balancing Brian's extensive knowledge with the need for simplicity
- Emotional challenge of cutting interviews with friends and supporters
Impact and Distribution (40:58)
The hosts discuss the film's potential impact and distribution plans:
- Timing aligns well with growing mainstream interest in Bitcoin
- Provides an accessible resource for people to share with friends and family
- Available for free on YouTube and the film's website
- Plans to distribute on platforms like Apple TV and Amazon Prime
- Encouraging wide distribution and use of the film
Conclusion
"God Bless Bitcoin" represents a significant contribution to Bitcoin education and advocacy. By creating an accessible, high-quality documentary that explores Bitcoin from multiple angles - technical, historical, economic, and spiritual - Brian and Kelly Estes have provided a valuable resource for both newcomers and longtime Bitcoin supporters. The film's overwhelmingly positive reception demonstrates the hunger for well-produced, thoughtful content about Bitcoin and its potential impact on society.
The creators' decision to release the film for free, viewing it as a gift from the entire Bitcoin community, aligns with the open-source ethos of Bitcoin itself. This approach may help the film reach a much wider audience and contribute to greater understanding and adoption of Bitcoin.
As Bitcoin continues to gain mainstream attention, "God Bless Bitcoin" is well-positioned to serve as an entry point for many people seeking to understand this revolutionary technology and its implications for the future of money, society, and even spirituality.
