Brief
Fielder and Oppenheim Detail Secret Filming of Elizabeth Holmes
The documentary “You Can See Everything” used a hidden‑camera setup and long‑zoom lenses to capture Holmes’s final weeks of freedom.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Co‑directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim revealed the technical and logistical details of how they secretly filmed Elizabeth Holmes in her San Diego home in the 34 days before she began her 11‑year prison term, Variety reported.
The pair invited a small crew, including cinematographer David Bolen, into Holmes’s residence 34 days before her sentence began. Over a series of 16‑hour shooting days, the team employed three cameras, two operators, and long‑zoom lenses to capture footage from multiple zones of the house. Initially they tried a single anamorphic camera, but after a day of missed moments they switched to the multi‑camera, vérité‑style approach.
Fielder, known for “Nathan for You” and “The Rehearsal,” said he intended to stay behind the camera and not appear on screen. He described how Holmes and her partner Billy Evans would sometimes address him off‑camera, prompting the crew to pan toward him as conversations grew longer. Oppenheim added that the cumbersome early setup forced them to redesign their workflow, ultimately resulting in a “fly‑on‑the‑wall” style that relied on hidden positioning and extensive zoom.
According to the article, the crew consisted of seven people and worked 16‑hour shifts to capture the documentary’s nearly three‑hour runtime. The filmmakers emphasized that the hidden‑camera method was chosen to preserve authenticity while navigating the logistical challenges of filming in a private home.
Both directors highlighted the collaborative nature of the shoot, noting that Bolen’s experience on Oppenheim’s previous documentaries informed the technical choices. The article ends with a description of the film’s premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and a subsequent screening at the New York Film Festival, where the co‑directors discussed the unconventional production process.
Key facts
- Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim filmed Elizabeth Holmes in her San Diego home 34 days before her prison sentence. (variety.com)
- The crew consisted of seven people and worked 16‑hour days using three cameras and long‑zoom lenses. (variety.com)
- The documentary "You Can See Everything" premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and screened at the New York Film Festival. (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “How Elizabeth Holmes Was Secretly Filmed for ‘You Can See Everything’ Doc: 7-Person Crew, 16-Hour Shoots and Cameras Covering the ‘Whole House’”
