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Director says GameStop short squeeze-inspired ‘Dumb Money’ is relevant and timely.

ReutersSeptember 8, 2023

Director Craig Gillespie Discusses “Dumb Money” at Toronto International Film Festival

By Jenna Zucker and Nivedita Balu

In a captivating and timely presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival, director Craig Gillespie shared his ⁢thoughts on his latest film, “Dumb Money.” The movie delves into the pandemic-era battle between hedge fund billionaires and ⁣amateur ⁢investors, a story that has ⁢gripped the attention of the public.

“Dumb Money” provides a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most significant Wall Street stories during the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores how retail⁣ investors, inspired by Reddit, ⁤rallied against Wall Street by collectively investing in GameStop, causing ‍substantial losses for short sellers.

The movie’s ‌tagline, “Dear Wall Street…,” boldly addresses the issue of ‍wealth disparity in America. Gillespie emphasized the relevance of this topic in⁢ today’s society and the frustration felt by ⁢many. He stated, “Let the one-percenters hear the frustration that’s ⁣going on.”

The star-studded cast includes Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, America Ferrera,⁤ Vincent D’Onofrio, Nick Offerman, Shailene Woodley, and Seth Rogen, portraying⁤ both amateur investors and prominent Wall⁢ Street ⁣figures. However, due to the ongoing strike in Hollywood,⁣ the actors were not present ⁣on the red carpet, resulting in smaller crowds at the festival.

Produced by Gillespie, Aaron Ryder, ⁤and Teddy Schwarzman, ⁤”Dumb Money” explores the intersection of finance and entertainment. Teddy Schwarzman, the son ‍of Blackstone Group co-founder and CEO Stephen Schwarzman, declined to comment on how his family’s ties to Wall Street influenced the⁢ film’s production.

(Reporting by Jenna Zucker and Nivedita Balu; Editing by ⁣Sandra Maler)