A group of documentary directors are teaming for a documentary based on “Freakonomics,” the best-selling book in which economist Steven D. Levitt uses theory and statistics to analyze pop culture phenomena.
The film is being produced by Chad Troutwine (Paris je t’aime) and Seth Gordon (The King of Kong), and they have enlisted Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing (Jesus Camp), Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room), Laura Poitras (My Country My Country), Eugene Jarecki (Why We Fight) and Jehane Noujaim (Control Room) to each direct a docu segment on chapters in the book.
Written by Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, “Freakonomics” has sold more than 3 million copies by using economic theories to analyze issues.
Jarecki will cover the last subject in his docu segment, while Gibney will focus on the cheating teachers and sumo wrestlers, the latter of which created a national scandal in Japan. The other directors are finalizing their topics. The 15 minute segments will be bound together to make a feature-length film.
Shooting will begin in January and will be completed by summer.
Rafi Chaudry (Paris je t’aime) will be co-producer, and Gordon will provide the intro and interstitials between each segment.
