The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch
EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Netflix’s ‘Fyre’ Documentary Captures the Flames of Failed Festival

by Samantha Bergeson January 15, 2019
by Samantha Bergeson January 15, 2019 0 comments
2.9K

Some things are just too good to be true. The Netflix Original documentary “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” traces how the promise of a luxury private island music festival became a full-fledged scam.

Famed documentarian Chris Smith (American Movie, Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond) sewed together behind-the-scenes festival footage alongside present-day interviews investors, festival contractors, island locales, and Fyre Festival concertgoers. Those featured in the film were in attendance at the Metrograph Theater premiere last night, with one glaring exception: the incarcerated mastermind of it all, Billy McFarland. A collectively-dubbed “sociopath,” McFarland remained an elusive character with Jordan Belfort business practices and the presence of a snake charmer.

Director Smith beautifully recreated the infectious excitement surrounding the festival, reminding audiences of its original purpose to showcase the fledgling celebrity booking app McFarland and rapper Ja Rule had announced. The initial promotional video for the festival was seductively intriguing: Pablo Escobar’s private Bahamian island inhabited only by bikini-clad supermodels like Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski, accessible solely by private jet or yacht. Festival headliners ranged from Disclosure to Blink-182. The infamous reality of Fyre instead included reused hurricane relief tents, cheese sandwiches, and plane delays. As the film suggests, Fyre Festival is an intimate example of the dangers of influencer marketing. “Fyre is Instagram coming to life,” musician Major Lazer mused on screen.

Model Bella Hadid in a promotional Fyre Festival video.

The uniquely candid documentary is told primarily from the organizers and marketers like Matte Projects and Jerry Media, also sympathetic victims of McFarland’s insatiable fabrications. “I felt the contractors were really the soul of the festival,” Smith said during a Q&A session moderated by Time Out New York senior film critic Joshua Rothkopf after the screening. “They were dealt a really bad hand of cards.”

Director Smith actively chose to portray the full arc of the festival’s conception, rather than solely focus on its blatant failure. “There was this very snarky take on the festival and it was interesting to me to just sort of try to put a human face on it and show why people got involved and how this thing built up,” Smith explained. “It’s very easy after it collapsed to say ‘obviously this wasn’t going to work’ but I think that with any creative endeavor, you sort of jump off the diving board and just hope there’s water in there.”

The Q&A panel after the screening.

The inclusion of interviews with the Exuma-based festival workers emphasized the entitled sense of colonialism that McFarland practiced. After employing dozens of locales to build tents and stage platforms, McFarland abandoned the island without paying wages, inciting strikes and riots.

The Vice Studios-produced documentary offers a snapshot of this unique era, one where a reality star is President and the amount of social media likes declares the worth of celebrity. “Fyre” isn’t just about a singular event, but rather a generation.

“Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” will be available in select theaters in Los Angeles and New York on Friday, January 18, and available to stream on Netflix.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
DocumentaryFilm Premierefyre festivalMetrographmusic festivalNetflixNetflix Original
0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Samantha Bergeson

previous post
12th Annual Cinema Eye Honors Award Ceremony
next post
Nordstrom Men Debuts Concept 001 of New Concepts for Mens Fashion

Related Posts

DJ Khaled, SNIPES & MCM Drop Bold “Make...

May 21, 2025

Jazz Chisholm Jr. Turns The Runway Into A...

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

ablume’s Debut Track “Echo” Amplifies a Long-Unheard Message...

May 21, 2025

Paley Honors Spring Gala Dazzles in New York

May 20, 2025

RIIZE’s ‘ODYSSEY’ Is a Triumphant Debut—and a Bold...

May 20, 2025

The Bustling Business of QVC and TikTok

May 20, 2025

K-Pop’s Biggest Names Unite in LA for SMTOWN’s...

May 20, 2025

Italy on Madison’s Runway Show in New York...

May 20, 2025

Exclusive: Louiza Aura, Gio Ventura, and Alexis Langlois...

May 19, 2025

Digital Cover No. 19

The Knockturnal Merch

Follow Us On The Gram

Not just a debut — a declaration. 🎤 @ablume_ Not just a debut — a declaration. 🎤

@ablume_official steps onto the scene with “Echo”, a track that cuts through the noise and leaves something real behind. 

Check out our full article for the exclusive story behind the sound. 🎵

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/ablume/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-
#ABLUME #Echo #ExclusiveFirstListen #NewArtist #MusicThatSpeaks #Kpop #GirlGroup
EXCLUSIVE: #AnnaWintour and @kingofbingo step out EXCLUSIVE: #AnnaWintour and @kingofbingo step out for this year’s @gordonparksfoundation event. 📸

Stay tuned for more coverage from the star-studded evening. 🔥

-
#GordonParksFoundation #ExclusiveInterview #ColmanDomingo #Vogue #FashionIcons #GPF2025
The ride starts now. 🚘 Duster premieres on @st The ride starts now. 🚘

Duster premieres on @streamonmax —and we’ve got the breakdown. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/on-the-scene-duster-premiere/

✍️: Meaghan Merriman

-
#Duster #Max #MaxPremier #MaxOriginal
Happy hour just hit a whole new level. 😎 The n Happy hour just hit a whole new level. 😎

The newly renovated rooftop at Exchange Place is officially open, and it’s serving skyline views, chic vibes, and the perfect atmosphere to sip and unwind above the city. 🥂

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/the-knockturnal-attends-the-debut-happy-hour-at-the-newly-renovated-rooftop-at-exchange-place/

✍️: Rebecca Eugene 

-
#RooftopExchangePalace #ExchangePalace #Rooftop #RooftopExperience #Dining #CityEats #HappyHour
Artist and stylist Jennifer Elster modernizes her Artist and stylist Jennifer Elster modernizes her archive in “The Classics.” 🖼️✨

From accessories worn by Trent and David Bowie to introspective graphic art, her latest exhibition at Tribeca’s @thedevelopmentgallery revives decades of creative expression. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/artist-and-stylist-jennifer-elster-breaks-open-her-archive-in-the-classics/

✍️: Eleanor Jacobs 

-
#Art #JenniferElster #TheClassics #ArtGallery #TheDevelopmentGallery
Tacos, tequila, and good vibes only! 😎🌮 We Tacos, tequila, and good vibes only! 😎🌮

We kicked off Cinco de Mayo early with a festive happy hour hosted by Matthew and Camila McConaughey’s @pantalonestequila at Rosa Mexicano. 

Cheers to good times and great sips! 🍸

-
#PantalonesTequila #Tacos #TacosandTequila #McConaughey
Follow on Instagram

About The Site

We are a collective of creative tastemakers made up of fashion, music and entertainment industry insiders. It’s all about access. You want it. We have it.

Terms Of Use

Privacy Policy

Meet The Team

CONTACT US

For general inquiries and more info on The Knockturnal, please contact our staff at:
info@theknockturnal.com
fashion@theknockturnal.com
advertising@theknockturnal.com
editorial@theknockturnal.com
beauty@theknockturnal.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

© Copyright - The Knockturnal | Developed by CI Design + Media

The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch