Director Nathan Fielder Reveals Prison Phone Call From Elizabeth Holmes Before Documentary Release

Director Nathan Fielder received a surprise phone call from Elizabeth Holmes from federal prison right before the theatrical release of their new documentary, "You Can See Everything." The former Theranos CEO, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence for fraud, had not spoken to the director in over six months.

The Call

During the conversation, Holmes asked how Fielder was doing and mentioned that she had seen some promotional material for the film without reading detailed reviews. Toward the end of the call, she repeated the phrase "I trust you" multiple times while also discussing her kids and other personal updates. Fielder admitted he remains unsure what she meant by her repeated statement of trust.

Making the Film

Fielder directed the project alongside Lance Oppenheim after learning that Holmes and her partner Billy Evans had previously tried to pitch a documentary about themselves to A24. The filmmakers moved in with the couple for 34 days during the final weeks before Holmes began serving her prison sentence. Evans stated on a podcast that their goal was to let audiences see Holmes in a natural environment so viewers could form their own opinions about her character.

Context

Elizabeth Holmes was convicted of criminal fraud for misleading investors about the blood-testing technology developed by her company Theranos. Her new documentary project has drawn heavy public attention and achieved a major domestic box office debut in theaters nationwide.