Think Woodstock 99 or the Fyre Festival documentaries. These start with high energy and optimism—a group of young, ambitious people trying to create something massive. Then, through a cocktail of hubris, greed, and incompetence, everything falls apart spectacularly. These are the "can't look away" train wrecks. They serve as modern fables about the dangers of unchecked ego and capitalism run amok.
The exploitation came to a head in a landmark 2019 civil trial in San Diego. Edwards-Devine and 21 other Jane Doe plaintiffs sued the owners of GDP, including Michael Pratt and Andre Garcia. The court heard harrowing testimony regarding:
Modern documentaries often function as investigative journalism, highlighting problems like the draconian movie rating systems in This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006) or the grueling work hours and sleep deprivation faced by crew members in Who Needs Sleep? (2006). 2. Major Themes and Key Films