About The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley

The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley is a documentary film directed by Alex Gibney. Released in 2019, it explores the rise and fall of the infamous entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes and her startup, Theranos. Leaving Stanford University to start her own company, Holmes promised to revolutionize the medical industry with a machine that could perform a full range of tests using just a few drops of blood. However, despite her claims, it became apparent the technology did not work as promised.

Making / Production

The film was directed and written by Alex Gibney, known for his insightful and gripping documentaries. Its compelling narrative structure was designed not only to inform viewers about the controversial story of Elizabeth Holmes but also to engage them with its mystery and drama. The film was produced by Jigsaw Productions and HBO Documentary Films.

Actors

• Alex Gibney (Director): The acclaimed documentarian who crafted an intriguing narrative through interviews, footage, and graphics.
• Elizabeth Holmes: The founder of Theranos, she features heavily in archive footage and interviews throughout the film.
• Roger Parloff: The former Fortune Magazine writer who initially propelled Holmes to fame, Parloff reflects on his role in helping to create the myth around Holmes in compelling interviews.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
• This was the second time director Alex Gibney focused on the dark side of the tech world, the first being 'Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine' (2015).
• While the film mainly focuses on the Theranos scam, it also highlights the broader problems of hype and deception in Silicon Valley.

Quotes

• "First they think you're crazy, then they fight you, and then all of a sudden you change the world." - Elizabeth Holmes
• "Nothing matters except the mission." - Elizabeth Holmes.
• "She had a kind of ethereal quality that made it seem like she was not quite in this world." - Alex Gibney on Elizabeth Holmes.

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's original score is composed by Will Bates, known for his work on a variety of film and television projects such as "The Path", "The Magicians", and "Nightflyers".
• One of the key tracks used in the film is "Crazy" by Patsy Cline, which adds a chilling tone to Holmes' story.