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Last year around this time, we attended FinCon for the first time, as you’ll remember from this post .
That turned out to be a truly memorable experience, since we got to meet and hang out with many of our fellow FI bloggers, who we only knew online, in the flesh. People like my personal hero J.Money, Carl from 1500days, J.D Roth, etc.
And the most memorable (and humbling) experience was being filmed for a movie by Emmy-award winning directors Travis Shakespeare and Scott Rieckens .
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s nerve-wracking giving a speech in front of a crowd, let me tell you, getting filmed for the big screen is way scarier. Especially if said movie is expected to be the definitive film for FIRE.
And now after two years of hard work, Travis and Scott and FIRE documentary team are proud to present the official “Playing with FIRE” documentary trailer!
Personally, I never expected the movie to look THIS good. Both Travis and Scott are experienced pros in Hollywood, but a small part of me thought it would turn into a series of talking-head interviews. I am so glad to be proven wrong on this one. I honestly get chills watching it because it perfectly captures how scary it is to do something against the herd, something I’ve written about before.
Plus I don’t look completely stupid on film! And that’s a small miracle in and of itself. Also, check out this AWESOME movie swag (thanks, Brad, for sharing this from FinCon)!
After you’ve watched the above trailer, I have a small favour to ask.
The documentary is currently in a “rough cut” state and in order to get it over the finish line and spread the FIRE message to the masses, Scott and Travis have started a KickStarter campaign to raise $40K.
I’m a proud backer of this project and signed up as soon as I finished watching the trailer. I’m also excited that at the time of this writing, they’re already 40% of the way towards the goal in just 3 days! That’s awesome, and proof that there’s a real hunger for this project out there, but they still need a push to reach their goal.
If you believe the FIRE community has helped improve your life in any way, please support this film on kickstarter and share the campaign to spread the FIRE. Plus, you can get some really awesome perks—like early access to the movie, exclusive weekly updates, the “Playing with FIRE” e-book or audiobook, cool movie swag, and even a Skype chat with JLCollins, Paula Pant, or the chance to be on the ChooseFI podcast!):
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/firedoc/playing-with-fire-the-documentary
What do you think? Do you like the trailer? Can you help us by supporting this project?
Update:
Playing With FIRE is now over 100% funded!!! Thanks so much for all of your support in helping us spread the FIRE! Burn, baby burn!

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❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Yes!!!
The trailer brought me to tears as my family and I are just a little over a year towards FI.
Thank you for sharing your story and putting yourselves out there.
Nikko
Wow. So cool the trailer had that much of an emotional effect on you, Nikko! Congrats on being so close to FI!
AWESOME! So glad this is being made. Cant wait to watch it. You all look like you’re made for the big screen.
Thanks, fourtakeflight! That’s all due to Scott and Travis’s talent. I remember myself looking hideous and saying dumb things during the shoot 😛 Somehow they managed to make it look good :P.
Oh wow! The trailer was so good!
Can’t wait to see the movie!
And I agree, it looks great!
Plus it has all my bloggers heroes in it! Yeah!
Super proud to be able to help this project a tiny bit. Thanks so much for letting me know about the Kickstarter campaign 🙂
Thanks so much for your support, Sara! You rock!
Wow, you looked very professional in the trailer FireCracker. You didn’t look nervous at all! Congrats on being involved in this project.
Again, you win. It’s like flipping a coin and every time it comes up heads isn’t it?
You’re such an amazing success at everything you do!
Ha! Appreciate the vote of confidence, Mr. Tako, but it was all Travis, Scott + crew’s talent in making us look professional. Pretty sure I sounded like a babbling idiot before they edited the hell out of the shoot.
And the amazing success part– you probably wouldn’t think that if you could see my embarrassing university transcript and the 7 years I spent face-planting trying to build online apps and writing bad fiction. 😛
Indeed, nice trailer!
I’m perhaps the only one here who could look at that transcript, but that would be unethical, so I will continue to resist the urge.
Oh yeah!!!
I’ll get to Kickstarter this week and add to the kitty.
Earlier this year, I began mentoring a few younger relatives in FI. Something like Playing with Fire could be like gasoline on “their” FIRE.
My philosophy is FI is essential to a decent life, while RE is optional. And, without FI, you live life at the beck and call of your masters.
Anyway, so looking forward to the movie! 🙂
Thanks for your support, RB! And nice work mentoring your relatives in FI!
“Something like Playing with Fire could be like gasoline on “their” FIRE.”
Love how you put that!
looks great FireCracker!
Thanks, Zoe! It’s all because of the awesome directors and film crew! I’m sure they did a ton of editing.
I have watched it 3 times now and have cried every time. This is big time and I am so excited to have it get out to the public. I knew it was going to be good, but I didn’t know it was going to be this good. Missed you guys at FinCon last week!
So sad to have missed you guys too! Really wanted to come see you at FinCon but sadly the timing didn’t work out. Oh well. Rain check for next year!
Great trailer. Looking forward to the movie. Thanks you guys for the great work.
Thanks for your support, Wale!
WOW – AMAZING! Simply AMAZING! The trailer was done so well that I was at the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened to Scott and Taylor in their epic journey! Can’t wait for it to come out along with your book.
When is the release date for both?
Glad you enjoyed the trailer, Robert!
The movie will be released in 2019. They need to finish it up first (hence the kickstarter campaign), but if you pledge $25 or more as a backer on kickstarter, you’ll get weekly updates AND early access to see it online before its official release date!
As for the our book, that should come out next year, either in the summer or fall (details are still being worked out)
I can’t believe this is happening!
Me either! The FIRE is spreading, yo!
Wow, this could rival other Hollywood productions, its that good. Its got that visceral quality that we all can relate to. And you rocked your bit FIRECracker!
Thanks, 10! All credit goes to the directors and crew. I just sat there and rambled a lot 😛
And I totally agree on the quality. These guys are Hollywood pros!
I’ll give it a look!
Can’t wait to see the finished product. Supporting something this meaningful is hard to turn down.
Have you hired an agent yet??
Thanks, Cubert! One of the biggest advantages of supporting it is you’ll get early access to see the movie before everyone else at the $25 level!
As for an agent, I do have a literary agent in NY. Does that count? 😉
1. You couldn’t look stupid if you tried. The camera loves you!
2. I am BEYOND excited for this documentary, and the trailer looks top-notch. I feel like it should be mandatory viewing for anyone before they go to college / take a job / buy a house / take another breath.
“I feel like it should be mandatory viewing for anyone before they go to college / take a job / buy a house / take another breath.”
LOL. You crack me up, Jules. Let’s see if we can make that happen.
Heck YES. Just contributed to the kickstarter. Thank you for creating this!!
Thank you for your support, Luci! You’re awesome!
Thrilled to see this trailer!!! Brought me to tears too and I can’t WAIT to see the whole movie. You look great FIRECracker!
Thanks, Reina! And I can’t WAIT to see you in person 🙂 Count to down to Chautauqua in 3…2…1…
Oh my God! I can’t wait!! Can’t imagine!
*anticipation five* It’s gonna be EPIC!
I just donated. We’ve been on the path for years, but finding the community in the blogs and such has really accelerated things over the last 3 years. Thanks for everything you do here, Kristy & Bryce.
Thank you so much for your support, cjdquest! We’re so happy you are part of this FIRE community and congrats on accelerating your FI journey!
Really glad to be able to make a contribution to this. Such powerful message and what an amazing group of people! Thank you for all the courage you continue to show to promote a healthy happy sustainable lifestyle, despite popular opinions. I’m so glad I stumbled at your blog the right time in life, and look forward to see the FIRE spread! If you’re ever in Ottawa, dinner’s on me. Cheers and thanks again.
Thank for your contribution, V! You rock! And will definitely take you up on that offer the next time I’m in Ottawa (FYI, I used to live there during my high school years :))
Great! And gorgeous this time of year. Just took Monday off to explore the pink lake trail, couldn’t get enough of it! :). Separately, Congrats on the target being done, so exciting!
This looks fantastic! Seeing many of my favourite bloggers in this movie will be awesome. You have come along way Firecracker! I first read about you in Garth’s blog and have been following you guys ever since. And now you will be in a movie! Cant wait to see it!
Thanks so much for sticking with us all this time, Saga! You rock!
Wow, its really slick… maybe you can get a Netflix series going.
Thanks, spaceman. *fingers crossed* that it gets picked up by Netflix!
I’m in on kickstarter!
Awesome trailer, made me emotional as well.
Seeing and hearing some of my fav bloggers spreading the good word is so exciting!
Can’t wait to see it all!
Thanks so much for your support, DEC1!
Aweesome!!!
But apparently and unfortunately it will be US-centric
Thanks, Mikkel. Once they test the waters in the US, hopefully plans will be made to turn it international 🙂
Hey, thanks for sharing my blurry sticker pic. missed you guys at #FinCon18. Put DC on your calendar for next year (my neck of the woods). I had a chat with Scott and I am pumped about the movie. We talked about some of our favorite FIRE websites including yours and some cool fringe sites like mcmansionhell.com – you will get a kick out of that one.
You rock, Brad! Really missed hanging out with you guys at FinCon18. Rain check for FinCon19 in DC!
And thanks for the kind words and for sharing the fringe site. I’ll check it out!
First time to comment. You are just awesome in the trailer. Keep the fire burning.