The Price of Fame: Director & Editor Q&A for IN WHOSE NAME
Sunday, September 21 at 2PM PT
Location: Living Room Theaters
Join us for a powerful and thought-provoking screening of IN WHOSE NAME, the new documentary from director Nico Ballesteros that examines six turbulent years in the life of Kanye West. From his creative highs and spiritual performances with the Sunday Service Choir to the collapse of his marriage, his failed 2020 presidential run, and his deeply troubling antisemitic outbursts, the film confronts the complexities of celebrity, mental health, and the price of fame.
Following the screening, stay for a Zoom Q&A with director Nico Ballesteros and the film’s editor, Justin Staple. Together, they’ll discuss the making of this ambitious project that was shot across 3,000 hours of footage over six years, as well as the challenges of documenting such a controversial public figure. The conversation will open space for reflection on the intersections of artistry, celebrity culture, and mental health in today’s world.
Nico Ballesteros, Director & Producer
Nico Ballesteros is a documentary filmmaker known for his immersive, fly-on-the-wall approach. He began filming his own life at age eight, developing a camera style that acts as both shield and window. At just 18, he became Kanye West’s personal videographer and assistant director, capturing six years of West’s private and public life.
Out of more than 3,000 hours of footage, Ballesteros crafted his directorial debut, In Whose Name, which examines celebrity, mental health, politics, and the cultural impact of one of the most polarizing figures in modern music. Now 21, Ballesteros is recognized for his ability to document the spiritual, psychological, and historical currents of American pop culture with rare intimacy and candor.
Justin Staple, Editor
Justin Staple is an award-winning filmmaker and editor celebrated for his ability to merge pop culture storytelling with urgent social themes. Over a decade at VICE Media, he produced documentaries and series that brought new perspectives to contemporary culture, gaining hundreds of millions of views online.
His directorial debut, American Rapstar, premiered at SXSW and went on to screen at CPH:DOX and DOC NYC before a Hulu release, while his ESPN 30 for 30 film No Scope: The Story of FaZe Clan brought the rise of esports to a mainstream audience.
Staple also executive produced the VICE TV series The Therapist and the crypto-heist thriller Cold Wallet. As Executive Producer and Editor of In Whose Name, Staple shapes the documentary’s provocative exploration of fame, mental health, and the high cost of celebrity culture.
About the Film
Starring: Kanye “Ye” West | Rated: R
Immersed in Kanye West (Ye’s) world of extremes for 6 years, Nico Ballesteros documented over 3,000 hours, bearing witness to brilliance, breakdowns, triumphs, turmoil, paranoia, and intensity that increasingly shaped Ye’s world.