Nathan Fielder and his crew grew suspicious while filming Elizabeth Holmes and her partner, Billy Evans, for the documentary “You Can See Everything.” At one point, they even worried their guest house might be bugged.
Fielder and co-director Lance Oppenheim discussed their unusual experience filming Holmes in the 34 days before she began her prison sentence in May 2023.
During an Oct. 6 conversation in Los Angeles moderated by Bill Hader, Fielder revealed that the crew became concerned about possible surveillance while staying on the couple’s property, according to PEOPLE.
The suspicion arose after a pivotal moment in the documentary left the filmmakers questioning their understanding of Holmes and her perspective on the events surrounding her life.
“We were also worried… I don’t know if it’s worth saying. We were worried the guest house was bugged,” Fielder admitted.
Oppenheim echoed his concerns, describing the atmosphere surrounding the production as increasingly unsettling.
“We were in like a conspiracy thriller of our own,” he said. “We were all paranoid.”
The Filmmakers Investigated Their Suspicions
Fielder said the crew eventually purchased a device intended to detect recording equipment in the guest house. However, the device did little to settle their concerns.
“At one point, we bought a thing that should have found if it was bugged, and it just beeped constantly,” Fielder explained.
“Totally useless,” Oppenheim responded.
The suspicion partly stemmed from Evans’ discussion of secretly recording Holmes’ media interviews to ensure accuracy, according to the filmmakers’ account. However, neither Fielder nor Oppenheim presented evidence that the guest house was actually bugged.
Ultimately, Fielder attributed the concern to paranoia rather than a confirmed discovery of surveillance equipment.
Holmes Approached A24 About a Documentary
During the conversation, the filmmakers also explained how they became involved in the project. Holmes initially approached film studio A24 about making a documentary about her life.
Fielder said the studio agreed to let him and Oppenheim film Holmes and Evans without requiring them to turn the footage into a completed movie.
The experience left the filmmakers with differing impressions of what had happened during production in San Diego.
Fielder, known for Comedy Central’s “Nathan For You” and HBO’s “The Rehearsal,” also questioned why Holmes and Evans wanted him involved in documenting such a significant period in their lives.
He said the couple seemed only vaguely familiar with his work before meeting him.
“I never got a great explanation why you would want to spend your last month of freedom in a decade with this guy,” Fielder said.
“Even with no cameras,” he added, prompting laughter from the audience.
Tensions Arose During Filming
Fielder said the production could be emotionally difficult, particularly because Holmes and Evans’ children were present.
He recalled repeatedly offering to end filming when tensions escalated.
“Honestly, if you want us to go, we will go. We will pull the plug right now and it’s totally fine,” he said he told the couple.
According to Fielder, Holmes and Evans consistently wanted the production to continue despite the difficult atmosphere.
As of Oct. 6, neither Holmes nor Evans had seen the finished documentary, the filmmakers said. Fielder also described a breakdown in communication with Evans toward the end of the project, saying Evans began trying to exert more control over the process.
He said the situation became uncomfortable for the filmmakers, A24 and others involved in the production.
Nathan Fielder Thought Elizabeth Holmes’ Guest House Was ‘Bugged’