Eddie Huang’s new documentary, Vice Is Broke pulls no punches in its assessment of the media company that once defined counterculture sensibilities. The film chronicles Vice’s journey from a Montreal-based punk magazine to a global media giant with a nearly $6 billion valuation, and its subsequent downfall into bankruptcy.
Huang, a former Vice contributor who claims the company owes him over $380,000 in unpaid residuals, uses his film to expose what he sees as Vice’s exploitative business practices and its disregard for the artists and journalists who helped build its success.
Huang’s personal experience with Vice is a central theme of the documentary. He recalls feeling like part of a family when he first started working with the company, but that illusion quickly faded as he realized he was being taken advantage of.
“They felt like a family and they would tell you it was a family, so I approached business as if it was family,” Huang says in the film. “I waited four years [to be paid], and I just started to realize that these dudes, they’re not good dudes.”
Huang’s story is not unique. The film features interviews with other former Vice employees and contributors who share similar experiences of not being properly compensated or credited for their work.
A Vice-style exposé
Vice Is Broke is told in a style reminiscent of Vice’s own documentaries, blending old-fashioned news reporting with personal narratives. Huang digs into the company’s controversial business dealings, including its partnerships with Philip Morris and the Saudi government.
The film also features a somewhat surprising interview with Gavin McInnes, who co-founded Vice magazine before going on to start the far-right extremist group The Proud Boys. Huang defends his decision to include McInnes in the film, saying he wanted to hear his perspective on Vice’s early years.
Despite its critical tone, Vice Is Broke is not simply a hit piece. The film also acknowledges the positive aspects of Vice’s culture, particularly its willingness to give a platform to voices that were often marginalized by mainstream media.
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Ultimately, Huang hopes the film will serve as a cautionary tale for young artists. He warns against the dangers of getting too caught up in the pursuit of corporate success, and urges creators to prioritize their own artistic integrity.
“The tentacles that corporations and big money have in art and culture just disgust me,” Huang says. “I hope that we can start to untangle ourselves from those tentacles and incubate artists a little bit more before their work is scaled.”
“Vice Is Broke” premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution.
