Why is the law of supply and demand so powerful? A whimsical tale of love, dance and the economic concept of supply and demand. Bored in class, Jonathan and Kristin are woken up by our friendly narrator who helps guide them on an adventure in economics and... um... dance.
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Executive Producers: Jon M, Chu and Hieu Ho
Line Producer: Alice S. Kim
Consultant: Cherry Chevapravatdumrong
Choreographer: Phillip "Pacman" Chebeeb; Jilliam Meyers; Brandon Shaw
Consulting Choreographer: Christopher Scott
Director of Photography: Alice Brooks
Production Designer: Kevin Bird
Costume Designer: Allison Leach
Editor: David Javier
Composer: Nathan Lanier
CAST:
Jonathan: David "Kid David" Shreibman
Kristin: Krystal Ellsworth
Narrator: Robert Clotworthy
Robot Mustache Man: Chadd "Madd Chadd" Smith
Third Wheel Punk: Hokuto "Hok" Konishi
Broken Arms Student: Nicholas "Slick" Stewart
Flipping Fellow: Vince Clemm
Blind Bae: Terence Dickson
Kute Kid: Anjelo "Lil Demon" Baligad
Bendy Boy: Phillip "Pacman" Chbeeb
Slick Suit Salesman: Brandon Shaw
Quirky Consumer: Megan Lawson
Following Friend: Melinda Sullivan
Philosopher Phil: Adé Chiké Torbert
Sherrie Shopaholic: Megan Batoon
Becky Buyer: Katie Alcazar
Materialistic Matt: Brandon Harrell
Pepe Le Pimp: Bobby Dacones
Cory Coin, Jr.: Allan "Ajaye" Skeene, Jr
Delivery Boy Part One: Nick Aragon
Delivery Boy The Sequel: James Aragon
1st Assistant Director: Jey Wada
2nd Assistant Director: Yvonne Wang
Production Coordinator: Ali Griffith
Art Director: Seul Lee
Set Decorator: Melanie Cycz
Property Master: Steve Rick
Leadman: Lyle McPherson
Set Dresser: Larry Ort; Carlos Fagondo; Corey McPherson
Camera Operator/Steadicam: Thom Valko
1st Assistant Camera: Nick Cutway
2nd Assistant Camera: Stefan Vino-Figueroa
DIT: Chase Abrams
Key Grip: Sarah Schulte
BB Grip: Stuart Lock
Dolly Grip: Tyler Johnson-Williams
Grip: Sean Clark & Robert Toombs
Gaffer: Michael Roy
BB Electric: Sonoko Shimoyama
Electrician: Lee Ramsey; Edwin Kim; Halsey D. Corbin
Asst. Costume Designer: Berfin Ataman
Key Costumer: Hannah Kim
Script Supervisor: Renetta G. Amador
Key Hair: Hanna Yoseph
Key Make-Up: Jamie Hess
Make-Up: Penelope Vazquez
Video Assist: David Goldsmith
Post Production Supervisor: Jennifer Scudder Trent
Sound Supervisor: Kunal Rajan
Sound Mixer: Paul Gonzales
Boom Operator: Jacob Voelzke
Craft Service: Iain McCall
Catering: What's Cooking Good Looking
Welfare Worker: Tom O'Flaherty
Set Medic: Ruben Rico
Production Assistant: Sam Cornwell; Luis Gomez; Zimran Lucero; Alison Megliola
Assistant to Mr. Chu: Heather McKay
Assistant to Mr. Ho: Janet Change
Graphics by Café Noir
Digital Intermediate by: Light Iron
DI Colorist: Paul Sage
Jon M. Chu
JON M. CHU is known for his visually stunning blockbuster event films, as well as his works across various genres from groundbreaking digital series to commercials, and even live concerts. His most recent films include Paramount Pictures' “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” (starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Bruce Willis), “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,” and two films that catapulted the “Step Up” dance franchise, “Step Up 2 The Streets” and “Step Up 3D.” His recent commercial/ music video work has also garnered much attention this past year with his Virgin America In-Flight Safety Dance Video, Microsoft Surface commercials and Justin Bieber “Beauty and A Beat” video all going viral (over 400 million views). As the youngest of five children from Los Altos, California, Jon M. Chu continues to use the influences of his childhood (family, technology, music and movement) to tell stories that connect with audiences around the world.
Director's Note
"I've known Morgan Spurlock for several years now and I greatly respect the work he's done to create real social change through his art. So when the call came to join him on the WE THE ECONOMY project, I leapt at the opportunity. However, as soon as I jumped in, I realized that, through the years, I had never really paid attention in my econ classes. Oops. So this would not only be an education for the audience, but even more so, for myself. I immediately got on the phone with our economic advisors, Greg Ip and Dean Baker. (Talk about intimidating.) But they were so kind and clear with their explanations of how the supply and demand curve were the foundation of almost all economic principles. After that call, I knew we had a duty to help explain it in the most fun, and informative way we could. One of the things that stood out in our conversations was how the economy was always in constant motion whether an ebb, a flow, a dip or a rise. Everything is connected. It reminded me of a duet between our wants and our needs. So I thought that since I have experience in making dance movies, it seemed appropriate to show a little bit about the fundamental economic concept of supply and demand through movement. I gathered some of the best dancers in the world including Emmy-award nominated choreographer Christopher Scott, Jillian Meyers, Phillip Chbeeb and Brandon Shaw to take it head on and help create the most fun and energetic lesson on an economic concept we ever could. Our biggest inspiration was the old Disney Goofy cartoons that taught you how to ski or golf. I thought the interplay of the narrator with our live-action actors could be hilarious and give us a lot of freedom to dive into more complicated economic ideas when we needed to. The goal is to get people moving their feet and their minds, driving them towards wanting to learn more at the amazing WeTheEconomy.com website so that they don't end up like me!”
Quiz
The amount of a product that a consumer is willing to buy at different prices represents what is known as:
12%The available supply of the product
7%Their household budget
7%The inflation rate in the economy
74%Their demand for the product
74% of respondents chose the correct answer: Their demand for the
product.
Demand is defined as a consumer’s desire, willingness, and ability to pay for a
specific good or service.
The market price system is often called “the invisible hand” of the economy because:
24%No one can actually “see” prices rise or fall
4%It slaps punishments or fees on bad behavior in the economy
9%It allows goods and services to be handed to those who need them most
63%It brings the demand for a good or service in alignment with the supply
63% of respondents chose the correct answer: It brings the demand
for a good or service in alignment with the supply.
“The invisible hand” is a term coined by
Adam Smith to describe the phenomenon that guides free markets and capitalism through competition for scarce
resources.
If the short-term inventory of the latest iPhone is limited, and demand for it is very high, then:
10%If the price of the phone is fixed at official dealers/stores, there will be excess demand
(shortage)
68%All of these
11%Those people who are willing to wait in line for the official price are implicitly paying a much
higher-than-official price with their time
12%If the price is allowed to adjust in the secondary (re-sale) market, those sellers will be able to
charge higher prices
68% of respondents chose the correct answer: All of
these.
The common-sense principle that defines the generally observed relationship between
demand, supply, and prices is as follows: as demand increases, the price goes up; this attracts new suppliers,
who increase the supply, bringing the price back to normal.
Twitter
Commodity Prices: Financialization or Supply and Demand? - Greed, Green & Grains http://t.co/kB0reNGfw0
@MarkThoma
Dad: all I know about economics is supply and demand.
Don't you have a degree in economics?
Dad: I don't see your point
@cbrightbill28
@V0Ella Supply and demand? There are fewer smartly dressed men around for all the women who like a man to look good.
