Hedge Fund Focus

Christopher Murray, owner, director, and writer of Hedge Fund Productions, provides audiences with monthly mini hedge fund clips on his website www.hedgefundproductions.com. These “webisodes” are based on four male slackers who arbitrarily decide to form a false hedge fund because they have nothing better to do. The allure of the hedge fund lifestyle is appealing to mainstream America, but the exclusive knowledge and skill the term once implied has been replaced by sub-par representation.

The plot begins when Claude Thornbush, the main character, gets fired from being a waiter and overhears two men in the bathroom discussing their success with hedge funds and the endless perks that come along with having one. (Expensive cars, a flight to space, and orgies, are only some examples to name a few.) Instantly intrigued with their lifestyle, Thornbush goes home that afternoon and makes a suggestion to his roommates about forming a hedge fund.

One of the most memorable and comical acts is in episode three when one of the roommates demands an explanation to what a hedge fund is and Thornbush impulsively responds by declaring, “You are the hedge fund”! It is no surprise that not only do his roommates not know what a hedge fund is, but Thornbush clearly has no idea as well.

Similar to Thornbush’s character, Murray blatantly confesses to his audiences on the website his unfamiliarity with hedge funds: “When I started writing, I didn’t want to know too much about hedge funds. I wanted to take the idea of one, of that now ubiquitous financial thing, and use the limited and peripheral knowledge I had of one to try and compose a comedy.” This statement exemplifies how far hedge funds have progressed into being part of pop culture. Like Murray, many people do not have much background on what a hedge fund is and yet they still want to be a part of it because of its glamour. People like the idea of having one, but what they do not seem to understand is the amount of money, effort, and time required to maintain one. Most importantly, they are not aware of the various potential risks that come with having a hedge fund.

Suffice it to say that although the clips contain crude language, mundane conversations, and underdeveloped acting skills, “Hedge Fund” webisodes are a basic representation of how hedge funds are slowly being cultivated into the mainstream world and how it is only a matter of time before everyone starts jumping on the bandwagon.

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Hedge Fund Productions Webisodes

• Episode 1: Baptism By Fired
• Episode 2: Offering Memorandumb
• Episode 3: Breath of French Air - Part 1
• Episode 4: Breath of French Air - Part 2
• Episode 5: Tight Assets
• Episode 6: Sheep in Wolves Clothing
• Episode 7: Not So Hostile Takeover
• Episode 8: The Dawg and Pony T.V. Show
• Hedge Fund Christmas Special: Santa Claude Isn’t Coming to Town