The Michael Shermer Show

Filming Corey Feldman Corey S Angels The Weird World Behind The Curtain

February 21, 2026

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  • Documentary filmmaking, particularly in the verité style, is driven by the filmmaker's gut instinct to explore and understand complex human behavior and the narratives people construct under pressure. 
  • The celebrity ecosystem involves a convoluted relationship with the media, where fame necessitates exposure, yet subjects often attempt to exert tight control over their narrative, framing criticism as persecution. 
  • The film *Corey Feldman vs. the World* captures cult-like dynamics, particularly concerning control and the use of 'truth' as a slogan, while also highlighting the difficulty of maintaining nuance in an attention economy that rewards extreme perspectives. 
  • The conversation pivots from the documentary *Corey Feldman vs. the World* to a deep dive into the nature of magic, skepticism, and the human desire to be awed or fooled, exemplified by figures like Houdini and Banachek. 
  • The difficulty in making a living as a professional magician illustrates a Pareto distribution dynamic, where only a tiny fraction achieve mainstream success, while most 'slog along' pursuing their passion. 
  • Skeptics, even highly rational scientists, are often susceptible to being 'fooled' by mentalism, frequently defaulting to the narrative that the performer is merely reading body language rather than questioning the possibility of genuine unexplained phenomena. 

Segments

Initial Impressions of Corey’s Angels
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(00:01:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The setup of Corey Feldman with young women immediately struck the host as cultish.
  • Summary: Michael Shermer describes his initial reaction to the footage, noting the age difference and the restrictive living conditions (motorhome, denied showers) which suggested a cult-like environment.
Feldman’s Reaction to the Film
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(00:01:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Corey Feldman was unhappy with the film and claimed his words were twisted.
  • Summary: The host confirms Feldman was unhappy after a private screening and made claims that the footage was edited dishonestly or taken out of context, despite it being direct footage of him speaking.
Introduction to Marcy Hume
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(00:02:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Marcy Hume is a documentary filmmaker focused on human behavior under pressure.
  • Summary: Michael Shermer introduces Marcy Hume, highlighting her background and her focus on narratives people construct to live with extraordinary choices, referencing her film Corey Feldman vs. the World.
Filming the Corey Feldman Documentary
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(00:04:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Hume started filming Feldman in 2016 at his wedding and followed the evolution and eventual crumbling of the ‘Corey’s Angels’ tour.
  • Summary: The origin of the documentary is discussed, starting with a presentation tape for a TV series, leading to filming the wedding and the subsequent tour’s collapse.
Filmmaking and Industry Trends
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(00:10:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The industry has shifted from slow, institutionally funded documentaries to self-distribution, requiring creators to understand the entire process.
  • Summary: Shermer contrasts Ken Burns’ slow, funded model with the current era. Hume embraces independent distribution, noting that the crumbling of large media institutions creates opportunities for those who can manage the whole process.
Feldman’s Career and Fame
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(00:14:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Feldman had an exceptional career as a child and teen star, and living under constant fame has profoundly influenced his cognition.
  • Summary: They discuss Feldman’s breakout roles (Goonies, Stand By Me) and the unique psychological impact of lifelong fame, which Hume believes is central to understanding his behavior in the film.
Observational vs. Directed Filmmaking
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(00:16:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Hume favors ‘verité’ filmmaking, prioritizing capturing authentic behavior over scripted interviews.
  • Summary: Hume explains her preference for observational documentary style, arguing that observed behavior reveals more than stated intentions. She rolls as much footage as possible to capture unscripted moments.
Contrasting Documentary Styles
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(00:19:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Hume’s film aims for neutrality, allowing the audience to process conflicting information, unlike advocacy documentaries.
  • Summary: Shermer contrasts Hume’s approach with politically driven documentaries (like those by Michael Moore or Matt Walsh), noting that Corey Feldman vs. the World presents complex, non-cut-and-dry situations.
Feldman’s Logic and Reality Control
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(01:04:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Feldman operates with a firm, self-serving logic where counter-evidence proves he is being persecuted.
  • Summary: Hume discusses Feldman’s use of the word ’truth’ and how his narrative frames opposition as sabotage. She expresses hope that he will eventually self-reflect on the events captured.
The Collapse of Corey’s Angels
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(01:05:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The tour ended definitively after a traumatic arrest in Louisiana, which was the breaking point for the group.
  • Summary: The project dissolved after the Louisiana arrest, which was more impactful than previous departures or firings. Following this, Feldman shifted focus to making his own documentary.
Feldman’s Legal Response to the Film
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(01:05:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Feldman sent cease and desist letters before the premiere, claiming the film was dishonest, despite the footage being his own words.
  • Summary: Hume details receiving legal threats from Feldman, who claimed the film misrepresented him, particularly regarding allegations he made against Corey Haim. She maintains the footage is clearly contextualized.
Lawsuit Follow-up and Open Door
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(01:05:08)
  • Key Takeaway: The host maintains an open door for conversation regarding a potential lawsuit.
  • Summary: The speakers briefly discuss an ongoing situation involving a threatened lawsuit, with the host reiterating his willingness to talk about it, perhaps on camera.
Magic, Skepticism, and Science
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(01:05:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Magic shares a special relationship with skepticism, historically led by figures like Houdini and The Amazing Randi.
  • Summary: The discussion shifts to the guest’s film about magicians. They explore the connection between magic, skepticism, and science, noting how early skeptics applied critical thinking to bogus claims.
Magic’s Profound Human Potential
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(01:06:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Magic taps into the profound human experience of ‘unknowing’ and awe about life.
  • Summary: The guest explains his attraction to magic, viewing it as a visceral way to confront the limits of human knowledge and decide what meaning to place beyond that realization.
Making a Living as a Magician
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(01:08:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Success in magic follows a Pareto distribution, requiring immense commitment to move beyond being a hobbyist.
  • Summary: The speakers discuss the difficulty of professional magic, comparing it to other fields where 1% achieve most of the success. The film ultimately focused on the commitment required to make magic a life’s work.
Banachek vs. Chris Angel Presentation
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(01:10:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Presentation style and persona heavily influence a magician’s success, even if technical skill is high.
  • Summary: Michael Shermer praises Banachek’s mentalism skills but wonders why he works for the more flamboyant Chris Angel, suggesting presentation (outfits, jewelry) plays a major role.
Mentalism and Body Language Fallacy
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(01:12:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Skeptics often default to explaining mentalism via body language reading, even when deeply fooled.
  • Summary: Shermer discusses how even high-level scientists, while knowing large illusions are tricks, struggle to accept mentalism without attributing it to reading body language, illustrating a cognitive blind spot.
The Houdini Principle Demonstrated
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(01:21:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Houdini used a demonstration for Arthur Conan Doyle to prove that unexplained phenomena often have prosaic explanations.
  • Summary: Shermer reads an account of Houdini demonstrating slate writing to the spiritualist Conan Doyle, concluding with Houdini’s plea not to assume the supernatural just because something is inexplicable.
Nuance in Discussing Magic Secrets
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(01:24:27)
  • Key Takeaway: It is difficult to discuss the nuance of magic without ruining methodologies or spoiling the experience for others.
  • Summary: The guest reflects on the challenge of clarifying what is happening in magic without revealing secrets, contrasting this with the straightforward information control seen in documentary filmmaking.
Investigating Spirit Mediums on TV
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(01:26:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The guest filmed spirit medium James Van Praagh and observed his information-gathering techniques firsthand.
  • Summary: The guest details filming James Van Praagh for TV shows, noting how the medium repeatedly mentioned ‘a watch’ which related to the guest’s deceased father, and how they later caught him gathering information during a break.
The Art of Performance Over Method
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(01:29:11)
  • Key Takeaway: The performance itself is an art; even knowing the trick, masterful execution can still fool the observer.
  • Summary: The speakers agree that knowing the method doesn’t diminish the art of a skilled performance, citing Penn & Teller’s clear cup routine as an example of skill overcoming transparency.
Filmmaking and Media Bias
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(01:34:32)
  • Key Takeaway: The same video footage can be framed to support opposing narratives across different media outlets.
  • Summary: Shermer introduces the topic of media bias by citing clips of police shootings where different networks present contradictory interpretations of the same visual evidence, highlighting the failure to adhere to rules of non-omission.
Worrying About AI in Creative Fields
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(01:36:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Human elements like interpersonal dynamics and spontaneous decision-making in capturing reality remain irreplaceable by current AI.
  • Summary: The guest discusses the threat of AI to creative industries but concludes that the unique, human-driven process of documentary filmmaking (like living on a bus and deciding when to film) offers a temporary shield.