The nostalgia of the 80’s and 90’s is a driving force of our pop-culture today. With the rise of streaming services like Netflix and thrilling documentaries like HBO Max’s Class Action Park, it is now easier than ever to get a glimpse into that era and make us push the limits of our recollections of the past.

In Non-Compliant Podcast Episode 31, Host Jay Edelson, nationally recognized plaintiff’s attorney and Founder of Edelson PC, and Guest Seth Porges, Co-Director of hit HBO Max documentary Class Action Park, discuss the murky areas of nostalgia, the wild story of Action Park, the rise of streaming services, and the process of making a documentary.

To start the show, Jay and Seth get nostalgic and talk about how 80’s and 90’s culture that has shaped who we are today (4:15). It is fascinating to see the transformation of kids that were often left alone to push their limits in that era, as they turn into the helicopter parents today that are hyper-focused on their children’s activities.

Next, Jay and Seth delve into the wild true story behind Class Action Park and how its chaotic atmosphere made life-long memories for anyone that experienced its glory (10:05). While such a park doesn’t exist today, the documentary gives viewers a chance to ask themselves how they would respond to the anarchy and chaos (12:23). On a broader scale, Class Action Park also gets viewers to revisit their own experiences of growing up in the 80’s or 90’s in an era with more freedom (14:30).

Later in the show, Jay and Seth discuss the growing popularity of documentaries that have evolved from Ken Burns-style informational shows to the wild-romps like Class Action Park (25:04). The rise of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max have allowed for more viewers to access documentaries for the first time, especially during the pandemic (27:36). But the uptick in popularity is also due to the differing style of documentaries we see today that force us to take a fresh look at reality (29:00).

To wrap the show, Jay and Seth break down the process of making a documentary and how Class Action Park went from concept to one of the most popular HBO Max movies (30:50). Even with multiple streaming services, filmmakers must put in a lot of work to get attention for their projects to reach wider audiences through promotions and word of mouth. But at the end of the day, documentaries and movies will capture the most audiences if they are authentic and feel like they come from people with a passion for the underlying narrative (38:00).


Check out the show to hear more about Class Action Park, why Chris Gethard is a great comedian and storyteller (22:00), and to catch a glimpse into Seth’s next project (40:00).

If you liked the show, please subscribe, and leave a review. You can also send us an email at podcast@edelson.com with any questions or for guest booking.

Connect with us:
Website: https://www.edelsoncreative.com/#podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edelsonlaw
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdelsonCreative
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edelson-pc

Connect with Jay:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayedelson
Edelson PC Profile: https://edelson.com/team/jay-edelson/

Connect with Seth:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sethporges
Website: http://sethporges.com/
Class Action Park: https://www.classactionpark.com
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6259528/

Recent Non-Compliant Podcast Episodes:
Non-Compliant Podcast Episode 30: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/non-compliant-podcast-episode-30-one-where-we-talk/id1491233296?i=1000512088357
Non-Compliant Podcast Episode 29: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/non-compliant-podcast-episode-29-one-where-we-discuss/id1491233296?i=1000509688956
Non-Compliant Podcast Episode 28: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/non-compliant-podcast-episode-28-one-where-we-discuss/id1491233296?i=1000509398267