Following a $100 bill on it’s journey through the hands of multiple people in 1980’s New York City, this film blends beautiful camera work with intricate, interesting storytelling to show how money affects the lives of everyone: from how they get it to how they spend it, and where things go in between.
Set during the height of Regan’s America, the film follows the bill through the hands of everyone from a doting grandmother who gives to it her grandson to an exotic dancer, given the bill by a pimp looking to coerce her into doing sex work. From a drug-addled retail worker to their dealer to a prostitute, the journey is both long and winding, making this a particularly interesting way to do a slice of life film.
The way this film is shot should be its calling card, complimenting an engaging story with mesmerizing camera work, with long-held steady shots, tracking shots and close-ups that help make the film feel interconnected through these mostly disparate people. Writer/director Tony Mucci, whose past credits include work in music videos and video games, really shows off how those skills can translate by presenting the film in this way, really building bridges in the small pieces of story we get for each character for the time the bill is in their possession.
Adding to that are the people who make up this film, from the cast to the producers, most of which do both roles. With varied backgrounds, Mucci blends their talents into a realistic and engrossing film with a cast that comprises actors David Mazouz (who also has a co-writing credit on the film), Tyler Senerchia (better known as All Elite Wrestling performer Hook), rappers 24KGoldn and Swoosh God, and even Anthony Scaramucci (former White House communications director and Mucci’s father), along with many others. Mucci allows all of these performers to make their roles their own, all of whom providing great character depth with the time they’re on-screen.
Overall, this film has so much going for it. A beautifully shot period piece about New York in the height of American capitalism, whose people all handle their lives in different ways for different reasons, some of whom only have a connection to one another because the same piece of currency traveled with them at some point in their lives. It feels like it could be a missive on the interconnectedness of all people, especially in a capitalist country where money is the root of our lives, touching every piece of us, as well as so many others in how it’s handled.
A big thank you to Tony for sharing this film and for taking the time out to speak with us! Below will be a quick interview with Tony about the film, which we hope you enjoy as much as we enjoyed the film itself!
What was the inspiration for this film?
The spark for MONEY TALK$ came from something beautifully simple: my 89-year-old grandmother handing me a crisp $100 bill every year on my birthday. That bill always carried a strange emotional weight—gratitude, hope, responsibility—and one day I realized it also carried a story.
From there, I drew heavily from the O. Henry short stories I grew up reading and the filmmakers I obsessed over since childhood. All of my heroes started with short films, and I genuinely believe the short form is a proving ground. I wanted to challenge myself not just as a director, but as a storyteller who could say something honest about the world we all share.
The idea grew into a desire to show how connected we really are, even when life convinces us otherwise. Money became the perfect vessel—neutral, unjudging, passing through the hands of hustlers, dreamers, and survivors. Through it, I wanted to reveal the invisible threads stitching us together.
There are a lot of people from different entertainment backgrounds who helped with this film in some way. How did it all come together?
I’m incredibly proud of this cast because everyone in MONEY TALK$ was chosen with purpose and intention. I cast the film myself, and because this idea lived with me for so long, some roles were filled years before we ever went into production. Ethan Cutkosky and David Mazouz were attached eight years ago, right when we first met.
AEW’s Tyler “Hook” Senerchia, my college roommate and one of my best friends, was always part of the DNA of this project. We both grew up on Long Island and played Division one lacrosse in college together and come from very similar worlds with a deep burning desire to be creative. 24kGoldn was someone I worked with closely in music videos, and I knew he’d bring authenticity to that world. Both 24kgoldn and Hook were first time actors so it felt right being a first time narrative director myself. Francesca Scorsese, Zolee Griggs, and Fredro Starr came on because I pitched myself directly in DMs. I made pitch decks, pre-visuals, storyboards, and this really helped show them the clear vision and helped get them on board.
What still amazes me is how quickly everything came together. Once the momentum hit, the pieces aligned within weeks. It was a blend of long-term friendships, fearless outreach, and a lot of people believing in the heart behind the film. That mix of backgrounds, actors, musicians, athletes, gave the project a texture that feels alive and real.
What kind of theme or message did you want to present with this film?
I hope the viewers can feel the emotional truth behind it. I wanted the film to show how connected we actually all are and money is just a perfect vessel to help reveal that. What you do determines who you are, How every action has a chain reaction, a sort of butterfly effect. I truly believe there is a magical deep connective tissue that binds us all together. Like some kind deep thread that unites our individual worlds. Almost like the force in Star Wars.
Money is an incredibly human thing, dating as far back as Mesopotamia. Today we are born into it, we didn’t create it. It’s become a part of human nature. We need it for survival and that is something we can all relate to, but it doesn’t have to control us and the hero of the film is able to let go of that psychological hold and do the right thing and give! That action in the film is what I believe shows that there is always hope no matter how vast the darkness.
I find that it’s important to keep the mystery of humanity present at all times. The best movies have a message that can hit differently for every viewer and you can come back to it and learn something new again. It lasts the test of time.
We who make movies don’t do it for ourselves, but to do justice to the life around us and help answer the question of what it means to be human. That is what i was trying todo with MONEY TALK$.
You’ve done previous work in music videos, and your work behind the camera really shows that in such a great way. Was that kind of style intentional, or just an application of the skills you’ve learned as a director?
My music video background absolutely shaped the visual language of the film. Music videos taught me how to make something feel larger than life even on a small budget by doing a lot of the work myself and wearing all the hats. I was able to bring ambitious concepts to life by using VFX, editing, and production design to elevate scale without compromising authenticity.
Since I never went to film school, my experience directing music videos was my version of film school. Stanley Kubrick said the best way to learn how to make a movie is to simply make one. I learned pacing, rhythm, and how to be visually experimental. I learned how to direct a crew, manage a budget, and make creative decisions under intense time pressure. Music videos gave me the freedom to test bold ideas: striking angles, expressive lighting, kinetic camera moves.
When I stepped into MONEY TALK$, that toolbox came with me. The goal was to merge cinematic storytelling with the visceral punch of music visuals. The style wasn’t accidental, it’s the result of years of trial, error, and growth as a director learning by doing.
What’s coming up next for you?
I just filmed 25% of my next short, SNIPER, a high-energy action proof-of-concept inspired by The Matrix, Call of Duty, & Kill Bill. SNIPER will be completed soon and is what’s coming next. Also making a stop motion short film right now we just started making the figures. But most importantly preparing to do my first feature film ideally start production in late 2026. It’s a very personal coming of age drama, comedy and true story inspired by my own childhood.
I truly believe that whoever tells the best story holds the power, which is why films and art will always be political. And the best movies always represent the times they are in. But I don’t think especially nowadays films should be an escape and it’s not worth dividing your audience. I believe movies are meant to make you feel a connection through diverse story telling, seeing unique perspectives and realizing we are all just human experiencing something together. I believe Money Talks shows this deep interconnectedness of strangers and the common psychological hold money has on all of us. I hope my films can inspire people to create, deliver deep messages that make the viewer think and ultimately help us all grow as a little as a society.
That’ll do it for us, but be sure to check back often for more news, reviews and interviews from the world of film!
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