In the fall of 2008, Joaquin Phoenix shocked fans with the announcement that he was retiring from acting to launch a hip-hop career. After a particularly bizarre appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman," there was conjecture that the eccentric actor had fallen off the deep end. His brother-in-law Casey Affleck captures Phoenix's curious transition on camera in this film which some label an elaborate Andy Kaufman-style prank. The star attempts to convince Sean 'Diddy' Combs to produce his debut album. Meanwhile, he responds with casual indifference to a request by Ben Stiller to appear in a movie.