‘We Are Your Friends’ director schooled by MTV’s ‘Catfish’

FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2015 file photo, Max Joseph, director and co-screenwriter of "We Are Your Friends," poses at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles. Joseph, who co-hosts the "Catfish" series, made his film directorial debut with "We Are Your Friends." (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP, File) FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2015 file photo, Max Joseph, director and co-screenwriter of "We Are Your Friends," poses at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles. Joseph, who co-hosts the "Catfish" series, made his film directorial debut with "We Are Your Friends." (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP, File)

By Associated Press August 27, 2015 3 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – Fans of MTV’s “Catfish: The TV Show” may notice something familiar in the new film “We Are Your Friends.”

The movie, out Friday, is the feature directorial debut of Max Joseph, best known for co-hosting the “Catfish” series, which unmasks people who use fake online identities to deceive someone else, usually when it comes to online romances.

Joseph says he worked on the film and “Catfish” simultaneously and that some of the TV show “definitely worked its way into the movie.”

“We Are Your Friends,” which stars Zac Efron, follows a young man named Cole (Efron) as he struggles to make his fame and fortune as a DJ in the electronic dance music scene. It also examines the youthful angst of today.

Joseph, 33, says the 20-somethings he worked with while sleuthing for online scammers are basically the same people you see in his movie.