Creators of viral 9/11 documentary struggle to escape its lasting legacy

Dylan Avery and Korey Rowe, childhood friends turned independent filmmakers, operate a modest studio and a recreational cannabis dispensary in a former warehouse in Oneonta, New York. Their 2005 documentary “Loose Change,” which suggested U.S. government involvement in the September 11 attacks, became a viral sensation on early video platforms and is described as the first internet blockbuster. Despite being thoroughly refuted by experts, the film helped popularize 9/11 conspiracy narratives that later intersected with political movements, including the rise of “alternative facts” in American politics.

Avery and Rowe now produce local commercials, music videos and wedding films, insisting they have no current ties to the truther community or contemporary disinformation networks. They continue to preserve the film online via the Internet Archive after repeated removals from YouTube, while lamenting how the documentary has limited their professional opportunities. The story underscores the enduring impact of early online misinformation on both personal lives and broader media ecosystems.