Selena Gomez Explains the Financial Crisis in 'Big Short' Scene Adam McKay Calls Pure Magic

By
This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors.

If you are using ad-blocking software, please disable it and reload the page.

The
Big Short
is packed full of star power -- from its A-list actors to its surprise
cameos, including Anthony Bourdain, Margot Robbie, and Selena Gomez.

The
three stars appear in the Oscar-nominated film, helping to explain the complicated
investment system that led the 2008 financial crisis. “There’s a lot to try to
understand; it’s a complicated world,” Steve Carell explains in a
behind-the-scenes look at making the film. “But to have these celebrities as
themselves explain it to you, somehow makes it more palatable.”

WATCH: Selena Gomez Looks Flawless on Set of 'The Big Short'

“What
I love about what they’re doing here is that they’re finding ways to explain it
to people -- myself included -- will understand everything that’s going on,”
Gomez says.

In
the film, Gomez appears on-screen at a Las Vegas blackjack table to explain how
a synthetic CDO works. The scene comes at a pivotal moment where Carell’s
character, Mark Baum, comes to understand just how big of trouble the financial
system is in while talking to Mr. Chau (Bryon Mann).

MORE: Finn Wittrock on Ad-Libbing With Brad Pitt in 'The Big Short' and His Male Work Wives

The
scene is also a particular favorite of director Adam McKay, who explained to ET
how editor Hank Corwin created pure magic on screen.

“[At
that moment] we freeze and we go to the Guns N' Roses song and then we cut to
Selena Gomez and we cut back. I remember when he showed me that I was like, ‘Oh
my God! I'm working with a high, high level editor at this point,’” McKay
gushed at the American Cinema Editors Awards.

In
addition to winning Best Edited Feature Film at the ACE Awards, The Big Short
is also nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best
Director and Best Film Editing.

The
Big Short
is now available on Digital HD and will be available on Blu-ray on
March 15.