Documentary About Burning Man

[H.G.Crosby]

+10 for using the word "harshing" in a sentence.

[lemur]

We DO NOT want to be like the other 100 people on youtube who post their video
to show whatever it is that they want. Our goal is to make a legit film.

that may be your goal,. but how do you intend to set yourselves apart from those other 100 people? so far youve said nothing that makes me believe you can actually do that.. as mentioned we've had tons of people 'document' burning man and really produce a bunch of crap.. youve not really instilled much confidence in being any different... your proposal (and apparent understanding of documentary work) appears nebulous, at best..

So far our main interest is analyzing the disparity in appearance
and what Burning Man was originally founded on.

how do you intend to do this? its easy to say that as a main interest but you'll achieve this how? who will be the person/group you go to when examining this issue ? how do you do it and why do you choose those people/group to talk to?

every video we watch shows us completely different sides. Maybe that's what it's about? Diversity. Well then that's what we're gonna end up talking
about.

wait.. so youre not gonna do the above? now its about diversity? Pick one thing... if you do this, how do you plan to document that? who do you talk to? why is that person/group the one you talk to instead of others?

Well, but there is a huge spiritual component that we've noticed in everyone's point of view. We're gonna tap into that as well.

oh uhh,.. another thing.. wait so its not gonna be about the changes from what it was founded upon or the diversity.. now its about spirituality? again, pick one thing... if you do this thing, how are you going to choose the people/things/groups you document? and why are those choices made?

We're gonna document things as they come.

oh.. GREAT.. just document things as they come, fine! just throw out all sense and reason and just document anything you see... thats a lot easier than actually.. you know, having a well defined goal and reason for doing something.. I guess one neednt ask how you would document things 'as they come' because.. there is no reasoning or guidance or direction behind it.. again, way too broad and .. hey! pick one thing.. be focused.. isnt that what documentary work is supposed to be doing? ...you mention not wanting to be like all those people on Youtube.. their videos are doing exactly this: 'document things as they come' ..you wont set yourself apart by having 5-6 different things you want to throw in and muddling it up by adding on top of that 'things as they come'

please spread the word!

spread the word about what? 'apparently inexperienced documentary crew wants to document something at burning man but they dont seem to know what that something actually is'


Hey, i think we can all agree that wanting to do stuff at burning man sounds like fun.. but,.. to actually do it one needs to have a well defined plan of action and goals that can be used to measure the success of the work done..

'my goal is to build a giant stroboscopic zoetrope at burning man that functions and delights everyone and remove it without leaving a trace' .....we can easily see if this works or not, goal and success is easily measured here

'my goal is to build a large scale sound camp with video lights and sound that entertains thousands and to remove it without leaving a trace' .....again, we can easily determine the success of this project because of the goals

'my goal is to create a documentary project that documents things as they come, documents spirituality at burning man, documents diversity at burning man, documents the changes from the founding to the current day burning man and etc...' ...while it might seem easy to guage the success of this.. without further clearly defining HOW youll do that.. it will be next to impossible to gauge the success of the project..


i think youre coming at it from the wrong angle.

you should be starting with a clearly defined easily measureable goal.

'my goal is to document the diversity at burning man by talking to artists and creators who are working in vastly different creative projects such as building the temple, a large sound camp, a mobility camp and a lgbt camp' ....here we can easily judge success based upon easily understood goals.. "did you talk to those people? yes.. or no?" .. "did you ask them questions that let us learn things about them? yes or no.."

i think you need to go back to the drawing board and really figure out what it means to document something..

remember that while this project may be one of your own doing... ALL of the participants and people in the burning man community have a stake in it.. youre telling our story..

its better to have a way to gauge the success of this work before it even begins...

as is, i dont see how i could measure the possible success of this project because it is totally nebulous and pie in the sky land..



good luck!!!

[thisisthatwhichis]

Oh good, it's page two....... Jeez, 8Grand?!?!, That's like what it cost me each of the first few year building infrastructure for our Theme camp! And that includes all the Booze!

[(^o^)]

As moderator, I'd suggest that you get in touch with Burning Man about your project (use the press(at)burningman(dot)com email address). Because what you're intending to do requires special permission.

Personally though, it looks like you guys are asking for an awful lot of money for a project that's not very clearly defined. Generally speaking, when you're soliciting funding for a project you want to present a clear plan, and then do what you can to show potential backers that you have the ability to execute your plan. I don't see any of that.

We have already gotten in touch with the Burning Man people, WE HAVE SIGNED UP for tickets, we know about the media passes and things that we need to sort out before the event. Thank you for your concern and help on that. I just want to move forward with the project, not focus on the fundraising aspect of it and get ideas. Can we skip the fundraiser page? We're gonna make this happen one way or another and it almost feels like we offended people by asking for help! But whatever... I want to keep getting replies and keep hearing what people have to say because these reactions are all fuel to this fire in us!

I know we are complete novices but everyone was where I am one day and I'm not ashamed of that so I'm standing my ground and I'm gonna get this done! Thanks and keep 'em coming!

[Simon of the Playa]

Good Luck With That!

[lemur]

I know we are complete novices but everyone was where I am one day and I'm not ashamed of that so I'm standing my ground and I'm gonna get this done! Thanks and keep 'em coming!

translation:

'im clueless and i dont give a fuck!!! KEEP POSTING SO PEOPLE CAN SEE HOW BRAVE I AM'

[lemur]

in related news.. I am going to be building The Temple this year.. single handedly.

I know im a novice and ive never built anything like this before.. but everyone has to start somewhere, right?

I know there will be naysayers suggesting that one person who shows no signs of actually being able to do it probably shouldnt or cant do this project but im sticking to my gut feeling that I can do this.. I am standing firm.

I am building the temple this year!!!

[shabanayas]

Well I guess this needs a little clarification since I feel this has been misconstrued, beginning with how DJ led off our introduction and our search for our story. I apologize for that and the whole fund thing, but do appreciate the feedback. I'm going to go somehow, someway and I am not overly concerned.

In all honesty, the real verve in many of your stances and concerns makes me want to go to BM even more, and uncover what drew me to try and capture something. I don't want to have to rehash stuff already said, but we're definitely working on getting a story. The fact the BM does produce so much work, but so much of it is easily re insinuated by non-Burners into their stereotypes leaves room for new takes. I *hope* to be able to work towards that. If I'll be successful, especially being a "birgen" I hope so. I want to do what I can with the art that I love. I am not a novice to the art, but as I have seen just in the posts on this thread, it is a difficult thing to tie down and capture by even seasoned burners because it means a lot to many different people. First step is to go and give it a shot.

Hope to see you guys in the dust this summer and continue this in person.

[H.G.Crosby]

fuck that shit, i say we stone him.

[tamarakay]

I did warn you about the whole bracing thing. If it gets too bad a mod will step in. Good luck.

[lemur]

fuck that shit, i say we stone him.

is that yul brynner!?

[Simon of the Playa]

actually, it is.

[5280MeV]

There is a huge disparity in appearance and what Burning Man was originally founded on.

Burning Man was originally founded on burning an 8 or 9 ft (disputed?) wooden sculpture of a man (and his dog?) on the beach with a few friends. I didn't go, but I hear it was a good time.

I can attest to the fact that last year's burn was absolutely nothing like the original. The location was absolutely nothing like the beach - it was 100+ degrees at midday, the dust made my feet bleed, the sun made my lips bleed, I couldn't see to set up my tent with the dust blowing around when I go there, I spent half my time drinking water and peeing so that I wouldn't die, I heard whomp-whomp-whomp in the background for a week afterwards, and everyone went on and on about how 'nice' the weather was this year.

The man was much larger than 9ft tall - probably over 100 ft at least, and I could not find the supposed dog that is supposed to be there with him. At night it was lit up with neon tubes.

No one was allowed to bring firearms, shoot firearms, drive a motorized vehicle without going through a special committee - and even then only drive in designated areas, bring plants, bring their pets, openly smoke weed, camp anywhere except on a designated grid and away from special designated areas, dump water anywhere, use anything but scratchy single-ply toilet paper, burn anything except in designated areas, sell anything, advertise anything, land airplanes anywhere but the designated airstrip, or have sex in public. There are a gazillion rules for a supposed bonfire on the beach.

As I understand it, in 2004 (18 years after the start of the event) there were these "Ten Principles" written down for regional events that wanted to ally themselves with the main organization were to sign on to. Can someone verify this piece of history? It is driving me nuts.

I am really trying to figure out if burning man really has diverged from the original idea. Was it a man, or a man and his dog?

Being a dog owner has been a life changing experience. Since owning a dog, I have gone to burning man, and I also threw up into a grocery bag on a road trip to New Orleans. I suppose that these two other things might have also changed my life in some small way.

If the man once had a dog, and if they just left it out in subsequent years, as if the dog didn't matter, then I am not sure that I want to go to burning man anymore - I would at least like an explanation.

[Savannah]

Sometimes, we're all the dog.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

i'm making a documentary about my porno.

[ZaphodBurner]

Honestly, if someone called me a tourist, I'd give them the biggest smile I have & invite them to kiss The Man's ass.

Exactly. If you let it piss you off, they've played you.

"Fuck the whales" works too. Or "I'm sorry. I just took a shit your Che Guevara panties and haven't had time to change clothes."

On Friday these days, unfortunately, there are a lot of tourists. If you put on a bunny suit and somebody calls you a rabbit, seriously, how pissed off should you get? Wearing street clothes and calling it radical expression is like your friend's husband who shows up to your fetish costume parties in his fishing vest and says he's dressed up as a fisherman. "Hey...check it out. I dressed like a normal guy and somebody called me a normal guy."

[ZaphodBurner]

Yay. Just what Black Rock City needs.

Another documentary. Let me help:

It should have dub, trance, fire dancing, skinny mostly-naked hotties in flowing, florescent colors and drunk, stoned hipsters blathering about Home and Love and how you can't really explain it you just have to Come to Burning Man... Something to do with Larry Harvey, maybe a cameo by somebody with Danger or Girl in their name, somebody welding--either a chick or some scary dude in a leather cowboy hat--some naked hippies chasing the non-potable water truck, LOTS of steam-punk, somebody jumping out of an airplane over the city, obligatory Mutaytor, art cars shaped like fish, a steamboat, uh... oh, yeah.

Scene change: Daytime, no music, windstorm, artist's project is in peril, OMFG, people show up to help, it's awesome, there are purple-haired hotties with their breasts almost exposed depending on the level of "indie" you want to go; Scence change: a wedding; then fireworks, burn, yay, everybody's sad the next day, Exodus, everything's all dusty, shot of the empty playa, final shot of the man burning while the credits roll... some Bay Aryan chick philosophizing about what it means to be a Burner, final shot of the man burning while the credits roll.

Lastly: Mandatory ass. The women--and I daresay the men--have the hottest and best-decorated asses per capita than anywhere on the planet. I'm being serious here. You -must- show playa hotties of both sexes shaking their mostly-naked asses or people won't even watch the damned thing. In fact it would be better if you skipped the voice-overs, the narratives, the blathering hipsters and the dub step, and just showed art cars, fireworks and ass. Like, people are going to shred you mercilessly no matter what, but, if you have Hot Playa Asses in your video, people will still watch it.

My work here is done.

[AntiM]

Another documentary to lure in more virgins to a sold out event. Yay.

[darcitananda]

Hey, at least someone is talking about doing something, instead of complaining about the fucking tickets.

[Herring]

The problem is that documentation is not participation.

Why not use your skills to rig up a sweet video projection system, with live or (original) prerecorded footage? Make it big and bright and interactive and make it something we can all enjoy on the playa, an actual artistic contribution.

[lemur]

when CurrentTV was doing broadcasts of burning man stuff thats exactly what they did..

they setup a big screen in their esplanade camp with a bunch of comfy chairs... showing the little documentary clips they recorded at that burn..(and i think previous ones) (it was the same stuff that was ending up on their cable TV channel)