Gone Off Deep Presents

BEYOND BLACK ROCK HEADS TO SANTA FE

Hot on the heels of its hugely successful run at AFI Fest, BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK will be featured next month at the Santa Fe Film Festival as part of its Southwest Showcase.

The film will screen at 7 PM on Sunday December 11 at the historic Scottish Rite Temple’s 350-seat theatre.

For more information on tickets and the complete slate of films, visit the official Santa Fe Film Festival site.

BEYOND BLACK ROCK HELD OVER AT AFI!

BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK has earned the rare distinction of being held over at AFI Fest after two sold-out shows and high demand for a third.

See the official press release below for more details.

BURN, HOLLYWOOD, BURN!

BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK will make its world festival premiere next month when it is screened twice at AFI Fest 2005 in Los Angeles. Both showings will be at the renowned Arclight Hollywood Cinema on Sunset Boulevard.

BEYOND BLACK ROCK’s presence at the festival is a unique opportunity for the filmmakers and the audience alike, according to producer Mike Wilson.

“Being selected for AFI Fest is an honor for any filmmaker, but for this team in particular, made up completely of first-time filmmakers, it’s almost unthinkable that we were selected for the competition at a festival that receives nearly 1,000 submissions each year.” said Wilson. “Not to mention the fact that our film is about Burning Man, a topic that’s been completely ignored by major festivals in the past and generally marginalized in the mainstream media since its inception.”

“It’s truly an honor to finally tell these people’s story in a way that will hopefully lead to an understanding and sense of pride over what these people manage to pull off in the desert every year… in modern day America, of all places.”

The film has been strongly endorsed by the Burning Man organization, who are notoriously protective of media depictions of the event and its culture.

"This film captures the Burning Man organization and its community in a very in-depth manner and at an important crossroads, as the event is evolving into a movement and as we prepare to take the culture, principles, and particularly the interactive art of Burning Man out of the Black Rock Desert and into the communities of the world,” said Burning Man founder and executive director Larry Harvey.

“Gone Off Deep has done an excellent job of synthesizing where we came from, where we are, and where we are going in a manner easily understandable to the public at large, which is of paramount importance to the sustained growth of the event and the understanding and acceptance of our culture in the outside world."

For those who’s like to attend one (or both) of the screenings, here’s the skinny in easy-to-digest tablet form:

WHAT: BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK World festival premiere at AFI Fest 2005
WHEN: Friday Nov 4, 10 PM
WHERE: ArcLight Hollywood Cinema on Sunset
EXTRA GOODNESS:
-Preshow in ArcLight Courtyard at 9pm featuring Mutaytor and other special guests.
-Participate in Playa Formal Fashion show for fabulous prizes.
-Afterparty TBA
-Additional screening Saturday, Nov 5 at 3:30 PM, also at the ArcLight

Limited seating is available, so get your tickets now at 1-866-AFI-fest or by visiting www.afifest.com/afifest .

BEYOND BLACK ROCK INVADES THE NORTHWEST ALONG WITH THE MUTAYTOR

Talk about double trouble...

Friday Aug 5, 2005 at Portland’s world famous Crystal Ballroom.

Andie Grace and Mike Wilson host the Oregon premiere of Burning Man: Beyond Black Rock , followed by The Mutaytor's first Portland performance!

The full schedule and further details can be found at BurningManPortland.com.

Tickets available at Ticketmaster now and at the Crystal Ballroom Box Office.

Then, we all hop a train to Seattle for the Ghost in the Machine Playa Fundraiser event:

Saturday August 6th, 2005 at Seattle’s Consolidated Works

A 7:30 PM Premier Screening of Burning Man: Beyond Black Rock, followed by:

GHOST IN THE MACHINE
MUTAYTOR
KJ SAWKA
PULS8R
OBELUS
RAQS SERPENTINE

Featuring 8 Channel Audio, Sculpture, Stilting, Fire Performance, Acrobalancing and Trapeze. Show starts at 9 PM.

21+ W/ID
Show Only $15
Film Only $10
Film & Show Only $20

For more information visit The Mach12e.

Brought to you by Consolidated Works, Static Factory Media, Poster Midget, and The Mach12e.

Consolidated Works
500 Boren Ave N
Seattle, Washington
(206)381-3218

BEYOND BLACK ROCK BOSTON SCREENING REMINDER!

The Boston screening is nearly upon us! So, if you live in the Boston area (or, hell, anywhere in the northeast), join us for a great night of film and fun.

Here's the lowdown:

Beyond Black Rock
Wednesday, June 15
6:30 - 11:00 pm
Redtail Collective
281 Summer Street, Boston

Directions:

T to South Station. From South Station: exit the station on Summer St. Walk on Summer St away from downtown (keep South Station on your right). You will cross a bridge (Fort Point Channel Bridge). 281 will be on your right.

Total walking time 5 minutes or less.

Need a map? Click here.

Parking:

Ample parking can be found on both sides of Summer St. in front of the new Convention Center a few blocks outbound from our location. Please do not park in Resident Parking on our side of Summer Street. They have put up new signs, and sometimes ticket ($35). Across the street there is both resident and non-resident parking-- check the signs carefully.

WE'RE BACK, BABY!

And we have the long-awaited brand spankin’ new more-final-than-ever, remastered, color corrected, surround sounded, 2 DVD set ready to ship to your hot little hands. It features the gorgeous artwork of Colorado burner Bonnie "Bon Bon Bunnie" Reiss , the winner of our DVD artwork contest.

Check it out!

Thanks to all of you who submitted for that contest... we'll be posting some of our other favorite entries at a later date.

We have an awful lot of very exciting news coming up relating to Beyond Black Rock and other upcoming Gone Off Deep productions, so please check back soon for more info!

For now, those of you in the Boston Area might be interested in this:

You're invited to the Boston premiere of:

Beyond Black Rock
Wednesday, June 15
6:30 - 11:00 pm
Redtail Collective

Those of you who already go to Burning Man, come to be inspired for this year's trek to the playa. For those of you who have never been, come satisfy your curiosity about those freaks in the desert.

Here’s what Andie Grace, Actiongrl had to say the Beantown Hoedown:

"I have to put my big stamp of "GET UP AND GO!" on the "Beyond Black Rock" screening. I've probably said it ten thousand times, but I'll say it again: this film is this the most behind-the-scenes documentary about Burning Man to date, and it will it stoke your memories and fan your flames. Follow the creation of Burning Man from the moment the man falls in 2002 to 2003's event... from every point of view: staff, volunteers, theme camps, artists, performers, and even just the guy who shows up in a tent. It takes thirty thousand people to build Black Rock City and tear it down again; this is the story of how it all happens."

We'll kick off the night with a happy hour (please bring something to share) and some music. After the Beyond Black Rock screening, we'll feature some short films about Burning Man, including footage from the '80s beach burns, and early '90s on the playa.

This event is a fundraiser for the container truck we rent to ship everything out to the playa from Boston: $7 suggested donation. Tickets will be available at the door; no advance ticket sales. Copies of the early-edition Beyond Black Rock DVD will be available onsite only for $10.

Directions:

Redtail Collective
281 Summer Street, 7th Floor, Boston

T to South Station. From South Station: exit the station on Summer St. Walk on Summer St away from downtown (keep South Station on your right). You will cross a bridge (Fort Point Channel Bridge). 281 will be on your right.

Total walking time 5 minutes or less.

Need a map? Click here.

Parking:

Ample parking can be found on both sides of Summer St. in front of the new Convention Center a few blocks outbound from our location. Please do not park in Resident Parking on our side of Summer Street. They have put up new signs, and sometimes ticket ($35). Across the street there is both resident and non-resident parking-- check the signs carefully.

Hope to see you Wednesday!

BEYOND BLACK ROCK DVD COMING SOON!

The final version of Burning Man: Beyond Black Rock has been mastered and will be released soon on DVD, with a host of additional content, including extended interviews, deleted scenes, outtakes and trailers – all adding up to more than two hours of bonus material.

It’ll also feature an exclusive preview of UNKNOWN, the upcoming documentary by BEYOND BLACK ROCK Director of Photography Rob VanAlkemade. You can read more about UNKNOWN a little further down.

Gone Off Deep would like to extend our sincere thanks to Billy Henry and Tequila Mockingbird Studios for their hard work in making the film an incredible Surround Sound experience.

And, of course, we applaud Damon’s tireless efforts in making this final version sparkle with meticulous color enhancements.

Stay tuned to our Official Movie Site for information on when this awesome 2-DVD set will become available.

‘BEYOND BLACK ROCK’ DVD COVER ART CONTEST!

Production of BEYOND BLACK ROCK has always been a close collaboration with the Burning Man community, and we sure as hell don’t see any reason to stop now.

So, if you’re a digital artist who’d just love to win a free ticket to Burning Man 2005 – well, have we got the contest for you!

Gone Off Deep is inviting you to design the front and back covers, DVD face and spine art of our upcoming DVD edition of BEYOND BLACK ROCK. You can use your own photos or choose from our extensive gallery.

In addition, photographer Scott Hess has kindly offered up images from his own Burning Man gallery.

The filmmakers will be the judges, and if your work is chosen, you’ll get a comp ticket to Burning Man ’05 (plus full credit for your work, of course).

Keep in mind that, if you use your own images, you must own the rights to them. All the formatting and technical information, plus a zipfile of templates, awaits you at our Official Contest Page.

We need to receive all entries by Monday February 14, 2005, so go nuts and show us whatcha got!

IN THE MEANTIME…

Gone Off Deep opted not to pursue this month’s Sundance Film Festival, focusing our attention instead on the increasingly prestigious South By Southwest Festival in Austin.

Producer Mike Wilson summed the situation up thusly:

"After careful consideration and a look at Sundance's choices for the documentary competition from the past several festivals, we realized that our film was neither particularly homosexual or Palestinian in nature, and that it was perhaps better suited for Austin's own SXSW festival, where a focus on freaks and slackers is actually a good thing. With any luck, we'll get to premiere the finished version here in March. For now, I'm heading to Sundance anyway, if only to see if I can finally see if Paris Hilton can take a punch like her sister."

ROB VANALKEMADE EXPLORES THE ‘UNKNOWN’

As mentioned above, our DVD release will feature an exclusive short trailer of the upcoming documentary UNKNOWN by BEYOND BLACK ROCK’s Director of Photography, Rob VanAlkemade.

Rob describes UNKNOWN as an examination of “the curious fog of an election year from the viewpoints of protesters, performance activists and delegates at both conventions,” adding that he often found himself "profoundly alienated from the entire political, journalistic, and creative process.”

Rob directed, shot and edited UNKNOWN, though he’s quick to point out the assistance and contributions of Reverend Billy and the Church , Billionaires for Bush , Andie Grace, Mike Wilson and the Gone Off Deep family, Alex Stikich and Damian Kolodiy.

The first incarnation of UNKNOWN will begin circulating early this year. Rob’s new site will have all the details. But, for now, here’s a good dose of info:

UNKNOWN was originally meant to be a simple exposition about political protests surrounding the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City. Long before the Convention, however, the filmmaker became far more entranced with, and simultaneously repelled by, this uniquely perplexing American election cycle.

The result is a potentially hypnotizing dreamscape examining the curious fog of a bitterly unique election year through the filmmaker's tragically perplexed yet resignedly hopeful lens.

PREACHER WITH AN UNKNOWN GOD (“a variation on the UNKNOWN theme with a Holy solo,” says Rob), is currently making the festival rounds. The 16 minute short doc focuses on “recent sermons and exploits of Reverend Billy and the Stop Big Boxes Gospel Choir."

PREACHER will premiere at the DC Independent Film Festival in March, and will also soon be available as a special video extra on the Church's new CD produced with Tomato Records.

GONE OFF DEEP GOES SOUTH

After more than two years in the hustle and bustle of our suite in South Austin, Gone Off Deep has pulled up stakes and headed even further south, beyond the reach of rush-hour traffic and parking nightmares.

Production will now take place in the rustic surroundings of trees and farmhouses where, most importantly, no one can hear us scream.

With construction complete on a real live log cabin, we're now moving in the production gear (and moonshine still) to adequately prepare for this new chapter in our careers.

"We decided that a cabin in the woods might be more appropriate than our former digs in trendy South Austin,” says Gone Off Deep producer Mike Wilson, “especially considering Damon's current project and William's upcoming manifesto..."

Damon’s project, of course, is the new PBS children’s series “The Biscuit Brothers”, a down-home tour de force that introduces tykes to the magic of music. Much more information on the show can be found at the Biscuit Brothers’ Official Website

BEYOND BLACK ROCK NYC PREMIERE!

BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK will premiere in New York City next Wednesday, October 27th, as part of a full night of film and assorted madness billed as “Burning Man FreakORama”.

This special event will be held in Manhatten, on Pier 63 near the Lightship “Frying Pan”, and it promises a night of excitement in a unique setting.

The schedule for evening is as follows:

6:30 PM:
Burner Happy Hour/Cocktail Reception

7:30 PM:
NYC Premiere of DUST DEVILS

8:15 to 9 PM:
Performance by VJ/DJ Stefan G

9 to 10:45 PM:
NYC Premiere of BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK

11 PM to 4 AM:
DJ Small Change (WFMU) and DJ SPUN (Rong Music/PS1)
Plus VJ Missy Galore of Feedbuck Galore, And Other Surprises

Admission is only $10 and DVDs including the film and the trailer will be on sale at the event for only $10.

You must be 21 or older to attend, and have no fear if the weather’s cool – the event will be held within the comfortable confines of a massive heated tent.

See you there!

SPECIAL DVD OFFER ROLLS ON!

If you haven’t already ordered your DVD copy of BEYOND BLACK ROCK, you still have 10 days to take advantage of our special limited-time offer of the final cut of the film (and trailer) for only $10.

Gone Off Deep is currently hard at work on the 2 DVD set that will be available in November, which will feature lots of extras and other goodies. But we encourage those who’ve supported us throughout production and all of you who’ve been asking about the film to grab it at this special price before the offer ends on October 31.

So head on over to the Gone Off Deep online store page and order your copy today.

A NOTE ABOUT PAYPAL: Paypal experienced major problems earlier in the month, but everything seems to be working fine now. So, if you haven’t yet received your order, have no fear: you’ll be receiving it via first class mail shortly. All new orders should arrive within 7 to 10 days.

BERKELEY PUBLIC RADIO GOES ‘BEYOND BLACK ROCK’

BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK was the subject of an extensive segment last night on Berkeley Public Radio’s Discreet Music. The program featured commentary on the film, along with several lengthy audio excerpts.

Our thanks go out to KPFA 94.1 FM for their interesting exploration of BEYOND BLACK ROCK and for all the continuing support we’re enjoying in the Bay Area.

If you missed the show and would like to check it out, visit the Discreet Music Archives to download the entire program in MP3 format.

The file will be available for one week (through Sunday October 24th).

BEYOND BLACK ROCK DVD SPECIAL OFFER!

As promised, Gone Off Deep Productions is proud to announce a special limited-time DVD offering of BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK!

All during the month of October, you can get the film and theatrical trailer on DVD for only $10, plus $2 shipping and handling. Just visit our online store page to purchase your copy.

This special offer is our way of saying “thank you” to the thousands of people who’ve supported our efforts in making this film over the past 18 months. Your participation, interest and encouragement have made the experience more immediate and meaningful than we could have ever imagined.

We’ll be releasing our BEYOND BLACK ROCK 2 DVD-set with lots of extras in November - but, for now, we hope you’ll take this opportunity to buy the film, for yourself and maybe even your family and friends, at this very special price.

Thanks again for all your support.

BEYOND BLACK ROCK’S OCTOBER SCREEN-O-RAMA!

A brand spankin’ new month is right around the corner, and with two new batch of Beyond Black Rock screenings in that hotbed of Burner activity, California USA.

Behold, the details:

SAN FRANCISCO SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW PARTY

WHEN: Friday, October 8, 2004 – Doors open at 8 PM. Screening at 9 PM. Afterparty till 4 AM.

WHERE: Mighty - 119 Utah at 16th - San Francisco

IN ATTENDANCE: Producer Mike Wilson, Director of Photography Rob VanAlkemade, Associate Producer and Burning Man Girl of Action Andie “Actiongrl” Grace and a whole host of Burning Man folk.

ENTERTAINMENT BY: Laird - LUSH, Smoove - Space Cowboys, Chris McGarry - Sol System, Adnan – LUSH plus many other special performers

MORE DETAILS: $10 Admission – 21 and Over - Hors d'oeuvres and Cocktail Reception at 8 PM

BURNING BEACH FILM FESTIVAL, SANTA CRUZ

WHEN: Saturday, October 9, 2004 – 2 PM til…

WHERE: Santa Cruz’s historic Rio Theatre

IN ATTENDANCE: Producer Mike Wilson and the always lively Burning Beach community.

MORE DETAILS: http://burningbeach.com/

We look forward to sharing the final cut of our film with all our Burner friends and fellow film-lovers in California.

HOT NEWS ROUNDUP!

Thanks for stopping by to check out the latest BEYOND BLACK ROCK news. Read on to find out how you can soon own your very own copy of BEYOND BLACK ROCK on DVD, in addition to information on some very special upcoming screenings.

But for now, the big news of the day is…

IT IS DONE!!!!

That’s right, folks! After 18 months of shooting, dozens of interviews and countless sleepless nights of logging, scoring and editing, BEYOND BLACK ROCK is now a finished film!

Production was officially completed last week when director Damon Brown and producer Mike Wilson, along with composer Allen Robertson, headed off to Dallas to take care of final audio mastering and prepare our Sundance submission, with the help of our good friends at Smitty Ink Media Group and Luminous Sound .

Damon was kind enough to share some of his experiences from the audio mastering sessions, and here’s what he had to say:

"So, now it actually sounds like a movie ... thanks to the tireless efforts of Joel Pelphrey who moved small dots on an audio mastering timeline around in a way I thought was only possible in the "Matrix" films. It was, in all, quite an interesting experience to hear the audio and visuals finally coming together, and Joel (and Chris Bell) have now given viewers a more nuanced soundtrack option than the "everything loud" one that I had before. Allen's music just seems to weave in and out and support the story like it's supposed to and one might think that we were pretty close to finally putting this monstrosity to bed. And one would be pretty close to correct.

"PS. When you hear the full majesty of stereophonic effects kick in on the "plane pan" in Act 3, that one is Pure Joel Pelphrey. He might not want you to know, but I do. Plus what is up with Chris Kennard and his super-human ability to produce DVDs in the blink of a metaphoric eye? I tell you now, these people I'm working with are unreal ... in a good way."

Kudos to Mike for having the vision to conceive such a worthwhile project and his determination to make sure it was done right.

And congratulations to Damon for his boundless creative energy in crafting a spectacular feature directorial debut.

DETAILS ON SPECIAL DVD RELEASE COMING SOON!

Don’t forget… We’ve got some big plans cooking for a special “Thank You” DVD for all our friends in the Burner community. So, for all you guys who’ve been writing asking about a DVD release, stay tuned for more details soon.

This is going to be a limited-time offer to show our deep appreciation to all those who’ve supported and aided our efforts over the past 2 years. As soon as the final details are worked out, we’ll be posting all the information right here, in addition to hitting our ever-growing mailing list.

If you’d like to join the mailing list to be sure you get the scoop delivered right to your inbox, just head over to our homepage and sign up!

BEYOND BLACK ROCK DVDs COMING SOON!

We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about the availability of BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK on DVD, and we’re pleased to announce a very special offer coming up in October.

Gone Off Deep will release a limited-run DVD at a special introductory price for our friends in the Burning Man community and our other supporters, via our website. Please check back at this very Journal in September for more details.

We want to express our deep appreciation to everyone in this great community. Your interest and support have been encouraging and we hope this specially-priced DVD will serve as a token of our gratitude.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit us at production@goneoffdeep.com.

FILMMAKER DOUG PRAY GOES ‘BEYOND BLACK ROCK’

Gone Off Deep is proud to announce the involvement of renowned documentary filmmaker Doug Pray in BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK.

Doug, whose body of work includes the critically acclaimed hip-hop doc SCRATCH (2001) and Grunge culture exploration HYPE! (1996), has joined forces with Gone Off Deep as an Editorial Consultant, and we’re honored to have his input and the benefit of his hard-earned experiences as we put the final polish on BEYOND BLACK ROCK.

BBR TEXAS TEST SCREENING TOUR: THAT’S A WRAP!

Following a wildly successful test screening in Dallas on August 5th, BEYOND BLACK ROCK rolled into Houston’s Aurora Picture Show on the 7th and 8th, playing to enthusiastic crowds both days.

These three showings proved a great ramp-up for the Austin screening that followed Sunday night, August 8th, which drew a capacity crowd of over 1000 to the parking lot of Jo’s Hot Coffee – Good Food. The overwhelming attendance was due, in no small part, to the active Austin Burner community and the August 6th Austin American-Statesman story , and we were excited to see such an amazing turnout.

Thanks to everyone who offered their comments and feedback as we enter the crucial stage of final edits and mastering before releasing our little film to the world.

BBR TEST SCREENINGS ROLL ON THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND

A quick reminder for all you Texans out there…

BEYOND BLACK ROCK will be unveiled in Houston tonight (with a Sunday matinee to follow) at Aurora Picture Show, before the big Austin screening tomorrow night at Jo’s. All the details on where, when and how can be found here.

We look forward to seeing you there.

AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN GOES ‘BEYOND BLACK ROCK’

BEYOND BLACK ROCK got some love from the local paper this week, when Austin American-Statesman Film Writer Chris Garcia unleashed a 1,500-word exploration of the film, its origins and its message entitled “Shining a Light on ‘Burning Man’”.

Among his observations:

“…"Beyond Black Rock" is a movie of vision, and visions. While it is the first movie to show the backstage workings of the Burning Man organization as it mounts the weeklong colossus on a vast playa in Nevada's Black Rock Desert, it pops with the kaleidoscopic energy that whirls through the mega-event. Here a blur of half-naked bodies gambol in an endless desert night squiggled with light; there astonished people touch and play with interactive art installations in plumes of sun-streaked dust.”

Check out the entire article here.

‘BEYOND BLACK ROCK’ ROCKS DALLAS

The first in the wave of Texas screenings took place Thursday night at the The Minc Lounge in Dallas. After a brief introduction by producer Mike Wilson, the film rolled on two screens (one inside and one outside) for a crowd of over two hundred people.

The screening was coordinated by Smitty Ink Media Group’s Jeff Smith and Paul Levatino and, by all accounts, was a huge success.

“People were glued to their seats,” Smith said. “It was an eclectic mix of all ages and styles, from older hippies to young ravers, with a healthy – and vocal – dose of the Texas Burner community to keep things jumping.”

Gone Off Deep would like to express our appreciation to both Smitty Ink and The Minc Lounge for bringing this special screening of BEYOND BLACK ROCK to Dallas.

AUSTIN SCREENING SCHEDULING CHANGE

The screening of BEYOND BLACK ROCK originally scheduled for Friday August 6 has been rescheduled for Sunday August 8 at 8:30 PM.

Here’s the updated info:

WHAT:
Gone Off Deep Productions presents a special test screening of BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK to benefit SmART-Austin (Socially Motivated Art - Austin)

WHEN:
Sunday, August 8, 2004 at 8:30 PM

WHERE:
Under the stars, behind the world-famous Jo's Hot Coffee - Good Food , located at the corner of St. James and South Congress in beautiful Austin, Texas.

OTHER GOOD STUFF:
Kids and dogs are welcome. Bring your own folding chairs and blankets, if possible. Drinks and snacks will be available on-site.

We look forward to seeing you all there and sharing our film with the Austin community.

DALLAS ADDED TO BBR’S TEXAS TEST SCREENING TOUR!

If you live in or around the great state of Texas, or have plans to visit on the weekend of Thursday August 5th through Sunday August 8th, you simply cannot miss the BEYOND BLACK ROCK Texas Test Screening Tour.

As announced in our last update, the Austin screening is locked down for Sunday August 8, with Houston screenings on both Saturday August 7 and Sunday August 8.

But what whirlwind tour of Texas would be complete without a stop in Big D?

Smitty Ink Media Group and Gone Off Deep Productions are pleased to announce that BEYOND BLACK ROCK will be screened on Thursday August 5 at The Minc Lounge in Dallas.

Doors will open at 7 PM with the screening beginning at 8 PM. The Minc Lounge features three projectors (both inside and out) and will also welcome Special Guest DJ Cottonmouth and celebrity guests to the party.

Here are the particulars:

WHAT: Screening of BEYOND BLACK ROCK to benefit benefit Erykah Badu's non-profit foundation, B.L.I.N.D.

WHERE: At The Minc Lounge, located at 813 Exposition Ave (Fair Park) in Dallas, Texas. Phone: 214-370-4077.

WHEN: Thursday, August 5, 2004 – Doors open at 7. Screening begins at 8.

ADMISSION: $10 suggested donation to B.L.I.N.D. (Beautiful Love Incorporated Non-Profit Development). Proceeds benefit Erykah Badu's non-profit foundation, B.L.I.N.D., which provides development for inner-city youth through music, dance, theater, visual arts, and the refurbishment of the Black Forest Theater.

We hope you’ll join us for this special screening in Dallas. For more information on the Houston and Austin screenings, keep reading…

BEYOND BLACK ROCK: UPCOMING TEXAS SCREENINGS

Gone Off Deep is proud to announce three upcoming screenings of BEYOND BLACK ROCK in the great state of Texas. If you live, or plan to be, in the Austin or Houston areas in early August, we’d love to invite you to check out the final cut of our film.

AUSTIN

WHAT: Screening of BEYOND BLACK ROCK to benefit SmART-Austin (Socially Motivated Art - Austin)

WHERE: Under the stars, behind the world-famous Jo's Hot Coffee - Good Food , located at the corner of St. James and South Congress in beautiful Austin, Texas. Bring your own folding chairs and blankets.

WHEN: Sunday, August 8, 2004 – 8:30 PM.

HOUSTON

WHAT: Screening of BEYOND BLACK ROCK, co-sponsored by the The Art Car Museum

WHERE: Aurora Picture Show Microcinema , located at 800 Aurora St. in beautiful Houston, Texas.

WHEN: Saturday, August 7 at 8 PM and Sunday August 8, 2004 at 3 PM.

We look forward to seeing all you Burners and non-Burners alike. Come help us celebrate the completion of two-year adventure.

JUNE PRODUCTION UPDATE

Damon, Mike and I got together earlier this month to review the long version of BEYOND BLACK ROCK, following successful May screenings in Dublin and London. Armed with our notes and feedback from a trusted circle of friends, we knew the first order of business was to get our nearly three-hour runtime down to a sensible length.

Fortunately, Damon has done an amazing job of this, reorganizing and tightening scenes rather than removing elements of the film wholesale.

Mike and Damon work that movie magic.

While, in the broadest sense, BEYOND BLACK ROCK is about social revolution, it’s at its heart a story of people. And Damon has deftly extracted the passion and conflict of Burning Man staff, artists and participants to create compelling characters.

IN OTHER NEWS... Last week, we got a long-awaited visit from our Director of Photography Rob Van Alkemade who flew down from New York to join us in the editing room. We reviewed the long cut with him and discussed our notes as well as changes that were already underway.

Rob is an accomplished filmmaker and contributed a lot of new ideas and feedback. Damon then promptly chained him to a Mac, where he spent 75% of his trip sifting through our Big Ass Collection of Tapes ™ for visual flourishes and supporting Broll.

ALL NEW BEYOND BLACK ROCK POSTERS!

We’ve updated the Official Movie Site to add three new movie posters for BEYOND BLACK ROCK, featuring the photography of Marc Goldchstein and Tim Timmermans. We’d like to extend our thanks to them for sharing their work with us.

Image Courtesy of Marc Goldchstein

Images Courtesy of Tim Timmermans

Be sure to visit the Image Gallery to download your very own hi-res versions of the posters. For lo-band/ non-Flash users, you can find the selection of posters at the Gone Off Deep site .

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS

Thanks to the Burning Man staff (and specifically the Jack Rabbit Speaks crew), we’ve received a huge outpouring of help the past few weeks as we put the final polish on BEYOND BLACK ROCK.

We’d like to express our deepest appreciation to those in the Burning Man community who have been so generous in sharing their footage and photographs with us.

AUSTIN SCREENING RAIN DELAY

This Friday's outdoor screening of BEYOND BLACK ROCK has been delayed, thanks to a deluge of nasty weather in Central Texas.

We've tenatively rescheduled the screening for Friday June 4, and we'll be posting details on the time and location as soon as they become available.

THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON US

Mike and Damon returned from the U.K. yesterday following the test screening of BEYOND BLACK ROCK at the London Burning Man Festival last weekend, and now the Gone Off Deep crew turns its attention to the first-ever test screening in the U.S. – right here in our own backyard.

This coming Friday, May 14, BEYOND BLACK ROCK will be shown under the stars at The Enchanted Forest (1408 W Oltorf, near the intersection of Oltorf and South Lamar) in beautiful Austin, Texas. We’ll be gathering together with local Burners and other arts enthusiasts who’ll share their feedback with us before we go into the final round of edits.

The screening benefits the Art Garden, a new non-profit devoted to nurturing the seeds of creativity in local artists. Admission is on a sliding scale, ranging from $5 to $10.

If you're in the Austin area and want to catch a sneak peek at BEYOND BLACK ROCK, bring your blanket, along with some snacks and drinks, and join us for some silver screen magic under the stars.

The film will roll at 9PM, so get there early to stake out your spot.

NEW CLIPS AND POSTERS!

The BEYOND BLACK ROCK site features a host of new content this week, as we’ve beefed up The Editing Room will three new clips and added two downloadable movie posters to The Image Gallery.

Here’s a sneak peek at what you can find in the new clips:

BEYOND BLACK ROCK: THE OUTTAKES
Here’s your chance to see the Gone Off Deep crew hard at work documenting the chaos of the Black Rock Desert, along with special appearances by some of the Burning Man staff. Plus, check out all those awards…

BEING YOURSELF
Conceptual artist, writer, and musician DJ Spooky (AKA That Subliminal Kid) explains why he leaves the trappings of his career behind for Burning Man and finds contentment in simply being Paul D. Miller.

SEND IN THE CLOWNS
The Burning Man staff has more than their fair share of meetings throughout the year, but few approach the Theatre of the Absurd as much as this Town Hall meeting, moderated by NAMBLA the Clown and his pal Ouchie.

The BEYOND BLACK ROCK posters feature the work of two talented photographers, and Gone Off Deep would like to extend our thanks to Rick Egan and our own Michael Wilson for sharing their work with us. Head on over to The Image Gallery to download your poster.

Credit and Special Thanks to Rick Egan
Rick’s Website

Credit and Special Thanks to Michael Wilson
Michael's Website

BEYOND BLACK ROCK TAKES THE 'FEST TEST'

BEYOND BLACK ROCK will cross the Atlantic next week for two test screenings as we prepare for final tweaks prior to release.

On Saturday May 1, the film will be screened at the Convergence Sustainable Living Festival in Dublin, Ireland. Burning Man Founder Larry Harvey and BEYOND BLACK ROCK Producer Michael Wilson will introduce the film at 7:30 PM. The screening will be held at the Sugar Club on Leeson Street, and Wilson and Harvey can likely be found at the After Party following.

One week later, on May 8, BEYOND BLACK ROCK will be unveiled for the U.K. burner community. This second test screening will be part of the London Burning Man Film Festival at The Ritzy Cinema in Brixton. The screening is slated for 8:45 PM and will once again be introduced by Michael Wilson.

Festival organizer and Burning Man veteran Yomi Ayeni describes the London Burning Man Film Festival as “a chance to gather the lonesome tribes of the playa. It is a chance to remind ourselves that there's another world out there. A place that celebrates creativity, welcomes everyone irrespective of how you look, and most importantly a home where you can be who you really are..."

Yomi Ayeni

“Beyond Black Rock is the most anticipated of the Burning Man films,” Ayeni said. “Unlike other efforts, this is a film by a group of burners for burners. While watching other productions film Burning Man, it becomes apparent why they always miss the most poignant aspects of the event. Burning Man does not start at the gate, when thousands roll in. No! It starts when the man falls and people wish each other a "Happy Burn Year!" This is where BBR is different, the camera has catalogued the fall and rise of the man, about friggin time too!”

Wilson sees the two screenings as valuable sources of feedback before final edits.

“I feel very grateful to be part of both of these festivals,” he said. “They are coming at a great time for us. We're going to show the first full cut of the film (Damon's 'director's cut') and it'll be great to be able to show it in front of large audiences to be able to get some real objective feedback before we come back to finish the film.”

Wilson also looks forward to extending the same spirit of community that makes Burning Man so unique to fellow filmmakers.

“It's very cool that these festivals were organized by some of the Burning Man team who have become very good friends of ours over the past two years, as well as another filmmaking team (Purple Productions) who had just completed their film, DUST DEVILS, when we met them last year on the playa,” he said.

“DUST DEVILS is definitely my favorite of the Burning Man films done thus far, and we have great respect for Aprile and Dearbhla at Purple; it's been really rewarding to be able to help them out and for them to help us. I can't imagine a situation where two documentary filmmakers would be promoting each others' ‘competing films’ so closely.”

ROB VANALKEMADE: IN HIS OWN WORDS

Interview by William Haskins

Rob VanAlkemade has been a videographer so long, he filmed his own birth.

I decided to ask Rob some tough questions about his life and work, in outright defiance of his slick, big city lawyers and their puny little restraining orders.

WILLIAM: For the benefit of those who are just now meeting you for the first time, can you give us a quick rundown of how you became associated with Michael Wilson, Damon Brown and myself? Mike says we picked you up hitchhiking and Damon claims you were a mail-order bride. Personally, I do well to remember the past few hours. Can you set us straight?

ROB: I could never set you straight, nor would I want to.

Our mutual friend and colleague Andrea Schneider called in 2001 to endear me to some noble Texan do-gooders starting up a DVD magazine with refreshingly sincere content. My first reaction was "Great, even more quixotic hippies with whom I will inevitably earn nothing close to a living wage." I spoke first with Damon who said he wanted me to be his "point man" in New York for future issues. I liked him, but did not initially trust him. He sounded rather too friendly. Once I decided to trust him anyway, (perhaps after hearing some of Mike's depressed monotone ramblings), I donated what I'd shot around town from Sept 11 to 18 and ended up working much more for Substance TV over the next two years, which was always a completely positive experience. Eventually I started covering political demonstrations in DC and NY for the "Post Modern Protest" special you were producing. Thanks to that spark (and yet another mysteriously timely call from Andrea), I'm now attending every protest I can get to, as well as 1st amendment flash mobs, Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir performances, Billionaires for Bush meetings, and many other life affirming events for my independent feature doc, "Treasonous Mirth".

Meeting the Gone Off Deep / Substance TV crew in person took nearly a year but was worth the wait. I now consider you, Mike, Damon and others from your shiny circle to be near perfect humans and of course am lucky to know you.

WILLIAM: What were the biggest challenges for you, shooting in the hostile conditions of the Black Rock Desert? Was it a flashback to your time in Iraq, only with painted naked people?

ROB: In Iraq we stayed in the luxurious Al Rasheed Hotel and drove around town under the "protection" of Saddam's elite air conditioned goon squad...and there were no dust storms. 135 degree afternoons made the Beta rig painful to touch, but it never died. Burning Man on the other hand was difficult. For our first experimental year we used standard PortaBrace camera bags and experienced a tragic number of tape dropouts from the fine alkaline dust that clings to every surface on the clearest day. After 12 months of intense pondering, we returned to the Playa with much better cameras, (mostly rentals), more head cleaner than beef jerky, militant fastidiousness, and the most state of the art desert camera protection to be found: modified $13. waterproof bags from REI.com ...which I've heard resulted in virtually no dropouts over approx 100 logged desert hours despite constant and intense heat and zero visibility white outs. Shooting through these odd, heavy yellow bags was entirely frustrating, but we coped, and they also served as great conversation starters.

WILLIAM: You were insanely close to the burn both in 2002 and 2003. Are you, in fact, insane? And what was it like being that close to it, when even the firefighters in protective gear were further out than you? ("Hot" is not a sufficient answer...)

ROB: Being sane is insane but I was neither at any point during our time on the Playa. I only shot so close to the fire our first year because I didn't know any better and ended up trapped between wild packs of demented flame worshippers, (apparently without nerve endings), and the raging inferno of the Man itself. For our second year the crowd seemed
somewhat more of this earth, allowing individuals bored with their intense pain to easily step back, which I did, despite how it may appear on tape. I was also able to relax a bit in general, knowing that we were with outstanding shooters Carrie Schultz, Jason Kumalo, Troy Schrode, and audio specialists Allen Robertson and Billy Henry, a crackerjack team covering many angles around the clock.

WILLIAM: Over the course of the project, how did the subject matter influence how you approached and set up shots?

ROB: I suspect what you might be asking is "Why does the second year look so much better than that first crap". If so, it's partly because the first year was often overwhelming. The second time around, with a deeper understanding of the people and places of which we were a part, and with the support of a seasoned and sensitive crew, better gear, and our very own rotating fleet of golf carts, we were all far more inclined to get a handle on the vast environs and endless spectacle and let longer, more meaningful shots just happen. Simple wide establishing shots were also easier to gather after taking a year-long step back. One issue that was always crucial was to continually respect the privacy of all participants. Any inherent paparazzi instincts were gratefully suppressed, enabling us to work freely and cooperatively with the community, and to gather better footage.

“No, really. Just pretend I’m not here.”

WILLIAM: What cities outside of the Nevada desert did BEYOND BLACK ROCK take you to and what were some of your memorable experiences of those travels?

ROB: I recall shooting and commiserating with Lower East Side artist Rafael Santiago here in NY quite a bit, and ending up in San Francisco a few times, which provided a valuable opportunity to get more familiar with the Burning Man staff and support personnel, all amazing individuals. Our final interview with Larry on a green hill in San Francisco is a
memory that stands out. As the shadows stretched and Larry eloquently contemplated in a near whisper the unbearable impermanence of our human vessels, I believe I caught a glimpse of deep space immortality under a big white hat.

WILLIAM: What did you know about Burning Man when you signed on to the project and what are your impressions of the event and the culture after having spent two years documenting it?

ROB: A speech by Mr Harvey at New York's Cooper Union was my first exposure to the culture of Burning Man. I knew almost nothing about it, (other than that many people identified themselves by exotic handles), and suspected the populace was mostly a photogenic but potentially exhausting pseudo cult of eccentric hippies and sexually ravenous hipsters. As I tentatively mingled and then heard Larry speak, I realized that the only generalizations I could safely make were that Burning Man involved a great productive passion and acute intelligence, and that the people drawn to it for whatever reasons were probably to be admired.

At this point, but not indefinitely, I doubt if I would go to the Playa if I weren't working, since making the trip is a significant investment and also since I'd probably be unable to resist documenting. I also like the idea of localizing the profound sense of community and self expression that Burning Man can provide in the desert or in one's own town. I believe even Larry may have mentioned that he'd like to skip a year sometime, which seemed like it could be a positive message - that leaving home to come home can be a fantastic journey, but is of course not mandatory.

WILLIAM: For the geeks out there - you wake up tomorrow morning to find your dream camera on your doorstep. What is it?

ROB: This is an unfair and painful question so I'll stick with what I can afford and recommend the package I just scrambled together to barely survive a long hot summer of urban street theater: the Panasonic DVX100A (shooting in 24 for FCP 4) with 8 big batteries, a .7 wide angle converter w/ flag, an ME64 short shotgun with Rycote windscreen, a Frezzi
adjustable 100w camera light with battery belt, softbox, and 2 leaf barndoor w flip-up diffuser that can hold gels, a Lectro wireless lav and stick, Sony 7502 and 06 cans, an F64 backpack, a Kata rain cover, Zeiss lens cloths, polycarbonate swimming goggles and respirator for those special pepper gas moments, a press pass, and lots of ibuprofen.

WILLIAM: Some of those aren’t even real words… Are you nervous about the crew outtakes we'll be posting on the site soon? You should be.

ROB: Bring it...no one is even reading this, let alone waiting for your precious outtakes.

WILLIAM: That’s what you think. We’ve had over 60,000 visitors since we launched the new site and I have it on good authority that at least a dozen of them have read my journal. Now tell us about some of the projects you've been working on since shooting for BEYOND BLACK ROCK wrapped.

ROB: Treasonous Mirth will be completed by December '04. I've also done some doc work with refugee teens at the International Rescue Committee and Global Action Project, and random news and broadcast segments involving things like communal living in Hawaiian cabins built on un-mapped roads, Cuban hip-hop artists and political exiles, face recognition spy cameras, and private jet rides with multibillionaire gurus. I'm also helping shoot a feature doc for film transfer, (half of the proceeds going to Equity Fights AIDS), covering a full theatrical season on Broadway. Show tunes have been melting our brains for 10 months running and we all know far too many dressing room secrets, but we'll miss it when the Tony awards come around and our year of relentless fabulousness is ready for a serious edit.

WILLIAM: Anything else you want to add while you have the impressive forum of the Gone Off Deep production journal at your disposal? Few people get this opportunity, you know...

ROB: Hi, Mom.

Have camera. Will travel.

STEP INSIDE THE EDITING ROOM

We’ve added two new clips to the Editing Room for your viewing pleasure.

“Plotting the Playa” offers a rare glimpse at the emptiness of Black Rock City when the first crews arrive to stake out what will soon become a vast community of theme camps.

In “Communal Art”, we see that all art doesn’t show up on the desert ready-made for display. In the true Burning Man spirit of participation, art is often an organic group effort, a real-time testament to the diversity of those who touch it.

Head on over and check them out. And, as always, be sure to check back often as we’ll be adding new clips on a regular basis.

ATTACK OF THE KILLER WEBSITE!

With BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK nearing completion, we at Gone Off Deep felt like it was time the film had a brand-spankin’ new home of its own. And, baby, have we got one!

Take Me To It!

Earlier tonight we unveiled our Official Movie Site: beyondblackrock.com. The site features a beautiful new Flash design by David H. Cash and is the definitive resource for the definitive Burning Man film.

Here’s just some of what you’ll find at our new site:

THE MOVIE
“The Movie” is an overview of the story that BEYOND BLACK ROCK tells, along with insights into our 18 months with Burners, organizers and artists and the incredible interviews and footage we came away with.

This is also the place to download our most recent trailer: “STRANGE BUT TRUE!”

THE EDITING ROOM: Clips Ahoy!

THE EDITING ROOM
“The Editing Room” is home to our sneak peeks, clips we’ll be “leaking” as we move toward the final cut. There are currently five clips from which to choose, from scenes of artists to the raising of The Man.

Check this section often, as we’ll be adding new clips on a regular basis.

IMAGE GALLERY
“THE IMAGE GALLERY” features still photographs from Burning Man 2001, 2002 and 2003 by photographers Andrea Schneider, Bill Nadalini and our director, Damon Brown.

ABOUT US
“About Us” is an introduction to Gone Off Deep Productions and how we came to be - along with information on how to contact us.

THE CREW
“The Crew” lets you get to know the talented people behind the production of BEYOND BLACK ROCK, from the director and producers, to videographers, photographers, music and sound specialists and consultants.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Got a question about our film? Bet you’ll find it in our “Frequently Asked Questions”.

MAILING LIST
Information on upcoming screenings and festivals will be coming fast and furious very soon, so we’ve set up a mailing list. So while you’re at the site, join up to keep up with the latest events and news.

We’re very proud of the new site and look forward to it being a solid companion to the film.

We’d like to thank David for sharing his talents and vision to create a great online experience for our visitors. We’d also like to thank Kirk Brown for his technical support.

Dave Cash: Web Designer, Angel…
Or both? Wink!

Questions or feedback on the new site? Let us know what you think by clicking the ‘Comments’ link below.

WELCOME ‘JACK RABBIT SPEAKS’ READERS!

We’d like to thank Andie and the Burning Man staff for including a note about the new site in today’s edition of JACK RABBIT SPEAKS. We’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness and encouragement of the Burning Man community throughout production of our film.

If you’ve reached us through the JACK RABBIT SPEAKS link, why not take a moment to say hello in the “Comments” section below. It’s always nice to hear from you folks and it’s much more personal than cold and sterile web stats.

If you’re not a Burner and are interested in finding more about how you can receive Burning Man’s newsletter, visit their site for more information.

LATEST PRODUCTION NEWS AND MUSINGS

The past few weeks have been pivotal ones in the production of BEYOND BLACK ROCK. Director Damon Brown has curiously fused his flesh with his Mac to become some sort of editing cyborg, and the result has been powerful segments and scenes that are affording us well-defined glimpses into what the finished film will look like.

Among these segments are compelling story arcs of three of our primary artists – David Best, Raphael Santiago and Wizzard. Each artist has a story unique unto himself, with his own personal journey from his studio to the road to Nevada, and finally on the Playa itself (You can catch a sneak peek of these artists at work in our Editing Room).

We’ve often bandied about the phrase “Burning Man, from the inside out” in our descriptions of the film, underscoring the unprecedented access to the organization and artists we’ve been blessed with over the past 18 months.

But “from the inside out” also applies to Damon’s approach to constructing the narrative. The result will be personal stories of engaging depth and substance that will go a long way toward explaining not only “how” these people build a city in the desert and sustain this singular culture - but also “why”.

Other Burning Man movies have tried, with varying degrees of success, to translate to film the experience of being on the Playa. True, the event is exotic and impressive in its scale, but often these attempts to take viewers into the Black Rock City are limited by the challenge of crystallizing personal stories from the mass of nameless faces and painted bodies.

After all, the story of Burning Man, ultimately, is the story of the people.

BEYOND BLACK ROCK certainly succeeds in conveying the magnitude of the event, the city and its art. Our footage of Black Rock City and its culture, the theme camps and the burning of The Man and Temple (the multiple angles, the crane shots, the expressions on the faces of our key characters) will surely amaze the uninitiated viewer. And for longtime Burners, well, rest assured you’ll be able to taste the dust devils rolling across the Playa.

But our film goes much deeper than that. We also explore the journey that the organizers and artists take in planning and creating Black Rock City and the art that gives it life. You’ll see the year-round planning that goes on in San Franciso’s Burning Man offices and artists at work in bustle of New York, in the mountains of Petaluma, in the suburbs of San Jose.

By documenting the commitment and preparation that precedes the event, we can present these unique people on the Playa in real context. Their stories become ones of individual dedication and motivation, merged with the greater ethos of the Burning Man community.

BIG NEWS COMING SOON!

In the coming days, Gone Off Deep will be announcing two upcoming European screenings of BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK.

So, if you’re one of our friends from “across the pond”, check back often for updates on these opportunities to be among the first to see our film.

Or better yet, join our Mailing List to be sure you get all the details as soon as they become available.

FEBRUARY PRODUCTION UPDATES

February’s been a busy month for Gone Off Deep. Damon’s gone into some trance-inducing hardcore editing mode, and the results are staggering. Whether you’re a longtime Burner or totally new to the whole concept, BEYOND BLACK ROCK is going to reveal more of the depth and scope of Burning Man than you could have imagined even existed.

Here are the latest bits of interest for those following the film’s production:

NEW TRAILER
Damon has created a brand new promotional trailer, available in a variety of formats and file sizes for your viewing pleasure. Visit the Our Movie page to download.

LATEST ABOUT THE FILM
While you’re over there, check out our new Our Film, with all the latest details on the story that BEYOND BLACK ROCK will tell.

NEW POSTER
Our home page is now graced with the newest movie poster, designed by Damon. Click the thumbnail below for a full-size version.

NEW WEBSITE COMING
Gone Off Deep has tapped the talents of Flash artist Dave Cash, who is now busily designing a brand new BEYOND BLACK ROCK website. It’ll feature not only a new look, but also loads of new info and downloads. Check back for updates on we’ll be unveiling the new site.

That’s it for now. But check back often. March and April are going to be busy months for us, and no doubt there will be lots of news on the horizon.

SAN FRANCISCO UPDATES

As promised, BEYOND BLACK ROCK Director Damon Brown and Director of Photography Rob Van Alkemade were kind enough to send along updates of their trip out west for a final round of interviews with key members of the Burning Man organization.

And, as a bonus, Burning Man’s own Girl of Action, Andie Grace, also shared her thoughts on the visit. Andie has Gone Off Deep’s deepest appreciation for her tireless efforts in coordinating interviews, providing archival materials and being a solid go-to gal throughout our production.

DAMON'S UPDATE

The truth is we've now completed a shelf of films. I call it: the Compleat Burning Man, spanning from the first ancient dramas performed by masked performers in the amphitheaters - all the way up to the modern day. Plus some random shots of us wandering around San Francisco wondering how you can possibly have an intersection of two streets with numbers ... but I digress.

And therein, lies the challenge of the next month. It would not have been possible to get this far without the aid and support of all those who also comment here, as well as all those they mention. I was pleased and enlightened to hear some of the quiet, personal stories that came out of this final round of on-camera interviews. I think they will make for a very heartfelt Third Act in this little drama. The idea here is to tell a good story, one that everyone can appreciate; burners and non-burners alike - so that we can meet in the middle ground and find out just what makes us want to do the crazy things we do - even off the Playa.

ROB'S UPDATE

Spending some quality time with freshly showered Damon was a rare treat, and sharing a quiet hotel room with him was enlightening too. It turns out that Damon hums contemplatively in his sleep. I imagine that he was probably editing in his dreams.

I believe that every citizen of San Francisco and several from LA asked
Damon when the documentary would be finished. His answers varied from
two weeks to around four months. I pitched in on the benevolent harassment by threatening to steal his movie and sell it to the Russians. Judging from his nocturnal hums, however, I am confident that he has already cut an astonishing film in his mind, and merely needs to assemble 10,000 minutes of footage accordingly.

ANDIE'S UPDATE

This was an ideal time for a final visit to San Francisco to follow up with the Burning Man office, because the energy of the 2004 cycle has really begun to gather, and the mood is definitely high....but there is still time (well, sorta) before the event season is in full, manic swing. Still, if January used to be a "slow time", it really isn't any more, so there was still plenty of challenge trying to squeeze in interviews with everyone's busy schedules. Having visited our operation last year at the same time, this visit, in a way, brings things full-circle.

December's holidays can be such a frenetic time that we save some of our end-of-year wrap-ups (such as "Thank you" cards for our volunteers) for January, when we can more fully reflect on and express our gratitude to those who have helped the Project in the preceeding year. For that very reason, it was great seeing Damon and Rob again (for the first time since the playa) and being asked to recap 2003 gave us one more moment to reflect before the gathering momentum hurtles us toward 2004.

Thanks again to Damon, Rob and Andie for providing these updates. With all the footage now shot, post-production marches on. Next stop -- our movie.

2004: YEAR OF THE DOC!

Happy New Year, folks! It’s been a busy few months for the Gone Off Deep crew since we returned from the desert. As reported in the last post, principal photography has wrapped, but we couldn’t resist one last visit to San Francisco to ask those few “burning” questions we had left for the organizers.

In fact, Damon and Rob are out there right now, and I’ll be posting all the salacious details of their journey this weekend. But for now, here’s an update on post-production.

We’ve now logged over 200 hours of footage. Interestingly, that roughly equates to 8 days, or the duration of Black Rock City each year. Intrigued by this coincidence, I broke open all the tapes and unrolled the reels, connecting the tape end to end. It stretched exactly from Austin to Gerlach.

You should have seen Damon’s face.

We’re thrilled with the footage we’ve captured and with how well it complements our vision for the film. Our pre-production work, and willingness to let ideas evolve, has led us to a multi-layered and dramatic storyline that will resonate with both the uninitiated and longtime Burners.

The editing process is well underway, and Damon has begun assembling some powerful segments. It’s quite an experience to see it all come together.

Special Note of Thanks: We’d like to extend our appreciation to Jill Leberknight for her help in logging tapes. It’s been a monumental task and she’s been a trooper. Thanks, Jill!

THAT’S A WRAP: PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPLETE

We raced toward the playa like Mongol hordes thundering across the Eastern frontier (assuming, of course, Genghis Khan led his warriors down I-80 in a pair of Winnebagos stocked with snacks). We arrived after midnight Monday night, with all the makings of a ruthless mercenary force: videographers, audio specialists, still photographers – hell, even a lawyer.

We were the “fresh legs”: Allen Robertson, Billy Henry, Jason Kumalo, Troy Schrode, Michael Lee Jackson, Andrea Schneider, Russ Hughes, Sunday Patterson, Steven Flynn and myself.

Reinforcements. Recently showered.

Awaiting us at the gate were BEYOND BLACK ROCK producer Mike Wilson and director Damon Brown, along with Burning Man’s own Actiongrl, Andie Grace. After our 12-hour drive from Oakland, complete with requisite supply stops, wrong turns and flat tire, they were a site for sore and bloodshot eyes.

Producer Mike Wilson (left)
with Michael Lee Jackson

Damon and Mike, along with production assistant Bill Nadalini, had been in the desert for nearly three weeks by that time, and the thousand-yard-stares were unmistakable.

We tooled around the playa for a couple of hours or so, too wound up to sleep, then drifted off into catnaps before getting down to business.

A couple of hours later, we had our first big crew meeting, joining forces with director of photography Rob Van Alkemade and videographer Carrie Schultz, already four days into their tours of duty.

Director of Photography
Rob Van Alkemade
Photo by Michael Lee Jackson

Over the next week, we prowled the Black Rock desert - four camera crews, a still photographer and an audio team – capturing the sights and sounds of Burning Man ’03. We covered weddings and kite festivals and art car parades. We followed artists and explored their work, talked to participants, veteran and virgin, and interviewed in-depth the people behind all facets of the event, from city builders to law enforcement, to medical personnel and the core group of visionaries who lead this radical social experiment.

When the Man burned, we had cameras high and low, inside the perimeter and with founder Larry Harvey. When the Temple of Honor burned, we caught it from all angles, along with a unique perspective on the artist who created it, watching his labor of love consumed by flames.

Under Damon’s leadership, we gathered the material to complete this tapestry we’ve been building for the past 18 months: an unprecedented look at a year in the life of Burning Man.

The footage is there, folks. Hundreds of hours. Our challenge now is to crystallize it into the film that we’ve worked toward for so long. I have no doubt that Mike’s passion and Damon’s vision will deliver the most engaging Burning Man film ever produced. I look forward to contributing to the success that surely awaits us.

DAMON RETURNS FROM THE HIGH DESERT!

While decompressing after his month in the desert, BEYOND BLACK ROCK director Damon Brown was kind enough to send along this wrap up, penned in the comforting shadows of his palatial North Austin fortress:

Director Damon Brown
Photo by Michael Lee Jackson

Well, if we're not making a movie, we at least effectively tripled the amount of shot footage! It was quite a month, and like BRC itself, split into very interesting development segments.

The first two weeks we spent watching the city literally rise out of the desert - and if it weren't for the video we shot of the hard core members of the DPW at work, it might be possible to believe that it had risen with such speed and efficiency all on its own. But those work crews put in very heavy hours to make the roads, the shade structures, larger constructs like the Man happen ... followed swiftly by the volunteers who step in and flesh out the city's infrastructure, from placing and greeting each and every theme camp to beginning regular safety and medical patrols.

We watched the city grow, the larger art installations like David Best's Temple of Honor, and then the event was upon us. Thousands came into the desert to populate Black Rock City, and Mike and I were joined by one of the most dedicated guerilla video crews I've ever seen. Much thanks to Rob, Carrie, William, Jason, Troy, Billy, and Allen for coming in and gung-ho shooting our little documentary like we were making the next "Woodstock"!

Then, after a week of event, BRC began to fade into the desert again and now all I have left is a couple cases of tapes to prove we were ever there. Well, that and "The Movie In Our Heads." Back to the edit room I go...

BURNING MAN OR BUST!

As the majority of the Gone Off Deep gang prepares for their departure to the Playa, our special-ops advance team of producer Mike Wilson, director Damon Brown and production support crewmember Bill Nadalini are already burning up the highway toward Nevada.

Bill was the first to leave Texas, driving an RV through the heartland for a rendezvous in the Bay area with Mike and Damon, who flew out of Austin last Saturday. The three made it to their rallying point, prompting Mike to send along a progress report.

“Damon and I arrived in San Francisco on Saturday and had the honor of breaking in Larry Harvey's brand new Airstream (well, brand new old Airstream) for its first 'civilized conversation' over tea,” Mike wrote. “I'm sure that airstream's walls will have a lot of stories to tell, and it's very cool to have been there when it was 'brand new' and get to hear some Larry's great stories and his thoughts on the future of Burning Man.

“The rest of the Gone Off Deep crew are getting in gear and anxiously awaiting departure dates... 17 days til The Man burns!”

NO SLEEP TILL BLACK ROCK!

With less than 30 days before The Man burns, Gone Off Deep is making its final preparations for our trip to the playa, and we thought we’d tie up a few loose ends here as well, with an update of some of our activities over the past few months. So read on for the magic and the mystery that is the BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK production journal.

Next week, the advance crew of Producer Mike Wilson and Director Damon Brown, along with production assistant Bill Nadalini, will head west to check in with the Burning Man organization as it sets off for the desert. The guys will then join the caravan of Temple of Honor artist David Best for the trip to Nevada.

Two weeks later, the rest of the crew will arrive on the playa, from Abilene, Austin, and New York City.

We’ve got a great, and significantly larger, crew this year, covering the event from the moment the first vehicles roll onto the playa, until the last Burner leaves. You can find out more about our talented team in our CREW section.

TRAVELS WITH LARRY

Gone Off Deep Producer Mike Wilson recently spent some quality time with Larry Harvey, catching up with the Burning Man founder in both Atlanta and London. Here’s what Mike had to say about the time they shared:

“I took producer cam on the road to Atlanta, to take in Larry's ArtPapers-sponsored talks at Emory University and at the Woodruff Art Center on public art and on "ritual without dogma." Both were really amazing talks. But the biggest treat, other than hanging with Larry and the lovely Nurse and getting completely lost in the meanstreets of Atlanta, was the first (hopefully annual) regional event they did in Atlanta, called RIPE Atlanta, which took place at the amazing Cityview Sculpture Garden there. Met Zach Coffin (Rock Spinner, 2001) and Charlie Smith (Hearth, 2000-2001; Infanity, 2001), and a bunch of other great burners from all over. It was an amazingly successful event and a real blast. We'll be following Zach's 2003 project, Temple of Gravity, closely.

“In early June, I found myself in London at the same time as Marian and
Larry (Larry was there to do a talk at Oxford Union) and got to hang with them some there and meet Yomi, the sort of spiritual leader of the UK Burner community, who was playing host to Larry and Marian during their stay there. What a great guy he was... we'll be leaning hard on him at Media Mecca this year, I'm sure. Really fun dinner, fun crowd of Burners, and I got to give Larry the "nuggie" I've always wanted to give him since the day I found out who he was.”

Photo By Marc Goldchstein

One of the most valuable aspects of BEYOND BLACK ROCK will, no doubt, prove to be Larry’s active participation and continuing support for the project. We’re fortunate to have his insights, his reflections, and his philosophy.

MEANWHILE, BACK IN TEXAS

Director Damon Brown and I attended the Austin, Texas regional Burn, Flipside, in late May, scoring great interviews with founder George Paap and other members of the Flipside LLC. They recounted the event’s brief, but interesting, history, and we had a great chance to see the Burning Man spirit in a much more intimate setting.

Most surprising were the Burners that attended from all over the country and how the same passion, dedication and creativity that make Burning Man what it is flourishes in these regional events.

EAST COAST HAPPENINGS

BEYOND BLACK ROCK’s Director of Photography, Rob VanAlkemade, has been tracking down great interviews in his stomping grounds of New York City.

Rob recently conducted a series of interviews with artist Rafeal Santiago, whose impressive sculpture ‘Beginning’ graced the playa in 2002, and who’s now in the final stages of his project for this year. Here’s Rob’s dispatch on the latest with Rafael:

Rafael left me a message today saying he's almost done with one piece which he'll be giving some friends to drive there I think, and he's not done with the body that I've been shooting him making so he's going to mail it there in pieces and finish it on site maybe.

He's working out of the Lower East Side on a new version of his woman cast of last year, but different, and cast from a new woman.

His work has been delayed by our insane rainy season, which prevents his plaster from drying.

We've discussed how he loves the Burn regardless of inevitable changes over the years. Some of his friends hate it now, but he always sees it as the most valuable experience of the year. His favorite time is after everyone leaves and just some artists and other weirdos remain and a dark anarchistic cacophony (my words, actually) prevails.

Rob also recently spoke to journalist Bill Werde, who penned ‘Burning Man’s Dotcom Hangover’ for The Village Voice in 2001 and recently chronicled Burning Man’s ongoing legal battles with Washoe County, Nevada.