Gone Off Deep Presents
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.