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Aqua Burn, the film that started it all, captures the energy and spirit of Burning Man 2002's “Floating World Theme”. Edited in 180 hours in the month following Burning Man, the first cut debuted at the Santa Cruz Burning Man Film Festival to a crowd of 300 people. Their reaction was a standing ovation. An additional 620 hours of editing time was put in and then it was ready to travel. It premiered in New York and London, winning The Coney Island Short Film Festival 2003's Best Documentary Award and the Action/Cut Short Film Festival 2004 Documentary Special Jury Award. Aqua Burn explores several different aspects of the Burning Man Festival, from one artist’s adventures creating a life-size 3D zoetrope to an insane sky diving sequence thst will blow your mind away.
Maid Marian, Mistress of Communications for Burning Man, LLC says:
“ Aqua Burn rocks my world ! ”
"Aqua Burn" is a documentary film by director Bill Breithaupt showcasing the "Floating World" theme of the 2002 Burning Man Festival. As would be expected from a film featuring such extraordinary subject matter, "Aqua Burn" is an extraordinary Burning Man festival documentary. It captures the energy, spirituality and passion of the annual Burning Man event. It details many of the incredible art installations, the imagination and originality that went into their creation, and the artists who conceived them.
To better estimate the impact and potential of the film without having seen it, it's essential to know a few facts about the Burning Man Festival itself. Even if you have seen the film this information can be interesting and helpful.
Each year over 35,000 people travel to Black Rock City in the Nevada desert to participate in an experience that is wholely unlike any found in modern society. For one week in late August they become part of an experimental community, which challenges its members to express themselves and rely on themselves to a degree that is not normally encountered in day-to-day life. They are to provide their own food, water and shelter, enduring sweltering temperatures often above 110 degrees and overwhelming sandstorms.
In the face of such a formidable environment the society flourishes. There is no commerce, Burning Man is built upon a gift economy mentality. No commercialism, no vending, no money at Burning Man . Gifting is part of the experience. And an experience it is. All around the playa large art installations challenge the elements, rising above the horizon. Theme camps are abundant, each offering their creativity to passers-by in the form of body painting to grilled cheese sandwiches.
On Saturday night the man is burned. All the members of this unusual city convene in the center, watching as the 40 foot structure is ignited. As the flames burn higher and the Man falls, each takes away his own memories and experiences. What does burning the Man represent? You'll find as many different answers as you'll find people at the event.
One would be wary of truly being oneself, even in such an uninhibited environment, if the threat of explotation of one's art for any commercial purposes was present. It is for this reason that film and video cameras are forbidden without permission at Burning Man. All video cameras must be registered and tagged. If you are considering filming for professional purposes, you must have a commercial agreement on file with the media team prior to your arrival onsite. Even with an agreement on file, you still must have permission from Burning Man (the Burning Man Organization) to use any images commercially.
