AquaBurn : Directed by Bill Breithaupt
In July of 2002, Burning ManHead of Media Operations, Jim Graham offered Bill Breithaupt a spot in the 1st annual Burning Man Film Festival held in Santa Cruz, CA. This was a surprising request, as Burning Man is known for having strict policies regarding filming at Burning Man and the usage of such footage. Jumping at the opportunity Breithaupt headed to Burning Man for his fourth year in a row, partying with his friends and filming the entire week as usual.

Aside from the beautiful time-lapse footage and cinematic shots he’s known for, he also captured some fantastic insight from his fellow burners. When he returned home he locked himself in his studio and edited, determined to make his best film yet. With only three weeks between the end of Burning Man 2002 and the day of the film festival, he began burning the midnight oil, editing 14-16 hours straight, rarely sleeping.

At the end of this crazy schedule Breithaupt had edited a total of 180 hours, and was off to the festival without having slept for two days straight. The final result was the film "Aqua Burn". The 300 + audience that packed into the Rio Theater that day were awed.

At the end of the film they cheered, then quieted to watch all the credits, and then cheered again, rising to give Breithaupt a standing ovation (at the end of which he thanked his mom). True to form, he filmed the audience’s enthusiastic reaction, and was even quoted as saying “it was one of the best moments of my life”.

Despite excruciating neck pain resulting from an unjust assault by overzealous security guards at Harvey's Casino in Lake Tahoe, (ironically enough for filming a wedding in the casino), he then logged an additional grueling 620 hours of editing time and then "Aqua Burn" was finally complete. It also received approval for sale from the Burning Man Organization, granted to only a few select films.

In a meeting with Maid Marian, Burning Man Org Mistress of Communications, she said “Aqua Burn rocks my world !” Keeping all this in perspective, Breithaupt did all this for the love of Burning Man, receiving no financial compensation from Burning Man Org. All expenses were paid out of his own pocket.

In 2002 Breithaupt departed from his usual one year format and edited a 5 minute short film comprised of 3 years of footage at Burning Man, titled "Are You Lost?". He entered it into the Upward Rising Online Film Festival and out of 38 final selections "Are You Lost?" won 3rd place!

In 2003 Bill Breithaupt was again asked by Burning Man Head of Media Operations Jim Graham to create another film, this time to headline the 2nd Burning Man Film Festival in Santa Cruz, leaving him only one month between Burning Man and the film festival to edit a new film.

With less than two weeks till Santa Cruz, Bill took some time off from his grueling editing schedule to attend the Coney Island Short Film Festival in New York. Not only was "Aqua Burn" an official selection in the festival, but it won the title of Best Documentary Short Film. Returning home with a cleared mind, Breithaupt resumed his editing schedule and completed "Burning Karma" the very morning of the Santa Cruz Burning Man Film Festival.

"Burning Karma" is darker and more intense than its predecessor, "Aqua Burn", yet it maintains a focus on the incredible art installations of the year's theme (Beyond Belief).

Following many of the artists from "Aqua Burn", we see Terry Schrek’s project “In God’s Hands”, Peter Hudson’s return with Sisyphish, David Best’s Temple of Honor, plus sky diving footage from Brian Burke & the Sky People, all set to classical music and hypnotic techno beats.

Spring of 2004 was a busy time for Bill Breithaupt."Aqua Burn" was an official selection in the New York International Film & Video Festival, which he attended. After spending a week in New York promoting the film, he flew straight to London for the first international Burning Man Film Festival. A more perfect venue couldn’t have been chosen than the über-hip Ritzy Theater in Brixton.

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Breithaupt was stoked to find out upon his arrival at the theater that "Aqua Burn" was headlining the London Burning Man Film Festival. At the raging after-party at the Brixtonian Breithaupt bumped into Larry Harvey,founder of Burning Man (who has been known to comment “Aqua Burn, yeah, we like that one”).

The Film Rated #1 by Burners !!!!!

Burning Man 2002, AquaBurn by Bill Breithaupt
Aqua Burn is an interpretive look at Burning Man 2002 that documents the Floating world theme, the spirituality, the creativity, and the fun! It showcases the participants' imagination, effort, and time that went into the art projects, camps, and activities to make them so engaging.
Aqua Burn includes enlightening interviews with participating Burners, from first timers to veterans. Bill Breithaupt has given out hundreds of his energetic annual films that capture the experience of BM: "PlayaProject" (1999), "Got Fire?" (2000), and "Are You Lost?" (2001). Aqua Burn is a change of pace from Bill's prior films, but arguably more compelling. He has really burned the midnight oil to get this 2002 film ready in less than 30 days.

Described as "a cross between Koyaanisqatsi and an extreme sports video", Aqua Burn explores the Floating World, the theme of Burning Man 2002, capturing the spirituality, creativity, energy and fun of the event.

Showcasing the imagination, effort and time that participants injected into the art projects, camps and activities, Bill Breithaupt's fourth Burning Man film shows how these projects engage the other participants and help to make Burning Man the ultimate interactive community.
Enlightening interviews with participating Burners, from first timers to veterans, complete the picture.

http://www.aquaburn.com

In July of 2004 "Aqua Burn" also headline The Burning Man Film Festival held at the Raven Theater in Healdsburg, CA. It was such a hit with the crowd that they demanded more and an impromptu screening of "Burning Karma" and "Are You Lost?" followed, even though most of the audience had already sat through hours of Burning Man films.

A few weeks later Head of Burning Man Media Operations Jim Graham once again offered Bill Breithaupt a spot in the 3rd and final Burning Man Film Festival in Santa Cruz. Breithaupt set out for the playa as usual, for his 6th consecutive year. While he was at Burning Man that year, "Aqua Burn" was once again earning recognition in the film festival circuit.

The 2004 Action/Cut Short Film Festival screened and judged nearly one thousand films on the parameters of: subject originality, content realization, visual-storytelling, production values and viewing engagement of work. Having gone through such thorough scrutiny, "Aqua Burn" received the Special Jury Award for Documentary Short.

Breithaupt was greeted with the news of his win when he returned home from Burning Man 2004. As if that weren’t encouragement enough, "Burning Karma" was also beginning to gain notoriety. For the second year in a row one of his Burning Man films, this time Burning Karma, was an official selection in the Coney Island Short Film Festival. Rather than trying to make the trip to New York just days before the Santa Cruz Burning Man Film Festival this year he decided to stay home and edit "Astro Blaze".

"Astro Blaze", like its prequels, was edited in under a month and premiered at the 3nd annual Santa Cruz Burning Man Film Festival. A mellow, reflective piece, the film focuses on returning artist Peter Hudson and his mind-blowing life-size 3D zoetrope Deeper.

Nate Smith’s project, the Singularity Machine, (the fire vortex from 2002 perfected) also gains attention. In the film we are introduced to new artist Kate Raudenbush and her project Observer/Observed, a 10’ x 10’ cube of 2 way mirrors that gives it’s entrantsa new perspective. Another new artist featured is David Biggs and his project Constellations, a participatory piece invoking a deeper look at the ties that connect Burning Man participants to one another.

An onslaught of film festivals followed. In November that year "Aqua Burn" headlined the Under the Couch Film Festival in Newport Beach, CA. In December it was shown as a Special Selection Kiosk Film at the Hi Mom! Film Festival in North Carolina.

Warning Note: Film and video cameras are forbidden at Burning Man.

If you are considering filming for professional purposes, you must have a on file with the media team prior to your arrival onsite. Even with an agreement on file, you still must have permission from (the Burning Man Organization) to use any images commercially. All video cameras must be and tagged.

"Aqua Burn" was chosen as an official selection of the Flint Film Festival in May of 2005, and the Crested Butte Reel Festival in August. In September of 2005 Bill Breithaupt made the trip to New York once again. "Astro Blaze" was an official selection of the Coney Island Short Film Festival, making it the third consecutive year that one of his films had been chosen by this film festival.

Founder Rob Leddy put on a fantastic film festival, with a smashing pre-fest party including a freaky side show & engaging burlesque performances. It was an honor for Breithaupt to attend the festival and present the film to such an eager and appreciative audience. Also attending the festival to support "Astro Blaze" was one of the stars of the film, Kate Raudenbush.

Each year over 50,000 people travel to the Burning Man Festival, located 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. 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 Man represent ? You'll find as many different answers as you'll find people at the event.

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 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.

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.

Aqua Burn is an award-winning documentary film by director Bill Breithaupt showcasing "The Floating World" theme of the 2002 Burning Man Festival. Aqua Burn features many of the incredible Burning Man art installations, the imagination and originality that went into their creation, and the artists who conceived them.

Aqua Burn introduces you to artists like Peter Hudson, who created Sisyphish, a life-size 3D zoetrope of a swimmer, Nate Smith, who conjures a 20 ft. fire tornado, David Best & his crew’s 78 ft. Temple of Joy - a tribute to 9/11, Deirdre DeFranceaux’s beautiful sculpture of singing sirens, Shane Rogers and the Sky People show off their sky diving skills over Black Rock City, Terry Shreck’s glowing metal sculpture Beacon, and Kiki Petit’s incredi ble fire waterfall Egeria.