Thanks to Sean & Paula for processing and organizing all of our footage so that editing can now begin. We have 3 workstations set up in Stafford Springs CT at Rogers house. One for Susan, one for Josh and one that Roger and I are working on together. We just got done screening the 4 scenes that we rough cut today and here is what was said by Josh, Susan & Roger:

JOSH: It feels like more of our story is there then we thought was there.

SUSAN: A couple scenes go a long way.

JOSH: I was concerned before we'd have a hard time coming up with 40 minutes to represent our story.

ROGER: Now it's like, wow, nope.

SUSAN: It felt like we had to shoot our entire half of the movie in one weekend, but now it feels like we really got something.

ROGER: It feels beefier then I expected. When people say something it resonates and it has layers.

SUSAN: Yeah, and the acting is not too bad.

This is all great news cause going through raw footage of a movie can make a director really have lots of regrets. I have felt a few times today like I messed up while shooting or didn't do a good enough job paying attention to details, but then by the end of today, the scenes are looking solid and like we don't need to reshoot them. So it's really going very well.

PERKS UPDATE:

Those who are getting a rough cut sneak peak as a perk, because the files took way longer to process then we anticipated, your rough cut preview material will come later then we said in our perks description. But keep an eye out for a special email at some point with some rough cut scenes. Also to those getting a Four Eyed Monsters poster and DVD, those are going out next week.

PS. Roger is here and says hello to all the backers.

The shoot at burning man was amazing. Best crew I've ever worked with. It all came together just at the last minute to have the perfect team. We got all of the shots on our list. The imagery and emotional authenticity of the recreated interactions brought tears to my eyes very often. Thats always when I knew we had the scene down and could move to the next. My biggest directorial accomplishment yet.

Thanks so much to all the contributors who made the shoot possible, I thought of you guys many times as our "share holders" and referred to you guys many times to our team knowing that we were in a moment that would be making you guys proud to have supported this.

But it's not over. Several of the shoots for this film need to get done outside of burning man. The first one we will be shooting this weekend at baker beach in San Francisco and we need a few things:

INFO ON UPCOMING SHOOT:

The concept of the shoot is that it's a reenactment of the 1986 first ever man burn by Larry Harvey. We are basing the reenactment on interviews we've found and information on the burning man site to try to create an accurate portrayal. We also hope to interview him so that the beginning of this film can very quickly show the first man burn, show the real guy explain his actions, then use that as the perfect set up for the story to begin.

Everybody who helps out will get a copy of the finished project, invited to premieres and screenings and credits on IMDB and at the end of the film as well as linked to from the films site.

Everyone on camera should be dressed in punk rock meets hippy era mid 80's attire and make up, hair and accessories should be used to give a slightly souped up and larger then life look to the scene. Also about half of the people on camera or more should be topless. The scene needs lots of skin and lots of free and openness and comfort with nudity. We are shooting at a nude beach and in the story line this is a nude beach so it's not mandatory to be nude, but it really helps the scene for those that are comfortable with that. All personal boundaries will be respected and no one will be pushed or pressured, so come even if you want to stay clothed. But do wear as little as you are comfortable with.

LOCATION:

Got to baker beach in SF, check google maps, then once you've parked and walked into the beach walk along the water towards the golden gate bridge until you find us.

What we need:

5 really attractive featured extras comfortable with the nudity to arrive at the beach, take their clothes off and run into the water and be in featured extra roles to be shot at the beach showing the fun times being had at the beach. Must be there by 3:00.
INSPIRATION: http://www.lifelounge.com/Sigur-Ros-_-Gobbledigook-Music-Video.aspx

3 Dancers to dance around the fire. The more abstract modern dance moves the better. But anything goes. Must show up by 6:00, no later.

A lead male to be building the man and be comfortable being directed for one line of dialog.
INSPIRATION: http://www.youtube.com/watch...
Must show up by 2:00.

A co-star male to be the partner also helping to build a mini-man.
Must show up by 2:00.

Artists. Sculptures and painters to bring one piece out to the beach and set it next to the fire for it to be included and credited in the scene. Only need about 5 max.

Make up artist, stylist and hair. This can be the same person or 3 different people. Basically the idea is to help everyone who comes adjust as needed to be ready to fit the aesthetic we are going for. Must show up by 3:00.

Wet Suit. Must fit 6 foot 1 skinny camera man. Must arrive at 3:00 and be available until 10 pm.

Surfers. Must arrive at 3:00 and would probably be done by 6:00, really it's just a few shots that they'd be need, some featuring and some with them small in the background.

Wire & Staple Gun with staples. Must arrive at 2:00 and be there until at least 6:00. 200 staples at and about 10 yards of pretty thick wire that is bendable by the hand yet still pretty sturdy.

Burlap. Potato bags or any other kind of fabric. Only need about 3 yards or equivalent in bags. Must arrive at 2:00 and be willing to never see it again.

Food & Drink. Bring what ever you think would make a fun beach picnic. Extra points for non-animal food options. Extra points for teas and other healthy fun snacks.

Extra Wardrobe. If you think you have more wardrobe and accessories that match the above description, then feel free to bring more for others.

10 Background extras. Must show up at 6:00, no later.

Email: arincrumley ( at ) gmail (dot) com or message through kickstarter.

For anyone who is going that wants to life log their experience, here are some tips:

Use a camera that has a flip out screen so you can see yourself.

Be sure to only film people with permission for your own personal use. So if you form a connection with someone ask them if it's okay to film then make sure you get their contact info. You can even get them to say on camera that you have their permission to use footage you shot with them in a project. Just tell people you want to do a project about your experience and explain thats why you are filming.

Each night use your head lamp to light yourself in your tent and tell your camera what happened that day. What you felt. What occurred. WHo you met.

Each morning record a little bit about your dreams or your intentions and plans for the day.

Bring extra SD cards so you are sure to not run out of space.

When you get back load the files from the SD cards on two different hard drives so they are safe. THen you can delete the files from the SD cards.

Also do a write up of all of the highlights and interesting things that happened to you.

Then send that to me in an email and we can integrate it into our interactive online component of our project.

Also come visit us at 2 and L! Our camp is called "Movie Camp."

See ya... leaving right now to drive in....

Arin

Thanks to everyone who has come in with items on our list of things we need.

A generator is still the most outstanding missing item that will really impact our shoot if we don't have one. Also some kind of a dolly we can roll the camera around on, or even just a cart with wheels.

And looking to network with more people who have art cars out there.

Get in touch if you have some ideas.

Today susan & roger got their hair done and I got all the equipment finalized. Also get the rest of the BM tickets, although we might need one more. We'll see tomorrow as we had a list minute shift where someone we thought was coming isn't. But the food has all been bought and there is a feeling this is all really happening.

Stay tuned...
Arin

JOSH STEINBAUER

For Josh there are two stages of love, in the first stage he met susan at a time when he could let her into his heart, they fell in love, it was beautiful, sweet, a surprise, and possibliities felt limitless. He saw himself in her. But that is not the story we see. We see that story unfold with Roger and Tarynn. Josh's story is about being on the cusp of stage two. At burning man they are leaving the honey moon period and entering the coupledom. If they can make it. Josh hasn't made it past this 9 month mark with anyone yet ever since his big multi-year relationship 6 years prior. Entering into a real relationship with someone new is possibly sacred space. Walking on a territory he had subconsciously been saving in his heart for her his old girlfriend. Letting someone else into that space has tremendous risk for Josh to be hurt. A pain that he may not have even ever full felt and processed and may be even controlling some of his actions today. As a safety net he keeps one foot out the door. This freaks susan out who simply needs his affection but isn't getting all of it and she begins to act crazy. With this crazyness he's justified in putting the other foot out the door. At this point their is a clear view to the exit door, he wants to take it. So he does. But he'll be back and they'll dance back and forth in and out of this phase in the months to come until maybe one day they'll fully settle into this phase 2.

SUSAN BUICE

Susan, AKA, the sadness is an extremely self aware character who isn't always aware of her affect on others. She travels to burning man with her current boyfriend, her best friend and her ex-boyfriend. She is deeply in love with her current boyfriend but worries she's losing her charm over him. She loves her best friend but he is a guy and is often mystified by her moods. She is deeply connected to ex boyfriend and often seeks his approval but never gets it. She doesn't know what to do with all the anger, frustration and sadness she carries with her on a daily basis. She journeys to Burning Man in the hopes that she will be able to step outside herself and reconnect with the brighter more loving side. The opposite occurs. In the dry, dusting, hot landscape of beautiful dust bunnies and endless parties the sadness is unable to escape herself. It's as if she's been trapped in a fun house mirror room and all she can see are horrendous ugly distortions of herself. In her quest for escape she ensnares a young man on his first burn who finds her beautiful. She alienates her boyfriend by avoiding him because she's terrified he'll see her ugliness. Tempers flare between her and her ex and she her feelings of bitterness escalate to hatred. By the end of the trip she has abused everyone she cares deeply about. Somehow they still accept her. She realizes that she won't be able to keep her problems locked up in some back room in her head anymore. She makes a conscious decision to heal her broken heart and become the person she wants to be. Her quest is to become deserving of the love and support she receives from the people around her.

ROGER INGRAHAHM

Roger is 25 years old and has maintained his virginity 8 years longer then average because he'd taken a personal vow of chastity on his spiritual path. With the examples in his life it made no logical sense to get attached to another human being in that way only to endure the suffering that would come. He'd seen it in his parents marriage, and many others. The limiting idea here is that if he connects with physical intimacy he will lose control of his existence and they'll take charge of him only to lead him down an insane path of confinement & commitment. Instead, he wants to feel a love that doesn't control or manipulate. True love. So he decides to open up to the world. He tries to love everyone. All the while, there is a block around sexual intimacy and a fear of being "owned". So he pursues connections by looking into eyes, holding hands, massages, energy work as ways to deeply connect. But whenever things got too physical or insinuating long-term, his defenses came up. He also keeps a shield around the idea of belonging to one person, so he jumps in and out of very intense intimacy that has girls thinking they are about to become his girlfriend to be rudely surprised thats not the case when he explains his philosophy. At BM, he formed so many connections - many strong energetic connections - but somehow to him it all felt empty...and cheap...two soulmmates for the price of one. Finally, he gives up and decides to let go of his fears - and see what's beyond them. He opens up to the possibility of physical intimacy...and then Tarynn appears, alone and simply. He forms a connection with Tarynn that is so gentle and caring that he's able to set aside all these fears and truly connect, falling into the sweet unknown of love. No longer afraid to be hurt he opens up to the vulnerability. He opens to the experience of losing his virginity to her - and finally allows himself to trust another, with his whole being - flaws and all!

TARYNN WEIHAHN

Tarynn is having fun by herself in life using reality as her playground and burning man is an even more appropriate environment to continue this process. Inside her mind all the while she's persuing a romantic relationship with someone on the other side of the planet. She checks in with him about important decisions in her life, about whether or not to go to burning man and whether or not it's okay to fall in love with someone else. The version of him in her mind ultimately says yes. When a connection between her and Roger forms she decides to go with it. While kissing she realizes just based on his behavior with her that he is a virgin. She wants to help him with this, and she wants to help it be perfect and in it's own way, it is. But now there is a new connection that seems like it has a future, and this means leaving the relationship in her head and taking a risk with a real one in the real world. It's dangerous and she feels she's been hurt before. She has a rebirth experience where someone tells her to run around naked in the playa (not jeremy, haha, another one) and she does and while this is happening she finds herself letting go of resentment she's still carrying for her father. She listens to the lesson life is giving her and decides to seal the fate and take the risk of pursuing a real relationship with Roger.

We talked a lot about Roger's core fear underlying most of his scenes:

Biggest fear is of betrayal, fear of being so close to someone and then abruptly hit with some kind of bullshit that hurts.

I also filmed Niklas's talk on Causal Kinesiology and posted a bunch of video stills on facebook.

Headed to NYC tomorrow for meeting with Jennifer Fien to see how all the clothing designers are coming.

Thats it for now...
Arin

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Heading to redfirefarms.com now... till tomorrow...
Arin

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Kickstarter is going great, we've raised almost 600 towards our goal! Keep spreading the word guys. You don't get your perks unless we get to the 2500.　Super thanks to MARC Scrivo for his 500 dollar contribution.

I also typed up a huge thing about some software that I've been dreaming about today.`

You can read that here:

http://arincrumley.com/looking-for-video-software-developer-to-facilitate-gh1-workflow