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Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on March 21, 2012.

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The mysterious movie theater you stumbled upon that night when you trekked out to deep playa at Burning Man.


The video above tells the story of one of the most talked-about art projects at Burning Man the last two years:  The Black Rock Bijou, a fully equipped, old-school movie theater, deliberately and mysteriously placed in the middle of nowhere.  In the video, you can watch it being built in Hollywood and then transported to the Black Rock Desert, and hear the artists talk about how and why they make it happen.   Burning Man's own official blogger, Jon Mitchell, called it "the most compelling illusion I'd ever seen in my life."  (Thanks Jon!)   We'd very much like to make this happen again in 2012, but we need your help!  Please read on…




Above you can see the sort of spontaneous gathering the theater seems to inspire at all hours of the day and night.  It is indeed a "wonderfully popular illusion", but to make it happen again in 2012, even though the Bijou team donates all the needed labor, will cost us about $12,500 out of pocket.   That's why we're hoping that if you are a Bijou fan, a classic film fan, a classic movie theater fan, or just a fan of Art that's Designed to Blow Your Mind, you will consider helping us!  Then the wonder people experience when they enter the auditorium (see below), magically transported to another time and place, will happen once again.



By the way, here's what that $12,500 will cover:  storage of the theater for the 11 1/2 months it's not on the Playa, rental trucks to move the theater to and from Black Rock City, construction materials including wood, paint, vacu-form "brick," and assorted hardware, fuel for generators and trucks,  and purchase and repair of a/v equipment.  We'll also be buying two permanent storage units through the Burning Man organization that will enable us to radically lower our annual transportation and storage costs in future years.  (Making it super-easy to bring the installation back annually.)



Any questions?  Please ask!   Please join us in the joy and thrill of making an inspirational art project happen on the Playa.   On the right-hand side of the page you  can read about all of the special perks we have for you if you can be kind enough to help us.  Wouldn't it be fun to stand in front of the theater next year and know that you were one of the people that made it happen?   We can tell you, honestly, there's nothing quite like that thrill.   Thank you again!   Luz y amor,  The Bijou team.  

(Special thanks to Sam Englebardt and Brock Pierce for their love and support last year!)






FAQ

  • "Are you sure there aren't any camp expenses in there? $12, 500 is a lot of money. We're not paying for anyone's Burning Man experience, are we? Because that wouldn't seem right"
    Glad you asked. There are absolutely NO camp expenses or camper's personal expenses included in the $12, 500 we are fundraising. That means no food, no tickets for volunteers, no expenses for Rvs, etc. All of the money goes to incremental costs actually associated with transporting and building the theater itself.  You will notice that Black Rock Bijou isn't a theme camp; we have no fancy camp site or activities beyond transporting, building, programming, and staffing the theater for the delight of all Burning Man attendees.
    Last updated: Wednesday Feb 29, 3:14pm EST
  • "How come you didn't need a Kickstarter before?"
    The first two years, a sponsor took care of the entire expense, but told us that last year was the last year he could do it. Luckily we don't have to absorb the cost of building and equipping the theater from scratch—which was more than $25k."
    Last updated: Wednesday Feb 29, 3:14pm EST
  • "What's the deal with the storage units you're buying? They're quite expensive, right? Are they really necessary?'
    The storage units will enable us to make the theater a perennial Burning Man art installation with minimal incremental costs, because we would no longer have to rent huge trucks twice each year to transport the theater (which is stored in pieces) back and forth to the Playa. It's a a bit more expensive in the first year, and then radically cheaper for all subsequent years.  So in reality your support of this Kickstarter will help us bring this back for what we hope will be lots more Burns.  
    Last updated: Tuesday Mar 20, 11:27pm EDT
  • "What about candy? Is that built into the cost here?"
    Last year we were very lucky to have another sponsor donate over 4000 units of candy for distribution at the theater. This year, we hope to have that support again, so it's not in our cash budget.  (The first year, our sponsor/underwriter paid for the candy—about 1500 units--himself too.)
    Last updated: Wednesday Feb 29, 3:14pm EST
  • I see you've already made your goal of $12, 250...is there any reason to contribute past that?

    Glad you asked!   We just got notified yesterday that the price that we will get charged for the two storage containers we're purchasing will be $400 more apiece than they were originally priced and budgeted...so yes, getting us up a bit more will help a lot!   Anything we receive beyond that will go into further theater enhancement and/or supplemental candy stock!  Thanks!

    Last updated: Tuesday Mar 20, 11:28pm EDT
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Funding period
Feb 20, 2012 - Mar 21, 2012 (30 days)

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  • Pledge $10 or more

    68 backers

    A Black Rock Bijou Sticker AND your name (or your playa name) will be immortalized under our "Burners for the Bijou" list on our new website: www.blackrockbijou.com

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $25 or more

    66 backers

    All of the above and a Black Rock Bijou Button with the artwork as it appears on the side of the 2012 theater

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $50 or more

    33 backers

    All of the above and a Framed Professional 4x6 Photo of the Black Rock Bijou with our gratitude expressed on our marquee.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    16 backers

    All of the above and a Black Rock Bijou "Fertility 2.0" themed Donor Tee Shirt. And since you're a "donor" for a fertility themed year... (use your imagination on what the image might entail)

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $250 or more

    7 backers Limited (43 of 50 left)

    All of the above and a Hoodie emblazoned with the art as it appears on the side of the 2012 theater.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $500 or more

    2 backers Limited (23 of 25 left)

    All of the above EXCEPT the framed photo will be a personalized 8x10 professional image with your name on our beautiful marquee thanking you for your generous contribution.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    0 backers Limited (15 of 15 left)

    The Sticker, the Button, the 2012 Donor Tee, the Hoodie and...AN 8X10 PHOTO OF THE 2012 BLACK ROCK BIJOU WITH A PERSONALIZED "THANK YOU" AND YOUR NAME ON THE MARQUEE ACCOMPANIED BY A BRICK FROM THE SIDE OF THE BIJOU IN A PROFESSIONALLY FRAMED SHADOW BOX.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $2,500 or more

    1 backer Limited (2 of 3 left)

    Everything we have previously offered and...YOU AND FIVE OF YOUR NEAREST AND DEAREST WILL BECOME THE UNIFORMED STAFF OF THE BLACK ROCK BIJOU FOR ONE NIGHT AT BURNING MAN 2012!

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012