The VIP party attended by Burner Alix Rosenthal, MC Gary Virginia, Deana Dawn, Sister Bella du Ball and Mark Hugret. Photo by Rink.

Burning Man Class of ‘96

The long-awaited Burning Man documentary, Voyage in Utopia, was screened to a full house in the Castro Theatre on July 18. Up in the mezzanine, supporters of the Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF) mingled and feasted on Middle-eastern cuisine from Medjool and sipped tropical cocktails from Malibu rum and Stella Artois beer. Art fanciers got to bid on ten gorgeous blown-up photographic pieces by Scott London, printed by D’Milo Hallerberg, capturing the very essence and spirit of Burning Man. That included the front cover photo of the ship in the desert on the DVD, Voyage in Utopia. Many attendees wore costumes reminiscent of the garb we wear on the playa in the desert for the annual Burning Man – including tiki, cowboy, leather, sun-hats worn on the scorching hot desert, light-up clothing via EL-wire or other battery-operated lighting, negligee (on men and women), and lots and lots of faux fur. No animals were harmed in the making of costumes. Sort of an in-joke: several people wore handmade “Free Paul Addis” shirts. This was the man who “prematurely” burned the Man as a prank, and later was accused of attempting to burn down a Catholic church. Rubbish. He might be slightly coo coo, but he is not an arsonist and does not deserve to be behind bars.

Event co-producer Gary Virginia (in faux leopard hat and his leathers lit with flashing rainbow lights) welcomed the audience on behalf of him and his co-producer Wanda Whitaker for the San Francisco premiere of Burning Man: Voyage in Utopia. He said the mission of BRAF is to support and promote community-based interactive art and participation in the Bay Area and in the Nevada desert during Burning Man every Labor Day weekend.

French filmmaker Laurent Le Gall came to the stage to share his thoughts about the documentary he directed and produced. “Bon soir, Castro!” he shouted, and the other French words were lost by most of us. Then he spoke in English, saying he was amazed to be in that big theatre for the screening. “There are many stories about Burning Man,” he said. “There are 50,000 people last year, and there are 50,000 different stories. We propose one of them tonight – an encounter with an incredible piece of art, The Temple, by David Best.” This was a huge, ancient mosque-like installation where people could bring mementos to an altar or scribble their thoughts on the walls about someone who had passed on – as a heart-healing experience. Le Gall said he made the film for “people who never went there,” but it also rang true for us “Burners” who have experienced a week in the middle of the middle of the burning, freezing, dusty, muddy desert in a temporary city built for the week’s duration and then burned to the ground afterwards (being careful to haul out every bit of debris and ashes, leaving the grounds pristine). The film will make you laugh, cry, maybe get a little turned on – but mostly it will bring THE BURNING MAN EXPERIENCE into your home via DVD, minus the extreme temperatures, wind, rain, and dust. Le Gall thanked his wife Sandrine, who edited the film along with Gregory Martoglio (flawlessly, I must say). “Burning Man is a place of tolerance and a place for everybody,” said Le Gall.

“And that’s what I hope the film says.” He said his four-year-old son is a three-time Burner. His mother from the West of France came last year for her first time, and this year she purchased her ticket before he did this year.

The original score by Nelly Mella and Vivian Roost perfectly captures the heart and soul (and mystery) of Burning Man. It is available on CD.

Le Gall brought to the stage the subject of the film, David Best, the creator of The Temple. “I want to thank all of you who support the Black Rock Art Foundation,” said Best. When he was asked to be on the BRAF board, he said he had to call his father-in-law, “because I didn’t know what a board was.” He said, “The last few years working with BRAF made me finally grow up and matured me.”

Virginia then explained that radical self expression and participation are key values to the Burning Man community. Virginia excitedly announced, “The Man burns in Black Rock City in just 43 days!”

Just before the screening, the Glow Fur people performed in a completely dark theater a pink, red, blue, orange, and green day-glo neon light “fire” spinning (well, you can’t very well have real fire in a theater; but this was damn close) in their glowing fur of green and pink, while green lasers flashed across the stage in brilliant lightning patterns. It was an authentic Burning Man light show for sure.

The curtains parted and the film began with founder Larry Harvey narrating about the event first starting at Ocean Beach, and the misperceptions some have about the transformed event: “a sex party in the desert and a hippie lollapalooza with witch doctors.” Well, sure it’s maybe some of that, but that isn’t ALL it is. This film will reveal to newcomers and remind old-timers of the magical spectacle and unconditional love that is Burning Man.

Burning Man aficionados attended the free post-party at Café Flore with DJ Tamo on the decks. Glow Fur modeled their playa-fabulous glowing faux fur outfits, and there was a raffle for a playa bicycle (able to withstand the worst heat, rain, dust, and mud). A twelve-foot replica of the Man - lit in red neon and with a strobe light in his head - stood proudly on the roof. The window of the Café appeared to be in flames, courtesy of digital effects. Above the Man happened to be a billboard by Ketel One vodka, somehow appropriately stating: “A bottle for your thoughts.”

I spoke with Best at the party, who told me he had just returned from Detroit, where a similar temple had been built as a permanent structure in a tiny park. He plans to go back and turn an additional three acres into an amphitheater “in an economically challenged community.” He said, “My excitement now is to go out into the community and build with regional groups.”

The documentary DVD and soundtrack CD is available for purchase at (415) 492-1623.