COMMONFOLK films
VISIT
The Dreaming Buddhas Project is a series of documentary short films on Buddhist Life in Modern China - crafted for educators as a supplement to classroom lectures and readings. The films are narrated by characters on-location: masters, monastics and laypeople who give voice to their communities and traditions. These films offer real images and sounds of daily life, ritual and practice in China’s most respected, yet undocumented Buddhist communities. Alms and Vows are now available for purchase w/ academic license.
Produced and Directed by Edward A. Burger
“We do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.”
Hagar Vietnam is an international NGO dedicated to supporting women survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. I am currently producing two new short videos for HAGAR Vietnam, exploring moments of transformation and transition in the process of deep healing at the core of Hagar’s programs.
See one of my previous HAGAR Vietnam videos HERE
AVAILABLE NOW
Part One of the DREAMING BUDDHAS series, this film enters mindful moments of life in a Chan Buddhist monastery - as seen through the eyes of the Head Chef
AVAILABLE NOW
Part Two of the DREAMING BUDDHAS series, VOWS, tells the story of ordination and discipline in Chinese Buddhism, narrated by first-hand accounts from monks and the Senior Prior of Bailin Monastery, Hebei Province, China
is a PLAN International project: I edited this short video produced by Hanoi-based filmmaker Paul Zetter. Watch it HERE
Other projects with Paul include work with:
UNICEF
PACT
ILO Vietnam
HealthRight International
RECENT WORK
CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION
In a small hilltop hamlet in Shaanxi Province, a group of storytellers, musicians and puppet masters perform shadow puppet theater to celebrate special occasions, appease ghosts and send thanks to wish-granting spirits. Farmers by day, these skilled artists wash their hands each night to take their place upon the stage of China’s history and heritage. But modernity lays it’s heavy hand upon this ancient art. Director Edward Burger takes us into the world of shadows with a storybook narrative and a documentary portrait of this art-form's modern-day struggle to survive. Produced by Cosmos Pictures, Canada.
PAST WORKS
Amongst White Clouds is a look at the lives of zealot students, gaunt ascetics and wise masters living in isolated hermitages dotting the peaks and valleys of China's Zhongnan Mountain range. One of only a few foreigners to have lived and studied with these hidden sages, Burger reveals to us their tradition, their wisdom, and the hardship and joy of their everyday lives. With both humor and compassion, these inspiring and warm-hearted characters challenge us to join them in an exploration of our own suffering and enlightenment in this modern world. Produced by Cosmos Pictures, Canada.
NEWS
VOWS is ready to ship! Looking for first-hand stories of commitment, discipline and ordination in Chinese Buddhism to share with your students this semester? Place your order HERE.
Check out the ALMS Companion page and ALMS trailer. I’m using Vimeo embedding for easier viewing.
ALMS has been selected for the Society for Visual Anthropology Film Festival in San Francisco this November 14-17
ALMS will screen at the American Academy of Religion annual meeting in Chicago this year, November 19 @ 8pm
AMONGST WHITE CLOUDS THAILAND premiere in BANGKOK weekend of June 8-10
A BUDDHIST FILM FOUNDATION IBFF event
AMONGST WHITE CLOUDS screening at THE INNER PATH BUDDHIST FILM FESTIVAL in New Delhi, India April 27 - May 1. I’ll be attending!
Festival hosted by NETPAC Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema and Deyki Foundation
Visit the new COMMONFOLKblog. It’s a new space for ideas and images from the making of my films
AMONGST WHITE CLOUDS screening at the BUDDHIST FILM FOUNDATION festival in Hong Kong March 16-25 at the new ASIA SOCIETY HONG KONG CENTER
ALMS screening @ ASSOCIATION OF ASIAN STUDIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE March 16. Screenings are organized by the ASIAN EDUCATIONAL MEDIA SERVICE
"Burger has proven his ability to capture the heart of Chinese Buddhist practice and offer detailed and beautiful accounts of daily existence within this tradition."
Michael Walsh, Vassar College
Gearing up for RIO + 20
Paul Zetter and I worked with UNICEF and partners in Quang Binh on an exciting participatory video project with youth from that area. See the video I helped them edit from their footage here:
See my short-film on Participatory Video Facilitation w/ Paul Zetter
© 2012 E.A. Burger
