You might think it a weird
career move to have gone from directing broadcast arts
documentaries to volunteering one's skills for the US
Forest Service for $80 a week, but it was an unforgettable
experience, one in which I seem to return to again and
again for inspiration on projects.
In 1998 I lived in California for six months with my then
partner. I was commissioned by the US Forest Service,
during a volunteership, to make use of my film making
skills and make a short documentary for P.B.S. (Public
Broadcasting Service) about Native American rock art in a
very particular part of Northern California - The Lava Beds
National Monument - and a whole heap of places where X
marks the spot.
So, for several months I drove a 4x4 jeep around virtually
inaccessible trails, dirt tracks and places that required
another hour or two of bi-ped rambling to locate a scratch
on a rock here, or a strange marking there. I'd film it, my
partner would draw it and we'd return to base. This usually
took ten hours of any day. My map reading skills began to
ascend a near-vertical learning curve. We were using 40
year old archeological records, which although reasonably
detailed didn't allow for how the landscape changes over
years. A forest fire, or weeds and trees blocking entrances
to locations.
But a film got finished. My life was very "Northern
Exposure-esque" during this time and I edited it in San
Fransisco over a two week period. It had it's premiere in a
genuine Wild West Saloon Bar and it was standing room
only.