The Man Will Burn Docuseries Coming to HBO in July
The HBO Original four-part documentary series The Man Will Burn, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Jehane Noujaim (HBO’s The Vow, The Vow Part II) and Vikram Gandhi (Kūmāré, Barry), and produced by Muriel Soenens, debuts Thursday, July 9, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. Subsequent episodes will debut Thursdays at the same time.
Since its beginning in 1986, Burning Man has grown from its anarchic counterculture roots in San Francisco to a globally recognized spectacle. Each year, 80,000 self-styled “Burners” congregate in the Nevada desert to create music, art, and connection, raise temples, join a spiritual movement centered on community, and take part in a modern American cultural experiment.
Following the organization through several years of unprecedented turmoil, The Man Will Burn follows a movement pushed to its limits as it strives to stay operational while staying true to its core values.
With exclusive access to Burning Man Project (BMP) leadership and years of video archives, the series offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the event, chronicling the extensive preparation of staff and volunteers and highlighting different artists and “Burners” who connect deeply to the spiritual experience – from the act of raising a temple to the release of a Mad Max-style Thunderdome.
As BMP CEO Marian Goodell navigates COVID-19, a renegade event, and antediluvian rains, new pressures emerge. The rise of social media influencers at the event and an influx of Big Tech money threaten the community spirit integral to Burning Man, risking it becoming a victim of its own success.
The featured participants include Burning Man CEO, Marian Goodell; board members including Farhad Mohit, Kimbal Musk, and Nushin Sabet; and founders, Harley DuBois, Larry Harvey, John Law, Michael Mikel, Crimson Rose, and Will Roger.
There’s also Burning Man Project staff, including Stuart Mangrum, Tony Perez, and Bryant Tan; artists and camp founders, including Quill Hyde, Marisa Lenhardt, and Michelle Murphy; and “Burners,” including Zach Bell, Sergey Brin, Ray Christian, Sergio Garcia, Lindsay Handren, Justin Kan, Zoe Nightingale, and Grover Norquist.
HBO Documentary Films is presenting, in association with Double Agent, Noujaim Films, and The Othrs, a series by Jehane Noujaim and Vikram Gandhi. Directed by Jehane Noujaim and Vikram Gandhi, the series is produced by Muriel Soenens, Catie Bolt, Eric Forman, Paul McGuire, and Jillian Li.
The executive producers are Nina Fialkow, David Fialkow, Nushin Sabet, Farhad Mohit, Kristín Ólafsdóttir, Thor Björgólfsson, Lyn Lear, Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer, Geralyn Dreyfous, and Vikram Gandhi.
The executive producers for Double Agent are Dana O’Keefe, Yariv Milchan, Teddy Schwarzman, Michael Heimler, Natalie Lehmann, and Emily Selinger. For HBO, the executive producers are Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez.
THE MAN WILL BURN EPISODES
Episode 1: “The Great Unknown”
Debut date: THURSDAY, JULY 9 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Burning Man grows from an anti-establishment group in San Francisco, founded by Larry Harvey in the 1980s, to a multi-million-dollar event with thousands of attendees and the backing of billionaire tech donors. First-time “Burners” look forward to the experience, while repeat attendees and organizers prep for the unpredictable as COVID-19 threatens the event.
Episode 2: “Welcome To The Sh*t Show”
Debut date: THURSDAY, JULY 16 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Burning Man is canceled for the second year in a row. A renegade group of “Burners” hold their own event in the desert, and, to many, the Renegade Burn feels like a return to the event’s origins, and exposes complex dynamics within the leadership.
Episode 3: “Waking Dreams”
Debut date: THURSDAY, JULY 23 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Burning Man is back in full force with the musicians, singers, and artists that create and run the spectacular art installations. A growing unease resurges among the creatives who fear that the advent of social media influencers and the influx of tech money threaten the original philosophy of the Burning Man community spirit.
Episode 4: “Mud Burn”
Debut date: THURSDAY, JULY 30 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Burning Man is threatened by days of rain and chaos. Many attendees flee the muddy terrain as the government steps in to ensure their safety.
