ron fricke - director and cinematographer of baraka, chronos, samsara, koyyanisqatsi

Ron Fricke - director and cinematographer of Baraka, Chronos, Sams... http://www.spiritofbaraka.com/fricke.aspx

1 of 5 3/5/08 12:43 PM

Spirit of BarakaCelebrating nonverbal films like Baraka, Koyaanisqatsi, Microcosmos and the people whomade them

Translate:

Bookmark:

Baraka

Make a Horror MovieGet your idea funded and produced through our film production network www.massify.com

Buy Baraka DVDBuy the DVD on sale. Free shipping. Order now and save. Low prices. www.amazon.com

OurStage Movie CommunityPromote Your Movie On OurStage To Get Exposure To The Film Industry. www.OurStage.com

Unbelievable Movie"The Bank Job". Based On London's Most Infamous Robbery. Out Friday! www.TheBankJobMovie.com


2 of 5 3/5/08 12:43 PM

HomeShopNewsletter

FilmsIntroductionBarakaSamsaraChronosKoyaanisqatsiPowaqqatsiNaqoyqatsiMicrocosmosWinged MigrationDogoraAta WhenuaAtlantisLucky People Centre International

Anima Mundi1 Giant LeapGenesisFascinating Nature

Films in production

Savage Eden

Independant films

Short films & trailers

AeonTimescapeTime after TimeMujaan

DocumentariesIntroductionMarch of thePenguins

The Blue PlanetThe Life of Mammals

ArticlesThe Qatsi trilogyHistory of nonverbal films

PeopleRon FrickeGodfrey ReggioMark MagidsonPhilip GlassMichael Stearns

MagazinesNational Geographic

Ron FrickeRon Fricke, the creator of Baraka, thecinematographer and editor on Godfrey Reggio's Koyaanisqatsi .He then devised, directed, edited and co-producedChronos in 1985. Chronos showed the beginnings ofFricke's passion that was to become Baraka.In 1986 Fricke created the IMAX film Sacred Site. A 7 minute film of Halley's Comet over Ayers Rock ,Australia.

Baraka was released in 1992, a film that took 14months to film and a reported 5 years to devise.In December '98 he left Atlas films to concentrate on making IMAX films,a passion Fricke had long been cultivating.

A description (thought to be written by Ron Fricke himself)Ron Fricke is a meticulous filmmaker who has mastered a wide range of skills. This versatility allows him to carefully sculpt his films during eachphase of their development. He immerses himself completely in everystage of production, wrestling with the broad philosophical conceptsthat underlie his films, designing sophisticated equipment, framing eachshot as if it were a painting, editing and color timing the finished print.

In his early work as director of photography, co-editor and co-writer for"Koyaanisqatsi", a renowned nonverbal art film, Fricke experimentedwith many previously obscure film techniques. He used time-lapse, slowmotion and optical phase printing to present familiar images from a newperspective. "Koyaanisqatsi" won a 1983 Filex Audience Award.

Indulging his passion for 70mm, and determined to make life affirmingfilms, Fricke proceeded to direct and co-produce "Chronos", an innovative, nonverbal, IMAX film that won the Grand prix du jury Award at the first Festival International Omnimax de Paris (1987). For "Chronos" Fricke designed an IMAX compatible camera with the capacity to shoot motioncontrolled images, a revolutionary concept in the IMAX industry. Frickegained experience on several other IMAX films including "Sacred Site"(1986) which he directed and photographed.

"Baraka", Fricke's latest creation, is a nonverbal feature filmphotographed in (65mm) 70mm in over 20 countries. It develops the themes of interconnection and transcendence, which Fricke began toexplore in "Chronos", ""Baraka" is a journey of rediscovery that plunges into nature, into history, into the human spirit and finally into the realmof the infinite". In order to capture the exquisite rotating star fields inthe film's finale, Fricke designed and built a more flexible and complexversion of the (65mm) 70mm time-lapse camera he designed for"Chronos". Fricke directed, photographed, co-edited and co-wrote"Baraka" (1992).

"Samsara" will be a visual quest that explores the cycle of birth, deathand rebirth. "I feel that my work has evolved through "Koyaanisqatsi","Chronos" and "Baraka", says Fricke. "Both technically and philosophically I am ready to delve even deeper into my favorite theme: humanity'srelationship to the eternal".

FilmsKoyaanisqatsi (Cinematographer and editor)Chronos (Director, cinematographer, editor and co-producer) Sacred Site (Director, cinematographer, editor, producer)Baraka (Director, cinematographer, co-editor and co-producer)Samsara

Koyaanisqatsi

Dogora

Winged Migration

Chronos

Powaqqatsi

Microcosmos

Naqoyqatsi


3 of 5 3/5/08 12:43 PM

Spirit of BarakaNewsFAQForumScreeningsWrite a reviewGuestbookDonateContactContributeAboutLinksSite MapBlog

NowRon Fricke is currently working on a sequel to Baraka entitled Samsara.

CommentsPlease leave your own comment about this page

Superb cinematography. - Agathiyar from Malaysia, Multimedia University (Cyberjaya) - 12-Dec-2007I think Ron Fricke is a genius. We had this documentary screening in our class few weeks a go and this non verbal film is mind blowing. Really fantastic! Being an actor my self, I could not imagine how srtessful and offort it would been to make a masterpiece such as this. Hats off!!

The Baraka Experience - Ajai Narendran from Amrita University, India - 11-Dec-2007Watching Baraka was an initiation into exploring ones roots while becoming an integral part of a pattern that connects. True to the name , Baraka will remain a 'Blessing' bestowed on all those who long todiscover / add more meaning to their existence. I fervently wish and hope that Ron Fricke will some day produce such a masterpiece on India as well exploring this unique land's rich cultural diversity and spiritual legacy...and then i am sure the term 'unique' will assuming a new meaning pointing to 'shared legacy' latent in every tradition.

an comment from india - Charles from India - 01-Nov-2007Excellent Film, a life journery with eyes of camera... I watched it three time and will watch more.... definitely it is an master of creativity....

Thought-provoking... - Rebekah from Australia - 24-Sep-2007We had to watch Baraka and analyse for a assessment piece, and I actually enjoyed it, so many things can be made of it, implied, and everyone has a different perspective. All in all, it's probably the best made movie-documentary I have seen, or ever will see.

Masterpiece.. - blue from paris and montreal - 26-Jul-2007This is the only movie i've ever went to see about 9 or 10 times (!!!) in the theater when it came out. The ticket lady was almost "oh no, not him again" :-) Too bad we have to wait more than 10 years to get to see a newmasterpiece from Ron.

Baraka - Mark from Toronto - 13-Jun-2007This is by far the most inspiring, thought provoking, and life alteringmovie i have ever seen. No movie captures "the bigger picture" in life as well as this one. Thank you Ron Fricke for all the thoughts and feelings you've given us in what I consider the most important piece of art ever created in our time.

Baraka - Jules from London - 14-Mar-2007Baraka has been nestled in my film collection (first as a video, then as a DVD) for nearly 10 years now and in terms of an inspiring spectacle there's still nothing to rival it. If Samsara is even half as good then I'll enjoy it. Looking forward to it.

baraka - tina from Georgia - 12-Mar-2007baraka is a great film. when I watched baraka the first time and waslistening wonderful music, suddenly i discover that georgian song isincluding also. i am from georgia and when i heard song in my native language, i was really happy. the whole film is wonderfull. thank youvery much. i wish to have all nonverbal films. tina from tbilisi,georgia.12.03.2007

March of the Penguins

The Blue Planet

1 Giant Leap

What the Bleep Do We Know!?


4 of 5 3/5/08 12:43 PM

The Early Days - L. Hamilton from Weatherford,OK - 09-Mar-2007I met Ron thru my art teacher in high school (R. Roadruck). Ron was stillin Southwestern College and shooting a film that needed a motorcycle, I just happened to have one. Ron sat filming from a boom he made fromlumber and a rock counterweight, Roadruck operated the boom and I rode the bike wearing nothing but boots, sunglasses and a wool cap.Went to see the finished product and it was unbelievable. I to, like EAMonroe wonder if it still exists, I would sure like to see it again. Thisall happened in 1969. Fricke and Roadruck so inspred me in art that Ihave made it my life, I have been doing metal sculpture for a living since 1974. Thanks Ron!

Thank You - Shea from Memphis, tn - 02-Dec-2006There are only so many things that can stir us so perfectly. Your effortsand films do this and for that I am eternally grateful.

Unbelievable - Haroon Sheikh from Pakistan - 29-Sep-2006I cant even begin to describe my feelings after i saw the movie. Its something so simple, yet, it just leaves u breathless, unable to move, physically and mentally for long time. To pour in so much emotionalcontent into a movie without any dialouges and modern digital grafix is absolutly superb.The music is just as fantatic as the movie. All praises to Mr Ron. I am a huge fan and will be posting my comments from time to time as i believe i have so much more to say. Best wishes for the next one!

Speachless.. - Ciro from Miami, FL. - 18-Sep-2006Just finished watching Baraka. It really touched my inner being, my soul.Thank you for taking me places I would other wise never have seen. I amso glad I was able to have my HD system to really enjoy every detail.Really made me think of every thing. How lucky we are...Or are we really? Great job Mr. Fricke.(What Cinematogrophy..Wow!!) When do you think "Samsara" will be released?

Your nwst fan. Ciro

Ron Fricke, The Early Days - EA Monroe from Norman, OK - 08-Sep-2006I went to school with Ron at Southwestern State in Weatherford, OK. I remember the artistry of his student films. He was always the innovator, the artist and everyone loved being a part of his films and couldn't wait to see his next masterpiece. He probably doesn't remember a fledging art student running around the art building though. It's been interesting watching his career from student film maker to professional. I wonder if he still has his student films?

Bumped into him in Egypt - brarob from San Francisco - 02-Jun-2006I actually bumped into Mr. Fricke and his film crew in 1992 when they were filming in Egypt. There's no one else who has ever come close to capturing the true essence of some of the locations he filmed in. He's fantastic.

what words cannot - anna blash from miami - 26-May-2006I have never felt so alive, bakara.

namaste:) - A from Moldova - 09-May-2006I could never imagine anyone can go on living after creating something so beautiful, so true and so ... huge ("Baraka"), this looks like a fulfilledlifetime mission already! Now I can't wait to become acquainted with "Samsara" and really hope it will be out soon.

Namaste, Sir Ron:)


5 of 5 3/5/08 12:43 PM

Baraka - Mr. Lee Fisher from Pennslyvania USA - 14-Apr-2006Thanks great

^ Back To Top Spirit of Baraka is Copyright © 2001-2007 spiritofbaraka.com, all other resources areCopyright of the originatorsThis page has been visited 74697 times, and was last modified on Monday, September 10, 2007

ron fricke - director and cinematographer of baraka, chronos, samsara, koyyanisqatsi

Documents