Brewer and Berg win Big in Hawaii!
A review by Pila Chiles
The Big Island’s 2nd annual Aloha Spirit Film Festival Audience Choice Award goes to “Out & About - A Multidimensional Travelogue”
The sleeper hit at Hawaii’s Aloha Spirit Film Festival was the wild, controversial and raucous: “Out & About with Brewer & Berg - A Multidimensional Travelogue”, which was honored with the Audience Choice Award.
Audiences at the Big Island Aloha Spirit Film Festival were stunned by a new cinematic experience, the screening of the highly intellectual and thought-provoking ‘multidimensional-travelogue’, Out & About, starring Michael Brewer and Thomas Alan Berg.
Tempting as it may be to place this film in the documentary genre; it blows the boundaries (and obliterates archaic thinking), and truly is a multidimensional experience. “Out & About” is more than a travelogue, it is a philosophic discussion on metaphysical racing wheels, that cross the boundaries of time and challenge all outdated beliefs and thought systems. And who are your mystical guides? Two effable, gay gurus! No one ever dreamed that enlightenment could be such raucous fun!
One of the Big Island audience participants trying, but failing to contain his guffaws was Pila Chiles, author of the International best-seller, “The Secrets & Mysteries of Hawaii – A Call to the Soul”. As the applause rose to crescendo in closing credits, Chiles grabbed the microphone, proclaiming Thomas Alan Berg and Michael Brewer ‘rebel elves of the New Paradigm’ …obviously sent here from the future to poke holes in all our sacred cows!”
Indeed, these ‘Sacred Cow Pokes’ dare to corral and brandish a bold new look at what is no longer valid in civilization’s "organizing myths". ... all the while entertaining forbidden possibilities of your own divinity!
Yep, it’s time to tip your Stetsons to the new bull riding "champions of bliss!”
The route taken into the world of filmmaking by Michael Brewer and Thomas Alan Berg, is as unconventional as the film itself. Best friends for over 25 years, they pursued the same uncommon course of study, researching the fields of psychology, mythology, history, art, religion and quantum physics! A quest for arcane knowledge that kept them close for two and a half decades, while living half a world apart! Berg resides primarily in California. Multilingual Brewer has dual-residency and enjoys a home base in Switzerland.
It was a meeting of the minds in Fire Island’s Cherry Grove that triggered it all, just before the event that changed the world, 9/11. Unaware of the ominous day that would be the turning point for Western civilization; a spirit prevailed that evening that can only be described by evoking an image of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney’s enthusiasm to put on their own show from the film classic, Summer Stock. All the clichés were there when Tom and Michael sat on the deck overlooking the Atlantic: a rainbow flag fluttering in the ocean air behind a plaster copy of Michelangelo's David. (This too was an omen, as film-wise fans now know.) They laughed in the realization that they indeed had something unique to share with the world. Two gay men, best friends, and an impressive course of study combined with a veritable treasure chest of experience between them. “We should make a movie or a television show”, they bellowed half in jest to the starry night, in thoughts that the gods of old may be listening. Was it the combination of the happy mood and the sound of the waves… and David’s cute archetypal butt, or was it indeed, divine inspiration? The conversation rose to a feverish pitch of excitement about the possibilities of such a controversial and outrageous film or show. Laughter turned to serious thought of the new idea’s potential and far-reaching consequence. In a toast to the starry universe, both agreed that film and television media offered the most powerful conduit for the new dream. That toast marked the birth of the “Out & About” series with Brewer & Berg and from then on no sacred cow was ever to be entirely safe again.
Like pirates of the Caribbean, Brewer and Berg immediately began planning adventures to exotic locations around the world. In the beginning, it was just two guys and a digital video camera, traveling throughout Switzerland and across the Alps to Italy, gleaning and learning as they went, with no set script and just the seed of an idea. Inspired epiphanies began to ‘bubble up’ early on, from experiences encountered along the way. Sometimes pensive, other times irreverently funny, always entertaining, they began to capture the “collage of the human experience”, both visually and intellectually, fostering a new view from ‘the high mountain’ of the new emerging paradigm of being. The unspoken yearning of the human soul, so desperately needed on our planet, began to find a voice. The ‘seedling’ had begun to sprout into something beyond porch conversations on a starry night. It was the stuff of mustard seeds, mighty oaks and whispers of a new tree of life!
Tom’s 40 years of public school teaching immediately projected through on film, without script, the natural orator, in the clear expression of a Master. While the collage theme became a kaleidoscope of synergy under the apt hand of Michael Brewer's creative editing. The CalArts graduate reveals his graphics roots, in a magnificent dance of imagery, that pops in and out of the screen, underlining every topic of discussion. It’s a journey all right, and the audience has to sit on the edge of their seats, just to try and keep up. This is not a film for low IQs! Yet, there’s a real down to earth quality to the experience. Some refer to the style as ‘technical naiveté’, which peeks through the cracks now and then, but which in my opinion, not only adds to the charm, but even gives a down-home feeling of being “included”, as opposed to the old way of watching a big budget production “from the outside of the experience”. The music score is as eclectic as Brewer and Berg themselves, grabbing the reigns on impossible diverse elements, from all directions, bringing them together into one fast-moving, yet coherent romp through realms of leading edge thought. A friend of Pila’s and fellow Oklahoman, Astronaut Gordon Cooper put it best. “Ya got ta hang loose to enjoy the ride!”
At September’s Aloha Spirit Film Festival press interview, Michael Brewer was cornered on the controversy of his bold approach. He is quoted as saying, “We welcome, honor and support the increased visibility in recent years of gay men and lesbians in books, films and television, Ellen Degeneres, Will & Grace, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Rosie O’Donnell and many others. Tom & I have looked back to find evidence of roles for gay men that go beyond the entertainer, fashion-guru, artist, cook or clown. In many traditional societies, gay men were shamans and visionaries who led the people. In that older light, we seek to explore and redefine our role in society.”
Tom Berg stated, “As gay men, we have a unique view above and beyond the customary societal roles. We have all had to learn to create ourselves. Michael and I are about searching for a new paradigm big enough to embrace the extraordinary vision and wisdom that gay men have to offer."
“Throughout history there has been a little understood ‘indicator of greatest’ in the few, truly evolved societies of civilization.. Our best example was the Ancient Greek Society, in its focus on the arts, beyond war, known throughout history as our ‘Golden Age’. That indicator of mystery, we now refer to modern society as our “Gay element”. Tribal peoples referred to these ‘special members’ as mirrors, and bridges between the sexes, often honoring them in their abilities to heal and teach, whether they chose the role of warrior or mentor’.”
Pila of Hawaii, “The Last Rainbow”
Follow up: “Out & About with Brewer & Berg – A Multidimensional Travelogue”, is now available at amazon.com. Michael Brewer and Tom Berg, always at the service of “spontaneity” and inspired by the mystery and “chicken skin” of the Big Island, chose to stay over, shooting extensive footage for their new film on location in Hawaii. It is to be the story of a 10-day adventure, in which they discover a “common bond” with the ancient gods of Hawaii, and their own journey of discovery in search of a New Paradigm.
Now in post-production, the anticipated release of “Out & About with Brewer & Berg in Hawaii” is 2007, to be premiered on the Big Island. The announcement of the upcoming new release was greeted with a standing ovation at the Aloha Spirit Film Festival on September 17, 2006 in Kona, Hawaii.
Statement of Intention: It is the Mission Statement of Michael Brewer and Thomas Alan Berg to reach the widest possible audience with their series of multidimensional travelogues. “We invite you all to come along on an entirely different journey of excitement!” (Please remember to pack your parachutes properly. A good pair of Nike’s, plenty of drinking water, and the deluxe 9 battery cattle-prod are also recommended.)
Visit the Brewer & Berg website: at www.brewberg.com for more information, to view free film clips, and to purchase the DVD version of the film. “Out & About – A Multidimensional Travelogue is also now available for festival viewing. Qualified organizations please contact them for details. Review copies and film stills are available to qualified organizations upon request. The filmmakers, Brewer & Berg, are also available for interviews and will be coming to a planet near you soon!
