Winter Dzuud

This winter the nomadic Mongol herders suffered greatly. In some regions of the Gobi and throughout the country, fierce storms called dzuud covered the steppes and desert with much snow.
Mongolia is suffering economically from their climb out of Communism. Not long ago, under Soviet control, herders were forced to work on collective farms and given standard salaries. Now, with the crashing markets of cashmere and wool, two large exports, herders are taking on twice the amount of sheep they can protect from the elements and are having trouble finding adequate land for grazing. Thus, this winter, three million heads of livestock, including horses, sheep, cows, goats and hundreds of Mongolian people died tragically. They froze or starved or both.
We took a trip south of Ulan Baatar this last week, stumbling upon mountains of dead, frozen animals.

Soviet Inspirations

A mug shot of young STALIN, a Soviet Propaganda poster (an absolute favorite of mine) and a gathering of Soviet Soldiers as they prepare their march into Outer Mongolia.

Mongolian Images

Photographic Inspirations

Japanese Inspirations

The Japanese Empire was a huge influence on Mongolia in the 1930's and 1940's.

Dictators

Clockwise from top left: Japanese Emperor Hirohito, Manchuguo Emperor Pu Yi, Chinese Nationalist Leader Chiang Kaishek, and Soviet Communist leader Josef Stain.

All of these men were highly influential in the formation and destruction of Mongolia. All four are characters that will appear in the film.

TALES OF THE MILITANT GODLESS

After seven months in Mongolia, the land of militant Lamas and nomadic Warriors, I have come to the conclusion that my purpose here is to write and direct a film about the outrageously interesting and nauseatingly bloody history of the country's path to freedom. I have spent the better part of my time teaching English in a Mongolian-Russian school with an administration riddled with Communist charm. My escapes from the dirty, but colorful, frozen Soviet city of Ulan Baatar have been life changing. Days on end racing though the Mongolian steppes on dogsled, horseback or ancient Russian Jeep. Battling the winter chill (Ulan Baatar is the coldest capital city in the world) or spending long nights conversing with elders in yurts tucked into a mountain, far from another human's view.

This is my life here. And every day thus far has provided me with greater inspiration to tell their story. Not only of Chinggis Khan, the warrior we all know so well, but of the last thousand years and the wars they fought, brothers they betrayed, women they trusted, countries they conquered, and lives they lost to get to where they are today.

The film's working title is, 'Tales of the Militant Godless', named after Josef Stalin's 'League of the Militant Godless', a youth organization designed to destroy monasteries, temples, texts, and anything Buddhist in Mongolia.

I will be updating this site with excerpts from the script, photos, and progress of the film, as well as news from my life and travels in the center of Asia.