Ted Burger's Remarkable Journey Culminates with Documentary Film

Amongst White Clouds, a feature-length documentary by Wooster alumnus Ted Burger '98, will debut Oct. 8 and 10 in Mill Valley, Calif.

WOOSTER, Ohio - Ted Burger's decision to major in religious studies at The College of Wooster has taken him on a remarkable journey, including a semester in India through a Buddhist studies program. After earning his degree in 1998, Burger spent the next five years living in China, where he became fluent in Chinese Mandarin and accomplished in the art of filmmaking. Eventually, he put those experiences together to create "Amongst White Clouds," a feature-length documentary that will premier Oct. 8 and 10 in Mill Valley, Calif., through a joint presentation by the International Buddhist Film Festival and the Mill Valley Film Festival.

Produced by Cosmos Pictures, Inc., and filmed in China's Zhongnan Mountain range, "Amongst White Clouds" is an inside look at the hidden lives of China's forgotten Zen Buddhist hermit tradition, thought to have vanished long ago. The film introduces masters living in isolation in the peaks and valleys of the mountains, where recluses have resided since the time of the Yellow Emperor and where many of China's Zen Buddhist masters attained enlightenment. Burger returned time and again to live and study in these remote dwellings and bring their tradition and wisdom as well as their hardship and joy to the screen.

Burger first became interested in the topic after reading "Road to Heaven," a book by Bill Porter that told of this ancient hermit tradition still in existence deep in the mountains of central China. Hoping to meet and learn from these Zen Buddhist masters, Burger set out to find the monks and a master willing to teach him, but first he had to learn Chinese, so he enrolled in language studies at Stanford University, CET at Harbin, and eventually Beijing University. Burger went out into rural central China, navigating mountain trails and looking for traces of smoke from huts. Finally, he found a master who would teach him.

"I'd spent many years studying the books and trying to do meditation, but I needed a teacher, and he accepted me," said Burger. "I was nervous at first, being so far out in the mountains, but it didn't take long for me to really feel part of that place, and feel that very precious master-disciple relationship forming."

Burger spent the next five years living between Beijing, where he worked as a translator for foreign film crews, and in the mountains with his master. Equipped with a thorough knowledge of these hermit Zen masters and their tradition, Burger decided to make his first film. "So few people in the world have access to these monks or their tradition," said Burger. "I wanted to be able to share their way of life and wisdom."

While gathering and editing footage, Burger met Chad Pankewitz of Cosmos Pictures through mutual friends, and the partnership led to the documentary, which will convey this fascinating story to viewers around the globe.

For more information about the movie, including trailers and show times, visit the film's website. For tickets and festival information about the premiere, visit the festival website or call +1 925.866.9559 for tickets by phone.