Work in progress: The Machine
The Machine is a brooding, "fly on the wall" mid-length documentary film that transports you to an oil & gas rig off the coast of Alaska. Its tempered pace, minimalistic soundtrack and striking visuals pull the viewer into a world they probably know little about and yet depend on for their modern way of life. There is a strange, ironic tension in the truth that the oil and gas industry has given rise to modern technology as we know it, and yet now threatens our ability to enjoy its conveniences
Total runtime: TBD, Status: Post-production
How it Happened
In 2012, we approached a small start up energy company with the idea of documenting life on the rig for a possible television series. The series never got off the ground for logistical reasons, but the company ended up hiring my team as videographers between 2012 and 2015. I saw it as both a professional and journalistic project, capturing footage which served both purposes.
The Team
Dan McComb is the principal photographer for The Machine. Dan is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker with a long list of high profile clients. His work as a photojournalist has appeared in newspapers and magazines including Time and Newsweek. Some of his more recent work as a director of photography was for Emmy-winning director Michael King and two-time Oscar nominee Kirby Dick.
Lisa Cooper assisted in producing and provided sound for the project. She is currently a senior producer for a creative agency that specializes in branding, marketing and story-telling.