Chelsea Lupkin
Open your mind to the mystical world of Mount Shasta, California, where both locals and distant travelers make mecca to the mountain in search for spiritual transcendence. Back to delight us again with his new documentary Telos of Bust, Short of the Week alum Brad Abrahams (Do You See What I See?) dives into the altogether strange and uniquely American folklore surrounding a little known town tucked away in Northern California. A wonderfully in-depth omniscient perspective of believers and skeptics, Telos or Bust is a charming exploration of the myths, beliefs, and spiritual tourism surrounding this sacred site.
“I am obsessed with stories that let us probe the nature of belief”
Interdimensional portals, higher beings, and UFOs are common subjects of Abrahams’ documentary work, so it’s no surprise that he has found such an interesting subculture to investigate. “I am obsessed with stories that let us probe the nature of belief, particularly in the domains of folklore/mythology, conspiracies, fringe science, and the supernatural,” Abrahams explains. Having an incredible knack for finding compelling individuals for his films, it’s easy to be swept away into the psyche of his characters, no matter how strange their beliefs might be. After all, who are we to say that Telos, an inner earth city located in the volcanic lava tubes under Mount Shasta doesn’t exist?
To Abrahams, it’s important to approach his interviewees with care and respect, offering them a safe space to express themselves in a truly authentic way. “I always approach my subjects with a nonjudgmental and human lens, with the goal of creating empathy with a general audience.” This is precisely what makes Telos or Bust so magical: it’s easy to get on board with folks who might seem like delusional happy hippies because they are just so endearing to watch. Frankly, if I was led away by one of the mystics with a few crystals in search of a secret entrance to a paradise city, I’d be all for it.
“We made this film as a window into a little-know but living and breathing uniquely American folklore story” – director Brad Abrahams
Playfully engaging, Abrahams uses a combination of mixed media, utilizing interviews, found footage, and animation to introduce the spiritual vortex of Mount Shasta and its citizens. “For the interviews and verité moments, we filmed with Canon C70s and nature shots were captured through timelapse and drone. There are some super8 moments as well. The cave footage was processed with displacement maps to give it a surreal feel and 2D animation was used to tell the history of the Telos myth.” A wonderfully visual documentary with an otherworldly score, Telos or Bust is as much an exploration of Mount Shasta’s bizarre origin story as it is an investigation into the psychology of its worshipers.
Premiering at the Fantasia International Film Festival, before screening at Slamdance, Palm Springs ShortFest, Fantastic Fest, and Beyond Fest, Telos or Bust is a pilot for Abrahams’ upcoming docuseries Keep Folklore Alive, featuring episodes about cryptids, aliens, and many more strange beings you’ve probably never heard of.