Under the Electric Screen

It’s a regular weeknight in May at Los Angeles’ Universal CityWalk. Families crowd around the blinding lights of the Hard Rock Cafe, teenage lovebirds walk hand-in-hand under the massive Jumbotron, and tourists snap endless selfies at surgically calculated angles. Across the way, friends jet through the Cinema Stadium AMC doors on their way to the Angelina Jolie vehicle, Maleficent.

Through the power of the internet, social media, and old-school grassroots promotions, Headliners are now able to bring the worldwide phenomenon of EDC to their backyards to share with friends, relatives and their own rave families.

A few feet over, the line of moviegoers is out the door. There’s an air of excitement, a hoard of smiles, and lots of shiny kandi—not the kind you buy at the concessions stands, mind you. These fans, donning full rave gear, draw blank stares from the average-looking movie buffs and passersby. But these kids are used to it. They stand united, proudly and brightly. They’re all here for the same reason: To share an experience together Under the Electric Sky.

Much like the event itself, Under the Electric Sky—the newly released documentary on mega EDM festival Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas—focuses on the experience and puts the fans’ adventures at the forefront. Now, the film gives that same principle new meaning.

This year, Insomniac partnered with web platform Tugg to allow Headliners to host screenings in their hometown theaters. Through the power of the internet, social media, and old-school grassroots promotions, Headliners are now able to bring the worldwide phenomenon of EDC to their backyards to share with friends, relatives, and their own rave families.

“There are no real films or anything out there that portray the scene better than what this did,” says Al Morales. “It’s definitely an important piece of the puzzle.”

When tickets to his local screening sold out, Morales, a graphic designer in Los Angeles, took it upon himself to host his own. He attended his first EDC last year, when Under the Electric Sky was filmed, and for him, this was the best way to relive those memories.

Such is the case, too, for Angeleno Cynthia Ramos. When tickets to her nearby showing became unavailable, she launched a full-fledged social media campaign to bring friends and family to her screening.

Interestingly, both Morales and Ramos sold more tickets online to complete strangers—more than 90 percent each to total unknowns—than they did to their own personal networks. Still, the 100+ people attending both sold-out showings all bonded under one screen, and under one mission.

“The film shows how everybody is different, but once you’re there, you come together like one,” says Ramos.

While the stunning cinematography, the rainbow of constant colors, and the perfectly curated soundtrack bring the film to life, its true beauty lies in the storytelling. Under the Electric Sky documents the EDC experience through six unique narratives—just a minuscule sample of the hundreds of thousands of fans that flood the Las Vegas Motor Speedway every year—and allows the characters to do the storytelling.

“It’s a different insight to what the event is about,” says superfan Rafael Oliva, aka Lamat, who’s gone to every single EDC since 1997. Lamat is dressed to the rave nines—in what looks like silver PLUR samurai armor and a Chiquita Banana-inspired hat—with buttered popcorn in one hand and a personal pizza in the other. It’s Lamat’s first time watching Under the Electric Sky, and tonight is extra-special for him, as he makes a cameo during the film’s intro. “It’s a new way of showing the art. It has transformed into a whole different thing. It’s not just the event anymore.”

With each distinct narrative featured in Under the Electric Sky, EDC alumni get a fresh, never-before-seen perspective of the festival directly through the fan experience. As told through the view of fellow festivalgoers, the film highlights the different stories that create the overall EDC experience, with an exclusive inside look into the technical, logistical and historical creation of the event. On the flipside, the film introduces the wonderful world of EDC to virgin ravers for the first time.

“The fact that it follows different individuals around, you see how they experience EDC differently versus everybody else,” says Morales. “You see EDC through somebody else’s eyes.”

Four miles south, Insomniac is hosting the movie’s official premiere at the famed ArcLight Cinemas, in full Hollywood glitz and glamour. But the real party is back at the CityWalk, where fans are hooting, hollering and fist-pumping their way through the film. They’ve all gathered together to share a unique journey, with some newcomers getting their first taste of EDC.

Toward the front of the theater, a fan stands during a loud aerial performance shot and forms the ubiquitous rave heart with his hands. Under the Electric Sky has never looked better than through the lights and music flying between his palms.

All photos by Dustin Downing