Daniel Northcott was a filmmaker, a traveler, a dreamer, and a seeker of truth. He spent nine years of his life exploring the world, filming everything he saw and felt, and trying to connect with humanity. He had a passion for ancient civilizations, especially the Mayans, and he wanted to understand their secrets and wisdom. He was also a brother, a son, a friend, and a lover, who touched many lives with his kindness, generosity, and spirit.
But Daniel’s life was cut short by a rare and aggressive form of leukemia, which he believed was caused by a curse he brought upon himself when he took a human bone from a sacred Mayan cave in Mexico. He died on June 20, 2009, at the age of 29, leaving behind over 1,000 hours of footage that he had filmed in 42 countries. He also left behind a dying wish: that his sister, Erin Northcott, would finish his film and share his story with the world.
A Journey of Discovery
Daniel was born on January 23, 1980, in Campbell River, Canada, to Tanya and Tom Northcott. He grew up in Vancouver with his older sister, Erin, who was his closest friend and confidant. He was a curious and creative child, who loved nature and animals, and who received his first video camera at the age of seven. He started filming everything around him, asking questions about life, death, and the meaning of existence.
Daniel Northcott was also a rebel and a risk-taker, who dropped out of high school a month before graduation and decided to travel the world with his sister. They spent a semester teaching English to children in Taiwan, and then Daniel continued his journey alone, visiting places like Cambodia, Egypt, India, Japan, and many others. He was fascinated by different cultures, religions, and traditions, and he wanted to capture the beauty and diversity of humanity on film. He also wanted to find his own purpose and identity and to express his feelings and thoughts through his art.
He was not a typical tourist, who stayed in hotels and followed guidebooks. He was an adventurer, who slept on the streets, hitchhiked, and befriended locals. He was not afraid of danger, violence, or poverty. He was drawn to the places where most people would not go, such as war zones, slums, and sacred sites. He was not interested in fame, money, or material possessions. He lived simply, carrying only his camera, his backpack, and his souvenirs, which included rocks, shells, crystals, and wood carvings.
He was also a romantic, who fell in love with a woman named Becca, whom he met in India. They had a long-distance relationship, and they planned to reunite and travel together. He was also a visionary, who had a grand idea for his film, which he called “The Circle Project”. He wanted to create a documentary that would show the interconnectedness of all life, and that would inspire people to live in harmony with each other and with nature.
A Twist of Fate
Daniel’s life changed dramatically in 2008 when he visited Mexico for the third time. He had a special attraction to the Mayan culture, and he wanted to learn more about their history, mythology, and prophecy. He heard about a cave in the Yucatan peninsula, where the Mayans had buried the remains of women and children who had been sacrificed to their gods. He was intrigued by this place, and he decided to explore it with a local guide.
He entered the cave, which was dark, damp, and eerie, and he saw hundreds of bones scattered on the ground. He felt a strange energy in the air, and he sensed that he was not welcome there. He was warned by his guide not to touch anything, as the Mayans believed that the bones had a powerful curse and that anyone who took them would suffer from bad luck or death. But Daniel was too curious and too reckless to heed the warning. He spotted a small, round bone, which looked like an orb, and he felt a connection to it. He thought it was a sign, and he decided to take it as a souvenir.
Daniel Northcott did not know that this act would seal his fate and that he would soon regret his decision. A few months later, he started feeling sick, and he was diagnosed with leukemia, a cancer of the bone marrow. He was shocked and devastated by the news, and he wondered if it was a coincidence or a consequence of his actions. He also wondered if he could reverse the curse and if he could return the bone to the cave. He tried to contact his guide, but he could not reach him. He tried to find the location of the cave, but he could not remember it. He felt trapped and helpless, and he realized that he had made a terrible mistake.
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— Ted Takes (@tedtakes) December 27, 2023
“Daniel Northcott began documenting his surroundings at 7 when he got his dad's video camera. He filmed his family and friends growing up then traveled, capturing meaningful moments with new people and places.”
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A Fight for Life
Daniel did not give up on his life, or on his film. He decided to fight the disease and to continue his project. He moved back to Vancouver, where he received treatment at the UBC Hospital. He also kept filming, documenting his struggle, his pain, his hopes, and his fears. He wanted to share his story with the world, and to warn others not to make the same mistake he did. He also wanted to finish his film and to fulfill his vision.
He had a lot of support from his family, his friends, and his fans, who followed his journey online. He also had a lot of love from Becca, who flew to Canada to be with him. They got married in a hospital chapel, and they spent their honeymoon in a hospice. They cherished every moment they had together, and they hoped for a miracle.
But Daniel Northcottl’s condition worsened, and he knew that he was running out of time. He edited a 40-minute film, called “Sketches of Roam”, which was a compilation of some of his footage from his travels. He premiered it to his loved ones in Vancouver, and he raised over $10,000 for the Krall Foundation, which supports leukemia research. He also made a dying wish, which he entrusted to his sister, Erin. He asked her to finish his film and to use his 1,000 hours of footage to create his masterpiece. He gave her his camera, his hard drives, and his notes, and he told her that he believed in her and that he loved her.
He died on June 20, 2009, on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. He was surrounded by his family, his friends, and his wife, who held his hand and whispered in his ear. He was 29 years old, and he had lived a full and extraordinary life.
Daniel Northcott’s Death and Obituary
Daniel’s death was not the end of his story, but the beginning of a new one. His sister, Erin, honored his wish and took on the challenge of completing his film. She was not a filmmaker, but she was determined to make her brother proud and to share his message with the world. She teamed up with Elevate Studios, a production company that was inspired by Daniel’s work, and that agreed to produce and direct the film with her. They also launched a crowdfunding campaign, which raised over $200,000 from thousands of backers, who wanted to see Daniel’s film come to life.
They spent four years working on the film, which they titled “Daniel”. They watched every hour of Daniel’s footage, and they selected the best scenes, the most meaningful moments, and the most powerful messages. They also interviewed Daniel’s family, friends, and fans, who shared their memories, their stories, and their emotions. They also added music, narration, and animation, to create a captivating and compelling documentary.
They released the film in 2013, and it received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. It was screened at various film festivals, and it won several awards, including the Audience Choice Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival. It was also broadcast on HBO, and it reached millions of viewers around the world. It was a touching tribute to Daniel’s life and a celebration of his spirit.
The film also fulfilled Daniel’s dream of reconnecting humanity and inspiring people to live in harmony with each other and with nature. It showed the beauty and diversity of the world and the commonality and uniqueness of each person. It also showed the importance of following one’s passion, of pursuing one’s purpose, and of expressing one’s truth. It also showed the consequences of one’s actions, of respecting one’s environment, and of honoring one’s ancestors. It also showed the power of love, of faith, and of hope.
Daniel’s film was his legacy, and his gift to the world. He may have died, but he lives on through his art, and through the hearts of those who knew him, and those who discovered him. He was a filmmaker, a traveler, a dreamer, and a seeker of truth. He was Daniel Northcott, and he was a circle.
