GUAM PACIFIC DAILY NEWS
DON and KEL'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE
MUNA BROTHERS TO TAKE "SHIRO'S HEAD" TO LOUIS VUITTON AND PHILADELPHIA FILM FESTIVALS
By Stephanie Godlewski
October 1, 2008

With the big Guam premiere and two film festivals lined up, the creators of "Shiro's Head," Don and Kel Muna, have a busy month ahead.

Pika caught up with the duo to talk about the film, family and the future.

Q: Why did you guys want to make a movie?

DM: It's been a long-time passion for my brother and I. We've always been creative. We started out on Guam in the local music scene, writing songs and recording songs. My brother worked as a radio personality for several stations out here. We wanted to do something that would help us grow artistically and I think the movie had all aspects of creativity involved. Music, which was kind of our baby, story telling -- we were really in love with that aspect of creativity. My brother dabbled in TV editing and stuff like that and he went to film school. After that we said "I feel like we just need to make the movie."

KM: For forever we've been very creative. We grew up in a household where we didn't really have a lot of stuff, so we had to entertain ourselves a lot growing up, as most kids do. We were able to follow that passion and it wasn't until the early 2000s that I went to film school to learn the technical aspects of filmmaking. After that, Don and I set up a videography company in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Even though that became a success really quickly, it wasn't really fulfilling for our creativity so we decided to make the big plunge into making our own movie.

Q:The movie is based off a short story you guys wrote. Can you give us an idea of what the plot line is?

DM: I probably couldn't, only because it plays a big role in the movie and I think it might give away too much.

Q: How long did it take you to make the film?

DM: From start to finish, I'd say about a year and a couple months.

KM: Right now what everybody is seeing is close to the end result of it, but for about two years now Don and I have been deep into pre-production, production, screenwriting, countless hours of editing.

Q: Where'd you get the financial backing to do it?

DM: We maxed out our credit cards to purchase our equipment.

KM: We basically had no jobs while we were working on the movie. We were basically broke, poor, starving artists. We gave it everything we could, given the minimal resources we had to work with. We're just very, very grateful that our friends, family and the people of Guam were willing to lend a helping hand when we just asked and there were no reservations.

Q: Did you guys encounter any roadblocks while making the movie?

KM: Countless. Don and I had to, from day one, trust each other and our abilities to get it off the ground and moving. It was really difficult along the whole journey because it's one thing to do the physical production work, but it's another thing when you have to shift gears and get your mental motivation on point every time. You don't have a boss to tell you to hurry up and do it. You don't have a crew to tell you to hurry up and do it. You have to tell yourself to just do it. That was one of the bigger problems Don and I had, self-motivation. It took its toll. That and the financial obstacles.

Q: Did you find it difficult working with your brother? Were there any roadblocks there?

KM: Yeah. Working with Don is twofold. One, he's family, so we always remind each other family first and everything else can come second. (Also) we're very, very grateful to have each other to bounce ideas off of and be a sounding board for each other. We're pretty much opposite from each other in personalities, but when it comes to collaborating creatively, it's a great complement to me and it's a great complement to him. We build on each other's strengths and help pick up the slack. As far as roadblocks, when you get any two creative people alone in a room, you're going to have a battle going on. But I wouldn't have changed it one bit. I'm 100 percent confident in Don's abilities.

Q: How did you end up acting as well as directing in the film?

DM: My brother and I kind of auditioned for the part and I got the part. Someone had to play the role. The reason it had to be one of us is because the role that I play was kind of hard to cast. It was hard for us to find a face for that role. I just filled it in. We were here casting for all parts, even the part that I played, but unfortunately we weren't able to find anybody we thought could play the role.

Q: How did you choose the cast?

DM: Literally just out in the street. We went to Java Junction in Hagåtña, in walked this guy and it turned out to be Dion Lizama, who plays one of the lead villains in the movie. He just fit the role. We had a picture in our minds of how the people needed to look. Then we saw people and approached them.

Q: How does it feel to be accepted to both the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival and the Philadelphia Asian-American Film Festival?

KM: I wouldn't want anyone to think that right out of the gate "Shiro's Head" came out and ta-da we're in film festivals. No, it was nothing like that. We got our share of rejections, that's for sure. It was to the point that when I opened my email inbox I could expect a rejection letter. (When we got accepted) I couldn't believe it. We were definitely ecstatic. We were definitely humbled.

Q: Are you more nervous about the premiere or the festivals?

DM: Well we already got acceptance from the festivals so I'm not worried about that. I'm more concerned about how the island will take it because it's our home and we stay here. I really want to make them, not necessarily proud, but I want to do well. I'm really more concerned with the local acceptance of it than anywhere else.

KM: For me the Guam premiere means the most. It's only because it's our home. It's like any person in their hometown, they want to let people that they care about know that we had the best intentions in portraying Guam and portraying home. I just hope they go see it and take it for what it is. On one hand it's just a movie. On the other hand it just so happens to be Guam's first movie done by Chamorros. Guam has this tremendous amount of talent and we're hoping, on a small scale at least, to help inspire that talent to take it to the next level and get them to do what they want to do. Maybe it's not a movie. Guam's in another category for me. The Guam premiere is the one I'll hold closest to my heart because it's our family and it is our home.

Q: If people miss the premiere showings is there any other way to catch the movie?

DM: I believe that it's going to go into production for DVDs by November. So right after we get back from the film festivals we'll be making some DVDs.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring filmmakers?

KM: A lot of people watch the behind the scenes things on DVDs and check out what the actors say about following your dreams. It really is a true message. We heard it a lot of times before, but we thought it was just hogwash until we actually did it and put the work into it. Do what you love to do and do it for the right reasons. Do it because you love it. If you do it for any other reason, you'll be disappointed. Get as much advice as you can, but know what to tune out and know what to hold on to. Stay away from negativity. The people that say you can't do it, the people who tell you you can't do it or shouldn't do it -- stay away from that. Nothing will come from that except dead ends. I'm 34 years old and it's taken me this long to do what I love to do. Had I known it would be this self-satisfying and self-fulfilling earlier, I would have definitely would have done. It doesn't matter how young you are or how old you are, do what you love to do. You'll be surprised. We were.

Q: Do you have plans to make another movie?

DM: Oh most definitely yes! That's in the immediate making, but it's all riding on this film. If people like it, we'll be able to make another one.

Q: Any hints on what the new movie might be about?

DM: All our themes are going to be Guam-based themes and stories. Whatever we do, whatever we get our hands into, will relate to island rooted chords and themes of whatever TV or movie project we get into.

Q:Are you looking for people to help out with the movie?

KM: We're always on the lookout for people who genuinely want to know how to get their project started. By all means, we're just regular guys. If anyone out there sees us, they have a cool idea and they want us to help them with it or point them in the right direction, just come up to us and talk to us. We're always looking for people who are interested in the arts in general and anyone wanting to get involved in production work.

Q: Is there anything you'd like to tell the people of Guam?

DM: I want to thank everybody. Even if they don't get to see it, if they could check out the website, that'd be cool. I'm just happy to be able to do it.

KM: I love being back home. I just want to say thank you to everybody. By everybody I mean anyone sending their positive support, whether it's in a, "Hey Chelu, good job bro." or it's in sponsorship. Whoever had faith in me and Don, we could not have done it without any of you. We're very, very grateful.