Guam Scenery from Discover Guam on Vimeo.

The other day I had the chance to sit down and meet with Jon Tanuvasa of Timecode Productions, the force behind the new documentary entitled “Discover Guam“. We talked a bit about his two year journey of compiling footage, research and taking on the monumental task of actually completing a project driven by passion. Yes, we had much to talk about – and still do (our coffee time was cut short). Maybe I’ll save it for an upcoming interview with him. But for now, this piece is all about his new documentary.

So last night I popped in the DVD and frankly, didn’t know what to expect. I really wanted it to be something fresh, refreshing, new and original. High expectations that are hard to fulfill? Sure, but not too much to ask. Then the menu came up and then I played the DVD. And I loved it.

First of all, surprisingly, the vibe of the overall doc was originally sleek and had a stylistic approach for a documentary. Every shot was beautiful! The blues from the ocean and skies were rich, deep and dark. The greens from the trees were vibrant and crisp. This had a subtle and calm aesthetic that made me not want to miss the next scene. The visuals and shot compositions were simply stunning! It totally surprised me and went above and beyond my expectations. Kudos, mayn!

The music was on point. New school style. Reflective and chill, the soundtrack was another great choice in the production. Great call. I’m not sure if the songs or music were original or not, but it totally enhanced the vibe, nonetheless.

I think what I really dug the most about this doc was that it was a documentary about Guam, but showcased in a new light. And since they of course had to involve the island’s history, they decided to keep it fresh and touch on only a few crucial topics without sculpting too much of the piece into a classroom lecture. I think it was a smart choice to go for a few notes on the history and maintain the structure of its original aesthetic style instead of turning it into a textbook. Pretty brave.

On another note, they also include an actual news reel from 1944 in the Special Features! This alone is worth the price of the DVD! Totally cool.

I’m actually very proud of this project and I commend Timecode Productions for doing such a great job with the completed product. I definitely looking forward to more of what’s in store from these guys. Support local art and pick up your copy!

If you want to have a fresh, 60 minute look at the place we call home, you can purchase the DVD at Bestseller Bookstore for $15 just in time for the holidays. You can also check out their Myspace page at: myspace.com/aglimpseofguam or shoot ‘em an email at timecode671[at] hotmail  [dot]  com.

Bravo!