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Table of Contents
SHIRO'S HEAD Screenings
JASON SOEDA: Aloha, Don! Tell us, what inspired the Muna brothers to write SHIRO'S HEAD? DON MUNA: Buenas Jason, thanks for having me. You know, I'm like that annoying friend that always has something to say after every movie ... like wow that was awesome, but you know what should of happened? One day it just hit me and I guess I was just tired of being that guy that talked a hell of a game but didn't have anything to show for. JS: You and Kel describe SHIRO'S HEAD as a "DIY grass roots project." What was the atmosphere like in comparison to other big budget projects you both have worked on? DM: Nothing beats the atmosphere of a DIY project ... it's way chill and highly creative. There are no rules when there isn't any money involved and I truly believe it played a big part in keeping our non-actor, actors relaxed and focused on their performance. No pressure whatsoever. So in my opinion, the bigger budget movies, creates a huge amount of stress on the artists involved and more and more times you'll find directors relying on their budgets to capture the attention of their audience and always upping the ante until someone wants to jump off a cliff. Whereas with a DIY production, you spend your money on things that really matter... like food. In all seriousness, not having a budget is creativity at its purest... making something out of nothing. JS: It's wonderful how you and Kel have been able to collaborate on so many projects between Guam and the U.S. You guys even attended the same film school, right? How have you managed to stick together and be successful for so long? DM: Jason, a little secret man ... I never attended film school in any way shape or form. I just mooch off my big brother's college degree and mess around with a camera from time to time. Ha-ha! Really though, I'm totally a hands-on kind of guy ... some people do great in school but I'm not one of them. I think that's the secret of our success, we're such opposites but have very similar tastes in all types of things. As far as us sticking together for so long ... we're family first, then colleagues second ... I'm sure you know, it's an island thing man. JS: We hear that you kept some of the dialogue unscripted to help keep the dialogue sound more natural. How did that work out? DM: Well, it sort of just happened. One night after a rehearsal me, Kel and some of the cast were all just hanging around shooting the breeze over a couple of beers just getting to know each other, and that's when Kel and I couldn't help but to notice the natural chemistry between some of our talent. So Kel and I decided that instead of trying to direct inexperienced actors to act, we'll give them the general direction of the scene and encourage them to interact. I think it worked out for the better. JS: What was your biggest challenge in the production of SHIRO'S HEAD? DM: The short answer - the budget. The long answer - wearing all the hats. Try creating a call sheet for actors and crew that all have full time jobs with locations only secured for a day. That alone will drive you up the wall. And yes, I was the chauffeur too! JS: Your film's official Web site has lots of advice for aspiring filmmakers. You even co-authored a book called "Why Go To Film School - The Beginner's Guide To Filmmaking." Why share so many of your secrets? DM: I really dig the feeling of helping others achieve their goals. I myself constantly look for more sources of information to tap into and apply to my life and filmmaking. Lets face it, we're all looking for advice and we're all aspiring to be something more than we are already. No matter what stage in life... it's that human instinct to put one foot in front of the other everyday moving closer and closer to where we want to be. It's all about growth. JS: What's next for the Muna Brothers? DM: Oh, man. Well, for the rest of the year we'll be hitting the festivals and focusing our efforts in pushing SHIRO'S HEAD to its fullest. Other than that, all I want to do is stay creative even if I'm only making sock puppets in my own low-budget production. I love my job and I'm not going to quit. Read More... Kel Muna's Interview
Just For Fun: HIFF Survey
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