– Short film shot at Kaieteur Falls

‘HOW to Build a Tree House’, a new music video which was produced short film-style by local musician Gavin Aaron Mendonca, was launched on the opening night of the Timehri Film Festival last Wednesday.

The video, shot at Kaieteur Falls over a day and night spent there, is about 10 minutes long and seeks to increase awareness of the issues facing people in that area especially as regards mining; to highlight the beauty of the falls and the interior of Guyana.
Gavin, who has often times talked about the practice of Guyanese spending their money travelling outside of Guyana instead of exploring their homeland, is also hoping his video will promote domestic tourism.

He collaborated with Derrick ‘Ziggy’ Denheart from Infinity Productions to film and produce the video, done by Kross Kolor Records.
In an interview with the Buzz, Gavin said the idea of shooting a video like this, which incidentally is his first production of this magnitude, came to him last year when he made a trip to the Falls with relatives.

“I really gained the opportunity to experience Guyana for what it is. I was always in love with nature so the overland trek gave me the opportunity to rediscover my home. The concept of the music video came to mind, and that was a journey to the top of the world- being Kaieteur Falls, literally in a sense, and metaphorically the top of the world being the point of accomplishing your dreams.”

Explaining the synopsis, he said: “A coast lander strumming his guitar on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and he starts to hear a voice in Patamona (Amerindian dialect). As I close my eyes, I continue to hear the voice but when I open them, I no longer hear the ocean; I hear some other source of water and I’m in the jungle of Guyana. So I begin this journey to the top of the world aided by the voice; the voice of Kai.”

The video includes the use of Patamuna folklore, Kaieteur Falls and its environs, the Chenapowu Village and the Potaro River. “In my effort to contribute to the preservation of Guyanese culture, I incorporated the legend of Kai into the story. The voice of Kai and Patamuna translations were done by Michael McGarrell of the Amerindian People’s Association.”

Gavin said he went through the right channels to get permission from various agencies to film at Kaieteur Falls and that the golden frog, flora and fauna were also captured.
The Department of Culture, Ministry of Social Cohesion; Department of Tourism, Ministry of Business; Eco Atlantic International Investment Inc.; Ricks and Sari Agro Industries Limited; and Rain Forest Tours all contributed to making the video possible, and not forgetting the people Chenapowu Village.

Gavin said Kojo McPherson and Max Arthur out of Australia inspired him to do the video. Its next screening will be on Saturday at the Dutch Bottle Café from 14:00hrs.
The song is available for free download at creolerock.com. The video will be released online sometime later.

Meanwhile, the annual Timehri Film Festival, which highlights films from Guyana and the diaspora, is continuing to June 3.