Welcome to our campaign to raise funds to make our documentary film "SAKMAN: The Legend of the Flying Canoe". We need your help to make this film a reality! We've created an initial concept trailer to explain what our vision is (see above).

OUR DIRECTORS STORY

ABOUT THE FILM

Join the incredible journey through our documentary film “Sakman: The Legend of The Flying Canoe” where we tell the story of the legendary Flying Proa or "Sakman" canoe. For thousands of years, the indigenous people of the Marianas, the CHamorus, designed and sailed this vessel, earning worldwide recognition. However, after enduring centuries of colonization and cultural devastation, the knowledge of building and sailing the Sakman was nearly lost forever. But now, a new chapter unfolds. Join us as we capture the awe-inspiring and sometimes unbelievable tales of the Sakman's revival.

Entirely written, produced, directed and starring Indigenous CHamorus, prepare to be captivated by our visually immersive documentary as we take you on a cinematic adventure through breathtaking landscapes, both on land and at sea. We are committed to capturing the essence and beauty of the Sakman's story and the beauty of the Marianas with cinematography that will leave you in awe.

This film is about more than a canoe, it's an empowering story of a people rediscovering and reconnecting to their ancestral identities. It's a tribute to the brilliance and beauty of their ancestors and a reclaiming of cultural narratives. Join us on this incredible voyage!

TENTATIVE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE:

April - July 2023 : Research & Story Development
September 5 - 21 : Development Phase 1 - On Island in Guam & Saipan
October - November 2023: Production phase 2 - Mainland Filming
December 2023 - February 2024: Tentative Production Phase 3 - On Island Filming
March - July 2024: Post-Production

UPDATE 7/12/2023:

We’ve set sail on the SAKMAN: The Legend of the Flying Canoe Documentary! To date, we’ve self-funded 3 days of local production in Southern California. We’ve interviewed Master Canoe Builder, Mario Borja (of the vessel, the Sakman Che’lu) at his home and workshop. We also shot a group interview with part of the original build team of the Sakman Che’lu at a local studio in San Diego. Along the way, we’ve gathered a small crew of industry vets and award winning filmmakers to join the crew. We’ve created a proof of concept trailer above to communicate the vision for the project, and to help understand the origins of the story.

We'll now enter into Phase 1 of development which will take our crew to Guam and Saipan as we conduct research interviews, connect with the other canoe builders and navigators, and the greater CHamoru community. We will spend a total of 14 days in the Marianas during this phase.

Almost the entirety of the fundraising in this phase is to help cover production expenses related to crew travel. We plan to travel light and nimble and to use all available help from family, friends, and connections on the island to keep expenses down. We’re looking to raise approx 20K in the next month to continue production and aid travel and production costs. Any funds raised in excess of our goal (manifesting it now) will help fund phase 2 of our project. Join us and help bring this incredible story of CHamoru beauty and ingenuity to the world.

Research and Development

The Legend of the Flying Canoe