OVERSEAS-BASED Guyanese writer and director, Michael Gilkes has embarked on a new film titled, “Maira and the Jaguar People”.

Old style benabs at Surama Eco Lodge which will be the kind used in “Maira and the Jaguar People”

According to Gilkes, the film is aimed at showcasing the splendour of Guyana’s rainforests and preserving the culture of its ‘first people’.

Giving an outline of his new project, he said that the film is approximately 45 minutes long and is a fictional piece about the Makushi people.

“Maira and the Jaguar People” is one of a kind and Gilkes highlighted that with the help of Sea Weaver Productions and the “Growing Up Caribbean Series,” and Barbadian Producer Penelope Hynam, this movie is bound to be successful, Gilkes said.

“It is story time in a small Amerindian community. The Piaiman (spiritualist) tells the legendary story of Maira and her brother Mairun to other children gathered around his benab.  Maira loves birdsong and is fascinated by the “flute-like” call of a rare bird no one had ever seen.”

The site for building the old-time village for the film.

“Mairun dreams of becoming a brave hunter. Maira and Mairun, who happen to be twins, become caught up in a dreamlike drama of life. They eventually lose their way and meet a talking jaguar in the forest, while looking for Maira’s mysterious ‘flute-bird’.” 

“The ‘jaguar’, its secret discovered, refuses to let them return to the village. They must become ‘karamapichu’ (jaguar people) like him. It finally threatens to attack them. Mairun kills the creature with a single arrow, but dies saving his sister who is able to escape during the fight.”

The movie is the most important of the series of films set to be released about life in several territories across the Caribbean.

The crew arrives at Annai

Gilkes is of the opinion that these productions will capture the essence of “growing up Caribbean” as the central characters are all children.

He said that Guyana was chosen for the initial production since it is the oldest existing prefecture in the Caribbean with Amerindian traditions.

He noted that his inspiration came from his experience as a boy venturing into the interior; he was captivated by the landscape, natural sound, and beautiful serenity of Guyana’s jungle.

SURVIVAL MESSAGE
He further stated that the life of Amerindian people continues to fascinate him and the movie has an important message imprinted within, being that of survival.

He asserted that the Amerindians know the importance of protecting the rainforest; they have protected and honoured it because they know how important it is to the survival of the human race. It is the lungs of the globe.

For the set, the villagers will construct a 1950-style Makushi village at Saruma, Region 9.
The village will later become a museum or part of an eco-tourism drive, which can used as a tourist attraction, channelling much needed revenue into the community.
This film is based on marketing Guyana overall, and this is the first time that Gilkes has done a production of this depth, highlighting the importance of the preservation of the rainforest.

The film, which is a heartland production, will market Guyana as a tourist attraction and contribute to the economy.
Sponsors of the film include TGA airlines and Gafoor and Sons. The director is hopeful that other interested organisations will join the production so as to make it more successful and bigger.