Do you guys do this over at Twitch Film, too?

Guam’s ongoing “Max Havoc” debacle was wholly predictable. Is it just as predictable that we miss the lessons to be learned from this embarrassment of indefensibly uninformed choices?

Some of the lessons here are so simple it’s difficult to imagine that anyone would be in need of their teachings. Before investing large amounts of public money in something as classically unpredictable and risky as a commercial movie — especially a low-budget independent feature without a national distribution deal in hand — one would expect officials to exert at least a minimal effort toward researching the industry they were entering and those companies and people involved.

For instance, such research would have quickly identified the director, Albert Pyun as a person with a well-documented record of repeatedly doing to others exactly what he did to Guam. The horrid product, the lack of theatrical distribution, the financial arrangements, the unprofessional production practices, the empty promises — all are part of his regular routine.

This movie never had a chance to make serious money or to be seen by a wide audience. It never had a chance to do anything but what it was made to do — make a quick buck for the (people) who were in charge. The idea that we might be able to build a film industry on the strength of this project was ridiculous to an absurd degree. Such star-struck nonsense would be silly if it weren’t so pathetic. We eagerly bought snake oil without even glancing at the large-print label.

Guam does have the potential to develop at least a niche filmmaking industry. However, for legitimate filmmakers to consider Guam a viable and attractive location, we must first prove that we respect their art and craft. That proof will take considerably more effort now that we’ve shown ourselves to be so gullible and unprofessional.

Genuine professionals want to do things the right way and they have little patience with those who don’t. They know what we should have learned long ago — cutting corners or compromising on professional standards wastes money and creates an inferior and often embarrassing product. Here is our primary lesson. This fiasco presents us with a chance for societal evolution, and we should seize the opportunity.

We should want a commercial movie industry. However, we also need to want to do it right and well. We need to establish a local film commission based on the industry model, not our model. We need a professional film commissioner with experience and industry connection, not just local connections. We need to make and follow-through on commitments the industry will respect. Do we want to attract more rainmakers, or do we want to attract serious professionals? Serious professionals will deliver the goods and make Guam proud instead of the latest butt of a cliché joke.
I hope those who were so easily seduced by these trite types from central casting have learned the lesson or moved on to projects and fields they respect. If we can prove that we have learned something and build the foundation of a film industry on the weakness of this project, we will have shown the real professionals that we have the potential to be one of them.

Jefferson Cronin Guam