Island Time, “Inventions” is an episode of a children's show that teaches the Chamorro language and celebrates the Chamorro culture with Chamorro actors, local music, animations, and wacky puppets. Island Time is a Northern Marianas Humanities Council production intended for audiences of all ages and ethnicities, though its target audience is Chamorro youth living in the Marianas and across the diaspora.
The series centers around Fu’una, a young Chamorro woman living on the island of Saipan who wants to learn more about her culture. In this episode, “Inventions,”, Fu’una’s tough-love Chamorro grandmother, Nåna, is about to leave for a motorcycle road trip across the United States and shows Fu’una how to watch over her house, including taking care of her pet ayuyu (coconut crab) and chiba (goat). When Nåna leaves, her pets transform from live-action animals to Chamorro-speaking puppets who build robots, hold public office, sing songs, and fully expect Fu’una to keep up. Suddenly immersed in a new home full of Chamorro culture, language, and history, Fu’una embarks on a journey to reconnect with her own indigenous identity.
Island Time tackles growing up in our internet age but through the lens of Chamorro culture and identity. By watching Fu’una’s adventures, mistakes, and triumphs, we intend to provide young viewers with an example of how to navigate their own personal and cultural identities in a global and digital world. For example, “Inventions,” shows how modern-day creativity can still be an authentic representation of a 4,000-year-old culture, and new inventions are a way of demonstrating that the old culture is still alive.
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CAST & CREW:
Sophia Perez - Program Director; Creator, writer, Director, editor, producer
Beatrix Susan Doyle - Art Director, prop provider
Jack Doyle - Animator, special effects artist, editor
Tony Azios - Editor
Donald Mendiola - Chamorro cultural and linguistic expert
Dane Neves - Puppeteering consultant
Melanie Hangca - Musical consultant
Maria Manalo - Writer
Vincent Villagomez - Producer, writer
Avry Racoma - Producer, graphic artist, social media manager
Angela Villagomez - Writer, prop creator, puppeteer
Jonessa Delos Reyes - Writer, prop creator, puppeteer
Frann Leifang Billy - Writer, prop creator, puppeteer
Mathew Igisaiar - Puppeteer, boom operator, assistant editor
Shannon Sasamoto - Actor
Frances Sablan - Actor
Chailang Palacios - Actor, facilities provider
James Bamba - Actor
Analee Villagomez - Actor
John Taitano - Musician (representing JBoy, Dizzy and Rambeezy)
JJ Concepcion - Musician, actor
Jimmy Blancia - Musician
Zenn Tomokane - Voice Actor
Jude Hofschneider - Voice Actor
Eva Aguon Cruz - Voice actor, set design consultant, prop provider
Patrick Arriola - Voice Actor
Henry Maliuweluo - Voice Actor