With an almost non-existent budget, a cast of non-actors cobbled together just as shooting began, the world's tiniest crew, and a location that had never supported a feature film before, you could say that the odds were stacked against brothers Don and Kel Muna as they set out to make their Guamanian masterpiece, SHIRO'S HEAD.

Right before shooting began in Guam, Don and Kel were forced to fly standby and almost didn't clear customs because of all the props that they had brought with them.

"We thought it was over before it even began," said Kel.

But the brothers' passion for Chamorro storytelling and commitment to the film were so strong, it was clear nothing could stop them.

"Shiro's Head is important because it symbolizes something other than what you see on the screen," said Don, who also stars in the film. "Although the mainstream viewer may find it entertaining, there's a much deeper and meaningful story to be told to our fellow Chamorros through the underlying tones of the movie."

The fruits of their labor can be seen at the Los Angeles Pacific American Film Festival on May 1, at 10:00 p.m. at the Directors Guild of America Theater 2.

When they first heard that their film had been accepted to the Festival, they had two reactions—disbelief and joy that they would have the opportunity to share their film with an audience in Los Angeles, and then shock at the price of tickets to fly from Guam to Los Angeles. Luckily for the brothers, the entire island and larger community of Chamorros around the world rallied to raise the funds at an event called "LA or Bust" so that they could attend the screening and represent the film.

SHIRO'S HEAD tells the story of three siblings in contemporary Guam who are chasing down an ancient legend. The legend itself, narrated through a beautifully painted animation sequence reminiscent of a children's pop-up book, is based on a fictional short story that the brothers wrote.

"Guam has its own take on local myths, legends and stories that have been passed down through generations and the more we explored the idea, the more it evolved," said Kel of the short story. "Although it's entirely fictional, we were inspired by a few real-life events from the recollections of our mother from the Japanese occupation of Guam during World War II. We just added our twist to it."

After adapting the legend to their modern-day narrative, the brothers quit their day jobs and hit the streets in Guam to find cast and crew for their film. Instead of looking for actors, the specifically tried to find people who just looked the part. For instance, Don cast for the role of Imo Masakatsu while he was waiting in line at a coffee shop. They knew that they could work on performance and delivery when they were filming, and they liked the authenticity and realism that their cast of unknowns brought to the roles.

Making the film in this do-it-yourself fashion had its pros and cons. On the plus side, Don and Kel were able to retain full creative control and were forced to rely on their own ingenuity to make the film the best they could. On the down side, nothing was secure, and the entire process could get tiring.

"To be creative is one thing, but to be creative, technically savvy, and brawny all day long is exhausting," said Don. "Kel and I did all the below the line tasks. If it wasn't for the help of our cast doubling as our crew, we probably would have never finished the movie."

The finished product is edgy and raw, with Don's heartfelt performance anchoring the film. The brothers have already felt the swell of Chamorro support for their project, and they are eager to screen it before a wider audience.

"I just hope that it's never forgotten—that twenty years from now, someone will watch it for the first time and feel it," said Kel. "And that it inspires others in some way, shape or form to follow their dreams so they can know what it feels like. It's a tremendous feeling.