By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
Imagine visiting some of the most remote, beautiful, and tranquil areas in Guyana, areas where pollution is almost nonexistent and the hand of God is evident in the architecture of the amazing mountain ranges. Imagine seeing Guyana’s national animal — the mighty jaguar — and so many other creatures that can only be found here in their natural habitats.
What if you were told that those mental images could come to life in the comfort of your own home? Through the lens of Reel Guyana’s founder, Alex Arjoon, citizens who have never been able to experience the undisputed beauty of Guyana’s hinterland are in for a treat. And even for those who have visited the hinterland before, Arjoon’s new series will bring back fond memories.
So, no matter how you twist or turn it, the series, dubbed “Inside Reel”, is a must-see for all.
During a recent interview with Guyana Standard, Arjoon indicated that “Inside Reel” is the brainchild of Reel Guyana. He said it was created by his company in collaboration with a few local artists and creators.
One of the main objectives of the series is to give Guyanese a taste of what exists outside the “bubble of Georgetown”, he said.
The series was shot, edited, and produced by Arjoon himself while Charlie Tokeley, a young British writer, produced the script that is narrated by the iconic Dave Martins.
Furthermore, Robert Hiscook, also known as Dublin, provided some songs and Carissa Russle made some interesting beats out of natural sounds.
Arjoon said that Inside Reel was originally intended to be a youth initiative “but so many older people bought into it that it became a shared vision, which is essentially what I want for Reel Guyana. I want it to be something all Guyanese can go behind just in the name of defining who we are.”
Inside Reel focuses on adventure tourism, Arjoon explained. He added, “I basically documented my experiences.” However, the series is not restricted to adventure tourism as some amount of focus is placed on natural resources, heritage, the environment, and wildlife.
Inside Reel has six episodes, each about 8-10 minutes long. The young videographer explained that the reason the videos are so short is because he wanted them to be action packed. “There is always something happening.”
He disclosed that even though the overall theme is adventure tourism, each episode has its own flavour; sport fishing, wildlife, and the environment are all sub-themes within the series.
Most places captured are located in the North Rupununi. “Hopefully this does well enough where we can cover another section of Guyana,” Arjoon said.
Meanwhile, Arjoon said that he is by no means a daredevil but he shared that he took a lot of risks in the field just to get that frame that not many people are able to see, all to give another perspective. Arjoon said that he really worked hard on the project and pushed the envelope; it is a product of literal blood, sweat, and tears.
The videos will be released weekly on YouTube from May 20. Once every episode is aired, Inside Reel will be distributed to all networks.
“I just want people to look at it; give it a chance. I honestly believe that there is something there that was never done before. The concepts have all been presented before, whether by BBC or just tourists with cameras, but the way this is presented and the idea are second to none. It’s a melting pot of creations; we have great sound, good graphics, and creative writing,” said Arjoon.
