Are you ready for a return to Guava Island? Donald Glover rolled out a series of new behind-the-scenes videos from the shoot for his Amazon Films short movie on Thursday (July 4), including a peek at the locations in Cuba where the film was shot, a history of the musical traditions that inspired the project and profiles of the Cuban dancers, actors and musicians who helped bring his vision to life.
“At its best (or maybe just its most accessible), art is ingenuity. I had the pleasure of experiencing this spirit of ‘making what you must with what you have’ collaborating with Cuba’s talented and abundant artists over the course of filming Guava Island,” Glover said in a statement. “The artist’s endeavor has always been the manifesting of an idea, then forcing a society to recognize, or maybe just question, its value. These artists have not only inspired me to examine what we value on a day-to-day basis, but also to move with intention in the world with the childlike ingenuity that Cuba seems to offer every moment. I’m very proud to be able to share their stories with you.”
The movie, directed by frequent collaborator Hiro Murai and written by Stephen Glover, starred the Childish Gambino rapper, as well as Rihanna, Nonso Anozie and Letitia Wright. The five videos are available on a custom playlist on YouTube for the first time.
Watch the videos below.