A San Diego filmmaker with Guam roots will be making his way to Guam to gather interviews and footage for his new film.

Beau Aguon was born and raised in San Diego, California but has southern roots that run deep. His last visit to Guam was back in 2008.

"My grandpa Pete and my grandma Dolores Aguon raised my dad here in National City," he shared. "The village we are from is Humatak. I still see my uncles and my aunts all the time because they come out here all the time."

"I think from a young age I always wanted to be in some sort of storytelling...as I reflect back, I think it may be due to this feeling of my voice wanting to explore other people using their voice....and I could somehow relate to somehow using my voice," he said. "What I love about my work and the industry, it doesn't matter who you are or what you look like or what spaces you come from...your work in connecting with people and using film to share stories speaks for itself and helps you open doors that weren't possible."

Fast forward, Aguon is pouring his heart and soul into a new film, "Sakman: The Legend of the Flying Canoe." The idea for the film was magnified by a project he was hired to do in 2021.

"I got a lead from a friend in advertising to respond to a project for a Native American tribe and were specifically asking for an indigenous filmmaker to help tell their story," he said. "They immediately said you're the right guy because you are reconnecting to your indigenous roots and we are wanting create a piece that reflects people reconnecting to their roots. I had just an incredible experience telling that story at the end of it I was like I think I found my calling."

At that moment, he dove into a lot of reading and research and found himself connecting with Mario Borja, the director of the Sakman Chamorro project.

"That was when it first dawned on me through his story the significance of seafaring to our people," Aguon said. "I didn't realize the importance and significance of the invention of the sakman was to our people. It wasn't just a boat. it was something the entire world was talking about. I was like I have to learn more about this. I have to learn more about my ancestors, seafaring, navigation, and that began the seeds of the project."

Aguon will be stopping by Guam and Saipan in the coming weeks for about eight to 10 of filming and interviews.

"I want to connect with other peers, cultural leaders, people who have the experience I almost envy from not reconnecting....I want to get their perspectives, submit this to the other voices of CHamorus living and breathing every day the air I'm really wanting to get out and breathe."

Aguon, through the project, says he has been honored to connect with people such as Cara Flores of Nihi Indigenous Media and Dr. Michael Bevacqua on island.

"It's been a big project to think about, there are a bunch of CHamorus here and even in Guam that have been like- hey Beau, I see your passion and you're wanting to do this, whatever I can do to aid in producing, advising, support, let's do this," he said. "In the meantime, I invite you to visit sakmanstory.com to not only learn more about the film but also how you can donate to help bring this passion project to fruition and to the masses. I've created a concept trailer to just share my heart, my back story, my point of view as a diaspora CHamoru wanting to really reconnect and tell this beautiful story to the world. The world needs to see how beautiful our people are. They need to see we are here in spite, we're thriving, there are CHamorus whose hearts are burning with a love for their people to express their voice and their passion for the people both on island and off-island. I'm just one of those. I'm honored to do something like this. I'm blessed."