'The Donn of Tiki': A unique & creative history of Donn The Beachcomber

Every now and then you come across a film that is equally unique as it is creative. When that film is a documentary that can resonate with anyone, it becomes a must see!

'The Donn of Tiki' is a phenomenal documentary that looks at the life of Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, better known as Donn the Beachcomber. Does that name sound familiar? If it does, it's more than likely you've encountered his influence at some point in your life. Donn was the original creator of the "Tiki bar" and his impact on the restaurant and bar scene is undeniable.

This documentary takes you through the stranger than fiction life of Donn, who himself is painted as an unreliable narrator, but in the best way. From global travels that inspired the Tiki restaurant idea during the prohibition era, questionable mob affiliations, to the women of his life and how that changed his life trajectory.

The most fascinating thing about this film is it's use of animation throughout the documentary. The animation styles shift to match the time period of Donn's life being covered and includes a stop motion animation of Donn himself paired with an archival interview Donn gave towards the end of his life. Each segment of the documentary is full engaging, informative and quite simply put, fun!

I had the opportunity to sit down with the filmmakers behind the project, Alex Lamb & Max Well, two creatives who have been in collaboration with each other for the past 20 years. We had a wonderful conversation that shed more light on the creative process of putting this documentary together, the challenges of navigating this mystical story and how you can see the film for yourself!

Whether you're a fan of Tiki culture, enjoy a good cocktail, well traveled or just enjoy learning about a larger than life personality, The Donn of Tiki will surely be an enjoyable watch. Find my interview with Alex Lamb & Max Well below.