Hawaii Film Blog

"Children of Invention" Screening at HIFF '09

2009-10-13T19:49:00.014-10:00

OK, so I've totally neglected this blog, but what did you expect? I'm not in Hawaii anymore... :(

Anyway, since it seems that there are still a decent number of visitors to this poor dead blog (I guess lots of you still want to shoot in Hawaii and get production tax credits...good luck with that!), I'm going to use it shamelessly to promote the feature film I produced, "Children of Invention," which premiered at Sundance earlier this year and will be playing at the 2009 Hawaii International Film Festival. Showtimes are:

* Mon, 10/19, 7:00pm @ Dole Cannery Theatres
* Wed, 10/21, 1:15pm @ Dole Cannery Theatres

>> BUY TICKETS HERE! <<

In "Children of Invention," two young children living outside Boston are left to fend for themselves when their mother gets embroiled in an illegal pyramid scheme and disappears. The film was written and directed by Tze Chun (Filmmaker Magazine's "25 New Faces of Independent Film"), and is loosely based on his Sundance '07 short "Windowbreaker" (which also screened at HIFF '07).

We've won 10 film festival prizes and have been getting some great reviews. What's more, the film is about a timely issue: Ponzi schemes. In fact, the Hawaii tax dept. just officially made Ponzi scheme theft losses deductible! So come check out the film! Tze, I, and the other producer Trevor Sagan will be at both screenings.

For more info, go to http://www.childrenofinvention.com/. And join our Facebook group!

And be sure to check out some of the other great indie films at HIFF this year. I recommend: White on Rice * Prince of Broadway * Fruit Fly * No Impact Man * Ajumma! Are You Krazy??? * I Don't Sleep, I Dream * Layover, On the Shore * Parallel Adele * Ten For Granpa

[P.S. Total side note: I dunno what's happened to Blogger since I last used it, but for some reason, this new post is screwing up the blog template, so all the stuff that used to be neatly placed in the column to the right has been smooshed all the way down and my "share it" buttons below aren't showing up properly. Ugh, I hate an ugly blog/site, but whatareyagonnado?]

Princess Ka'iulani Film Causing Stir

2008-03-25T11:21:00.002-10:00

A poster mock-up with the film's former controversial title

From its controversial titles to its non-Hawaiian star to its use of Iolani Palace, the $9 million Princess Ka'iulani film that's being produced by Matador Pictures and Trailblazer Films and is currently shooting on Oahu is causing a big stir among Native Hawaiians, state senators, and others.

Let's start with the title controversy: originally entitled "Barbarian Princess" (ironically so, since this was how the San Francisco Chronicle referred to the princess back in the day), the title was changed to "The Last Princess" to appease those who found the former title offensive (for obvious reasons). However, this new title is now an issue because Ka'iulani was not in fact the last princess--that designation, some say, belongs to the still-living royal descendant Abigail Kawananakoa.

Next is the casting of non-Hawaiian Q'orianka Kilcher (The New World) to play the half-Hawaiian, half-Scottish princess, despite director Marc Forby vowing to cast a Native Hawaiian in the role. The film also stars Barry Pepper (Flags of Our Fathers, The Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan), Will Patton (A Mighty Heart, Remember the Titans, Armageddon), and Shaun Evans (Being Julia, Cashback).

Then there's the use of the sacrosanct Iolani Palace, normally off-limits to commercial filming. People are worried (with reason!) that a rough-and-tumble film crew will damage the palace's fragile and valuable contents.

And of course there's the whole representation/accuracy issue in terms of what the film will depict. The filmmakers say that there is some dramatic license taken--it is, after all, a narrative feature and not a documentary.

In the latest news, a group of state senators led by Clayton Hee just issued a letter to state film commissioner Donne Dawson complaining about the film and questioning its use of the state's production tax credits. Said Hee, "The grade-C movie being filmed at Iolani Palace should properly describe what it is, an inaccurate and insensitive depiction, an extension of the treatment of others towards the host culture at the expense of the treatment of each of us taxpayers." Dawson said that the film had hired "several Hawaiian consultants who are experts in Hawaiian language and culture."

>> Filming begins on movie about Princess Kaiulani [Honolulu Advertiser, 3/10/08]

>> Princess Ka'iulani film outrages some Hawaiians [Honolulu Advertiser, 3/20/08]

>> Senators seek overthrow of ‘Princess’ film tax help [Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 3/25/08]

RELATED POSTS:

>> Desperately Seeking Kaiulani

>> Princess Kaiulani Found

>> Features Galore in Hawaii

Venerated Honolulu Arthouse Theater Demolished

2008-03-25T10:42:00.003-10:00

(Photo by Wendy Mitchell for indieWIRE)

The old Varsity theater in Mo'ili'ili was demolished yesterday due to deteriorating conditions. Built in 1939, the theater was the first home of the Hawaii International Film Festival as well as the Cinema Paradise Film Festival. For decades, the Varsity screened arthouse, foreign, and other non-mainstream films, but shut down operations last summer. A parking lot will be built in its place.

>> Varsity theater torn down for parking lot [Honolulu Advertiser, 3/25/08]
>> Dangerously deteriorated [Honolulu Advertiser, 3/8/08]
>> Cinema Treasures: Varsity Twin Cinema

RELATED POSTS:
>> Musings on "Best of Honolulu 2005"
>> Hawaii's Market for Movies
>> Hilo's Palace Theater Goes Sundance

Tax Credit Boosts Hawaii Film Spending to Record High

2008-01-22T18:08:00.000-10:00

Yes, ahem, as predicted, the 15-20% refundable film tax credit that took effect in July '06 boosted in-state production expenditures to a record $200 million last year. The previous record was set in 2004, when $164 million was spent in Hawaii, thanks in large part to three network television series ("Lost," "Hawaii," and "North Shore") that shot simultaneously.

Hawaii was very popular with studio features last year, hosting the latest "Indiana Jones" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" installments, an upcoming Judd Apatow-produced romcom called "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," and "Tropic Thunder," a comedy helmed and headlined by Ben Stiller.

Let's hope our local crew peeps banked enough wages in '07 to float through the still ongoing WGA strike that halted production on "Lost."

>> Hawaii film industry brings in $200 million [Hnl Advertiser, 1/20/08]
>> Hollywood spends record amount in Hawaii [AP via KPUA, 1/21/08]

RELATED POSTS:
>> WGA Strike Hits "Lost" HQ
>> 2006 Was a Very Good Year
>> Hawaii Ranks #5 in Top 10 Places to Shoot in the US
>> Revised Film Tax Credit Forms & New FAQs
>> More Film Tax Incentive Success Stories

Brett Wagner's "Chief" Makes Sundance Cut

2007-12-07T03:58:00.000-10:00

Chief Sielu Avea plays Chief Semu Fatutoa (Photo: Christina Simpkins)

Honolulu-based director Brett Wagner's short film, "Chief," will premiere at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. The film tells the story of Semu Fatutoa, who drives a taxi in Honolulu and slowly forgets his old life as a tribal chief in Samoa. Little does he know, his old life is looking for him.

"Chief" was shot on Super 16 (a rarity for an indie film in Hawaii) and is one of 22 dramatic U.S. shorts selected to screen at Sundance. I believe it's the first locally produced film to screen in competition there in over a decade (since "Picture Bride," 1995), and also the first locally produced short film to ever screen in competition at the prestigious fest. (If someone knows different, lemme know.)

Congrats Brett, Dana, Paul, Grace, et al!

Brett Wagner

>> Sundance Film Festival Announces 2008 Short Film Program [Press Release, 12/5/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> In Production: Super 16 Short "Chief"
>> Hawaii Films at HIFF
>> 'Ohina Short Film Showcase: Aug 4-5

In Town: David Lynch (!) and More

2007-11-27T13:18:00.000-10:00

Don't miss genius auteur David Lynch's free talk at UH on Tues, 12/4 @ 1:30pm!

OK, OK, so he won't be blabbing about his genius films (Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive, Inland Empire, etc.) exactly, but rather something about "Consciousness Based Education, Creativity and the Brain," courtesy of UH's Transcendental Meditation (TM) Club. A practitioner of TM for decades, UH is one stop on Lynch's college tour to promote TM. Refreshments will be served. Just don't drink the Kool-Aid.

Here's some other stuff going on around town:

Tues, 11/27, 7:15pm: Screening of Paul Booth's "Empty Streets" + Q&A with muse Ely Kalikane at rRed Elephant Cafe, 1144 Bethel St, $5.
Fri-Sat, 11/30-12/1, 7pm: Hawaii Ocean Film Fest at University of Hawaii at Manoa, Spalding Auditorium, $8 general, $5 students/faculty.
Tues, 12/4, 1:30-3:30pm: David Lynch, John Hagelin (the quantum physicist featured in "What the Bleep Do We Know" and "The Secret") plus other local speakers will talk about TM at UH-Manoa Campus Center, Rms 307-308.

Square USA is Back (Sorta...)

2007-11-27T12:27:00.000-10:00

Avatar Reality, Inc., a game development co. founded a little over a year ago, is hoping to revive Hawaii's gaming industry with Blue Mars, an online multiplayer game set to launch next year. The co. had hired dozens of former Hawaii-based Square USA employees who'd been cast to the wind after the failure of "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within."

>> Blue Mars [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 11/23/07]

UPDATE: Video game industry adds $21.3M to Hawaii economy [Hnl Advertiser, 11/27/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> "Final Fantasy" Not So Final
>> "Final Fantasy": The Film Movement
>> Zoom Around Oahu in Atari's New Video Game
>> UH Unveils New Render Farm
>> PipelineFX CEO Quits

Films on Hawaiian Martial Arts & Female Surfing Get PIC Grants

2007-11-27T12:25:00.000-10:00

Pacific Islanders in Communications recently announced the recipients of this year's R&D and Production Awards. The non-profit group, whose mission is to "support, advance, and develop Pacific Island media content and talent that results in a deeper understanding of Pacific Island history, culture, and contemporary challenges" gave a total of $60K to two documentaries:

"Pa Kui A Holo - Kauai's Warriors," produced by T Lulani Arquette - The R&D Award was given to this film about Pa Kui a Holo-Kauai, a Kauai-based organization of Hawaiian men who practice lua, an ancient Hawaiian martial art.
"Women on Waves," produced by Karin Williams - The Production Award was given to this film about the culture and history of Native Hawaiian women surfers.

>> PIC group awards $60,000 for film projects [Hnl Advertiser, 11/21/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Wanted: Film Proposals By & About Pacific Islanders
>> 2006 Short Film & Scholarship $ From PIC

Seeking Hapa Actor for "Kung Fu" Remake

2007-11-25T12:50:00.000-10:00

Legendary Pictures (Superman Returns, 300) is enlisting the help of the Academy for Creative Media in seeking a lead actor for its remake of Kung Fu, the popular 70s TV series starring David Carradine. As part of its Master Class series, the ACM will be holding an open call for the lead role of CAINE:

Date: Fri, 11/30
Time: 4-7pm
Place: UH Manoa, 2550 Campus Road, Crawford 115
Seeking: Hapa male, 20-30, martial arts experience preferred but not required

For more details, please go to:
>> ACM to Hold Open Call for Lead Actor For Adaptation of Kung Fu
>> Kung Fu Open Call (Note: this site has details on open calls being held in L.A., Vancouver, Singapore, and Hong Kong, as well)

WGA Strike Hits "Lost" HQ

2007-11-25T12:35:00.000-10:00

Watching "Lost" on ABC.com

About 20 Hawaii-based WGA members marched down to the Hawaii Film Studio last week to picket in a show of solidarity with fellow mainland writers. The studio is home to ABC's "Lost" production. "Lost" became an immediate hit when it premiered in 2004, and its interweaving sci-fi storylines have translated nicely to alternate platforms like the Internet, iPods, and cell phones.

The show has been a pioneer in alternate distribution, which is precisely the issue that the WGA is striking over. In fact, "Lost" producers had already pounded out a deal with writers for "Lost: Missing Pieces," a series of "mobisodes" that reveal additional details about the show's characters. According to the New York Times, writers were paid $800 flat for each mobisode in exchange for the studio's right to run them on Verizon cellphones for 13 weeks. After the 13 weeks, any repeats on any media will earn writers residuals equal to 1.2 to 2% of the license fees paid to studios.

Some hope that the "Lost" mobisode deal will serve as a model during contract negotiations that resume tomorrow. However, the WGA is seeking alternate media residuals worth 2.5% of license fees.

>> ‘Lost’ set picketed by writers [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 11/20/07]

>> Hollywood Writers Picket Diamond Head Set of 'Lost' [KHNL, 11/20/07]

>> Webisodes of ‘Lost’: Model Deal for Writers? [NY Times, 11/20/07]
>> Strike Takes Out 'Lost' [NY Post, 11/23/07]

RELATED POSTS:

>> Get "Lost" for Free on ABC.com
>> Distribution, Distribution, Distribution

>> More Eye Candy in Hawaii (on "Lost")

Free HIFF Seminar on Hawaii's 15-20% Tax Credit

2007-10-14T15:29:00.000-10:00

Come hear me and some other more official-type folks yammer on about Hawaii's 15-20% film tax credit at a FREE seminar:

When: Sat, 10/20 @ 4:30pm
Where: Dole Cannery Theaters
Who: Donne Dawson & Mynette Louie (Hawaii Film Office) + Johnnel Nakamura & Joseph Tichy (Hawaii Dept. of Taxation)
What: The Hawaii film tax credit seminar is being run as part of the Hawaii International Film Festival. We'll give you an overview of what the credit is, what it's done to Hawaii's film landscape so far, and how to claim it. We'll let you know what common mistakes to avoid when filling out the tax credit application forms, and walk you through a case study to help you better understand how the credit works. Finally, we'll open the floor to questions (even nitty-gritty ones specific to your production).

If you are a producer, production manager, production accountant, or anyone looking to learn more about the practical use and application of this tax credit, this seminar is not to be missed.

>> Click here to reserve your FREE ticket
(Note: there is a $1 charge for tickets reserved online. You can call the HIFF box office at 808-550-8457 for a truly free ticket)

15% No Longer Enough

2007-10-14T15:12:00.000-10:00

Remember the days when a 15% tax credit was enough to lure a production to your neck of the woods? Well, apparently, that's no longer the case.

New York City, for example, has been pretty quiet lately. Its 15% combined city/state tax credit had generated record-breaking production levels shortly after it took effect, but the state is now losing production to nearby states with bigger, shinier new tax credits like Connecticut (30%), Rhode Island (25%), Pennsylvania (25%), Massachusetts (25%), and New Jersey (20%), and to not-so-nearby stalwart production states New Mexico (25%) and Louisiana (25%).

My next point has been made ad nauseum (I feel like I've read the same "film tax credits are great" article a thousand times...and if I read another "Lights, Camera, (state)!" title, I will surely barf), but again, just to illustrate the sudden impact a generous film tax credit can have on a state: before CT enacted its 30% credit in July 2006, only $1 million was spent there by productions in the first 6 months of 2006. Since July 2006 (a little over a year ago), $300 million has been spent there.

The Canadian provinces, which pioneered production tax credits, know this numbers game. They have been losing business to the states ever since Louisiana passed its original tax credit. Nova Scotia, for one, isn't going to take it lying down. The province recently passed a 50% production tax credit, with an extra 10% off for filming in rural areas...that's 60% (yes, 6-0-per-cent)!

Makes you wonder how long before Hawaii's (apparently piddling) 15-20% tax credit stops attracting productions. And then what do we do? Raise the tax credit to 25%? 30%? 60%? 100%?

>> Movies stampede to states with generous tax incentives [The Journal News, 9/16/07]
>> Lights, Camera, Norwalk! [Norwalk Citizen-News, 10/11/07]
>> With glitter and gleaming tax credits, Boston draws the stars [Boston Globe, 10/10/07]
>> Facilities fuel New Mexico production boom [The Hollywood Reporter, 9/18/07]
>> After a busy 2007, next year looks thin for moviemaking [Chicago Tribune, 9/2/07]
>> Soaring loonie causes uncertainty for Canadian film and television production [The Canadian Press, 9/23/07]
>> Nova Scotia film tax credit could take business from New Brunswick, say producers [CBC News, 9/18/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> 2006 Was a Very Good Year
>> Hawaii Ranks #5 in Top 10 Places to Shoot in the US
>> >Revised Film Tax Credit Forms & New FAQs
>> Here Come the Film Tax Credit Scandals
>> More Film Tax Incentive Success Stories
>> New Mexico + Hollywood = "Tamalewood"
>> NYC: Victim of Its Own Success (Again)?
>> Everyone Else Is Doing It...
>> Hollywood Returns to Big, Easy Incentives
>> States Cannibalizing States
>> Beantown as Tinseltown
>> Our Loss is Their Gain
>> Incentive Mania

Here Come the Film Tax Credit Scandals

2007-09-27T09:20:00.000-10:00

I guess it was inevitable that the gobs of cash and Hollywood glitz brought on by film tax credits would generate scandal sooner or later. Well, recently, the film tax credit programs of two states--Louisiana and Pennsylvania--became marred, respectively, by a corrupt ex-film commissioner taking bribes and a lobbying violation allegation fueled by partisan politics.

Earlier this month in Louisiana, now the number-three state for film production, Mark Smith, former director of the Louisiana Governor's Office of Film and Television Development, pleaded guilty in federal court to accepting cash bribes from a film producer in exchange for approving inflated production expenditure reports. The producer in question is allegedly Malcolm Petal of LIFT Productions, formerly Louisiana's largest film and television production studio with a slate that included feature films "Bug," "Mr. Brooks," "Premonition," and "Factory Girl." LIFT's plans to construct a $185 million film studio has been put on hold, and the company has laid off most of its staff. Smith apologized for his actions, saying that he took bribes in excess of $67,000 during a time when he was financially vulnerable. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 5, and faces up to 15 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

Back east in Pennsylvania, Republican State Senator Jeffrey Piccola has accused two lobbyists of violating the state's lobbying disclosure law by not properly registering as official lobbyists for Lionsgate. Leslie Merrill McCombs and former Democratic Rep. Mike Veon had both lobbied on the studio's behalf to increase Pennsylvania's pot of film tax credits to $75 million, but failed to first register this fact with the state. McCombs defended herself by saying this was a "technical and brief noncompliance" that she later corrected. However, Piccola plans to hire a private investigator to dig further, and has accused the attractive McCombs of using her personal relationship with Governor Rendell to further her tax credit agenda.

>> Ex-recruiter pleads guilty in LIFT case [Advocate, 9/8/07]
>> State's film recruiter guilty of taking bribes [Times-Picayune, 9/8/07]
>> Guv, the blonde & lobbying law [Philly.com, 9/19/07]
>> 2 face investigation for Pa. film-lobbying role [Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/25/07]
>> GOP hires private eye to probe movie makers' tax breaks [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9/26/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Tax Credit Scandal Worries Louisiana Film Industry
>> Hollywood Returns to Big, Easy Incentives
>> Pennsylvania: Screw Tax Credits, We Give Cash!
>> Beware of Film Scams

Free UH Master Class on Korean Film Industry

2007-08-29T10:09:00.000-10:00

"The Trouble with Romance" (2007) directed by Gene Rhee, one of this year's Lab attendees

In conjunction with the second Korean Filmmaker's Development Lab co-sponsored by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) and the University of Hawaii's Academy for Creative Media (ACM), there will be a free master class this Friday on the Korean film industry:

When: Friday, 8/31, 3pm
Where: UH Manoa, Crawford Hall Room 115
Who: Jonathan H. Kim, producer of "Silmido" and "Virgin Snow;" Jooick Lee, CEO of Boram Entertainment and producer of "Seven Swords;" and Denise Hwang, KOFIC International department manager.

FYI, the 5 filmmakers chosen for this year's lab were: Nathan Adolfson, Christina Choe, Jeyun Choi, Samuel Kiehoon Lee, and Gene Rhee. Read more about them here.

>> Free master class on Korean film industry at UH Friday [Hnl Advertiser, 8/27/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> KOFIC Filmmakers Development Lab '07 Seeks Applicants
>> Korean Filmmakers Development Lab Fellows Announced
>> Calling All Korean & Korean American Filmmakers
>> HIFF Report: Asian American Invasion
>> Asian American Film Festivals
>> Korea Fever at LVHIFF

"Tropic Thunder" Progress Report

2007-08-29T09:41:00.000-10:00

On the set of "Tropic Thunder" (Source: Kanaka Pacifica on flickr)

Kauai is apparently continuing to welcome Ben Stiller-helmed comedy "Tropic Thunder" with open arms (which is more than can be said for the Superferry). Shooting began in July and is scheduled to complete in October. Sadly, Owen Wilson, who was supposed to come aboard the production for a few weeks, will not be coming due to recent unfortunate events.

>> Kauai Welcomes Hollywood [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 8/28/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Big Hollywood Feature Scouting Kauai
>> Features Galore in Hawaii
>> Feature Films Lured by Hawaii's 15-20% Tax Credit
>> Films Set in Hawaii Make Big Bucks
>> Famous Hawaii Locations

Aloha "Flight 29 Down"

2007-08-29T09:23:00.000-10:00

Discovery Kids show "Flight 29 Down" has come to an end--the series finale aired last weekend after a successful 2-year run. The show turned out to be a great opportunity for young local actors B.K. Cannon, Tani Lynn Fujimoto and Blade Rogers, who had recurring roles; local crew members who had the opportunity to sharpen their production skills; and Hawaii Film Partners, the local co-producer of the show.

>> The end is near for 'Flight 29 Down' [Hnl Advertiser, 8/24/07]

"Lost" Looking for Blond Babies

2007-08-29T09:11:00.000-10:00

"Lost" extras casting director Julie Carlson is seeking babies to play "Aaron," the son of "Claire," played by Emilie De Ravin. If you have an 8 to 15-pound baby with blond hair, blue eyes, and a slightly round face, and you don't mind subjecting him/her (and yourself) to the rigors of production, e-mail a photo and your phone number to lostcastinghawaii@gmail.com.

>> On A Baby quest [Hnl Advertiser, 8/21/07]

Revised Film Tax Credit Forms & New FAQs

2007-08-15T14:41:00.000-10:00

Hawaii's 15-20% Motion Picture, Digital Media, & Film Production Income Tax Credit (Act 88) has been in effect for over a year now. Since it took effect, the Hawaii Film Office has gotten many specific questions about the credit: how to claim it, what counts as a "qualified production cost," who can claim it, etc. We recently compiled the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) and posted them (15-20% Tax Credit FAQs) on the Tax Incentive Section of the HFO site.

We also revised the Production Registration Form (PRF) and Hawaii Production Report (HPR). Major changes include:

A detailed preliminary budget is no longer required to be attached and submitted with the PRF. Only the aggregate budget figures (total, Hawaii, Oahu, neighbor islands, etc.) need to be reported on the PRF itself. (A detailed expenditure report is still required with the HPR.)
A detailed list of costs paid by Act 221-raised funds is no longer required with the PRF (but is still required with the HPR).
A "production entity" in charge of managing physical and/or post-production must be listed in addition to a "filing entity" (the production and filing entity may be one in the same).
A list of Hawaii vendors must now be submitted with the HPR.
The expenditure report submitted with the HPR must reflect a certain level of detail as illustrated in one of two Excel templates posted on the Tax Incentive Section of the HFO site: one for film & tv productions, and one for commercials & music videos. You may fill them out directly, or you may use your own budget formats as long as the detail provided is equivalent to the detail found in these templates.

We have also revised the Instructions for Claiming the 15-20% Tax Credit. Please review these new and revised documents by clicking the individual links above, or by visiting Tax Incentive Section of the Hawaii Film Office site.

*PLEASE DISCARD ANY OLD FORMS AND USE THESE REVISED ONES*

>> HawaiiFilmOffice.com: Tax Incentive Section

Patsy Mink Documentary Seeks Your Help

2007-08-15T14:20:00.000-10:00

Punahou and Harvard grad and Cannes Film Fest participant Kimberlee Bassford is seeking your help on her PBS documentary about U.S. Representative Patsy Mink. The film is in post right now, but she's still looking for photos and documents that would help illustrate Mink's childhood in Hamakuapoko, Maui. If you have any materials that depict early 20th century plantation life or anything specifically pertaining to Mink’s early life, contact Seabury Hall librarian Linda Lindsay at 264-3913 or visit www.makingwavesfilms.com/Patsy.htm.
All materials will be scanned and returned.

>> Contributions to Mink documentary sought [The Maui News, 8/13/07]

RELATED POST:
A Pictorial History of Hawaii

"Jurassic Park 4" on Kauai This Year?

2007-08-15T14:06:00.000-10:00

According to Bloody-Disgusting.com, Universal is planning to return to Kauai to film its fourth installment of "Jurassic Park" later this year. Apparently, Laura Dern will be back, but Sam Neill will not. JP4 will be about dinosaurs that have been trained by the government to use weapons in battle.

>> 'Jurassic Park IV' Story Details Revealed, Casting Begins! [Bloody-Disgusting.com, 8/13/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> "Jurassic Park 4" To Shoot Next Year?
>> Hurricanes & Movies
>> Films Set in Hawaii Make Big Bucks

Hawaii Film Tax Credit So Far

2007-08-15T13:40:00.000-10:00

Totally forgot to post this article by Sean Hao written a month ago. It discusses how Hawaii's 15-20% tax credit has been doing since it took effect on July 1, 2006. Per preliminary figures provided by the Hawaii Film Office, 27 productions have registered to apply for the tax credit, representing total anticipated in-state expenditures of about $127 million. These productions reported that they planned to hire 5,323 people, 4,276 (or 80%) of which would be Hawaii residents.

Please note that these figures are merely estimates based on information provided on the Production Registration Form , which is filed prior to the start of shooting in Hawaii. Productions must file a Hawaii Production Report after production wraps in order to confirm their qualification for the tax credit. It is on this second document that a production reports its actual Hawaii expenditures and hires.

Among the productions that have submitted Production Registration Forms are feature films "Tropic Thunder," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Pirates of the Caribbean 3;" TV shows "Lost," "Las Vegas," and "Soap Talk;" feature documentary "Morning Light;" reality shows "Living Lahaina," "Maui Fever," and "High School Reunion;" and commercials and promo spots.

>> Film companies lured by tax credits [Hnl Advertiser, 7/14/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Feature Films Lured by Hawaii's 15-20% Tax Credit
>> Universal Feature to Shoot on Oahu
>> Big Hollywood Feature Scouting Kauai
>> Notable Commercials Shot in Hawaii

News, News, News, and News

2007-08-05T20:31:00.000-10:00

So sorry for neglecting my blogging duties! Just got off a crazy shoot here in NYC so I'm copping out and giving you a list of v. interesting Hawaii film-related articles clipped by Kevin Inouye in the last few weeks (sorry guys, thanks Kevin):

Honolulu Advertiser
>> Maui Writers Conference lineup announced [7/23/07]
>> Movie studios find Hawaii friendly [7/24/07]
>> State film commissioner on Hot Seat today at noon [7/24/07]
>> Donne Dawson on The Hot Seat [7/24/07]
>> Laura Thielen to head Hawaii's DNLR [7/26/07]
>> Transpac yacht Morning Light finishes at 6:10 a.m. [7/26/07]
>> Waikiki lifeguard reality show is awful [7/26/07]
>> Local industry vying for big projects [7/29/07]
>> Andy Bumatai kicks off prime-time talk show [8/2/07]
>> HIFF's K-Fest opens Aug. 24, tickets on sale Aug. 17 [8/2/07]
>> Skinner joining state's Creative Industries Division [8/3/07]
>> 'Flight 29 Down' to screen at Sunset on the Beach [8/3/07]

Honolulu Star-Bulletin
>> Kailua theaters to close doors [8/1/07]
>> Focus on Shanghai [7/23/07]

Wanted: Film Proposals By & About Pacific Islanders

2007-06-29T22:56:00.000-10:00

Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) just announced the opening of its 15th annual Media Fund Open Call for proposals. Pacific Islander filmmakers are especially encouraged to submit proposals for public television projects at any stage of development.

More than $200,000 in funding will be awarded to projects that tell authentic, well-told stories about the Pacific and what it means to be a Pacific Islander. Several awards of up to $15,000 will go to projects in the R&D stage, while larger awards of up to $50,000 to those in the production and completion stages.

A review panel will look for proposals with a compelling story, concept or treatment; great storytelling; a good hook; an experienced production team; a reasonable, factual budget; and a solid sample video. The projects must be about the Pacific and the Pacific Islander experience.

Pacific Islanders and non-Pacific Islanders alike are eligible to apply. Applicants must be 18 and older and U.S. citizens or legal residents.

All applications must be received no later than Fri, July 13, 2007 @ 5:30pm.

>> Click here for more information, and to download an application.

RELATED POSTS:
>> Hawaii Films at HIFF 2006
>> Hawaii on YouTube
>> Indigenous Pacific Storytelling
>> Hawaii Looks to New Zealand
>> Listen and Learn
>> How Da Haoles Wen Stole Hawaii: The Film(s)
>> A Pictorial History of Hawaii

Features Galore in Hawaii

2007-06-29T22:41:00.000-10:00

No greenscreen needed here--Stiller is opting for the real deal on Kauai for "Tropic Thunder"

There's been a lot of feature film news coming out of Hawaii lately...

Two huge productions are slated to start filming very soon: Ben Stiller-helmed "Tropic Thunder" starring Stiller himself, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Jay Baruchel, Owen Wilson, and Nick Nolte will shoot on Kauai, and "(Untitled Genre Project)" (ahem) is reportedly going to shoot somewhere in Hawaii.

On the B-list is Rigel Entertainment’s "Tyrannosaurus Azteca" filming at Oahu's Kualoa Ranch.

This fall, a Princess Ka'iulani biopic starring Q'orianka Kilcher ("The New World") will start shooting on Oahu.

A local indie feature will start shooting soon as well: Iolani grad and current USC film school student Ryan Ishii will helm his second feature, a hip hop-infused fantasy fable about war and family called "Ramona's Egatac." Ryan is casting from now till July 10th, so interested actors can email him at ryan.ishii@gmail.com.

>> Wilson and Nolte enlist in ‘Tropic Thunder’; more extras needed [Kauai Garden Island News, 6/21/07]

>> Indiana Jones on the Big Island [Hawaii Tribune-Herald, 6/21/07]

>> Movie about Princess Ka'iulani to start production in fall [Hnl Advertiser, 6/8/07]
>> 'Ramona' filmmaker puts out casting call [Hnl Advertiser, 6/27/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Feature Films Lured by Hawaii's 15-20% Tax Credit
>> Films Set in Hawaii Make Big Bucks
>> Big Hollywood Feature Scouting Kauai
>> Famous Hawaii Locations
>> Hawaii Ranks #5 in Top 10 Places to Shoot in the US

Tax Credit Scandal Worries Louisiana Film Industry

2007-06-09T21:20:00.000-10:00

LIFT threatened to take The Film Factory, its proposed $100M+ 300,000 s.f. studio/school facility, elsewhere if state officials did not speed up its tax credit claims

It's been a while since I wrote about film tax credits, but here's a doozy: last week, the FBI raided the offices of the Louisiana Institute of Film and Technology (LIFT), purportedly New Orleans' most prominent film production company ("Factory Girl" and "Bug" are among its recent films). Why? Apparently, LIFT head Malcolm Petal pressured state economic development officials to speed up the processing of his company's tax credit applications or else he'd take his proposed $100 million-plus film studio facility elsewhere.

The FBI raid may have been prompted by a whistleblower lawsuit filed in February against the state economic development department alleging that an official there gave LIFT favorable tax credit treatment in exchange for bribes and kickbacks.

These recent events are worrying Louisiana's film industry leaders. Since the state's first round of film tax credits took effect in 2003, $2 billion in production expenditures have been spent, putting the state at the #3 spot in level of production after California and New York. Could corruption and greed bring it all down?

>> FBI raids film offices as tax probe widens [New Orleans Times-Picayune, 6/2/07]
>> LIFT officials pressured state to speed tax credits [N.O. Times-Picayune, 6/4/07]
>> Are we dumping the baby with the bathwater? [N.O. Times-Picayune, 6/5/07]
>> FBI investigation in New Orleans worries local film industry leaders [The Shreveport Times, 6/5/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Hollywood Returns to Big, Easy Incentives
>> Louisiana Film Industry: Open for Business
>> States Cannibalizing States
>> LA vs. L.A.
>> The Golden Age of Louisiana
>> The Truth About Louisiana

Maui Film Office Presents Free Master Classes

2007-06-03T19:02:00.000-10:00

The Maui Film Festival is coming up June 13-17, and the Maui Film Office's Benita Brazier is using the opportunity to offer FREE informative master classes to the public. The following film industry professionals will offer their expertise on producing, directing, composing, location scouting, VFX, and the studio system:

Jon Kuyper - VP, Warner Premiere
Monica Levinson - Exec Producer, "Borat"
Betty Thomas - Director, "Private Parts," "Dr. Dolittle," "28 Days"
Darius Shahmir - Director, "The Shimmering"
Val Kim - Location Manager, "Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3"
Richard Gibbs - Composer, "Step Into Liquid"
Jeff Barnes - CEO, The Computer Cafe Group
Will Kendall - Exec Producter, "Battlestar Galactica" Webisodes

The master classes, which are FREE and open to the public, will be held:

DATES: June 14-15

TIME: 2-5pm

PLACE: Lokelani III, Wailea Marriott

Click on the poster above for more details.

Feature Films Lured by Hawaii's 15-20% Tax Credit

2007-05-28T07:02:00.000-10:00

Hawaii has long been a magnet for TV shows, reality series, commercials, and music videos, but rare is the feature film in the islands (with notable exceptions, of course, such as "Jurassic Park," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and "Pearl Harbor").

But thanks to the new 15-20% refundable production tax credit, feature films are rediscovering Hawaii. Among the recent features that have been lured by the tax credit is "Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End," which took in a record-breaking Memorial Day weekend gross of $142 million. The blockbuster's 6-day haul to date is estimated at $401 million. The third installment of the popular Disney franchise shot just one scene in one day in Hawaii, and was the first feature film to take advantage of Hawaii's new 15-20% tax credit.

Next came Universal's "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," a "romantic disaster movie" written by and starring Jason Segel ("Freaks and Geeks"), starring Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars"), and produced by Judd Apatow ("40-Year Old Virgin"), which is slated for release next year.

Supposedly on its way to Kauai this summer is the Ben Stiller-helmed comedy "Tropic Thunder."

And finally, rumors are swirling about the upcoming production of the long overdue "Indiana Jones IV" starring Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf. According to CHUD.com, the sequel will be shooting in the L.A. area, Connecticut, New Mexico and, lo and behold, Hawaii. Of the four locations, California is the only one that does not have a tax incentive for film production.

>> ‘Pirates’ Haul So Far Estimated at $401 Million [NY Times, 5/29/07]
>> The Aloha allure [The Hollywood Reporter, 5/22/07]
>> Feel the ‘Tropic Thunder’ [The Garden Island, 5/3/07]
>> Grease is the Word for Indy Jr. [CHUD.com, 5/20/07]

Hawaii Film Office Site Down...For Some

2007-05-21T18:59:00.000-10:00

Where oh where is hawaiifilmoffice.com?

The official Hawaii Film Office site, hawaiifilmoffice.com, may produce a 404 errors ("The webpage cannot be found") for some visitors due to an incomplete server migration.

Back in January, the HFO site relaunched on new servers and under a new content management system. However, the old, static site was never fully erased, so a good number of site visitors were still accessing this old site.

The Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism's IT Dept. (which spearheaded this site migration) recently realized this problem, and erased the old site completely. So now, users who had previously been directed to the old site (including me), are now directed to...nothing!

So, those of you who need to download permit applications and instructions, tax credit applications and instructions, or find out more information about shooting in Hawaii, should contact the Hawaii Film Office at (808) 586-2570 as we wait for the HFO site to go back up for everyone.

Tim Ryan's Reel Hawaii is Back

2007-05-11T17:46:00.001-10:00

Long-time Hawaii-based entertainment news reporter Tim Ryan has sort of revived his "Reel Hawaii" column, previously featured in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Tim, now Executive Editor of Hawaii Film & Video Magazine, just launched a blog offering juicy tidbits on what's going on in Hawaii's film and TV world. Check out his latest scoop on Tim Ryan’s Reel Hawaii.

RELATED POSTS:
>> Tim Ryan, Local Scoopmeister
>> Speaking of Blogs...

State Seeking Hawaii-China Film Proposals

2007-05-08T21:40:00.000-10:00

Improve Hawaii-China relations through the universal language of film!
(Source: Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin)

The Hawaii Film Office (part of the state's Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism) is soliciting proposals for projects involving a Hawaii-China film development program. $50,000 will be granted to the winning proposal. Here's a summary of what the state is looking for:

SOLICITATION #: RFP-07-14-CID

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The primary objective of the solicitation is to support film projects involving a Hawaii-China film development program. The types of film project that will be considered are documentaries, television shows, independent feature films or shorts. The film project should explore the Hawaii-China connection and include an educational or workforce development program. This project also seeks to:
* Develop local production expertise and talent;
* Sustain local industry development;
* Increase investment in Hawaii-based productions; and
* Foster continued exploration and understanding of the unique Hawaii-China relationship.

DEADLINES:
* All written questions must be submitted to DBEDT's Contracts office by 3pm HST on May 18, 2007. The Contracts office can be reached at bids@dbedt.hawaii.gov or 808-586-9312.
* The deadline for the proposals themselves is 11am HST on June 6, 2007.

>> Click here to review the complete submission guidelines.

18th Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival

2007-05-08T21:36:00.000-10:00

The Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival has announced its slate for the upcoming 18th annual edition. The fest will take place from May 24 to May 27 at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Academy of Arts and the Cupola Events Theatre at the new Honolulu Design Center. Highlights include:

Opening film "No Regret" by Leesong Hee-il, the first openly gay South Korean filmmaker to write and direct a gay themed film
Scottish humor meets Bollywood spectacle in the British comedy "Nina's Heavenly Delights"
World premiere of Andrea Meyerson’s documentary/concert film "Kate Clinton’s 25th Anniversary Tour" as well as her film "Laughing Matters…The Men"
Gala Benefit & Silent Auction Event with keynote speaker Kim Coco Iwamoto, a Hawaii Board of Education member and the highest elected transgendered office holder in the U.S.
World premiere of "Out Running," a documentary exemplifying the rising presence of openly LGBT people in public office
"Alexis Arquette: She's My Brother," a documentary about the process of sexual reassignment for Alexis Arquette, the once brother, now sister of actors Rosanna, Patricia, & David Arquette. Alexis Arquette is scheduled to appear at the event.
"Saint of 9/11," about Father Mychal Judge, a Franciscan friar and chaplain of the Fire Dept. of New York, whose journey as a gay man, an alcoholic and a priest became a symbol of courage and sacrifice during the 9/11 tragedy

For more info, including showtimes and ticket prices, go to hglcf.org.

New Mini Local Film Fest, May 14-15

2007-05-08T20:40:00.000-10:00

There's another new lil' film fest in town. Here's its official press release:

Misfit Movie Madness!
May 14 & 15
7:00 pm @ ARTS at Marks Garage

Local Film Superheroes the 5' GIANTS are combining forces with other independent filmmakers to bring you this TWO-NIGHT cinematic treat that's low on calories, but packed with impact!

The first night is action-packed with over 5 short movies leaping onto the big screen! Comedies and dramatic shorts from 3TOAD, Renegade Filmmaker, the 5' GIANTS and other local filmmakers that defy the Hollywood Machine. You'll never know what to expect with this cinematic grab bag!

The second night will be an adventure of a different sort. With the premiere of the latest 5' GIANTS feature "Comfortable Affliction" and two other short films taking center stage.

Admission at the door is $8/person. Spirits and surprises will be served. Leave the kids at home because this type of cinema is not for everyone.

For more info or to book your seat in advance, call 349-4195 or email info@5ftgiants.com. For program info visit: www.myspace.com/5ftgiants

RELATED POSTS:
>> The Meaning of "Independent"
>> Local Filmmakers Left in the Dust
>> Showdown in Chinatown Winners
>> Hawaii Films at HIFF 2006
>> 'Ohina Short Film Showcase: Aug 4-5

What Happened at the 2007 Legislature?

2007-05-08T20:22:00.000-10:00

The 2007 Hawaii State Legislature adjourned last week, and all film-related bills essentially died, except for one: SB1922, which appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii's Academy for Creative Media for various facilities and programs.

Here's what ACM Chair Tom Brislin had to say about the passage of SB1922, SD2, HD1, CD1:

A special thanks to all students, faculty, and community and industry supporters who urged our state legislators to support ACM. The House and Senate unanimously passed a measure that will give almost $5 million for an ACM facility and equipment. Next steps are for the governor to sign the measure into law, and for the university and Hawaii Public TV to agree on a lease that would provide a long-term home for ACM in the KHET-TV building on the corner of University and Dole. Stay tuned.

>> ACM Update #8 [5/4/07]

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>> Bills, Bills, Bills
>> UH Unveils New Render Farm
>> "Superman"'s Hawaii Connection
>> Chris Lee to Stay in Hawaii
>> Hawaii's "Digital Revolution" Continues

The End of "Lost" is Found (and Near)

2007-05-08T19:56:00.000-10:00

"Lost" to say buh-bye to Hawaii (and the world) in 2009-10 season

You can put all those rumors about "Lost"'s demise to rest now: ABC officially announced yesterday that the made-in-Hawaii sci-fi drama will indeed expire in the 2009-10 TV season.

The network's decision had nothing to do with the hit show's softening ratings, but rather, with the desire to allow current exec producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse to end the show with dignity (i.e., with a natural story arc that would remain tight and riveting throughout the rest of the show's lifespan).

After this season, "Lost" (still a hit show, by the way) will run for 3 more uninterrupted seasons, so enjoy it while you can!

>> End in sight for 'Lost': 48 episodes, 3 seasons [The Hollywood Reporter, 5/7/07]

Don Ho: 1930-2007

2007-04-16T19:31:00.000-10:00

Don Ho, one of Hawaii's most famous and beloved entertainers, died of heart failure on Saturday in his Waikiki home. An Oahu native, "Mr. Waikiki" was so known because he was the biggest draw in the popular tourist enclave for decades.

Ho made a number of guest appearances on hit television shows such as "The Brady Bunch," "I Dream of Jeannie," "Charlie's Angels," "Fantasy Island," and "Sanford and Son." He also had his own morning variety show, the "Don Ho Show," that ran on ABC from 1976 to 1977. But he is, of course, best known for his singing career, and for recording the widely known "Pearly Shells" and "Tiny Bubbles."

Ho is survived by his wife, 10 children. 19 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren.

There will be a public tribute for Ho, tentatively scheduled for May 5th in Waikiki, where fans can pay their respects to one of Hawaii's icons.

>> Don Ho dies [Honolulu Advertiser, 4/15/07]
>> Admirers reminisce about 'Mr. Waikiki' [Honolulu Advertiser, 4/16/07]
>> Public invited for final aloha to Don Ho [Honolulu Advertiser, 4/16/07]
>> Don Ho - 1930-2007 - We'll Remember You [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 4/15/07]

>> Don Ho, Hawaii's best ambassador, dies at 76 [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 4/15/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Pat Morita (1932-2005)

>> Marie Lord, Widow of Jack, Dies
>> Ray Bumatai (1952-2005)
>> Kayo Hatta (1958-2005)

KOFIC Filmmakers Development Lab '07 Seeks Applicants

2007-04-06T22:07:00.000-10:00

The Korean Film Council's Filmmakers Development Lab (KOFIC FDL) is seeking applicants for its second go-round. KOFIC FDL launched last year, and invited five overseas Korean filmmakers (Philip Chung, Abraham Lim, Young-il Kim, Jinoh Park, and Mora Mi-ok Stephens) to participate in a one-week lab at the University of Hawaii's Academy for Creative Media.

In addition to UH, the FDL is associated with IFP and the Center for Asian American Media. Lab fellows will gain entrance to New York's IFP Market in September, and the Pusan International Film Festival in October to hobnob with film industry glitterati who could potentially greenlight their projects.

So, if you are a Korean or overseas Korean who is fluent in English and has directed at least one short or feature film, apply! FDL dates are Aug 26-Sep 2, 2007, deadline is April 30, and details are after the jump.

>> KOFIC FDL

RELATED POSTS:
>> Korean Filmmakers Development Lab Fellows Announced
>> Calling All Korean & Korean American Filmmakers
>> HIFF Report: Asian American Invasion
>> Asian American Film Festivals
>> Korea Fever at LVHIFF

"Empty Streets" Depicts PTSD of Hawaii War Veteran

2007-04-06T21:51:00.000-10:00

Kauai-raised filmmaker and Hawaii Student Film Festival founder Paul Booth has just completed shooting his directorial debut, "Empty Streets," a short film based on his friend's experience with PTSD. Booth's high school pal Ely Kalilikane suffered heavy emotional and psychological trauma upon his return from a tour of duty in the Middle East.

The $2,000-3,000 budget film was shot in Northern California, where Booth is now based, with a Panasonic DVX100 and a skeleton crew. Besides Booth and Kalilikane, the film's Hawaii connections include co-writer Eve Hands of Kauai, actor Desiree Duclayan-Parsonson of Kauai, and Anthony Haviland of Maui.

Booth is currently editing "Empty Streets" and preparing to submit it to film festivals. He expects to release it via educational venues and the Internet as well.

>> Kaua‘i filmmaker tackles war and the effects on veterans [The Garden Island, 3/30/07]
>> One Night In Lodi [Lodi News-Sentinel, 3/10/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> The Meaning of "Independent"
>> Local Filmmakers Left in the Dust
>> Gerard Elmore's "All For Melissa"
>> Whatever Happened to Haiku Jones?
>> Showdown in Chinatown Winners
>> Hawaii Films at HIFF 2006
>> Local Indie Feature "The Hidden Battle" Screens 9/20
>> In Production: Super 16 Short "Chief"
>> 'Ohina Short Film Showcase: Aug 4-5
>> Hawaii Films in Development

Hawaii's Own "Inside the Actors' Studio"

2007-04-06T20:59:00.000-10:00

NETPAC/USA is hosting Hawaii's own version of "Inside the Actors' Studio." University of Hawaii cinema studies professor Wimal Dissanayake will play James Lipton when he interviews Malaysian filmmaker Yasmin Ahmad, whose feature film "Mukhsin" won the Grand Prix in the Generations competition at the Berlin Film Festival. "Mukhsin" and Ahmad's other films will screen for free at the Honolulu Academy of Art's Doris Duke Theater from April 13-15 at 7:30pm. But first, go to the talk! You'll get tea, scones, and conversation about Ahmad's views on feminism, Islam, storytelling, love, and making films in Malaysia. Details:

Date: Fri, April 13
Time: 4pm
Place: Honolulu Design Center, 1250 Kapiolani Blvd.
Price: $25 ($23 for NETPAC/USA members)
Cash or checks to NETPAC/USA only. RSVP by April 9 to jphmovies@aol.com.

Roy Disney to Give Master Class in Animation 4/20

2007-04-06T20:41:00.001-10:00

As part of the education/workforce development requirement for claiming Hawaii's 15-20% film tax credit, Roy Disney will be giving a master class in animation on 4/20 at UH's Academy for Creative Media. Disney is currently filming a feature-length documentary, "Morning Light," that follows the youngest crew ever to attempt the 2,000+-mile Transpacific Yacht Race between California and Hawaii. Here are the details of the master class:

Date: Fri, April 20
Time: 5-7 pm
Place: UH ArchitectureAuditorium
Reception + refreshments to follow. RSVP to Lily Ching at lilychin@hawaii.edu.

RELATED POSTS:
>> "Morning Light" Kicks Off on the Hokulea
>> Hawaii Film Blog: Disney's "Morning Light" Project
>> Finally! Forms for 15-20% Film Tax Credit!

SFIAAFF Panel Included Hawaii-Raised Filmmaker Jon Moritsugu

2007-03-29T06:24:00.000-10:00

Jon Moritsugu's "Scumrock"

Michael Guillen has posted a transcript of the SFIAAFF's panel discussion, "Down and Dirty Pictures" with Gregg Araki, Roddy Bogawa, and Jon Moritsugu, moderated by Strand Releasing's Marcus Hu. (Thanks for the link, Kevin!) The filmmakers discuss their own filmmaking experiences, lament about the (sad) state of (Asian American, independent, general) filmmaking today, and talk trash about James Schamus and Justin Lin. It's well worth the long transcript read!

Hawaii folks will be interested to know that Jon Moritsugu was born and raised in Honolulu, attended Punahou and Brown, and made a name for himself as an underground filmmaker in New York and San Francisco. His films include Scumrock (2003), Fame Whore (1997), and Mod Fuck Explosion (1994) and Terminal USA (1993). Moritsugu is based in Seattle now, but did live in Honolulu recently, teaching a class at UH, playing "scuzz punk and bliss pop" around town with wife and collaborator Amy Davis, and apparently, finishing a Hawaii-based script: "I finished a script when I moved out to Hawaii. I wanted to shoot a big budget movie in Hawaii. Everything got chaotic and fell through and I left Hawaii. I don't live there anymore. That script I put on a back burner because right now it would be difficult logistically to try to make a movie in Hawaii."

>> 2007 SFIAAFF: Down and Dirty Pictures" Panel Discussion with Gregg Araki, Roddy Bogawa, Jon Moritsugu and Marcus Hu -- Part 1, Part 2 [The Evening Class, 3/27/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Hawaii Films Get SFIAAFF Awards
>> The Meaning of "Independent"
>> Local Filmmakers Left in the Dust
>> Asian American Film Festivals

Big Hollywood Feature Scouting Kauai

2007-03-27T20:41:00.000-10:00

Blue Hole on feature film-friendly Kauai

This week, The Kauai Garden Island News and the Honolulu Advertiser reported that a major Hollywood feature has been scouting Kauai for a summer shoot. Kauai film commissioner Art Umezu declined to name the production, but USA Today reported last week that "This summer, film crews will arrive for the making of Tropic Thunder, a war movie being directed by Ben Stiller and starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black." I am not going to confirm or deny whether this is indeed the film in question, but I will say that the film in question would not have scouted Kauai at all were it not for the fact that I personally told the production exec (to his shock and delight) about the 20% neighbor island film tax credit. Score another victory for Hawaii's 15-20% refundable film tax credit!

Incidentally, Kauai is the most popular of the Hawaiian Islands for feature film shoots, having hosted all the Jurassic Parks, King Kong (1976), 6 Days/7 Nights, Outbreak, Dragonfly, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. (See a complete Hawaii filmography.)

>> Hollywood courts Kaua‘i, no commitment yet [Kauai Garden Island News, 3/23/07]
>> Big-budget movie may shoot at Kaua'i locations [Honolulu Advertiser, 3/24/07]
>> Kauai, Hawaii: Paradise has its share of price swings [USA Today, 3/20/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Universal Feature to Shoot on Oahu
>> Films Set in Hawaii Make Big Bucks
>> Finally! Forms for 15-20% Film Tax Credit!
>> Two Articles About Act 88 Today
>> Meet the County Film Offices
>> Famous Hawaii Locations
>> Elvis Was Here
>> King Kong on Kauai
>> Roger Corman Filming on Kauai
>> Notable Commercials Shot in Hawaii
>> "Jurassic Park 4" To Shoot Next Year?

Dog the Bounty Hunter Honored by Legislature

2007-03-23T19:15:00.000-10:00

"Dog" Takes the Floor (Photo: Bruce Asato, Honolulu Advertiser)

This week, the Hawaii State House of Representatives passed a resolution to honor "Dog" the Bounty Hunter and his wife Beth for getting crooks off the street.

I'm not sure which is sadder: the fact that "198 media outlets across the country, Canada and as far away as France and New Zealand picked up on the largely ceremonial gesture," or the fact that the Honolulu Advertiser bothered to report this fact (after doing a Google search to discover it!). (Yes, Hawaii has a serious inferiority complex about not getting national/ international media coverage.)

>> Latest 'Dog' news goes national, international [Hnl Advertiser, 3/22/07]

Hawaii Films Get SFIAAFF Awards

2007-03-23T18:47:00.000-10:00

The 25th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival just announced its award winners, and among them were two films with Hawaii ties: Lisette Flanary's "Na Kamalei: The Men of Hula" nabbed the Comcast Audience Award for Documentary Feature, and "Tre" directed by Eric Byler and starring Kimberly Rose-Wolter got a Special Jury Award.

"Na Kamalei" documents Robert Cazimero's all-male hula halau (school) and "Tre" is Byler's third feature-film foray into the realm of dysfunctional romantic/sexual relationships.

>> SFIAAFF Award Winners Announced [3/23/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> HIFF Report: Winners, Molesters, Mochi
>> Hawaii Films at HIFF
>> Hawaiinuiakea Film Festival
>> FilmHawaii Seminar: Eric Byler on Mon, 10/30
>> Watch "My Life Disoriented"
>> HIFF Report: Asian American Invasion
>> Hawaii at SFIAAFF
>> U.S. Indies at LVHIFF
>> Asian American Film Festivals

"Lost" 4 Gets Greenlit

2007-03-23T18:09:00.000-10:00

We still have jobs!

Those trucks and trailers and honeywagons around town will be sticking around for another season of "Lost." So will the cast/crew jobs! Guess those paranoid naysaying TV "journalists" harping on declining "Lost" ratings were, well, paranoid. Or, more likely, had nothing better to write about. Much like me in this post.

>> 'Lost' gets green light for Season 4 [Hnl Advertiser, 3/23/07]
>> Moving 'Lost' away from 'Idol' helped [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 3/22/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> ABC Exec: "Lost" is Not Lost!
>> "Lost" Ratings Drop, Press Freaks Out
>> "Lost" Series Finale Will Suck
>> "Lost" is Fab, But Will It Last?

It's Ki'i, Not Tiki!

2007-03-23T17:30:00.000-10:00

Hawaii has endured decades upon decades of cultural butchering by journalists, filmmakers, writers--really, anyone attempting to depict the unique islands. So, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has just put out a "Style & Resource Guide" targeted to travel journalists, PR guys, and ad agencies that promote/cover Hawaii. You filmmakers and TV writers might want to check it out too to avoid debacles like the one on NBC's now-dead "Hawaii" cop series in which a Hawaiian princess' bones were dug up to resolve a feud between two Hawaiian families over who killed her. Oy vey!

>> Style guide clears up Island miscues [Hnl Advertiser, 3/20/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Be Pono!
>> Listen and Learn
>> Respecting Host Cultures While Filming
>> Hawaii Newbies, Read This
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Job Opening: Asst Professor in Post-Production

2007-03-23T17:13:00.001-10:00

The Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is looking for an assistant professor to teach post-production/editing. Details:

Assistant Professor, position number 0070058, UHM Colleges of Arts &Sciences, Academy for Creative Media, (Manoa), tenure track, full-time, 9-month, to begin 8/1/07 and is contingent on position clearance and funding. The Academy seeks an Assistant Professor to support a curricular program in digital cinema production with an emphasis in post-production and editing.

Duties: Teach undergraduate courses in digital cinema production, editing, and post-production; develop curriculum; advise and mentor undergraduate students; publish or produce refereed research or other juried scholarly or creative works in appropriate media; and perform university, educational outreach, and professional service.

Minimum qualifications: Ph.D. or terminal degree (e.g. MFA) in appropriate media-related field and established professional achievement; demonstrated teaching experience and record of scholarly and/or creative work; knowledge and experience in various nonlinear digital and film editing software formats as well as traditional film and video linear editing; evidence of excellence in production, post-production and editing, documented by a production reel/portfolio; and suitability and enthusiasm for teaching across disciplines in a highly collaborative curriculum and program building.

Desirable qualifications: Knowledge and experience in sound design; strong record of professional accomplishments; experience and productive relationships with industry professionals andorganizations in cinema production and editing; previous university-level teaching experience.

Pay range: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

To apply: Send letter of application specifying position number 0070058, curriculum vitae, portfolio or samples of creative and scholarly work, official transcript from terminal degree, and a list of at least five references and contact information to:

Search Committee
Academy for Creative Media
2550 Campus Road, Crawford 210
Honolulu, HI 96822-2217

No e-mail applications or attachments accepted. ABDs must submit a letter from committee chair attesting that dissertation and all degree requirements will be completed by start of employment. Continuous recruitment. Review of applications will begin on April 9, 2007 and will continue until the position is filled.

Inquiries: Dr. Thomas Brislin, 808 956-3788, tbrislin@hawaii.edu

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Hawaii the Almighty on "American Idol"

2007-03-16T18:50:00.000-10:00

A feature on Yahoo! TV yesterday explored the mystery behind Sanjaya Malakar's continuing ability to survive the axe on Fox's "American Idol"--mysterious because apparently, he's not the most talented of the bunch. After throwing out a few plausible theories, writer Vera HC Chan came to a surprising conclusion: votes from the state of Hawaii are keeping Sanjaya alive!

Why? Because the kid lived on Kauai for four years. Yes, Hawaii folks love those Hawaii connections, however tenuous--and especially on TV, where Hawaii people and things are scarce. It's like, imagine what it was like for Black Americans in 1965 to see one of their own on TV. Or what it's like for Asian Americans today to see an Asian Am brother or sister as a principal character on a TV series or in a film. Well, that's what it is like for Hawaii residents.

Perhaps Hawaii keeping Sanjaya on "Idol" isn't so weird when you consider how the state collectively kept Jasmine Trias chugging along a few seasons back.

Now, if only Hawaii residents could apply that same voting fervor to participating in political elections! The state has had the lowest voter turnout in the country during the last three elections (in Nov '06, a measly 40% of the voting-eligible population turned out to vote!). So, sorry Obama, even though you went to Punahou, I doubt if Hawaii folks will be able to help you get closer to the presidency.

>> The Malakar Mystery [Yahoo! TV, 3/15/07]
>> Finalist on 'Idol' lived on Kauai until 2000 [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 2/23/07]

Hawaii Celebrates "Hawaii Five-O" on DVD

2007-03-13T08:40:00.000-10:00

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin had no fewer than 4 features on Sunday talking about the recent DVD release of the first season of "Hawaii Five-O." Plus, there was a DVD launch party on Friday at the Ilikai Hotel (featured iconically in the show's opening sequence). That just shows that Hawaii folks still regard the series as the pinnacle of television production in Hawaii--in its employment of local actors and crew, its portrayal of Hawaii's unique local culture, and its ability to command the attention of U.S. audiences for 12 years.

From Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 3/11/07:
>> Five-O forever
>> Moody, retrospective and wistful for ‘Five-O’s’ Honolulu
>> Almost 40 years later,'Five-0' still packs a punch
>> DVD box set features pieces of local flair

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>> $40 Million to Hawaii From the Lords
>> Marie Lord, Widow of Jack, Dies
>> Ah, the Days of Five-O...
>> Emmys & Hawaii
>> "Lost" is Fab, But Will It Last?
>> "Hawaii Five-O" in Fiji?!
>> Film Studios: If We Build 'Em, Will You Come?

John Lennon Killer Film at Tribeca Film Festival

2007-03-13T08:21:00.000-10:00

"The Killing of John Lennon" shows Mark David Chapman in Hawaii (Photo: Picture Players Ltd)

New York's Tribeca Film Festival (Apr 25-May 6) will host the North American premiere of Andrew Piddington's "The Killing of John Lennon" in its Spotlight category. The biopic follows Mark David Chapman in the days leading up to his murder of John Lennon. Much of this film was shot in Hawaii, where Chapman lived for several years.

>> The 2007 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Selections for Its Competition and Spotlight Sections [Press Release, 3/12/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Notorious H.N.L.
>> John Lennon Killer Flick, Take 2

Job Opening: Creative Industries Administrator

2007-03-13T08:01:00.001-10:00

Hawaii's Dept. of Business, Economic Development, & Tourism (DBEDT) is looking for a Creative Industries Administrator to lead its Creative Industries Division (CID). The Hawaii Film Office and the Arts & Culture Development Branch fall under CID. Here's a brief description of the job:

POSITION: Business & Industry Development Administrator, Recruitment # 207044 (EM-08)

SALARY: $5,919 to $8,758 per month + benefits

SUMMARY: Administrator position serves as chief of the new Creative Industries Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Responsible to plan, administer, coordinate activities of two branches; promote growth of, work as a business advocate for, Hawaii's film, video and digital media production industry centered around Hawaii's diverse artistic/cultural industries; and implement other leadership/administrative responsibilities described in career opportunity announcement.

Must meet all requirements: Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited four-year college/university. Six years of progressively responsible professional specialized experience, of which a minimum of two years involved research/analyses of products/businesses/industries to
evaluate economic potential and constraints; a minimum of two years of experience with demonstrated knowledge in the various forms, operational aspects, business requirements and impact of creative industries on business and economy, with involvement in development and/or promotion of one or more artistic/cultural arts/film and/or entertainment industries. Must also possess two years each of supervisory and administrative experience; knowledge of business development and management principles, practices and strategies; including the ability to plan, organize and administer a creative industries development program.

Click here for full details and instructions on how to apply.

RELATED POSTS:
>> Job Opening: Film Curator for Doris Duke Theatre
>> Meet the Hawaii Film Office!
>> Who are Donne, Judy, and Walea?

ABC Exec: "Lost" is Not Lost!

2007-03-08T15:51:00.001-10:00

This letter to the editor in the Honolulu Advertiser from ABC's VP of Media Relations is a week old, but here it is in case you missed it...

ABC BELIEVES 'LOST' WILL KEEP DOMINANCE

Regarding your article, "Real 'Lost' Mystery: Can TV Show Survive?" the answer is yes.

"Lost" consistently has been one of the top 10 shows on television — including the weeks you referenced as evidence of its demise.

The show has aired in three different time slots since its 2004 debut and dominated each with the audience (adults 18-49) targeted by the network and coveted by advertisers.

"Lost" at 10 p.m. has increased ABC's audience for that hour by more than 5 million viewers and has beaten its closest competition by 33 percent in its target audience. "Lost" is ABC's highest-rated show in that time slot in 10 years and remains the No. 1 scripted show on Wednesday
night.

The audience for "Lost" is smaller at 10 p.m. because the TV audience is smaller at that hour, about 12 percent smaller compared to 9 p.m.

However, that does not mean viewers aren't following the show. "Lost" continues to be one of the most recorded shows on DVRs and one of the most popular shows on iTunes and on ABC.com's broadband player.

Meanwhile, fans in more than 200 countries and territories tune in regularly both on air and online.

The new time slot hasn't changed the appeal of "Lost," and neither will the dire predictions of industry watchers and reporters.

"Lost" remains one of the most successful shows on television, and we'll continue to rely on the expertise and support of the Hawai'i community throughout its production run.

Charissa Gilmore
Vice president, media relations, ABC Television Studio

Universal Feature to Shoot on Oahu

2007-03-08T15:08:00.001-10:00

Tax credits have lured us another feature film! Universal Studios will be shooting a romcom on Oahu starting in April. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" stars (and was written by) Jason Segel of CBS's "How I Met Your Mother" and NBC's "Freaks and Geeks." Kristen Bell, "Veronica Mars" herself, will also star. Judd Apatow ("The 40 Year Old Virgin," "Freaks and Geeks") is producing.

>> Hollywood movie to film on Oahu [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 3/8/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Films Set in Hawaii Make Big Bucks
>> Finally! Forms for 15-20% Film Tax Credit!
>> Two Articles About Act 88 Today

Job Opening: Film Curator for Doris Duke Theatre

2007-02-26T22:07:00.000-10:00

The Honolulu Academy of Arts needs a new film curator for its Doris Duke Theatre now that Konrad Ng has left to teach at the UH ACM. Here's the job description:

Curator of Film and Media Arts
The Honolulu Academy of Arts seeks a curator for the museum’s film and media arts program in the Doris Duke Theatre. The successful candidate will have demonstrated knowledge in the art, history and politics of film and media arts, and experience in executing a sustainable film program. The curator is responsible for leading a cinema program that complements the Academy’s mission and maintains the niche for the Doris Duke Theatre as the premier venue for repertory film programs and the theatrical debut of American independent and foreign art films in Honolulu....
>> click for more

New Zealand One-Ups Hawaii

2007-02-20T13:17:00.000-10:00

The sequel to the Disney Channel film "Johnny Tsunami" (1999) is being filmed in New Zealand instead of Hawaii, where both films are partially set. The original film shot its Hawaii scenes on Oahu.

Exec producer Douglas Sloan said, "New Zealand looks amazingly like Hawaii. It's pretty astounding how similar the landscape is, the ocean, waves and vegetation....We've done a lot of shows here now and we know that we can absolutely rely on the crews and actors down here to do a first-rate job," and claimed that all but 4 of the 60-person crew is local.

>> Waitakeres stand in for Hawaii in Disney film [New Zealand Herald, 2/16/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Hawaii Looks to New Zealand
>> King Kong on Kauai
>> Film Incentives That Aren't Tax Credits
>> Hawaii as San Fran, NYC, UK, Oz, etc.
>> "Hawaii Five-O" in Fiji?!
>> Hey, Whatever's Cheapest
>> Triple Dose of Indie Film News: Sundance, Spirit, Gotham

"Lost" Ratings Drop, Press Freaks Out

2007-02-16T23:49:00.000-10:00

*BREAKING!*: ABC's hit show "Lost" is apparently no longer a hit, with just 12.8 million viewers this week, compared to 20 million+ at its peak. Woe is me, whatever shall we do?

>> 'Lost' loses attraction to millions of viewers [Hnl Advertiser, 2/16/07]
>> Real 'Lost' mystery: Can TV show survive? [AP via Hnl Advertiser, 2/16/07]

Gerard Elmore's "All For Melissa"

2007-02-16T23:41:00.001-10:00

Anne Misawa and Vince Keala Lucero working the camera on the lead actors

Local writer/director/producer/actor/comedian Gerard Elmore ("Valtor the Great vs. the Universe," "Amasian: The Amazing Asian") is almost done with his first (local! indie!) feature, "All for Melissa," a quirky romantic comedy / coming of age story shot entirely on Oahu. Check out the trailer here.

>> Elmore ready to finish his first feature [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 2/15/07]

Lingle's Innovation Infrastructure Package

2007-02-16T23:27:00.001-10:00

Governor Linda Lingle is making a big push for a package of bills aimed at developing Hawaii's infrastructure for technological, scientific, and creative innovation. Here's a list of specific initiatives put together by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin (I've bolded the film-related ones):

Creating two "academies" in public schools to equip students with the technical skills they'll need to compete for high-value jobs. These academies will be voluntary additions to the curriculum.
A $100 million Hawaii Innovation Fund to finance technology and creative industry companies. The money would come from the state Employees Retirement System.
Providing breaks for college tuition savings accounts of up to $20,000 in tax deductions.
Starting a privately led science and biotech research facility and technology incubator at Kakaako.
Developing a digital media center that could be used for software design, electronic game development, TV and film production, special effects and animation.
Promoting musical education and skills in partnership with Tennessee's Belmont University.
Public Internet access in state government buildings, including libraries and schools.
Founding an Office of International Affairs.

>> Lingle making headway stumping for high-tech [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 2/14/07]

Bills, Bills, Bills

2007-02-12T20:12:00.000-10:00

Here's a quick round-up of the latest versions of the film-related bills before the 2007 Hawaii State Legislature. To keep up with the latest status of these bills and learn when to testify at hearings, sign up to get hearing notices by email. Choose the following pertinent committees: House: EDB, TAC, HED, FIN / Senate: EDT, EDU, WAM

SB1920, SD1 - Taxation; Motion Picture, Digital Media, Film Production; Hawaii Television and Film Board; Membership; Appropriation
Recodifies and renames existing motion picture, digital media, and film production tax provisions. Increases the tax credits from fifteen and twenty per cent to twenty and twenty-five per cent. Increases reporting requirements. Increases membership of the Hawaii television and film board; enables the board to delegate certain administrative functions to subcommittees; authorizes the board to not have to meet if no money is in its special fund or no grants are being managed; and appropriates funds to the board's special fund for grants programs.

SB1922, SD1 - Creative Media; Appropriations
Creates financial incentives for and appropriates funds to the academy for creative media at the University of Hawaii to develop plans for a permanent facility in Hawaii; appropriates funds for a digital media incubator facility; establishes and appropriates funds for the music and enterprise learning experience program at the University of Hawaii-Honolulu Community College to develop the technical business skills required by Hawaii's music artists and music industry.

SB1993 - Economic Development; Taxation; Ko Olina Tax Credit; Digital Media Arts; Tourism Training Facility
Establishes the tourism training curriculum committee. Creates a new tax credit for a tourism training facility. Creates a new tax credit for digital media and performing arts. Repeals the Ko Olina tax credit. Appropriates funds.

HB933 - Taxation; Disclosure; Tax Credits
Requires businesses who apply for tax credits that are related to their commercial activities to sign a release statement allowing the department of taxation to publicly disclose their names and the names and amounts of the tax credits claimed. Requires the department of taxation to publicly disclose businesses that receive the tax credits.

HB1868, HD1 - University of Hawaii; Academy for Creative Media
Appropriates funds and creates financial incentives for a permanent facility to house digital equipment and media, classrooms, production laboratories, and related facilities for the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii.

Transporting Film From HNL Airport

2007-02-07T04:26:00.000-10:00

Here's an official message from the Hawaii Film Office regarding transporting film from Honolulu International Airport:

As many of you know, two Hawaii productions recently had film accidentally x-rayed in advance of a domestic air carrier departing from Honolulu International Airport . The x-rayed film was a total loss. This created a very costly and time-consuming situation for both productions.

It appears that the mistake had to do with a new Transportation Security Administration cargo security directive that requires that all small packages (counter-to-counter cargo) traveling on passenger planes be screened by air carriers in accordance with the TSA cargo security directives, or by TSA agents via Explosive Detection System (EDS or x-ray) or Explosive Trace Detection (ETD). ETD is the process whereby TSA agents swipe items with cotton pads and then run those pads through a machine that detects explosive residue.

The recent problems occurred when film was left by airline personnel at the EDS x-ray machines along with other non-film counter-to-counter cargo . The film apparently was then thrown in and co-mingled with piles of passenger luggage without regard for the warning labels indicating not to x-ray the sensitive contents within.

The good news is that with the help of TSA and United Airlines, a new process has been put into place that will prevent this from happening in the future. The new procedure will require all cargo personnel sending shipments containing sensitive film via passenger planes to either screen the film in accordance with TSA cargo security directives (shipper identification procedures) or hand-deliver the film directly to an ETD station to go through a screening by hand rather than through an EDS x-ray machine. If the ETD station is unattended, personnel will be asked to carry the film over to a TSA agent at an EDS x-ray machine and notify the agent that the package contains sensitive film and requires an ETD screening. At no time prior to the screening will the film be left unattended.

Any production transporting film counter-to-counter or through a known shipper for transport on a passenger plane will be asked to fill out specific documents at the airline or cargo counter to ship the film.

You should expect this process to be in place immediately. Please contact the Hawaii Film Office at (808) 586-2570 or an air cargo representative with any questions or concerns.

UPDATE, 2/9/07: 'Lost' loses footage in airport blunder [Hnl Advertiser] (wherein this blog is referred to as "an informational Web site run by the film office")

RELATED POSTS:
>> Meet the Hawaii Film Office!
>> Come & Get This: 2006 Production Guide
>> Permits, Hawaiian Style
>> Forbidden Shoot

For You Location Stalkers

2007-02-05T20:50:00.001-10:00

More on "Lost" locations: Local "Lost" fanatic Ryan Ozawa tells you exactly where in Hawaii you can find Bangkok, Pittsburgh, Albuquerque, Seoul, and more. Check it out in this month's Honolulu Magazine.

>> Media: Lost on Location [Honolulu Magazine, Feb 2007]

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>> This Show is Still On?
>> Hawaii as San Fran, NYC, UK, Oz, etc.
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This Show is Still On?

2007-02-04T19:10:00.000-10:00

St. Andrew's Priory in downtown Honolulu stands in for England

Indeed it is! "Lost" returns with new episodes on Wednesday. And to usher in that return, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's Katherine Nichols does a really nice job of showing us how location manager Jim Triplett and production designer Zack Grobler transform various Oahu locales into, among many other places, Nigeria, Australia, Korea, New York, and England.

Jim also points out that the "Lost" crew often leaves the locations in better condition than they had found them in, for example, by cleaning graffiti off rocks or removing garbage and abandoned cars.

>> Location, location, location [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 2/4/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> "Lost" Restores Landscape It Had Trampled
>> 10 Things I Learned From Our First FilmHawaii Seminar
>> "Lost" Series Finale Will Suck
>> Hawaii as San Fran, NYC, UK, Oz, etc.
>> Famous Hawaii Locations
>> Hawaii's Nature Police Launches 24-Hour Hotline
>> Permits, Hawaiian Style
>> Meet the Hawaii Film Office!

"Maui Fever" Folks Surprised by Reaction

2007-02-04T18:53:00.000-10:00

According to the Maui News, the cast and crew of MTV's "Maui Fever" are shocked by the negative local reactions to the show. Even some of the show's fans are posting comments on message boards calling locals reactionary and even "racist" against "anyone who is from the 'Mainland.'"

The local reactions may seem extreme to some, but after centuries of colonization and decades of offensive and negative portrayals in art, literature, mass media, and popular culture, can you blame 'em?

>> MTV shocked by response to show [Maui News, 2/4/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Lots o' Hawaii Film News
>> Be Pono!
>> Culture Clash
>> Respecting Host Cultures While Filming
>> How Da Haoles Wen Stole Hawaii: The Film(s)
>> Listen and Learn
>> A Pictorial History of Hawaii
>> Cultural Insensitivity
>> Halting American Cultural Imperialism

Credits and Cash Say "Aloha"

2007-01-31T18:45:00.001-10:00

Bravo's "Top Chef" judges with local chef Alan Wong

Forbes.com published a story today on how the state of Hawaii not only gives a 15-20% tax credit to productions, but sometimes, gives 'em cash. Such was the case for Bravo's "Top Chef," which got $60,000 from the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (a state-funded non-profit) to come shoot its finale on the Big Island.

"Lost" did not get cash from the state but has benefitted from tax credits, without which the hit show could not justify staying in Hawaii. My former boss Donne Dawson was quoted as saying that the credits are necessary to level the playing field with other states (like NM and LA, each of which offers a 25% credit), and, of course, tax credit opponent Lowell Kalapa was quoted as well. I gotta admit, the guy is like an expert paraphraser...I mean, who knew there were so many different fancy ways to say "tax credits suck"?

Oh, one last thing: again, reporters, Nathan Vardi, etc., can you please review the AP Stylebook and realize that you keep misusing "Hawaiian"? Mahalo!

>> Aloha. Here's Some Cash. [Forbes.com, 1/31/07]

Hawaii vs. Hawaiian

Lots o' Hawaii Film News

2007-01-29T22:00:00.000-10:00

Man, I move back to New York, and suddenly all this film stuff happens all at once in Hawaii! I'm still unpacking, so I don't have time to give you my full witty commentary on the following, but you're smart, you can comment to yourself re:

>> Only-in-Hawai'i films claim tax credits, too (Hnl Advertiser, 1/16/07) - Another one of Sean Hao's "fair and balanced" (ahem) articles on Hawaii's film tax credits, which AP happened to pick up.

>> Film industry provides full range of benefits (Hnl Advertiser, 1/26/07) - SAG Hawaii Exec Director Brenda Ching's opinion on just how "fair and balanced" above article is.

>> State urged to get tangible benefits from tax breaks (Hnl Advertiser, 1/26/07) - Yet another example of Hao's "fair and balanced" reportage on tax credits as they were discussed in the first informational hearing on Hawaii's film industry at the 2007 Legislature (which convened on 1/17, by the way).

>> MTV’s ’Maui Fever’ makes some residents sick (Maui News, 1/21/07) - Islanders are in a tizzy over watching slutty white folks tarnish their beautiful Maui on an MTV reality show. Show's producer defends lack of ethnic diversity thusly: “You can only film people who are willing to be filmed, and a lot of the people we wanted (for a more diverse cast) didn’t want to be filmed. You can’t control that." Does this mean there were no slutty ethnic folks, or that only the slutty white folks were willing to be exhibitionist? AP picked this one up too.

And on lighter notes...

>> A pair of esteemed academics from Beijing are visiting Hawaii to give free lectures on Chinese American actress Anna May Wong and Chinese actress Li Lilli. Go and learn a little about Asian American and Chinese film history! Lectures are from 12-1:30pm in the Tokioka Room, Moore Hall 319, University of Hawaii. On Wed, Jan 31, Graham Gao Hodges speaks about "Anna May Wong: From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend," and on Thurs, Feb 1, Gao Yunxiang speaks on Li Lilli and "Reframing the Athletic Movie Star During China's National Crisis, 1931-1945." Call 956-8891 for more info.

>> Ten students from the University of Hawaii's Academy for Creative Media were chosen to intern on ABC's "LOST." They will do rounds in various departments.

>> Roy Disney's "Morning Light" documentary feature about a pack of young sailors training for the Transpac yacht race started filming.

>> Don Brown of "Hawaii's Reel Stories" and the UH Cinema Series and former programmer of the Art House at Restaurant Row reports that he will be programming an alternative film series at "Cupola," a venue within the new Honolulu Design Center. "Cupola" is a 150-seat theater space flanked on either side by a restaurant and a wine bar. Starting on April 11, there will be music-oriented films on Wednesdays, and starting on April 22, foodie feature films on Sundays--all accompanied by food. Check the official site for film and menu announcements in March.

RELATED POSTS:
>> More on 15-20% Film Tax Credit Confidentiality
>> Confidentiality Policy for 15-20% Film Tax Credit Forms
>> Sean Hao on Confidentiality of Film Tax Credit Info
>> Press Massacres Hawaii's Film Tax Credits Again
>> Two New MTV Reality Series Shooting on Maui
>> Be Pono!
>> Respecting Host Cultures While Filming
>> How Da Haoles Wen Stole Hawaii: The Film(s)
>> The Transplantification of Hawaii
>> Hawaii vs. Hawaiian
>> Culture Clash
>> Breaking: Asian Pacific Americans Underrepresented on TV!
>> Hollywood Studio System is "Inherently Racist"
>> Morita Was Best Supporting Asian
>> Cultural Insensitivity
>> "Morning Light" Kicks Off on the Hokulea
>> Hawaii's Reel Stories

Start Spreadin' the News

2007-01-05T11:36:00.000-10:00

No sleep till Brooklyn

I'm leavin' today...leavin' the film office, that is. Soon, I'm gonna go back to (hopefully) be a part of it in ol' New York.

Yes, my film office job that was supposed to last just 1 year, then became 2 years, then 2-1/2 years, is finally over! I'll be returning to my (other) hometown of NYC. However, I am staying connected to the film office as a part-time consultant.

As for this blog, I intend to keep it up as best I can (as a way of keeping up with what's going on in Hawaii's film industry, which I hope to stay connected to always), which means it will no longer be officially affiliated w/the Hawaii Film Office (which means I can cuss and stuff, yay!). Please be sure to bookmark hawaiifilmblog.com instead of the long-ass blogspot address with the word "office" in it. Be sure to watch this space because this blog ain't dead, k? Although it will probably be mostly on hiatus until I get settled back East, or need a break from packing and unpacking.

So while I will be physically gone from Hawaii (except for my annual+ visits), I will still be there virtually and in spirit. Mahalo and aloha to all those folks whom I've worked with these past few years! You too can email me at mynette [at] gmail.com. Well, I guess all of you reading this can. Except for the weirdos, who can contact the Hawaii Film Office at (808) 586-2570 or info@hawaiifilmoffice.com. Aloooooooha!

RELATED POST:
>> Meet the Hawaii Film Office!

2006 Was a Very Good Year

2007-01-02T14:35:00.000-10:00

2006 was a very good year for Hawaii's film and television industry. Here are some highlights:

A new 15-20% refundable tax credit for film, television, commercial, and digital media productions finally passed, after having being proposed and rejected for the past 4 years. The new law took effect on July 1st, 2006.
The $7.3 million Phase II renovation construction of the Hawaii Film Studio was completed on May 15, 2006. The facility now has a new production office building and technical building/construction mill.
The popular downtown indie filmmaking event "Showdown in Chinatown" was launched and continues to draw more and more crazy local filmmakers who are masochistic enough to complete films in 24-48 hours.
Oahu hosted the third season filming of ABC's "Lost." The fantasy drama continues to be a commercial and critical success, having just gotten a Golden Globe nomination for Best TV Drama.
The Dog is still at it catching local criminals for A&E's "Dog: The Bounty Hunter."
Two new MTV reality series shot their pilot seasons on Maui. "Living Lahaina" and "Maui Fever" (formerly known as "Island Fever") are scheduled to air in early 2007.
The second season of the popular Discovery Kids' show "Flight 29 Down" shot on Oahu in early 2006, as did the second season of another teen-targeted show, The N's "Beyond the Break."
Episodes of popular TV shows visited the islands, including NBC's "Las Vegas," PBS's "Antiques Roadshow," HGTV's "House Hunters," and Bravo's "Top Chef."
Feature documentary "Morning Light" began filming in November. Roy Disney's pet project trails a crew of youngsters preparing to sail from L.A. to Honolulu.
Sci-Fi channel telefilm "Supergator" shot on Kauai this past summer. The film stars Kelly McGillis and was exec produced by Roger Corman.
Hawaii continues to be very popular for commercials and catalog shoots. This year, we hosted brands such as American Eagle, Kellogg's Rice Crispies, Shiseido, Japan Airlines, Eddie Bauer, REI, Roxy, Self Magazine, Nautica, Macy's, Vanity Fair, Good Morning America, InStyle, Land's End, and CDW.
The Hawaii Film Office said goodbye to a longtime staffer (Jackson Bauer) and hello to a new staffer (Kevin Inouye).

Hope you had a great 2006! Happy new year!

Watch "My Life Disoriented"

2006-12-22T18:51:00.000-10:00

A new TV program directed by Hawaii-raised director Eric Byler, written by Claire Yorita Lee, and starring Di Quon, Karin Anna Cheung, and Tamlyn Tomita, is premiering on PBS on Tuesday, 12/26 at 10pm. "My Life Disoriented" is like "Degrassi Junior High"--the one from when I was in junior high, not the new one--with Asian American leads. If you didn't catch it at the Hawaii International Film Festival this year, here's your chance. And even if you did see it already, watch it again to support Asian Americans on TV. Here's a blog post Eric wrote yesterday on MySpace about the show:

Year in and year out, the network television Pilot-to-Series Bus leaves without us. The bus leaves without Asian Pacific Americans..because there is a perception that there is no audience for stories about our community. Of course it left without us when we decided to make My Life Disoriented. But by applying for and winning a grant from ITVS ($11,500 was all it took to get us started) we basically built our own bus. We competed for an won finishing funds from ITVS, and then competed for and won a slot on the prestigious series Independent Lens. So, we made it to the same destination as the Pilot-to-Series Bus, perhaps even a better destination, with..nation-wide roadcasts on PBS starting this Tuesday. This gives us an opportunity to prove that there is indeed an audience for a show like this.

Seriously, it's almost 2007. Can it really be true that no one wants to see Asian Pacific Americans on TV unless they kick someone and/or speak with an accent? Check out the comment posted under the Tamlyn Clip on You Tube. Somebody wrote, "This makes me cringe... Asians don't talk like that. First of all, it's usually not in English."

Anyway, I spent the day writing emails to journalists..because, if enough people find out about the show, and enough people watch it on Tuesday -- we might post the kind of Nielson ratings that could earn us a seat on that bus for 2007, and earn the next band of insurgent TV pilot trouble-makers a spot on the bus with us.

Those emails you've been sending, by the way, they're working. Keep writing! We've gotten a lot of attention from ITVS and PBS in the last few days. Big conference call last night with the programming boss and the publicist. You've gotten them excited. They're totally with us. And also, they love my story about the bus....

So watch it! It screens with the "Independent Lens: Short Stack 2006" program at the following times in Hawaii:
Tues, 12/26, 10pm
Wed, 12/27, 1am
Sun, 12/31, 2am

>> myspace.com/mylifedisoriented
>> mylifedisoriented.com
>> Independent Lens: My Life Disoriented

RELATED POSTS:
>> FilmHawaii Seminar: Eric Byler on Mon, 10/30
>> HIFF Report: Monster, Matty, Mujeres
>> HIFF Report: Asian American Invasion
>> Breaking: Asian Pacific Americans Underrepresented on TV!
>> Hollywood Studio System is "Inherently Racist"
>> Minority Writers Get Minor Share of Work
>> Actors Get Reality Check

Public Humiliation for a $1M Development Deal, Anyone?

2006-12-22T18:36:00.000-10:00

It's "American Idol" meets "Project Runway"...for filmmakers!

Submit your film to audition for the new Mark Burnett / Steven Spielberg / DreamWorks series "On The Lot" on Fox. Talent scouts are currently casting 16 filmmakers for the pilot season.

Here's the premise: Each week, the filmmakers will make a short film with the resources provided to them (e.g., actors, grips, PAs, etc.). Their fates will be decided by a weekly audience vote. At the end of the season, the last director standing will get a $1 million dollar development deal at DreamWorks.

The deadline to submit your film is February 16, 2007. Go to thelot.com for more info.

RELATED POST:
>> Win $100K for a 3-5 Minute Documentary on "Tolerance"
>> Showdown in Chinatown Winners

Whatever Happened to Haiku Jones?

2006-12-20T14:34:00.000-10:00

You'll have to come see "Epic" to figure out what this means

Find out what happened to beloved stoic poet Haiku Jones and his nemesis, "Epic Poem" Eric, in "Epic," the sequel to the uproariously funny and widely beloved and praised film "The Tale of Haiku Jones" (2004) by the Hawaii Film Office's own young genius auteur Kevin Inouye. ("Haiku Jones" happens to be my favorite made-in-Hawaii film of all time.)

The WORLD PREMIERE OF "EPIC" will be screening for FREE on Saturday, December 30th, 8pm at UH Manoa. Discover what happened to all of your favorite characters and meet a few new hilarious ones. And if you didn't get a chance to see the original "Haiku Jones," now's your chance because it will be screening before "Epic"! Here are the details:

WHAT: "Epic" World Premiere
WHERE: Crawford Hall Rm. 115, University of Hawaii at Manoa Campus [full map]
(Enter campus via Maile Way and park along Campus Rd or Varney Circle for $3, or park on Metcalf Street)
WHEN: Sat, 12/30, 8pm
WHO: The entire cast and crew will be present for a Q&A after the screening!
HOW MUCH: FREE

Please join Pretentious Productions for the world premiere of "Epic," the fifty minute short film follow-up to "The Tale of Haiku Jones."

Directed by Kevin Inouye, produced by Christopher Yogi, and starring "Epic Poem" Eric Callahan, Scott Henderson, "Slam Poet" Stevie Yoo, Anne Misawa, and Amanda Young, "Epic" takes place two years after the events of "The Tale of Haiku Jones." Finding himself struggling with relevancy in the fickle and increasingly commercialized world of contemporary poetry, "Epic Poem" Eric (who is now flanked by the ubiquitous Scott Henderson) begins a blood feud with fast rising star "Slam Poet" Stevie. The war quickly intensifies as "Epic" finds himself fighting not only for his own survival, but ultimately, in a metaphorical, and perhaps even metaphysical manner, for the quality of the human condition itself.

"Epic" will be preceded by "The Tale of Haiku Jones," the Academy for Creative Media produced short about a stoic Haiku poet that stole hearts at the 2005 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, the 2005 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and the 2004 Hawaii International Film Festival, and "Wake," a short about a lonely college student, a girl, a poem, and a tree, that largely confused audiences at the 2006 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and the 2005 Hawaii International Film Festival.

>> Haiku Redux [Hnl Advertiser, 12/15/06]
>> 'Haiku Jones' will be shown at California festival [Hnl Advertiser, 2/17/05]
>> Festival showcases student filmmakers [Hnl Advertiser, 10/24/04]
>> UH doing just fine at film school [Hnl Advertiser, 6/25/04]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Hawaii Films at HIFF 2006
>> Meet the Hawaii Film Office!
>> LVHIFF 2005: A Retrospective
>> Hawaii Film Panorama at LVHIFF
>> Asian American Film Festivals

Mele Kalikimaka/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/New Year

2006-12-20T10:22:00.000-10:00

RELATED POST:
>> Happy Holidays 2005 from the Hawaii Film Office

"Lost" Gets Two Golden Globe Noms

2006-12-14T10:39:00.000-10:00

...one for Best TV Drama Series and one for Evangeline Lilly for Best Actress in a TV Drama Series. "Lost" will be defending its Best TV Drama title from last year's Golden Globes.

>> Hollywood Foreign Press Association Announced the Nominations for the 64th Golden Globe Awards (Goldenglobes.org, 12/14/06)

RELATED POSTS:
>> "Lost" Wins Best Drama Golden Globe
>> "Lost" Snubbed by Emmy Voters

More on 15-20% Film Tax Credit Confidentiality

2006-12-08T10:00:00.000-10:00

Here's the Advertiser's Sean Hao's article on the recent Office of Info Practices (OIP) and Attorney General (AG) opinions on the confidentiality of the 15-20% film tax credit application forms submitted to the Hawaii Film Office.

Would like to re-emphasize the fact that our AG had originally told us that information provided on the forms cannot be publicly disclosed per Hawaii Revised Statutes §235-116, which provides that tax return information shall be confidential. However, the AG reconsidered its original opinion and determined that only the budget/expenditure information may be kept confidential, but that the rest of the information may be subject to public disclosure inspection under Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act, unless a specific showing is made that disclosure of the information would cause competitive harm to the production whose information is requested. OIP concurred with this new opinion.

Most of the productions applied under the assumption that all their info would be kept confidential. Therefore, we are obligated to notify them individually of the new disclosure policy prior to releasing their identities. We have given them a deadline of December 21st to respond with their confidentiality requests, after which time we will review them and put together a list of them to give to Hao.

That is why "Hawai'i Film Commissioner Donne Dawson denied an Advertiser request for the information in September." That statement sounds harsher than it should--see, we had to honor the confidentiality of the applicants who applied under the old blanket confidentiality policy while awaiting formal opinions from the AG and OIP. Then, once the AG and OIP said most of the info should be disclosed, we had to give the applicants the opportunity to argue what shouldn't be disclosed before just releasing all their info willy-nilly. (Imagine if your tax returns were suddenly released to the press without any notification!)

The Hawaii Film Office is all for open government and the public's right to know (we who work here are taxpayers too!), but we also have to consider the needs of the film industry if we want to, as a state, develop and grow it here. We're just trying to do what's right for everyone, as best as we can.

Just so you know, New York, New Mexico, Illinois, and North Carolina do not disclose any individual production info on their film tax credit applications (NC doesn't because forms are submitted directly to their tax dept., which definitively makes them "tax return info"). Georgia, which Hao mentioned in his 10/4 article on the same topic, actually has a very similar policy to our new policy. Louisiana is the only state that discloses everything, including budget/expenditure info.

Oh, the other thing I wanted to point out: Hao postulates, "The film office said the 12 productions have projected budgets of $79.5 million in qualifying costs....If all that money were spent on O'ahu, the amount of tax credits created would be $12 million." Actually, he did not take into account the fact that credits are capped at $8 million per project, so if a production is spending more than $53.3 million on Oahu, their credit percentage would actually be lower than 15%. What's more, while some like to stress the cost of tax credits to the state, others like to look at the dollars that the tax credits bring in (nearly $80 million in this case), that might not have otherwise have been brought in to Hawaii were it not for the credits. Plus, how about the projected 774 jobs for Hawaii residents from just these 12 productions?

Last thing: Hao ends his article with a discussion of Act 221, the other more controversial investment tax credit that applies to high-tech as well as film/TV companies. I wanted to highlight the shift in his discussion from the new 15-20% refundable film tax credit to Act 221, because the 2 credits are very, very different, and people tend to clump them together.

>> State likely to lift veil on film tax credits [Hnl Advertiser, 12/8/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Confidentiality Policy for 15-20% Film Tax Credit Forms
>> Sean Hao on Confidentiality of Film Tax Credit Info
>> Tax Review Commission Iffy on Act 221
>> Tax Credit Mania?
>> Two Articles About Act 88 Today
>> Press Massacres Hawaii's Film Tax Credits Again
>> Finally! Forms for 15-20% Film Tax Credit!

Showdown in Chinatown's December Challenge

2006-12-07T20:49:00.000-10:00

Topic: A Surprise
Props: Newspaper, Flashlight
Line: "that might take a while" (spoken or written)

DEADLINE: Sat, 12/9, 5pm at NextDoor (43 N. Hotel St.), $20 submission fee
SCREENING: Sat, 12/9, 9pm at NextDoor, $10 admission

>> Showdown in Chinatown

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>> Showdown in Chinatown Winners
>> Showdown in Chinatown Championship
>> Honolulu: Hipster Haven

Confidentiality Policy for 15-20% Film Tax Credit Forms

2006-12-07T17:52:00.000-10:00

The Hawaii State Attorney General's Office and the Office of Information Practices recently issued formal written opinions on the confidentiality of the forms related to claiming the 15-20% Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit. These forms include the Production Registration Form and the Hawaii Production Report which are submitted to the Hawaii Film Office for processing.

Please be aware that information submitted on these forms is subject to public disclosure, with the exception of budget and expenditure information and individual personal contact information. If there is any other information you would like to keep confidential, you must make a special written request for confidentiality specifically identifying the information to be withheld from public disclosure and explaining why you consider it to be confidential commercial and financial information and how its disclosure would likely cause you substantial competitive harm. You must submit this request along with your Production Registration Form and Hawaii Production Report.

Here is the new disclaimer on the Production Registration Form (the disclaimer on the Hawaii Production Report is similar to this):

CONFIDENTIALITY: This application and other records related to this application may be subject to public disclosure under Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act ("UIPA"), Chapter 92F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which governs public access to the records of government agencies in Hawaii. The UIPA provides certain exceptions to public disclosure. One exception allows government agencies to protect information that constitutes confidential commercial and financial information that, if disclosed, would likely cause you substantial competitive harm. See Haw. Rev. Stat. § 92F-13(3) (1993). Pursuant to this exception, the Hawaii Film Office will not publicly disclose budget and expenditure information submitted (under Section 8 below) for specific productions, but may disclose this information in anonymous or aggregate form. To request that other information submitted be protected under this exception, you must submit a letter with this application specifically identifying the information to be withheld from public disclosure and explaining how its disclosure would likely cause you substantial competitive harm. The Hawaii Film Office reserves the right to determine whether information submitted by you will be withheld from disclosure. You will be notified of any requests made for the disclosure of your information and whether the information will be disclosed in accordance with the UIPA.

RELATED POSTS:
>> Finally! Forms for 15-20% Film Tax Credit!
>> Two Articles About Act 88 Today

Mike Tsai's Latest Film/TV Notes

2006-12-07T17:04:00.000-10:00

Here's the latest version of the Advertiser's Mike Tsai's sporadic film/TV round-up, including news about Tom Coffman's "The First Battle," a WWII documentary, airing TONIGHT at 8pm on PBS Hawaii and UH communication professor Marc Moody's overlooked indie film "Almost Normal," which scored theatrical and DVD distribution and will soon air on MTV's Logo channel.

>> 'Lost' propels ABC to No. 1 during sweeps [Hnl Advertiser, 12/6/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Two Recent Hawaii Premieres
>> Premiere of PBS Doc "The First Battle"

Tax Review Commission Iffy on Act 221

2006-12-04T17:57:00.000-10:00

Last Friday, the Tax Review Commission met to finalize its "Draft Report of the 2005 - 2007 Tax Review Commission." In this report, the Commission addressed the sticky issue of the cost of Act 221, Hawaii's controversial high-tech investment tax credit. Here's what it concluded (starting on page 19 of the .pdf version of the report):

This Commission shares the view of the 2001-2003 Tax Review Commission,
"A tax incentive program is a potential 'black hole,' because it is a future benefit of unknown proportions, which is determined bythe favored taxpayer's interpretation of what the tax credit should be, and is claimed on a tax return which is confidential."

We believe Act 221/215 raises similar concerns. We recommend that the Legislature avoid using tax credits as an economic development tool. As for the high technology business investment tax credit, the cost of the credit has proven hard to determine in a timely manner. In order to get more control over the program and to curb potential abuses, the Legislature should change it from a tax credit to a program of grants administered by a State Agency. If the credit is kept, this Commission recommends the following changes be adopted, at a minimum:
• Increase transparency and timely disclosure so that the credit can be evaluated effectively. Towards this end, we believe the data reporting should be mandatory and expanded to include sales; employment by compensation ranges and status, including full-time, part-time, and seasonal; and number of trademarks, patents, and copyrights obtained during the year.
• The data should be collected by NAICS codes and distributed to the public periodically, but not less frequently than annually.
• To gather the data, a tax confidentiality waiver should be required so that pertinent data can be released to the public.
• The Commission was unable to determine to its satisfaction whether the high technology business investment tax credit has achieved its goals, but we are concerned that the credit imposes a substantial drain on the resources of the State. Consequently, we believe an independent evaluation should be performed prior to any extension of the credit. These considerations may well apply to other tax credits. If the requirement for qualified high technology companies to report more data is implemented, the Department of Taxation should review the question of whether there is a continued need for certification.

Interestingly (and a bit alarmingly), the Commission points to Sean Hao's 10/7/06 Hnl Advertiser article "Isles' Tech Jobs Drop Despite Tax Credit" when footnoting a point credited to an outside study about Act 221 contracted by the Commission called "Measuring the Costs and Benefits of Hawaii's Qualified High Technology Business Investment Tax Credit." The point was that Act 221 could potentially cost $600 million over its lifetime. What's puzzling is, why did the Commission point to the Hao article (a secondary source) instead of its own Act 221 study (a primary source) which outside consultants were paid to conduct (and presumably, which would've provided that data point for Hao's article)? A quick perusal of the study (which is included in the same .pdf document as Appendix B, starting on page 63) didn't show any $600 million figure quoted, so where the heck did it come from? Referencing back to Hao's article, it seems that one of the study's authors, Marcia Sakai, verbally stated that estimate. But I must ask: why isn't it in the written study? Perhaps I may have missed it and one of you eagle-eyed blog readers can point it out to me.

So, basically, the Commission's conclusion on Act 221 seems to be (and I'm paraphrasing): "Well, Act 221 could potentially be a black hole, so if you all decide to extend it, get some hard data and transparency first to see if the thing actually works. But as far as we can tell now, we think you should scrap all tax incentives for economic development and maybe replace them with grant programs."

>> Draft Report of the 2005 - 2007 Tax Review Commission [11/21/06]
>> Tech credit called 'substantial drain' [Hnl Advertiser, 11/3/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Tax Credit Mania?
>> Act 221: Stop the Madness!
>> Tech Community: Act 221 Research Stinks!
>> New Data on Effectiveness of Act 221
>> Tax Dept. Clarifies Act 221 Standards
>> Press Massacres Hawaii's Film Tax Credits Again
>> Tax Incentives Suck...Who Said That?

Sun, 12/3: The Herenikos Talk About Filmmaking

2006-11-30T16:13:00.000-10:00

Vilsoni Hereniko, a professor at the Center for Pacific Island Studies at the University of Hawaii, and the writer/director/co-producer of the award-winning feature film, "The Land Has Eyes," will be speaking on "Re/Presentations of Pacific Islanders in Film" at the Native Books/Na Mea Hawai’i store at Ward Warehouse this Sunday, December 3, at 3:00 PM. During his talk, he will examine the portrayal of Pacific Islanders in feature films such as "Once Were Warriors," "Whale Rider," "No.2," "Samoan Wedding," "The Ride," and "The Land Has Eyes."

Following his presentation, Jeannette Paulson Hereniko, the producer of "The Land Has Eyes," will discuss “Self Distribution of Low Budget Indie Feature Films.” She believes producers must start developing distribution strategies even before the first day of production, including identifying target audiences and developing low-cost methods to reach them, and she will share how she and husband Vilsoni went about distributing their own film.

After the presentations, the filmmakers will sign DVDs of "The Land Has Eyes" and meet with the public. For more information about the event, please call Native Books Event Coordinator Cristina Valenzuela at 783-2612.

RELATED POSTS:
>> "The Land Has Eyes" Released on DVD
>> Four LVHIFF Films Vie for Foreign Film Oscar Nom
>> Hawaiinuiakea Film Festival
>> HIFF Report: Monster, Matty, Mujeres
>> Indigenous Pacific Storytelling
>> Free Native Film Showcase on Mon, 9/25

Triple Dose of Indie Film News: Sundance, Spirit, Gotham

2006-11-29T16:16:00.000-10:00

Taika Waititi's "Eagle vs. Shark"

The 2007 Sundance Film Festival competition slate was announced today, and the rest of the slate will be announced tomorrow. Among the films screening in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition is "Eagle vs. Shark" by Maori filmmaker Taika Waititi, whose short film, "Two Cars, One Night" was nominated for an Oscar a few years ago. "Eagle vs. Shark," Waititi's first feature, is about two social misfits awkwardly trying to find love.

Yesterday, the Independent Spirit Award nominations were announced, and there is very strong representation of Asian American filmmaking talent--the strongest ever, I believe, at the Spirit awards. So kudos to the Film Independent and IFP folks for that! The Asian Am nominees include: for Best First Feature: "Man Push Cart" directed by Ramin Bahrani and produced by Ramin Bahrani, Pradip Ghosh, and Bedford T. Bentley; and "The Motel" directed by Michael Kang and produced by Matthew Greenfield, Miguel Arteta, Gina Kwon, and Karin Chien; and for the "IFC/Acura Someone to Watch Award," So Yong Kim ("In Between Days") and Richard Wong ("Colma: The Musical").

So Yong's and Richard's films were also nominated for IFP Gotham Awards in the "Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You" category. The awards ceremony is taking place in NYC right now as I write.

The Gotham Awards have gotten a lot of flack this year for nominating big budget studio features like Martin Scorsese's "The Departed" and Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette." Critics are saying that this "anything goes" nomination process throws into question the whole point of the Gotham Awards, a 16-year old event put on by IFP, the oldest non-profit membership and advocacy organization for independent filmmakers.

IFP exec director Michelle Byrd defends the bigger budget nominees, saying "I don't think the Gotham Awards are about independent film...We're celebrating almost a style of working, in all genres and budget levels....The importance of filmmaking is the author's voice, which drives people to make independent films." Perhaps the Gotham Awards should be renamed the Auteur Awards. Auteurs do exist at every budget level, and in fact, I would argue that it is probably harder for an auteur working within the studio system to retain his or her independent spirit in the face of all that financial pressure. Still, it's a little tough to stomach the fact that the nomination spot taken up by the $90 million "The Departed" (notwithstanding that fact that Scorsese is the reigning king of American auteurs) could've provided a much needed promotional venue for some little known film. But then, would anyone (media, sponsors, you) even care about the Awards? (Sigh) Such is the conundrum of film events, organizations, and festivals that were originally founded to support pre-Indiewood independent film.

>> Sundance Unveils Competition Slates: Organizers Highlight Diversity, Innovation and Globalization [indieWIRE, 11/29/06]
>> 2007 Spirit Awards Nominees [Film Independent]
>> 2006 Gotham Awards Nominees [IFP]
>> Gotham nominees a case of double identity? [The Hollywood Reporter, 11/28/06]
>> Gotham Awards grows to include studio fare [Variety, 11/28/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>> The Meaning of "Independent"
>> IFP Hawaii?
>> 2006 Independent Spirit Award Winners
>> 2005 IFP Gotham Award Mominees
>> HIFF Report: Asian American Invasion
>> Hollywood Studio System is "Inherently Racist"
>> Hawaii Looks to New Zealand
>> Hawaiinuiakea Film Festival
>> Technical Difficulties at HIFF, on blog
>> Calling All Korean & Korean American Filmmakers
>> US Indies at LVHIFF
>> Beantown as Tinseltown

Senate Leadership and Committees Rejiggered

2006-11-29T16:03:00.000-10:00

Here's a rundown of the newly elected Hawaii State Senate leaders and the film-related committees:

It appears that there is no longer a Committee on Media, Arts & Technology (MAT). This was the subject committee to which all film-related bills were assigned. Film measures will probably now be vetted by the newly formed Committee on Economic Development and Taxation (EDT), which will be chaired and co-chaired by Carol Fukunaga and Will Espero, respectively.

The Committee on Ways & Means (WAM) has a new chair, Rosalyn Baker, but the co-chair is still Shan Tsutsui.

And the overall Senate leaders are:

President: Colleen Hanabusa
Vice President: Donna Mercado Kim
Majority Leader: Gary Hooser
Majority Floor Leader: David Ige

RELATED POSTS:
>> New Leaders at the State House of Reps
>> It's Official: Hawaii Boasts 15-20% Film Tax Credit!
>> FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS
>> Public Testimonies Have Clout
>> Hear, Hear on Hearings
>> So That's How Bills Get Passed!
>> Brush Up Your Legislature!
>> Schoolhouse Rock Redux
>> Legislative Alphabet Soup
>> How a Bill Becomes a Law

"World Market Leader in Video Game Adaptations" to Film in Hawaii

2006-11-29T10:43:00.000-10:00

"'Die Hard' on an island": An ex-Special Forces guy stranded in Micronesia searches for his charge after their boat is destroyed by mercenaries.

Michael Tsai reported in today's Honolulu Advertiser that local production company Hawaii Film Partners will be very busy next year. Among the two films, one animation project, and one TV series ("Flight 29 Down"'s third season) on the company's slate is a $15 million film called "Far Cry."

"Far Cry" is based on a video game of the same name, and will be one among a string of video game-to-film adaptations directed by Uwe Boll, whose own German-based production company BOLL KG considers itself the "World Market Leader in Video Game Adaptations." Boll has been able to finance his films independently, outside of the Hollywood studio system, because of the generous German tax shelter offered to film investors. Though many Hollywood studios have abused this tax shelter via sale-and-leaseback schemes (thus prompting a reform of the law earlier this year), Boll actually used the incentive as it was meant to be used: to stimulate investment in German entertainment properties.

Interestingly, Boll is a much maligned director who recently got so fed up with the invective hurled at him by armchair geek-critics who hide behind the Internet that he literally beat them into submission when he challenged them all to a real-life physical boxing match--a stunt that one of his four (defeated!) challengers called "a combination of PR and BS." Read about it here in Wired Magazine. And check out clips of the fights on YouTube.

>> 2 films, 1 TV series slated for Hawai'i [Hnl Advertiser, 11/29/06]
>> Raging Boll [Wired Magazine, December 2006]

UPDATE, 11/30: I keep forgetting to post this Pacific Business News article from a few weeks ago that goes into detail about Hawaii Film Partners' slate. The title, "Local group to spend $57M on four films," is inaccurate though, as it should read "four projects" (there are 2 films, 1 animated TV series, and 1 live action TV series). Oh well...

RELATED POSTS:
>> Local Film Co. Enters Into $20m Agreement
>> German Free Ride is Over
>> Europe on the Cheap
>> "Flight 29 Down"'s 2nd Season Premieres 9/9

"Morning Light" Kicks Off on the Hokulea

2006-11-27T15:06:00.000-10:00

The Hokulea

Roy Disney's "Morning Light" documentary about the trials and tribulations of 14 young sailors training for a transpacific yacht race kicked off over Thanksgiving weekend. The 14 youngsters joined Disney and master navigator Nainoa Thompson on the Hokulea, a venerable Hawaiian twin-hull canoe, to learn the ancient art of Hawaiian sailing and navigation. They will spend a few days sailing aboard the Hokulea, go home for Christmas, and return in January to train for 6 months on their own boat, the Morning Light, for a yacht race in July.

>> Hokulea Stars in a Disney Movie [KGMB9]
>> Young sailors get taste of Hawai'i [Hnl Advertiser, 11/25/06]
>> Young sailing crew training in ancient ways [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 11/27/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Disney's "Morning Light" Project

Tax Credit Mania?

2006-11-27T14:51:00.000-10:00

Here are two commentaries by Lowell Kalapa, Hawaii's most vocal opponent of tax credits. The first is about the brouhaha over the impending release of the Tax Review Commission's report which will include an analysis of Act 221, and the second is about what Kalapa perceives is a proliferation of tax credit requests inspired by Act 221. See if you agree with him...

>> Knock Down, Drag Out Fight, Expected Over Hawaii's High Tech Tax Credits [Hawaii Reporter, 11/20/06]
>> Hawaii State Government Overwhelmed with Tax Credit Requests [Hawaii Reporter, 11/26/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Act 221: Stop the Madness!
>> Tech Community: Act 221 Research Stinks!
>> New Data on Effectiveness of Act 221
>> Tax Dept. Clarifies Act 221 Standards
>> Press Massacres Hawaii's Film Tax Credits Again
>> Tax Incentives Suck...Who Said That?

Pacifika: New York Hawaiian Film Fest Accepting Entries

2006-11-21T15:47:00.000-10:00

The 5th Annual Pacifika: New York Hawaiian Film Festival, which will take place in NYC on May 18-20, 2007, is accepting film submissions until Feb. 1. Click here for the entry form.

Presented by the Hawaii Cultural Foundation (HCF), in collaboration with New York University's Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Department of Film and Television, Pacifika integrates film and cultural demonstrations to explore questions of history, human rights, and identity of Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. The festival celebrates the accomplishments of indigenous film and video artists by introducing them to New York audiences.

HCF is a non-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating Hawaiian culture outside of Hawaii. Founded in 1997, HCF provides native Hawaiians, former Hawaii residents, and those interested in Hawaii in New York City and the tri-state area a means of learning and celebrating Hawaiian traditions through music, dance, art, film and other forms of cultural expression.

For more information, go to www.pacifika.org, or contact Mary Berman at pacifika@hcfnyc.org or 808-941-2905.

RELATED POSTS:
>> Meanwhile in Gotham...
>> Asian American Film Festivals
>> Hawaii vs. Hawaiian
>> Hawaii Films at HIFF 2006
>> Indigenous Pacific Storytelling
>> Hawaii Looks to New Zealand

New Leaders at the State House of Reps

2006-11-21T10:59:00.000-10:00

The State of Hawaii House of Representatives recently issued a news release announcing its new leadership. Here's a rundown of who's in charge of the committees that pertain to film-related legislation. The 2007 legislative session will open on January 17th, so get to know these people now!

Tourism & Culture Committee (TAC)
Chair: Ryan I. Yamane
Vice Chair: Joey Manahan

Economic Development and Business Concerns Committee (EDB)
Chair: Kyle Yamashita
Vice Chair: Glenn Wakai

Finance Committee (FIN)
Chair: Marcus Oshiro
Vice Chair: Marilyn Lee

And the overall House leaders are:

Speaker of the House: Calvin Say
Vice Speaker: Jon Riki Karamatsu
Majority Leader: Kirk Caldwell
Majority Floor Leader: Blake Oshiro

RELATED POSTS:
>> It's Official: Hawaii Boasts 15-20% Film Tax Credit!
>> FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS
>> Public Testimonies Have Clout
>> Hear, Hear on Hearings
>> So That's How Bills Get Passed!
>> Brush Up Your Legislature!
>> Schoolhouse Rock Redux
>> Legislative Alphabet Soup
>> How a Bill Becomes a Law

KCC New Arts Lecture, 11/20: Story & Animation

2006-11-15T17:48:00.000-10:00

Kapiolani Community College's next "New Arts Lecture" is entitled "Storytelling: Defining Characters," and will be about developing story and characters in animated projects. Here are the details:

Lecture: "Storytelling: Defining Characters"

Who: Kevin Johnson, director of Starz Entertainment's upcoming animated feature "Sheepish" due out in 2007. Kevin has also worked as a storyboard artist at Sony ImageWorks, Warner Bros., Disney, and Don Bluth Studios. He was the assistant director of the Character Animation Program at the School of Film and Video at CalArts. His feature film credits include: "The Iron Giant," "Cats Don't Dance," "The Pagemaster," and "Everyone's Hero."
What: An overview of story and character development in animated projects, illustrated with scenes from "Sheepish."
When: Mon, 11/20, 7:30-9:30pm
Where: OHIA 118, Kapiolani Community College (4303 Diamond Head Rd)
Cost: FREE to the public
Bonus Workshops!: There will be 2 accompanying workshops that day, also at KCC in KOA 102: "Story: Staying on Point" at 11am, and "Character Animation" at 2pm
More info: Contact Sharon Sussman, 808-734-9382 or ssussman@hawaii.edu

Talk on CGI, Animation, Games on Wed ,11/15

2006-11-13T15:49:00.000-10:00

This just in from the ACM's Kaveh Kardan:

There will be a gathering of the local Siggraph chapter this Wednesday evening. It should be a fun event for anyone interested in computer graphics, animation, and games.

University of Hawaii at Manoa
POST Building, Room 127
Wed, Nov 15, 6:00-8:30pm

There will be two guest speakers:

Chris Lee, director of the Academy for Creative Media, and executive producer of "Superman Returns," will speak about how computer graphics is changing the making of movies, from pre-production to special effects. He will also speak of what it will take to build a digital effects industry in Hawaii.
Gerard Banel, software engineer on "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" and developer of the Syflex cloth simulation system, will speak about the current state of the art in simulating clothing using computer graphics.

Feature on Filipino American Cinema

2006-11-13T00:24:00.000-10:00

Albert Lanier has written a nice piece for the Philippine News about the Filipino American presence at the Hawaii International Film Festival last month. HIFF had a special focus on Filipino films this year because 2006 marks the Centennial of Filipinos in the U.S. These films included works by Hawaii-based documentarians Stephanie Castillo ("Strange Land") and Emme Tomimbang ("Mabuhay with Aloha"), and former UH Academy for Creative Media student Renato Fontaine ("Brown").

Lanier also mentions L.A. Renigen, star of "Colma: The Musical," which was co-written by her co-star and fellow FilAm H.P. Mendoza; and Matthew Libatique, a prolific and successful FilAm cinematographer ("Pi," "Requiem for a Dream," "The Fountain," "Inside Man," "Everything is Illuminated," etc.), who gave a special seminar at HIFF, and who said of his HIFF experience, "my whole world has opened up....It’s inspiring for me to meet Filipino filmmakers and it’s inspiring to see everybody being creative.”

>> Hawaii filmmakers mull over future of FilAm cinema [Philippine News, 11/8/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Hawaii Films at HIFF 2006
>> HIFF Report: Asian American Invasion
>> HIFF Report: Monster, Matty, Mujeres
>> Hawaii Film Panorama at LVHIFF
>> How Da Haoles Wen Stole Hawaii: The Film(s)
>> Hawaii Independents
>> TV Special on 100 Years of Filipinos in Hawaii
>> Two New Local Film Festivals

Showdown in Chinatown Winners

2006-11-12T02:01:00.000-10:00

In case you didn't brave the technical difficulties and teeming masses tonight at NextDoor or thirtyninehotel to watch the Showdown in Chinatown Championship, here are the winners (pardon the possible misspellings--feel free to email me corrections):

1st Place ($1000 winner) - "La Voyage" directed by Zach Heilison
2nd Place - "You Don't Have to Leave" directed by Vince Keala Lucero and James Vanderpoel
3rd Place (tie) - "Iris" by 3 Toad Team and "Half" directed by Chris Roher

Twelve films in all, including the above, made the semi-finalist cut out of about 30 submissions. All filmmakers had one week to complete their films, and all films had to be about "Finding Love," and include a wine bottle, bubble gum, and the line, "You don't have to leave."

Here are the rest of the semi-finalists:
* "Finding Love in the White House" directed by Johnny American
* "Sour Grapes" directed by ?
* "UnderDog" directed by Reese Williams
* "It" by Dark Sevier
* "Serendipity" directed by Michael Ogasawara
* "The Flea" directed by Walrus Howard
* "Pheromones" directed by Fifty Yen
* "Blindsided" directed by Chris Potts

A thirteenth film was shown even though it exceeded the 10-minute max: "Breaking Rules" directed by Robert Campbell.

My personal faves? The too-cool-for-school (but still cool) kaleidescopic experimental art film "It," the prettily photographed and scored "Iris," and "Serendipity" a funny "video haiku" by the talented young Michael Ogasawara, who I felt really captured what ought to be the spirit of the SIC film (simple, quick, witty, and executable with a cast and crew of less than 5). Mike's film was about 20 seconds long, and this was the entire script:
A dinner for two
Ex-girlfriends can be so cruel
You don't have to leave

And there you have indie filmmaking by way of Honolulu!

>> Showdown in Chinatown
>> Cinema Paradise's Island Independent Film Festival

RELATED POSTS:
>> Showdown in Chinatown Championship
>> Cinema Paradise / Island Independent Film Festival
>> Honolulu: Hipster Haven
>> The Meaning of "Independent"
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HBO Miniseries on WWII Scouting Hawaii

2006-11-06T17:55:00.000-10:00

An HBO miniseries being produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg may be coming our way. The 10-part "The Pacific" is similar to the critically acclaimed 2001 HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers," about the European front in WWII. This new miniseries would be about the Pacific theater of war. Discussions to shoot the production in Hawaii are very preliminary. The production is also considering Australia as a location.

>> WWII miniseries may be filmed in Hawai'i [Hnl Advertiser, 11/4/06]

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New Teamsters Local 996 Leader

2006-11-06T17:47:00.000-10:00

Mel Kahele, who served as president of Hawaii Teamsters & Allied Workers Union Local 996 for the past ten years, was just ousted by Secretary-Treasurer Ron Kozuma. Kozuma won the presidency by 238 votes, 1,076 to 838.

Teamsters Local 996 represents about 6,000 employees across Hawaii and Guam, including bus drivers, hospital workers, cement workers, and movie truck drivers.

Kahele said though he was surprised by the election's outcome, he has no ill feelings and would help make for a smooth transition.

>> Teamsters union picks new leader [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 11/5/06]
>> Kahele ousted as Teamsters leader [Hnl Advertiser, 11/4/06]

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>> Local Labor Union Chapters
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"The Land Has Eyes" Released on DVD

2006-11-03T15:43:00.000-10:00

Sapeta Taito as "Viki"

University of Hawaii Professor Vilsoni Hereniko’s award-winning film from Rotuma, Fiji, "The Land Has Eyes," will be available on DVD at Borders Bookstores at Waikele and Ward Centre, and at Native Books at Ward Warehouse.

The film tells the story of a young South Pacific Islander who is determined to clear her family’s name after her father has been accused of a crime he did not commit. In addition to the 87-minute feature film, the DVD has several bonus features including a behind-the-scenes slide show and documentary on indigenous justice.

Writer-director Hereniko and producer Jeannette Paulson Hereniko (who also founded HIFF) will meet the public and autograph DVDs at the following times/places:

Borders at Waikele - Sat, 11/4, 12 noon
Borders at Ward Centre - Sun, 11/5, 2pm

Borders is offering the DVD on sale for $24.99 during the upcoming launch weekend. The regular price is $29.99. For more info about the film, go to www.thelandhaseyes.com.

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Cinema Paradise / Island Independent Film Festival

2006-11-03T10:02:00.000-10:00

This just in from www.myspace.com/cinemaparadise:

Island Independent Film Festival 2006 at a glance...

Festival Dates: November 9- 12, 2006
Venues: Next Door, 43 N Hotel Street (b/t Nu'uanu and Smith)
Phone: 808.953.0002

Individual Film Tickets are $10
Festival Party prices vary, check online for prices
Cinemaniac All Access passes are $75 and will get you into all films and festival parties.
Because seating is limited Cinemaniac pass holders will be given priority entry. Passes are strongly recommended. Presale tickets and passes available online at:
www.cinemaparadise.org
www.whatiiff.com
Powered by Groovetickets

Thursday, November 9th
12PM BOXOFFICE OPENS
5PM FESTIVAL MEET AND GREET
6PM FESTIVAL OPENING FILM DEATH OF A PRESIDENT
7PM GEORGE TAHARA, HAWAIIAN LEGENDS
8PM GITMO
9PM PRIVATE
10PM OPENING NIGHT PARTY

Friday, November 10
12PM BOXOFFICE OPENS
5PM FESTIVAL HAPPY HOUR
6PM LADY VENGEANCE
7PM NEXT
8PM MIRRORBALL
9PM GOAL DREAMS
10PM PACIFIC STANDARD FESTIVAL PARTY WITH DJ IRA AND J-BOOGIE SF

Saturday, November 11
12PM BOXOFFICE OPENS
5PM THE GREAT FESTIVAL HAPPY HOUR
6PM GREAT HAPPINESS SPACE
8PM SHOWDOWN IN CHINATOWN CHAMPIONSHIP
10PM ESKAE AND CP PRESENT CHINATOWN SESSIONS WITH LOW BUDGET

Sunday, November 12
12PM YOUTH MEDIA WORKSHOP
5PM HAWAIIAN LEGENDS RECEPTION
6PM GEORGE TAHARA RETROSPECTIVE AND FESTIVAL
7PM FESTIVAL AWARD CEREMONY
8PM FESTIVAL CLOSING FILM - REFUGEE ALL STARS
10PM FESTIVAL CLOSING PARTY WITH J-BOOGIE DUBTRONIC SCIENCE

UPDATE, 11/6: Chinatown’s the place IIFF you love indie films [Hnl Star-Bulletin]

Film in Hawaii Award Given to "Lost"

2006-11-01T16:35:00.000-10:00

Sorry, this news is a week old, but I just got around to posting the video for this. At each Hawaii International Film Festival, the Hawaii Film Office chooses a recipient for the Film in Hawaii Award, which is given to a person or entity that has significantly contributed to the development and promotion of Hawaii’s film industry.

Our past honorees were actor Tom Selleck, Walt Disney Studios, Hawaii filmmakers Eddie and Myrna Kamae, independent filmmaker Kayo Hatta, actor James MacArthur, and stunt coordinator and surfing legend Brian Keaulana.

This year, we gave the award to ABC's "Lost." Yes, it's TV and not film, but as most people know, it's done a lot to showcase Hawaii's diverse locations as well as train local crew members. Here is video (in 2 parts) of Dept. of Business Economic Development & Tourism director Ted Liu introducing and presenting the award, and "Lost" executive producer Jack Bender accepting it.

Part I:

Part II:

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>> LVHIFF 2005: A Retrospective
>> "Lost" Series Finale Will Suck
>> "Lost" is Fab, But Will It Last?
>> Hawaii as San Fran, NYC, UK, Oz, etc.

Showdown in Chinatown Championship

2006-11-01T13:27:00.000-10:00

The popular Showdown in Chinatown filmmaking event is turning one! To celebrate, event organizers are hosting a FREE Review this Friday, 11/3 from 6-8pm at NextDoor (43 N. Hotel St.) to showcase winning films from the past year. At the end of the Review, the Showdown in Chinatown Championship challenge will be announced. This time, scrappy local filmmakers will have a full week to shoot their films, instead of the usual 24 hours.

The Championship screening party will be held in conjunction with the Island Independent Film Festival (formerly known as Cinema Paradise, and before that, as the Honolulu Underground Film Festival, and sponsored in part by the Hawaii Film Office) on Saturday, 11/11 at 7pm at NextDoor. The winning film will get $1000!

Here are all the dates and details:

Fri, 11/3, 6-8pm, NextDoor (43 N. Hotel St.): Showdown in Chinatown year in review showcase and announcement of Championship challenge topic and details. FREE to attend event.
Sat, 11/4, 7am: Championship topic posted on showdowninchinatown.com (in case you couldn't make it to the review the night before).
Fri, 11/10, 8pm-midnight, NextDoor: Submissions accepted for Championship round. Submission fee is $40 and film must be under 10 minutes.
Sat, 11/11, 7pm-?, NextDoor: Championship screening party and winner announcement. $10 to attend event. Winner gets $1000.