Full speed ahead for Hollywood filming

LIHU‘E — After a drought in terms of big-scale Hollywood productions filming on the island, Kaua‘i is back in the Tinsel Town spotlight.

Filming of the “The Descendants,” starring George Clooney, is wrapping up on Kauai‘i this week or next, said Georja Skinner of the state film office.

Adam Sandler’s next venture, “Pretend Wife,” is expected on the Garden Isle for a month or so starting at the end of May, she said.

Then, the “big” production arrives: Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”

Skinner is expected on Kaua‘i Monday to meet with Art Umezu, county film commissioner, and Disney executives, she said. Skinner is the chief officer of the Creative Industries Division of the Hawai‘i Film Office.

“They’re narrowing down the locations and will do final location scouting when director (Rob Marshall) arrives,” Skinner said Tuesday.

“‘Pirates’ is very committed to Kaua‘i and O‘ahu. It’s a very, very big movie,” she said.

Pre-production work is expected most of this month and into June, and art, marine and location people have been in the Islands since February, she said.

Skinner said she has no indication that “Pirates” is scaling back planned O‘ahu and Kaua‘i film schedules as has been rumored.

The Jerry Bruckheimer film’s budget has reportedly been tightened by Disney to $200 million. The previous installment in the “Pirates” franchise reportedly cost $300 million to make.

The LA Times reports that while the prior installments were shot in the Caribbean and Los Angeles, the upcoming production will be filmed primarily in Hawai‘i and London, where tax credits are more favorable, according to an article at www.examiner.com. The number of shooting days scheduled will be in the 90- to 95-day range, down from 142 on the last movie. Visual effects shots will be down to 1,300 to 1,400 (still a huge number), as opposed to 2,000 on prior installments.

There have been concerns raised about “Pirates” planning on filming at significant cultural sites particularly on the North Shore, in and around Ha‘ena.

It’s important to keep the balance of the film industry’s benefit to the economy and community needs, Skinner said.

Regarding the proposed filming on Kaua‘i’s North Shore at important cultural sites, Kanoho said it is a good idea for the Disney decision-makers to meet with community leaders (which they have done and plan to do again) once sites have been identified for filming.

There is a fine line, though, between production confidentiality and letting people know where on the island production will take place, she said.

And some secrecy is necessary for protection of the product until it is released, she said.

“A film and how it’s released is critical,” Kanoho said.

Most film crews are respectful of the island’s people and places, and in some cases crews have been denied access to sensitive areas. “That’s why there’s permits,” Kanoho said.

The “clean industry is important for our survival too,” Skinner said, adding that with intense competition for out-of-Hollywood filming, it’s important that residents keep their aloha for the film industry.

“They go to places where they certainly are welcome,” Skinner said.

Based on the hundreds of Kaua‘i residents who turned out for a recent casting call to be an extra in “Pirates” as well as much buzz around town, residents are clearly enthused to have Hollywood movies back on island.

Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, said she hopes all of the visitors coming to the island for all three productions are welcomed with aloha in true Kaua‘i style.

“To us it’s a welcome arrival of new visitors,” she said. “It’s a significant amount of (hotel) rooms” that cast and crew will occupy during the filming, and the island’s hotels competed vigorously for the business.

The hotels’ food and beverage operations benefit from the presence of cast and crew as well, she said.

The industry hires local laborers for setting up and breaking down sets, rents many vehicles while they’re on the island, and especially in these challenging economic times will provide a significant influx of dollars, Kanoho said.

The total amount spent on the island won’t be known until post-production reports and debriefings are held, she said.

“To me it’s been a positive impact,” she said of all filming on the island. “There is a tremendous benefit.”

“Pirates” is expected to generate an estimated $85 million in direct and indirect spending in Hawai‘i, providing a needed economic boost for the state’s economy and creating hundreds of jobs for residents, according to an earlier press release from Gov. Linda Lingle’s office.

Additionally, Kanoho said, those in the hotel, car-rental, restaurant and other industries on the island likely will be working full-time hours catering to the film crews.

Filming of “Pirates” is expected to start next month on Kaua‘i and O‘ahu.