Happy holidays! After a banner year in Hawai‘i film industry in 2010, especially with four back-to-back Hollywood feature movies filmed on the Garden Isle, 2011 tapered back to the “normal” cycle of film productions. In 2012, the Year of the
Happy holidays! After a banner year in Hawai‘i film industry in 2010, especially with four back-to-back Hollywood feature movies filmed on the Garden Isle, 2011 tapered back to the “normal” cycle of film productions.
In 2012, the Year of the Dragon started out bright and hopeful with Kaua‘i-made movie, The Descendants — which starred George Clooney and was directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways) — garnering two Golden Globe Awards and an Oscar.
The good news brought lots of media attention for Kaua‘i which made a huge impact on the island’s economy, namely the visitor industry.
The popularity of Disney’s Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides with Johnny Depp, Bethany Hamilton’s biopic, Soul Surfer, and Sony Pictures’ Just Go With It starring Jennifer Aniston contributed to the global attention of Kaua‘i as a movie location destination for filmmakers and visitors alike since 2010.
Last February, I traveled to Kilauea to observe a Chico’s Fashion production crew film a video and shoot stills for a summer catalog at “Jurassic Ranch” (according to a sign posted on a fence at the entrance).
Afterward, I traveled farther north to Christian Marston’s Hollywood-famous Tahiti Nui restaurant and pub in Hanalei, which was one of the many locations used in The Descendants. Even midday, the pub was filled with locals and visitors who have seen the movie and wanted to hang out like The Descendant stars.
Tahiti Nui is one of many stops for the popular daily Kaua‘i movie tours.
I wanted to buy a souvenir shirt for my office but it was sold out. I was so tempted to remove the shirt that was pinned on the wall next to the image of iconic late owner, Louise Marston!
Since May, Kaua‘i and other islands have gone through slowdown in film productions, with exception of O‘ahu which still films the weekly CBS show, Hawai‘i Five-0, which is in its third season.
Lionsgate’s Hunger Games: Catching Fire will start production on O‘ahu soon, where it will film for three weeks.
Yes, HG scouted Kaua‘i last April and I spent the day with the producer and set designer who were enamored by the island. Kaua‘i was the only Hawaiian island mentioned on hundreds of Internet blogs and entertainment news for two months but ultimately, the production decided to film on O‘ahu.
During the Hawai‘i Film & Entertainment Board meeting in Honolulu last week, ABC announced it was canceling Last Resort due to low ratings after the O‘ahu-based show premiered in September.
In March 2012, ABC canceled two other Hawai‘i-based shows, The River, which was canceled after eight episodes and Off The Map, which was canceled in May 2011 after only one season.
Ironically, the canceled shows all received great reviews by critics but unfortunately the ratings didn’t hold up.
Each cancellation impacts our hardworking film crews based on all the Hawaiian islands.
For that reason, we all hope Hawai‘i Five-0 will be picked up for another season.
I’m currently working with a L.A. producer who is set on filming on Kaua‘i a WWII romance movie that takes place in New Guinea. He scouted Kaua‘i few times and saw great potentials in the beaches and jungles.
And, there’s still buzz about another sequel to Jurassic Park to be shot on Kaua‘i. The original shot here in 1992 and the last one, JP3, shot here in 2002.
In 2013, we are expected to see an increase in Japanese crews filming commercials and travelogues to market Hawai‘i in Japan.
Last month, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority along with the Japan State Tourism Agency and the Japan Association of Travel Agents announced a joint marketing plan and initiative to bring two million Japanese visitors to Hawai‘i by 2016.
Although the Year of the Dragon didn’t roar in the big film productions, there was good news for which to be thankful.
Orvis Group, a major clothing retailer from Vermont, came back for the seventh time in four years to shoot a seasonal catalog in early November for two weeks. During those four years, production manager Jay Martin said Orvis’ expenditures on Kaua‘i totaled more than $200,000. Jay vows to return again soon.
Recently, I spent time with former TGI editor and writer Chris Cook and provided him with new film information and photos to update The Kaua‘i Movie Book which he and the late David Boynton produced in 1996.
Chris now resides in Forks, Wash., which was the filming location for the popular teen movie, Twilight. Chris now works as publisher and editor of Forks’ weekly newspaper.
He plans to add 30 pages of new information and photos to the movie book, which is expected to be out this coming spring.
In October, Sue Kanoho and her staff at Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau produced “Kaua‘i Remembers Blue Hawai‘i,” a spectacular event at the Marriott Resort celebrating the 50th anniversary of the premiere of Elvis Presley’s movie, Blue Hawai’i, which filmed in 1961 and premiered here in 1962.
As with The Descendants, a team of prominent media reporters and journalists covered the event to once again help market Kaua‘i as film location destination to the world.
Earlier this year, I asked Chuck Boller, executive director of Hawai‘i International Film Festival, about bringing HIFF back to the Garden Island.
I got a response last week from HIFF’s new deputy director, Robert Lambeth, who I’ll meet in December.
HIFF started in 1982 on all islands but was postponed on Kaua‘i in 1983 due to the devastating Hurricane Iwa in November 1982.
In 1986, HIFF revived here with support from late mayor Tony Kunimura and volunteers from Kaua‘i teachers association Delta Kapa‘a Gamma. It was then discontinued again in 2006 due to lack of Neighbor Island staffing and funds.
I’m very hopeful to bring HIFF back here but as I remember and experienced in 1986, it’ll take many dedicated volunteers to both make HIFF successful and to continue on Kaua‘i.
In closing, I’d like to acknowledge and thank the many film industry specialists and supporters on Kaua‘i who keeps the film industry up and running: Kaua‘i IATSE crew; Kaua‘i Teamsters crew; state DOCARE officers; state DLNR; KK “Karen” Greenlee, Angela Tillson and Eddie Abubo; John Martin and staff, county Parks division; county KFD and KPD; Boyd Gayagas; Mike, Dave and Jason Gregg of Workhorse Productions; Sean Garcia; Lucky Dog Productions; TV Juice Productions; Mario Perez; Paul Kyno; Jeff Fishman; Sharleen Rassi and many others.
• Art Umezu is the film commissioner for the County of Kaua‘i. He can be reached at info@filmkauai.com online.
