Hawaii Galore in Hollywood Reporter
Yesterday, The Hollywood Reporter published a series of articles spotlighting Hawaii as a shooting location. Here's a roundup of them:
Location report: Hawaii
From: The Hollywood Reporter, 5/17/05
(Subscription may be required to view linked articles.)
In "Riding the wave," Hawaii is...
Versatile. State film commish Donne Dawson says "Lost" has opened people's eyes to Hawaii's versatility. An example of this versatility is given by Honolulu film commish Walea Contantinau, who notes that a "Lost" sequence set in Iraq was filmed in the pre-World War II bunkers at Diamond Head crater. Touchstone TV's SVP of production Barry Jossen says Oahu has been suprisingly capable of supporting "Lost's" flashback sequences and hopes to use even more local suburban and urban locales to double for other parts of the world.
Expensive. Jossen acknowledges that it's very expensive to shoot "Lost" in Hawaii, but even though Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico were considered for the pilot, "visually, there was no place that came close." Hawaii offered the perfect combo of beach, rain forest and mountains, plus close proximity to L.A. Still, many productions have been deterred by the expense of shooting here and have opted for other locations with better incentives and/or exchange rates. Big Island film commish Marilyn Killeri says, "We've lost a lot (of productions) over the years...When people do their budget comparisons, we go up against countries more than we go up against states. They're always comparing us to Thailand, Australia, Mexico and even Canada."
Emerging. The article highlights two locally-based production entities that have benefitted from Act 221/215. One, Hawaii Film Partners, recently produced "Flight 29 Down" for NBC/Discovery Kids. The other, Pacific Films, produced telefilm "Tides of War." Constantinau says that while the spending generated by these smaller productions may not be very significant, they represented "a huge step forward in the evolution of our industry" by offering opportunities for local crew members to step into higher levels of responsibility and for newcomers to get their feet wet.
>> Riding the wave: Film commissioners in Hawaii are using the success of ABC's 'Lost' to showcase the state's versatility. By Sheri Linden
_____________________
In "Hyping Hawaii"...
Marilyn Killeri says that the film and tourist industries in Hawaii are "brother and sister." Recently, Sony capitalized on this symbiotic relationship by teaming up with the Oahu Visitors Bureau (OVB), Hilton Hawaiian Village, and Hawaiian Airlines to launch a vacation sweepstakes promotion around Fifty First Dates. The promotion, publicized on MTV's TRL by the film's stars, included a virtual online tour of Oahu including a map to the movie's shoot locations, info on products and places featured in the movie, from Matsumoto Shave Ice to ukuleles, and 50 romantic ideas for couples vacationing on Oahu. The OVB had launched similar promotions with films such as Jurassic Park, Don Juan DeMarco, A Very Brady Sequel, George of the Jungle, and Mighty Joe Young. Currently, the OVB is working on a promotion for the Lilo and Stitch 2 DVD and discussing promo opportunities with "Lost."
>> Hyping Hawaii: Promotional tie-ins are a boon for Hollywood studios and the state's tourism industry. By Sheri Linden
_____________________
In "The aloha allure"...
Hawaii's a fun, mellow place filled with aloha...duh! Film industry folks agree. "Lost" producer Jean Higgins says, "It's a totally different lifestyle...it's really like getting paid to go to work at summer camp." Blue Crush director John Stockwell says, "We were shooting in the epicenter of big wave surfing. When they yelled, 'Wrap,' I would just stay out in the break." Flight 29 Down's Hallie Hirsh says, "Los Angeles has a highly caffeinated feeling about it. The Hawaiian crews completely embody 'aloha.' It's a lot more relaxed." And another Hawaii benefit touted by the industry is the ono local grinds served up by craft services.
>> The aloha allure: Filmmakers might be lured to Hawaii for practical reasons, but it's the simple pleasures that keep them coming back. By Todd Longwell
_____________________
In "Lost in paradise," "Lost" cast & crew wax poetic about their fave things to do and places to go on Oahu...
_____________________
In "Picture perfect"...
The Maui Film Fest (June 15-19) is thriving as a niche for positive, compassionate films, with 1,200 submissions this year. Jake Gyllenhaal, William H. Macy, Mike Myers and Luke, Owen and Andrew Wilson plus 22,500 other moviegoers are expected to attend the fest, which boasts the Celestial Cinema, featuring a 50-foot screen on a vast grass expanse between the Pacific Ocean and Haleakala. 60 films will screen at the fest, including Sundance hit "Hustle & Flow," Wilson bros. collaboration "The Wendell Baker Story," and Miramax ocean docu "Deep Blue."
>> Picture perfect: The setting is stirring and so are the films at the Maui Film Festival. By Wolf Schneider
Location report: Hawaii
From: The Hollywood Reporter, 5/17/05
(Subscription may be required to view linked articles.)
In "Riding the wave," Hawaii is...
Versatile. State film commish Donne Dawson says "Lost" has opened people's eyes to Hawaii's versatility. An example of this versatility is given by Honolulu film commish Walea Contantinau, who notes that a "Lost" sequence set in Iraq was filmed in the pre-World War II bunkers at Diamond Head crater. Touchstone TV's SVP of production Barry Jossen says Oahu has been suprisingly capable of supporting "Lost's" flashback sequences and hopes to use even more local suburban and urban locales to double for other parts of the world.
Expensive. Jossen acknowledges that it's very expensive to shoot "Lost" in Hawaii, but even though Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico were considered for the pilot, "visually, there was no place that came close." Hawaii offered the perfect combo of beach, rain forest and mountains, plus close proximity to L.A. Still, many productions have been deterred by the expense of shooting here and have opted for other locations with better incentives and/or exchange rates. Big Island film commish Marilyn Killeri says, "We've lost a lot (of productions) over the years...When people do their budget comparisons, we go up against countries more than we go up against states. They're always comparing us to Thailand, Australia, Mexico and even Canada."
Emerging. The article highlights two locally-based production entities that have benefitted from Act 221/215. One, Hawaii Film Partners, recently produced "Flight 29 Down" for NBC/Discovery Kids. The other, Pacific Films, produced telefilm "Tides of War." Constantinau says that while the spending generated by these smaller productions may not be very significant, they represented "a huge step forward in the evolution of our industry" by offering opportunities for local crew members to step into higher levels of responsibility and for newcomers to get their feet wet.
>> Riding the wave: Film commissioners in Hawaii are using the success of ABC's 'Lost' to showcase the state's versatility. By Sheri Linden
_____________________
In "Hyping Hawaii"...
Marilyn Killeri says that the film and tourist industries in Hawaii are "brother and sister." Recently, Sony capitalized on this symbiotic relationship by teaming up with the Oahu Visitors Bureau (OVB), Hilton Hawaiian Village, and Hawaiian Airlines to launch a vacation sweepstakes promotion around Fifty First Dates. The promotion, publicized on MTV's TRL by the film's stars, included a virtual online tour of Oahu including a map to the movie's shoot locations, info on products and places featured in the movie, from Matsumoto Shave Ice to ukuleles, and 50 romantic ideas for couples vacationing on Oahu. The OVB had launched similar promotions with films such as Jurassic Park, Don Juan DeMarco, A Very Brady Sequel, George of the Jungle, and Mighty Joe Young. Currently, the OVB is working on a promotion for the Lilo and Stitch 2 DVD and discussing promo opportunities with "Lost."
>> Hyping Hawaii: Promotional tie-ins are a boon for Hollywood studios and the state's tourism industry. By Sheri Linden
_____________________
In "The aloha allure"...
Hawaii's a fun, mellow place filled with aloha...duh! Film industry folks agree. "Lost" producer Jean Higgins says, "It's a totally different lifestyle...it's really like getting paid to go to work at summer camp." Blue Crush director John Stockwell says, "We were shooting in the epicenter of big wave surfing. When they yelled, 'Wrap,' I would just stay out in the break." Flight 29 Down's Hallie Hirsh says, "Los Angeles has a highly caffeinated feeling about it. The Hawaiian crews completely embody 'aloha.' It's a lot more relaxed." And another Hawaii benefit touted by the industry is the ono local grinds served up by craft services.
>> The aloha allure: Filmmakers might be lured to Hawaii for practical reasons, but it's the simple pleasures that keep them coming back. By Todd Longwell
_____________________
In "Lost in paradise," "Lost" cast & crew wax poetic about their fave things to do and places to go on Oahu...
- J.J. Abrams (co-creator/exec producer): Halekulani Hotel, Sushi Sasabune
- Naveen Andrews (Sayid): Kahala Mandarin Oriental (Chi, Hoku's)
- Bryan Burk (exec producer): Sushi Sasabune
- Carlton Cuse (exec producer): Ted's Bakery, watching surfers at Pipeline, Kahala Mandarin Oriental
- Emilie de Ravin (Claire): North Shore beaches, hiking, Haleiwa town
- Jorge Garcia (Hurley): Aloha Stadium swap meet, Jameson's by the Sea
- Josh Holloway (Sawyer): Boots & Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen, Hanauma Bay, beach, kayaking
- Dominic Monaghan (Charlie): Surfing, Lanikai Juice
- Harold Perrineau Jr. (Michael): Kayaking near Hawaii Kai, 12th Avenue Grill, Turtle Bay Resort,Kahala Mandarin Oriental
- Ian Somerhalder (Boone): Waimea Falls, fishing in Waikiki and North Shore
_____________________
In "Picture perfect"...
The Maui Film Fest (June 15-19) is thriving as a niche for positive, compassionate films, with 1,200 submissions this year. Jake Gyllenhaal, William H. Macy, Mike Myers and Luke, Owen and Andrew Wilson plus 22,500 other moviegoers are expected to attend the fest, which boasts the Celestial Cinema, featuring a 50-foot screen on a vast grass expanse between the Pacific Ocean and Haleakala. 60 films will screen at the fest, including Sundance hit "Hustle & Flow," Wilson bros. collaboration "The Wendell Baker Story," and Miramax ocean docu "Deep Blue."
>> Picture perfect: The setting is stirring and so are the films at the Maui Film Festival. By Wolf Schneider
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