Hawaii Film Blog

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Proposals Sought for Anti-Drug Video

The C&C of Honolulu is accepting proposals for an anti-drug video. Details below. Note the deadline--tomorrow, June 1st at 4pm.

Request for Proposal (RFP): Anti-Drug Montage Video

Requirements:
Production of a video to be completed and delivered to the City and County of Honolulu (C&C), Customer Services Department, attn: Jeff Coelho, by June 14, 2006 at 3pm. Video must be produced in television broadcast quality with final format on Beta SP (master), (1) Beta SP safety copy, (25) DVD copies, (1) VHS copy for viewing. Final product to be delivered to C&C office with one page informational sheet listing all credits reflected in video titles and end credits. (C&C will provide the selected production company with applicable credits).

Budget:
Budget may not exceed $11,000.00 including Hawaii GE Tax.

Project Description:
Produce an anti-drug video (minimum of 15 minutes, maximum 20 minutes) containing interviews with Hawaii residents from diverse ethnicities and varied socio-economic backgrounds such as active substance abusers (addicts), family members affected by their relative’s addiction, co-workers, former addicts, teenagers and the elderly who have been affected by substance abuse in their immediate families.

Production must also include interviews with Hawaii professionals in the field of medicine including psychiatry; and whose expertise pertains to methamphetamine and general substance abuse.

Content should reflect different points of view -- from current addicts, addicts in recovery, family members affected by substance abuse, outreach workers, to co-workers from labor to white collar occupations.

Production must incorporate an introduction to the video by either the Mayor of the City & County of Honolulu, and/or a (C&C) spokesperson. Cost of filming must be included in total budget.

Production must include original music score or cues composed by Hawaii writer(s) and licensed for video use by (C&C).

All original video graphics such as titles, end credits, and/or animation shall be included in the budget. All music licensing rights and fees necessary for clearance to broadcast the video shall be included in the budget. Total running time shall not exceed 20 minutes.

The (C&C) shall retain exclusive use of the video for no less than (5) years.

Proposals must be submitted via fax or e-mail no later than June 1, 2006, 4:00 p.m. to:
Customer Services Department
City and County of Honolulu
530 South King Street, Room 302
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Attn: Jeff Coelho, Director
Fax: 527-6682
E-mail:
jcoelho@honolulu.gov , dwoo1@honolulu.gov

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Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Behind "Beyond the Break"

Here are two articles in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin about the new shot-in-Hawaii surf girl series "Beyond the Break" on new 'tween network The N...

>> Big 'Break' [Star-Bulletin, 5/30/06]
>>
Waianae students go behind 'Break' scenes [Star-Bulletin, 5/30/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>>
"Beyond the Break" Premiere on Saturday
>>
Fun With Titles
>> "Boarding School" is now "Makaha Surf"
>> "Local/Haole Friction" on "Boarding School"

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Thursday, May 25, 2006

Screening w/Filmmaker: "The Weather Underground"

Screening: "The Weather Underground"
(with director/producer Sam Green in attendance)
Date: Fri, May 26
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Place: Yukiyoshi Room, Krauss Hall, University of Hawaii at Manoa
* FREE *
Call 956-8244 for more info

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary and included in the 2004 Whitney Biennial, "The Weather Underground" explores the rise and fall of the radical anti-Vietnam war, anti-racism movement led by the Weather Underground organization in the 1970s.

>>
UH Pacific New Media Event Listing

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Big Island and Honolulu Rainbow Film Fests

The inaugural Big Island Film Festival was held this past weekend. Here's a list of award winners:

Golden Honu Award - Filmmaker: David Cunningham
Golden Honu Award - Up-and-Comer: Actor Monty Lapica
Best Student Short: "Danny Boy"
Best Animated Short: "Santa’s Camels"
Best Hawaiian Short: "Plastic Leis"
Best Family Short: "Rusty Forkblade"
Best General Short: "Cigar at the Beach"
Best Feature with Animation: "Bachelorman"
Best Hawaiian Feature: "Pele O Ka Foodmart"
Best Family Feature: "Pirates of the Great Salt Lake"
Best General Feature: "Self-Medicated"


And the 17th Annual Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival celebrating gay-themed films at the Academy of Arts' Doris Duke Theatre kicks off today.

>> Celebration of gay film [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 5/26/06]
>>
Rainbow Festival reflects diversity of gay community [Hnl Advertiser, 5/26/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>>
Asian American Film Festivals
>>
LVHIFF 2005: A Retrospective
>>
Indigenous Pacific Storytelling

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See Vintage Hawaii Films from the 1940s


The real reel deal. (Photo: FLMorris, Hnl Star-Bulletin)

Film historian Steven Fredrick is hosting a screening of vintage Hawaii films from the 1940s next Wednesday. The films will include shorts, WWII newsreels, and travelogues, some of which are quite rare. Here's the kicker: the original prints--many which are 60-65 years old--of the films will be shown! No junky DVD or video dubs here! Details:

"Hawai'i During World War II: The Movies and the Music of the 1940s"
Date:
Wednesday, May 31

Time: 7 p.m. (seating starts at 6:45 p.m.)
Place: Kapolei Public Library lawn, along Haumea Street
Tip: Bring mats for seating, and snacks.

*FREE*
Call 395-0674 for more info.

>> Hawai'i wartime films at Kapolei [Hnl Advertiser, 5/25/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Vintage Hawaiian Films on the Auction Block

>> Listen and Learn
>> How Da Haoles Wen Stole Hawaii: The Film(s)
>>
A Pictorial History of Hawaii

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Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Hawaii Film Studio Renovation (Almost) Pau


A "Lost" prop sits in its spanking new home at the Hawaii Film Studio. (Photo: Richard Walker, Star-Bulletin)

Some of you may know that over the past year, the state-owned and operated Hawaii Film Studio was undergoing a $7.3 million renovation. Well, that renovation is nearly complete, and has left us with two brand new buildings: a production office building and a construction mill. "Lost" will occupy the entire studio lot during (and hopefully beyond) its third season. Read more about it in Katherine Nichols' article, "'Lost' Home," in Sunday's Honolulu Star-Bulletin...

And don't forget to watch tonight's "Lost" season finale!

>> 'Lost' Home [Star-Bulletin, 5/21/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>>
"Lost" Series Finale Will Suck
>>
"Lost" is Fab, But Will It Last?
>>
Paranoia + Hard Work + Ratings = "Lost"

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"Beyond the Break" Premiere on Saturday


Hawaii-based 'tween TV series "Beyond the Break" is premiering this Saturday, May 27th at Waikiki Beach's semi-regular Sunset on the Beach event before going on to screen on The N network. Here are the details of the premiere:

Sunset on the Beach: "Beyond the Break"
Date: Saturday, May 27, 2006
Time: 4:00pm
Description: Located at Waikiki Queen's Surf Beach featuring live entertainment and food from Oahu's leading restaurants. Watch a movie too! Event starts at 4 pm. and admission is FREE. "Beyond the Break" will start about 6:30 pm.
More info here.

RELATED POSTS:
>>
Fun With Titles
>> "Boarding School" is now "Makaha Surf"
>> "Local/Haole Friction" on "Boarding School"
>> "Lost"'s Wet Premiere

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Buy Disney's Grip & Electric Equipment

Apparently, the Walt Disney Studios is selling its entire Grip and Electric inventory at a very reasonable price. If you're a local vendor interested in purchasing this equipment, you can get an inventory list from Omar Taher at (818) 567-5579 or omar.taher [at] disney.com. Disney wants to complete this sale by June 12th, so contact Omar soon.

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Saturday, May 20, 2006

RESCHEDULED: FilmHawaii Seminar on Tax Incentives

** RESCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 8th at NOON.**


HAWAII'S TAX INCENTIVES FOR FILM, TELEVISION & DIGITAL MEDIA

This roundtable discussion will provide an informal overview of Hawaii's tax incentives for film, television, and digital media productions, including the recently passed 15-20% refundable production tax credit; the High Technology Business Investment Tax Credit, commonly known as "Act 221" or "Act 215;" and the tax exemption on royalties for performing arts products. Local filmmakers and content creators can expect to learn how to navigate these tax incentives, how to utilize Act 221 to finance their film, television, and digital media projects, and how Act 221 is different from the new 15-20% production tax credit.

Thursday, June 8 @ Noon

Speakers:
* Ricardo Galindez, Attorney, Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel
* Kurt Kawafuchi, Director, Hawaii Department of Taxation
* Mynette Louie, Hawaii Film Office & Independent Film Producer
* Bill Meyer, Attorney, Dwyer Schraff Meyer Grant & Green

Moderator: Donne Dawson, Hawaii State Film Commissioner

Location:
Hawaii State Art Museum Multi-Purpose Room, 1st Floor, 250 S. Hotel Street (@ Richards St.)

Parking Options:
* Metered parking on Iolani Palace Grounds (enter on King St.)
*Alii Place garage, 1099 Alakea St.
* Municipal lot (Smith/Beretania)
* Chinatown Gateway (Bethel/Hotel)
* Macy's (King/Bethel)
* Mark's Garage (Nuuanu/Bethel)
* Pioneer Plaza (Merchant/Fort)


>> FREE <<
Members of the local film industry and the general public are invited to attend.

Presented by: Hawaii Film Office, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, State of Hawaii

The FilmHawaii Seminar Series is presented by the Hawaii Film Office periodically throughout the year to inform and educate the members of the local film industry and the film-interested public on practical topics related to the business of film and television production.


RELATED POSTS:
>> Legislature Passes 15-20% Film Tax Credit!
>> Summary of Film Bill
>> 10 Factoids From FilmHawaii Seminar on Labor Unions
>> 10 Things I Learned From Our First FilmHawaii Seminar
>>
Press Massacres Hawaii's Film Tax Credits Again
>>
Act 221 Fees & Comfort Rulings Demystified
>> Numerology: 221, 215, 235-110.9

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Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Hawaii Film Office Shutdown (Extended Version)

The Hawaii Film Office's physical office move is taking longer than everyone had thought. So, we will only be intermittently operational (limited access to computers and phones) until either Friday, May 19th or Monday, May 22nd. Thanks again for your patience, and sorry for any inconvenience or disruption to your business this may cause.

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Blog, Interrupted

I'm away on vacation now, and so, by extension, is this blog. See you back here on or about Wed, May 24th.

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Wednesday, May 10, 2006

It's Official: Hawaii Boasts 15-20% Film Tax Credit!



Today, Governor Linda Lingle signed SB2570, SD2, HD2, CD1 into law as Act 88. Both the number and date of the Act are auspicious--88 is good luck in Chinese culture, and on this day, May 10, 108 years ago in 1898, the first motion picture ever filmed in Hawaii was shot by Edison photographers passing through Honolulu.

So, drumroll please...as of July 1, 2006, Hawaii will have a 15% refundable production tax credit for Oahu expenditures and a 20% refundable production tax credit for neighbor island (Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai) expenditures.

Here is a SUMMARY OF THE 15-20% PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT.

Now, bring on the productions! (Call us at 808-586-2570).

RELATED POSTS:
>> FilmHawaii Seminar on Tax Incentives
>>
Legislature Passes 15-20% Film Tax Credit!
>>
So That's How Bills Get Passed!
>>
Meet the Hawaii Film Office!
>>
Meet the County Film Offices
>>
Come and Get This (2006 Hawaii Production Directory)
>> Local Labor Union Chapters
>>
Permits, Hawaiian Style
>>
Importing Animals to Hawaii

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Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Hawaii Film Office Shutdown

Please be advised that the Hawaii Film Office will be closed on Friday, 5/12, Monday, 5/15, and possibly Tuesday, 5/16, due to an office move (staying at the same location, but shifting a few feet up). Please plan your film permit requests and inquiries around this shutdown. Thank you for your understanding.

The Hawaii Film Office
586-2570 phone
586-2572 fax
info@hawaiifilmoffice.com

RELATED POSTS:
>>
Meet the Hawaii Film Office!
>>
Meet the County Film Offices
>>
Permits, Hawaiian Style

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Friday, May 05, 2006

2006 Legislature is Pau


Song-filled adjournment at the House yesterday (Photo: Hnl Star Bulletin)

Hawaii's 2006 legislative session came to a close yesterday. The state's $600 million surplus has now been allocated and spoken for, with public schools getting $303 million and health and human services, the University of Hawaii, affordable housing, taxpayer relief, alternative energy, disaster preparedness, and agriculture getting the rest. Also, the gas cap was suspended, the cigarette tax was upped, prohibition of smoking spread to bars and other public places, and latitude in using wiretap evidence was widened. I feel like I'm forgetting something though...um...oh yeah, that's right: a 15-20% film tax credit was passed! If the Governor signs it into law, it will take effect July 1, 2006.

>> State legislators close out 'a great year' [Hnl Advertiser, 5/5/06]
>> Legislators repeal gas cap and pass tax measures on last day [Hnl Star Bulletin, 5/5/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>>
Legislature Passes 15-20% Film Tax Credit!
>>
So That's How Bills Get Passed!
>>
2006 Legislature: It Begins.

>> Leg.'06: Bring It!

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Thursday, May 04, 2006

Panel Discussion: Of Light, Sound and Celluloid

Check out this panel at the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts's International Cultural Summit. My boss Donne Dawson will be one of the panelists.

Of Light, Sound and Celluloid
Date:
Friday, May 12, 2006
Time: 11:15am – 12:30pm
Place: Hawaii Convention Center
Cost: See below.

About: The importance of media and technology to advance culture and the arts are discussed. Panelists consider how communication educates the public and influences global opinion.
Panelists:
-
Edgy Lee, Filmworks Pacific ("The Hawaiians," "Ice")
- Senator Carol Fukunaga, Hawaii State Legislature
- David Ulrich, University of Hawaii Pacific New Media
- Donne Dawson, Hawaii State Film Commissioner
- Meleanna Meyer, VSA Arts of Hawaii-Pacific
Moderator: Chuck Boller, Hawaii International Film Festival

This panel is part of a 3-day conference in which folks in the arts and culture industries will talk about the arts in Hawaii. Anyone can attend all three days ($125 advance registration, $150 same-day registration) or any one day ($50/$60). For more info, visit SFCA's site.

>> Culture and arts are themes of summit discussion [Hnl Star Bulletin, 5/4/06]

RELATED POSTS:
>>
Hawaii's "Digital Revolution" Continues
>>
Distribution, Distribution, Distribution
>>
Hawaii on YouTube
>>
Get "Lost" for Free on ABC.com
>>
10 Factoids From FilmHawaii Seminar on Labor Unions
>> 10 Things I Learned From Our First FilmHawaii Seminar

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Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Legislature Passes 15-20% Film Tax Credit!


Just one more step...

No.Way. Waaaaay!! The Hawaii state legislature has done it! It's passed SB2570, SD2, HD2, CD1, the film/TV/commercial/digital media tax credit that gives a 15% rebate on Oahu production expenditures and a 20% rebate on neighbor island production expenditures. Yesterday, almost every legislator in both House and Senate voted "yes" on the measure--only Senators Slom and Trimble voted "no." Here's a summary of the measure. There's just one more step for this bill to officially become law: Governor Linda Lingle has 90 days to sign it into law (or veto it).

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Monday, May 01, 2006

Hawaii on YouTube


"Iolani Palace Demonstration"

Over the weekend, I skipped the movies and let my Tivo sit brimming with unwatched shows, opting instead to get my YouTube fix. I've always been one for tapas and pupus over main entrees--the latter being too much of a commitment. Now thanks to YouTube, I can get video pupus too!

Check out these noteworthy Hawaii-related videos on YouTube:


  • "Ku I Ka Pono" clip - A 90-second clip from a 10-minute video essay about Native Hawaiians in San Francisco protesting the August 2005 9th Circuit Court ruling declaring that the Kamehameha Schools' "Hawaiians first" admissions policy violates American civil rights laws. The full video essay will premiere at the 2006 Pacific Edge Film Festival.
  • Iolani Palace Demonstration - Captured by a bypasser in a van, this clip shows the August 2005 demonstration at Iolani Palace against the above ruling.
  • Hawaii for Sale - A short documentary on the increasing cost of living in Hawaii.
  • Lost Filming on Halloween - This behind-the-scenes clip grabbed by a downtown pedestrian shows the recently sprung Michelle Rodriguez as, ironically, a police officer.
  • Kill Manong - A Filipino spoof of the "Kill Bill" trailer starring an adorable baby, made for an Ilokano (Filipino language) class at the University of Hawaii.
  • The Ladies Gentlemen - One of the short films by a prolific local YouTube filmmaker who also appears to be a junior high school student. Your grammar needs work kid (less IM-ing, more reading books, maybe?), but good effort anyway!
  • "Jimmy" Music Video - Set in a Hilo cafe, a nerdy haole girl pines for an Asian American boy in this music video of a song by Big Island-based rock band Technical Difficulties.
  • "Mienai Tsubasa" Music Video - As you can probably guess, Hawaii is a very popular shooting location for Japanese music videos, commercials, and TV shows. Here's a music video of a single by J-pop girl band SweetS, shot in and around Waikiki.
  • FilmHawaii Seminar on Labor Unions: I just posted these last week, but here they are again: Introduction/Background and Becoming Signatory/Contractual Issues.

Really interesting stuff! But, OK, I admit it, searching for Hawaii-related YouTube videos to link to is really just an excuse for me to tell you about a non-Hawaii-related YouTube phenomenon: Two Chinese Boys, the boy-band lip-syncing Chinese duo who entertain tens of thousands worldwide from the comfort of their own dorm room (complete with nerdy third roommate clicking away on his computer in the background). These guys are such comic geniuses, they've already spawned imitators! Who knew that Chinese Chinese kids had such a sense of irony?!

The moral of this post: You can Tube, I can Tube, everyone can Tube! So go ahead: YouTube!

RELATED POSTS:
>>
Get "Lost" for Free on ABC.com
>>
Distribution, Distribution, Distribution
>> Hawaii's "Digital Revolution" Continues
>> How Da Haoles Wen Stole Hawaii: The Film(s)
>> Indigenous Pacific Storytelling
>> Hawaii's Reel Stories: Hawaiian History on Film
>>
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Ups Media Spending
>> 10 Factoids From FilmHawaii Seminar on Labor Unions

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