In Production: Super 16 Short "Chief"

Oahu-based writer/director Brett Wagner is currently shooting a short film in Honolulu. "Chief" tells the story of Chief Semu Fatutoa who flees his village in Samoa after the tragic death of his daughter. Burdened by grief, he covers his tattoos and makes his way to Honolulu, where he finds a job driving a taxi. He drives in circles, slowly forgetting, until the day he is given the opportunity to save the life of a Hawaiian girl and rediscover what it means to be a chief.

In addition to Wagner, an NYU graduate film school alumnus and writer/director of feature film "Five Years," the crew of "Chief" includes some of Hawaii's most respected film professionals such as Dana Hankins (producer), Paul Atkins (director of photography), and Grace Atkins (sound). The film stars Chief Sielu Avea and is being shot on Super16mm.

The production stills below, taken by local photographer and filmmaker Sergio Goes, are from the first day of shooting last week. The scene depicts a traditional Samoan tatau (tattoo) ceremony performed by a real tufuga tatau (tattoo artist) from Samoa who is specifically authorized to do tattoos.





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