Free UH Master Class on Korean Film Industry

"The Trouble with Romance" (2007) directed by Gene Rhee, one of this year's Lab attendees

In conjunction with the second Korean Filmmaker's Development Lab co-sponsored by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) and the University of Hawaii's Academy for Creative Media (ACM), there will be a free master class this Friday on the Korean film industry:

When: Friday, 8/31, 3pm
Where: UH Manoa, Crawford Hall Room 115
Who: Jonathan H. Kim, producer of "Silmido" and "Virgin Snow;" Jooick Lee, CEO of Boram Entertainment and producer of "Seven Swords;" and Denise Hwang, KOFIC International department manager.

FYI, the 5 filmmakers chosen for this year's lab were: Nathan Adolfson, Christina Choe, Jeyun Choi, Samuel Kiehoon Lee, and Gene Rhee. Read more about them here.

>> Free master class on Korean film industry at UH Friday [Hnl Advertiser, 8/27/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> KOFIC Filmmakers Development Lab '07 Seeks Applicants
>> Korean Filmmakers Development Lab Fellows Announced
>> Calling All Korean & Korean American Filmmakers
>> HIFF Report: Asian American Invasion
>> Asian American Film Festivals
>> Korea Fever at LVHIFF

"Tropic Thunder" Progress Report

On the set of "Tropic Thunder" (Source: Kanaka Pacifica on flickr)

Kauai is apparently continuing to welcome Ben Stiller-helmed comedy "Tropic Thunder" with open arms (which is more than can be said for the Superferry). Shooting began in July and is scheduled to complete in October. Sadly, Owen Wilson, who was supposed to come aboard the production for a few weeks, will not be coming due to recent unfortunate events.

>> Kauai Welcomes Hollywood [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 8/28/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Big Hollywood Feature Scouting Kauai
>> Features Galore in Hawaii
>> Feature Films Lured by Hawaii's 15-20% Tax Credit
>> Films Set in Hawaii Make Big Bucks
>> Famous Hawaii Locations

Aloha "Flight 29 Down"

Discovery Kids show "Flight 29 Down" has come to an end--the series finale aired last weekend after a successful 2-year run. The show turned out to be a great opportunity for young local actors B.K. Cannon, Tani Lynn Fujimoto and Blade Rogers, who had recurring roles; local crew members who had the opportunity to sharpen their production skills; and Hawaii Film Partners, the local co-producer of the show.

>> The end is near for 'Flight 29 Down' [Hnl Advertiser, 8/24/07]

"Lost" Looking for Blond Babies

"Lost" extras casting director Julie Carlson is seeking babies to play "Aaron," the son of "Claire," played by Emilie De Ravin. If you have an 8 to 15-pound baby with blond hair, blue eyes, and a slightly round face, and you don't mind subjecting him/her (and yourself) to the rigors of production, e-mail a photo and your phone number to lostcastinghawaii@gmail.com.

>> On A Baby quest [Hnl Advertiser, 8/21/07]

Revised Film Tax Credit Forms & New FAQs

Hawaii's 15-20% Motion Picture, Digital Media, & Film Production Income Tax Credit (Act 88) has been in effect for over a year now. Since it took effect, the Hawaii Film Office has gotten many specific questions about the credit: how to claim it, what counts as a "qualified production cost," who can claim it, etc. We recently compiled the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) and posted them (15-20% Tax Credit FAQs) on the Tax Incentive Section of the HFO site.

We also revised the Production Registration Form (PRF) and Hawaii Production Report (HPR). Major changes include:

• A detailed preliminary budget is no longer required to be attached and submitted with the PRF. Only the aggregate budget figures (total, Hawaii, Oahu, neighbor islands, etc.) need to be reported on the PRF itself. (A detailed expenditure report is still required with the HPR.)
• A detailed list of costs paid by Act 221-raised funds is no longer required with the PRF (but is still required with the HPR).
• A "production entity" in charge of managing physical and/or post-production must be listed in addition to a "filing entity" (the production and filing entity may be one in the same).
• A list of Hawaii vendors must now be submitted with the HPR.
• The expenditure report submitted with the HPR must reflect a certain level of detail as illustrated in one of two Excel templates posted on the Tax Incentive Section of the HFO site: one for film & tv productions, and one for commercials & music videos. You may fill them out directly, or you may use your own budget formats as long as the detail provided is equivalent to the detail found in these templates.

We have also revised the Instructions for Claiming the 15-20% Tax Credit. Please review these new and revised documents by clicking the individual links above, or by visiting Tax Incentive Section of the Hawaii Film Office site.

*PLEASE DISCARD ANY OLD FORMS AND USE THESE REVISED ONES*

>> HawaiiFilmOffice.com: Tax Incentive Section

Patsy Mink Documentary Seeks Your Help

Punahou and Harvard grad and Cannes Film Fest participant Kimberlee Bassford is seeking your help on her PBS documentary about U.S. Representative Patsy Mink. The film is in post right now, but she's still looking for photos and documents that would help illustrate Mink's childhood in Hamakuapoko, Maui. If you have any materials that depict early 20th century plantation life or anything specifically pertaining to Mink’s early life, contact Seabury Hall librarian Linda Lindsay at 264-3913 or visit www.makingwavesfilms.com/Patsy.htm.
All materials will be scanned and returned.

>> Contributions to Mink documentary sought [The Maui News, 8/13/07]

RELATED POST:
A Pictorial History of Hawaii

"Jurassic Park 4" on Kauai This Year?

According to Bloody-Disgusting.com, Universal is planning to return to Kauai to film its fourth installment of "Jurassic Park" later this year. Apparently, Laura Dern will be back, but Sam Neill will not. JP4 will be about dinosaurs that have been trained by the government to use weapons in battle.

>> 'Jurassic Park IV' Story Details Revealed, Casting Begins! [Bloody-Disgusting.com, 8/13/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> "Jurassic Park 4" To Shoot Next Year?
>> Hurricanes & Movies
>> Films Set in Hawaii Make Big Bucks

Hawaii Film Tax Credit So Far

Totally forgot to post this article by Sean Hao written a month ago. It discusses how Hawaii's 15-20% tax credit has been doing since it took effect on July 1, 2006. Per preliminary figures provided by the Hawaii Film Office, 27 productions have registered to apply for the tax credit, representing total anticipated in-state expenditures of about $127 million. These productions reported that they planned to hire 5,323 people, 4,276 (or 80%) of which would be Hawaii residents.

Please note that these figures are merely estimates based on information provided on the Production Registration Form , which is filed prior to the start of shooting in Hawaii. Productions must file a Hawaii Production Report after production wraps in order to confirm their qualification for the tax credit. It is on this second document that a production reports its actual Hawaii expenditures and hires.

Among the productions that have submitted Production Registration Forms are feature films "Tropic Thunder," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Pirates of the Caribbean 3;" TV shows "Lost," "Las Vegas," and "Soap Talk;" feature documentary "Morning Light;" reality shows "Living Lahaina," "Maui Fever," and "High School Reunion;" and commercials and promo spots.

>> Film companies lured by tax credits [Hnl Advertiser, 7/14/07]

RELATED POSTS:
>> Feature Films Lured by Hawaii's 15-20% Tax Credit
>> Universal Feature to Shoot on Oahu
>> Big Hollywood Feature Scouting Kauai
>> Notable Commercials Shot in Hawaii

News, News, News, and News

So sorry for neglecting my blogging duties! Just got off a crazy shoot here in NYC so I'm copping out and giving you a list of v. interesting Hawaii film-related articles clipped by Kevin Inouye in the last few weeks (sorry guys, thanks Kevin):

Honolulu Advertiser
>> Maui Writers Conference lineup announced [7/23/07]
>> Movie studios find Hawaii friendly [7/24/07]
>> State film commissioner on Hot Seat today at noon [7/24/07]
>> Donne Dawson on The Hot Seat [7/24/07]
>> Laura Thielen to head Hawaii's DNLR [7/26/07]
>> Transpac yacht Morning Light finishes at 6:10 a.m. [7/26/07]
>> Waikiki lifeguard reality show is awful [7/26/07]
>> Local industry vying for big projects [7/29/07]
>> Andy Bumatai kicks off prime-time talk show [8/2/07]
>> HIFF's K-Fest opens Aug. 24, tickets on sale Aug. 17 [8/2/07]
>> Skinner joining state's Creative Industries Division [8/3/07]
>> 'Flight 29 Down' to screen at Sunset on the Beach [8/3/07]

Honolulu Star-Bulletin
>> Kailua theaters to close doors [8/1/07]
>> Focus on Shanghai [7/23/07]