Film-TV revenue set Isle record in 2000

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Staff Writer

Fueled by big-budget Hollywood movies "Pearl Harbor" and "Jurassic Park III," Hawai'i's film and television industry generated a record $136 million in revenue last year, a 39 percent jump from the year before, the state's film office announced yesterday.

Revenues from feature films alone totaled $51.5 million, up from $6 million in 1999.

Other notable film projects from last year included "Windtalkers" and the upcoming "To End All Wars."

Hawai'i-based television series, including the now-defunct "Baywatch Hawai'i," brought in $20 million.

One-shot network TV episodes, specials and movies-of-the-week accounted for $10.3 million.

TV commercials brought in $7.5 million. Other projects contributing to the record total included sports and exercise shows, documentaries, music videos and travel shows.

The previous record holding year for film and television production in the state was 1998, when total revenues topped $99.1 million, thanks in large part to the production of three Hawai'i-based television series ("Fantasy Island," "Wind On Water" and "Hotel"), which alone accounted for $28.2 million

The new figures are "very good for Hawai'i," said Donne Dawson, manager of the Hawai'i Film Office. "It's huge for us because it continues to raise the awareness and importance of the industry here."

Dawson said 2001 revenues could be affected by threatened strikes by Hollywood writers and actors unions, which could come in May and June.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story reported the previous record year for film and television production was 1999 rather than 1998.