Posted on: Friday, July 12, 2002

Filming on O'ahu planned for 'Baywatch' movie

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

"Baywatch the Movie," the on-again, off-again made-for-TV reunion movie, is on again, with plans to start about a month of location filming Sept. 5 on O'ahu.

This time around, "Baywatch" is coming without special state financial aid.

Original series co-producer Doug Schwartz, who just sealed a deal with Fox, said "Baywatch" is a first — a TV property inaugurated as a network series, cancelled, reborn as a syndicated show, cancelled again and now reborn as network attraction.

"We'll be in Honolulu Monday to scout for locations," he said.

Schwartz was an original co-producer with Greg Bonann, who produced two seasons of "Baywatch Hawai'i." Bonann, however, is not involved in the TV movie, which Schwartz said he hopes will find a niche network audience so that it can be reborn as a prime-time series.

Schwartz said a specific air date has not been scheduled by the network, but it could be as early as January. Casting will be announced later, but the buzz in Honolulu was that some "Baywatch Hawai'i" actors might be recruited, including Kala'i Miller and Jason Momoa.

"We're not asking the city or the state government for a handout. ... It's going to be a different production

than 'Baywatch Hawai'i,' " Schwartz said, referring to the estimated $2.75 million in state financing deals orchestrated for the syndicated TV show that was filmed here from 1999 to 2001.

Schwartz did not disclose a budget or specifics about casting. But he said hiring extras and crew locally would help regenerate the Hawai'i film industry.

"The movie's going to be a major event, and my dream is to get from syndication back to a network status, as an eventual prime-time series," Schwartz said. "It would be a first."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8067.