Cop show about to film series pilot on North Shore
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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"I am very optimistic that we'll get to series status," said John Stockwell, the creator-director of the 20th Century-Fox/Imagine TV adventure. He's on O'ahu to scout a beachfront location as the principal compound for the show.
"The Break" revolves around an officer with the Honolulu Police Department's Crime Reduction Unit, mixing details of crime-fighting and the officer's private life.
"Of a number of pilots written to be shot in Hawai'i, we're the one that ... (Fox) ordered," said Stockwell, who made "Blue Crush," a feature film for Universal, on the North Shore last year.
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Another call for talent on "The Break" is set from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, for actors of all types, 15 and older, at the offices of casting director Anna Fishburn, at 1121 Nu'uanu Ave., Suite 200. |
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He thinks his industry experience, the show's North Shore environment and the possibility of tax credits give the show solid appeal.
Donne Dawson, manager of the Hawai'i Film Office, agrees. "We have a lot of high hopes for the success of the pilot," she said. "John Stockwell has a wonderful track record, and the show is a good fit for Hawai'i."
Dawson says "The Break" is but one of the bright spots on the film horizon. "There are others."
Other Hawai'i projects include a big-budget movie, "The Big Bounce," which completed a fall-winter shoot on O'ahu last month; it is a Shangri-La Entertainment feature for Warner Bros. release and stars Owen Wilson, Sara Foster, Morgan Freeman and Charlie Sheen.
Two other movies are primed to shoot in the Islands, too, in the weeks ahead.
"We were one of the first companies in a long while to shoot on the North Shore," said Stockwell, citing his surfer-girl movie "Blue Crush," released last year. "We led the crowd in our commitment to the North Shore and the island of O'ahu. Now, everybody's doing it."
"Blue Crush" also was the first to acquire Act 221 state tax breaks, controversial because they were intended for high-technology enterprises. In return, Stockwell is making good his commitment to do more business in Hawai'i.
Stockwell said "The Break" has applied for but not yet received Act 221 consideration.
Stockwell's earlier credits include "Rock Star," which he wrote; "Crazy/Beautiful," which he directed; and "Blue Crush," which he wrote and directed.
While he's a fan of surfing and ocean activities, Stockwell said the TV pilot will use the North Shore community as a backdrop to "The Break," rather than focus on the water.
Dylan Bruno, who appeared in "Saving Private Ryan," heads the cast as a policeman who has a teenage son.
"We hope to hire local crews, 80 to 90 percent, and even try to cast locally," said Stockwell.
An initial call for talent drew 250 applicants, local casting director Anna Fishburn said.
