Local film officials opt to pursue fresh ideas

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

WALEA L. CONSTANTINAU

"It's a challenge, but I think we have to be creative in going after nontraditional types of projects, since the big ones aren't coming here," said Benita Brazier, Maui film commissioner. "We've had American Photo magazine with a group of around 30 students here for a week; they represent winners from across the country, a group studying photography. The project was filmed, with the best pictures of Maui to be published. That's publicity for our state but a little outside of the box."

Walea L. Constantinau, Honolulu film commissioner, said she's been helping Japanese commercial makers get the proper permits for shoots in the weeks and months ahead. She said she can't name names until deals are confirmed.

Another sign that Japanese productions are on the rise comes from Donne Dawson, manager of the state film office. Dawson said she believes global stability has eased Japanese worries about working abroad.

"According to our top production companies that deal with the Japanese, the phone has been ringing off the hook," Dawson said.

On the whole, commercials are looked upon as a growth avenue for Hawai'i.

Of the $146 million in film revenues last year, $77 million were for feature-film production, and about $5.7 million for commercials.

If high-end still photography work — about $6.5 million — is included, commercial tallies would be $12.2 million, Dawson said.

"Yet there's no doubt that commercials always fill in the void for us, whether from the U.S. or Japan," Constantinau said. "My understanding that it's slow across the U.S.; we're all reflecting the same thing (a slowdown). The good news is that with the end of the (Iraq) war, we're beginning to see some growth. It's been more about the war than SARS. SARS may have convinced some people to come here instead of Asia, but war was really the big thing among the Japanese, who do not do business with a country at war. We've been slow with getting (business) from the West, but we're seeing an increase from the East."

Brazier said the Food Network did a shoot at the Kapalua Food and Wine Festival, with location filming at various sites, including the Tedeschi Vineyards. She also anticipates an increase of commercial tapings in August, "including some major commercials that we're in the process of finalizing."

While a continuing TV series or a major movie production may have higher visibility, Constantinau said smaller projects such as commercials still help the economy and boost expenditures. "They keep the local equipment rented, the workers employed," she said.

In other TV notes, Bobby Pileggi, manager of Moloka'i teen singer Darrell Labrado, said a music-video shoot is under way this week at undisclosed sites on O'ahu, Maui and Moloka'i, which should give Hawai'i a booster shot among 16- to 26-year-olds — the ones who buy the most records.

"We've been able to use the deejays of America as a back door to launch (Labrado's) song, 'I Want My Island Girl,' " Pileggi said.

Pileggi said Labrado's video is being made "at an enormous cost" (he wouldn't reveal how much) and should be ready to launch on MTV's 'TRL' by the third week of August.