Posted on: Thursday, December 16, 2004
TV AND FILM BEAT
Arts commissioner on television quest
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Only members of the Blue Man Group may be doing more juggling these days than Georja Skinner.
"We're not sure if it will be a TV movie or a feature, but I think TV is the direction its moving in," she said. "Bethany is a role model with a strong family that supports here. That seems to match the kind of family-friendly programming people want on TV right now."
She is also hard at work on a number of projects involving Philo T. Farnsworth (the man who invented television) and his widow, Elma Gardner "Pem" Farnsworth.
New Line Cinema is in the process of casting "The Farnsworth Invention," written by Aaron Sorkin ("The West Wing"). HBO is looking at the second draft of another dramatic feature about Farnsworth's life.
Celebs dot marathon Nice showing by the TV folks at last weekend's Honolulu Marathon. Brian Greene of "Queer as Folk," finished the 26.2-mile race in 4 hours, 30 minutes and 4 seconds. Mad TV's Stephnie Weir crossed the line in 5:13.59. Kristoffer Polaha of "North Shore" had a pretty good workout even before the race started. After missing the bus to the start line (he showed up at the Outrigger Waikiki On the Beach on Kalakaua Avenue instead of the Outrigger Reef on the Beach on Kalia Avenue), Polaha had to hoof it from Waikiki to Ala Moana Beach Park. Undeterred, Polaha made it in time and finished the race in 7:19:14 — an impressive time considering he entered the race at the last minute and hardly had time to train. He was joined in the last two miles by his wife, Julianne, and their 6-month-old son Kristoffer Caleb... 'Ohana Road' It looks like Bill Maloney's locally produced "Ohana Road," shown twice a week on KITV-4, could be on the air in Los Angeles next year. Maloney, the show's executive producer, said he's already lined up one major sponsor for the show, which would air on KCAL-9. "Ohana Road" recently won the Gold Medallion award for Best Automotive Entertainment TV show at the International Automotive Media Awards in New York. The show was also nominated for a Telly award this summer. "Ohana Road" is hosted by Dale Payson and Anita Hall, with regular segments by Barry Meguiar, Andy Bumatai and Maloney. Skinner said she anticipates that the show, which highlights myths and traditions of different cultures, will pick up on some of Hawai'i's unique stories.
MythQuest Producer David Braun has already committed to working with Wai'anae High and other schools with media classes throughout the state to create a mentoring program on the series when it moves here, Skinner said.
Skinner is also finishing up work on her own memoir, "The Christmas House," which will be released by New World Library in fall 2005. She first pitched the book to publishers and agents at the Maui Writers Conference.
Finally, Skinner Entertainment has acquired the rights from Chicken Soup Enterprises for the book "Chicken Soup From the Soul of Hawaii" to be developed as a TV series and in-flight airline programming.
Skinner first became acquainted with the arts commission when she was doing public relations for the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. "I'm excited to be among a group of like-minded people," she said.
Skinner said she hopes to be a voice for the Maui arts community and to help Maui arts and culture organizations better navigate their way to grants and other funding.
The interim appointment is effective until June 30, 2008, and must be confirmed by the Legislature.
Skinner has extensive experience in the entertainment industry. She launched Skinner Entertainment in 2002. The company manages writers and producers and provides full production services for screen, television and direct-to-DVD markets.
The company's latest creative projects are diverse, to say the least.
Whew ... Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2461.
Skinner, a public-relations and media specialist who was chosen in October to serve as the Maui representative to the commission of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, continues to pitch a project on Island surfer and shark-attack survivor Bethany Hamilton to various networks and studios.
Georja Skinner
Skinner Entertainment is also involved in PBS series "MythQuest," which is moving to Hawai'i next season. The educational children's show will be the centerpiece of a big cross-promotional rollout over the next year, with children's games, CD/ROM and DVD tool kits, books and other products.
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