Hawai'i riding wave of mainstream movies, TV shows

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Debra Messing and Hank Azaria star in Universal Pictures' "Along Came Polly," which features opening and closing scenes filmed on the Windward coast. Warner Bros.

"The Big Bounce," a Warner Bros. feature starring Owen Wilson, Morgan Freeman and Sara Foster, opens today in theaters nationwide, Hawai'i included. Largely shot in Hale'iwa, Waialua and other North Shore environs, the movie also stars Hawai'i as Hawai'i, not Hawai'i masquerading as, say, Tahiti.

"Along Came Polly," which has been the nation's No. 1 comedy since it was released by Universal Pictures on Jan. 16, features opening and closing shot on the Windward coast, with Mokoli'i Islet (Chinaman's Hat) prominently identifiable in the background. The film features Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston and Hank Azaria, but Hawai'i poses as St. Bart.

"50 First Dates," the Adam Sandler-Drew Barrymore romantic comedy from Sony/Columbia Pictures, won't be out till Feb. 13. But it features ample, actual Island backdrops, tapping surf, beach and visitor attractions such as Sea Life Park, to help folks warm up the heart, if not the hands, should the winter frost continue. And, of course, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Over the Rainbow" tune.

With the Hawai'i factor prominent on two reality TV shows, NBC's "Average Joe 2 Hawai'i," exclusively filmed on the Big Island, and Fox's "American Idol," which unveiled the Hawai'i audition show (taped last September-October in Honolulu) Wednesday night, the publicity surge is wide, varied and welcomed.

"Obviously, it's great news anytime Hawai'i makes it to the big or small screen," said Chris Lee, co-founding director of the film school at the University of Hawai'i, where his new title is chairman for Creative Media. "The value to the visitor industry is huge; Hawai'i has always been a favorite for Hollywood and good shooting experiences, as happened on both '50 First Dates' and 'Big Bounce,' mean producers will keep coming back."

Lee, an active Hollywood producer who earlier filmed "Godzilla" in Hawai'i, said there has been residual benefits from two of the three Hawai'i-shot films. The customary press junkets for Sony/Columbia's "Dates" was at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii hotel. Warner Bros./Shangri-La Entertainment's "Bounce" held a similar interview-the-stars session at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel ("Bounce").

Network series boost visitor awareness, said Marilyn Killeri, Big Island film commissioner. "It's hard not to like eight hours of prime-time television showcasing the Big Island," she said about NBC's "Average Joe 2 Hawai'i," taped exclusively at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. The show had a "substantial" impact, she said, pumping in several million dollars into the economy, with more than 30 crew members hired, 30 vendors providing services and goods and five charities benefiting from items given them by the production. "Joe" has been averaging about 11 million viewers.

David McNeil, of McNeil-Wilson Communications, said the "Idol" exposure is particularly appealing because Hawai'i is getting a shot within the show, not during a commercial spot. A half-minute "Idol" ad costs anywhere from $500,000 to $700,000, making buying time impossible for the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau, a force behind luring the auditions to Hawai'i.

More prime-time projects beckon. Three pilots are on the boards this year — a detective series for NBC entitled "Pearl City;" a sea- and harbor-related "U.S. Coast Guard: HI" that will be shopped to the networks; and Fox's "Big Island," whose title may be changed — with filming on O'ahu instead.

Further, the British-made "Animal Cops" reality show, destined for the Animal Planet cable channel, will complete a week's worth of Hawai'i filming today. Additional Island-filmed shows, such as The Learning Channel's ongoing "A Makeover Story," has given Hawai'i additional boost; next airing here is 12:30 p.m. Feb. 16.

ESPN also has magnified Hawai'i, with Michelle Wie wooing golf audiences during live coverage of the January Sony Open, followed by the Hula Bowl from Maui. Next up: the Pro Bowl from Aloha Stadium on Feb. 8.

Though not taped here, the syndicated game show, "Wheel of Fortune," will trumpet Hawaiian vacations to its 18 million weekly domestic viewers and 100 million worldwide during an "Aloha Week" sweepstakes next Monday through Friday.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.