By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

Chris Lee answers the question before he's even asked:

"Yes, the Academy for Creative Media will go on," he says, referring to the ouster of Evan Dobelle. One of the regents' criticisms of Dobelle as UH president was that he launched the film school without telling them.

"Governor Lingle has been very supportive. The governor created an appropriation for the academy, we've had support from private donors, and now, we're viable," Lee said.

There's funding, there's faculty and there's film (well, digital video).

It's not just an idea anymore.

The academy has classrooms and offices, three tracks of study and close to 60 students. After the first semester of classes, which just finished, those students have demo reels of the short films and animated computer games they've created.

"We had a showing of the projects for family and friends," Lee says. "Two dozen movies over three nights. ... About 10 were really quite excellent."

One of the most entertaining is a terribly clever short film by senior English major Kevin Inouye. "The Tale of Haiku Jones" is shot in mockumentary style and follows the feud between an epic poet and a haiku poet. The epic poet isn't quite aware of the feud, so when the haiku poet finally snaps, it takes him by surprise. He thought they were buds.

"He must taste the sorrow," epic poet Eric says.

Replies Haiku Jones' roommate, "Sorrow tastes bad."

Academy students in the animation and computer games track created four video games as well as the proprietary software to make them. The games had to be narrative-based — that is, tell a story about the characters and the world they live in — and could not employ "point and shoot" violence.

Lee is particularly fond of "The Dreaming," a game based on aboriginal Australian cultural values. In the game, the player has to consult with spirits in the dreaming world to restore balance and harmony. One task has the player stealing aboriginal sheet music from a museum so that it can be played on a didjeridoo.

In the fall, the academy will offer classes in global media, 3-D computer animation, cinematic digital narrative production and narrative game design. The plan is to add courses in Hawaiian media studies, Asian media studies and Oceanic media studies as well in American and European media.

"My theory of the diversity of UH was proven true. ... I look at some of these project and I see the students winning Academy Awards someday; but at the same time, we don't need to compete in the Hollywood scene. We can play to a global audience. There are stories that can only come out of UH."

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.