Aspiring filmmakers struggle with art's business side

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Dary Stroup plays a student whose sarcastic remark is taken too seriously in the short film "Agent Orange." William Powell

And Allison's still $4,000 short of meeting her $18,000 budget.

Allison, a 32-year-old communications student at the University of Hawai'i, wrote her senior thesis on fund-raising for independent films. But her real-life education has just begun.

"I'm still looking for money," Allison said. "It's very difficult to call people and ask them for money, especially family."

Most filmmakers have little or no training in the craft of financing their movies, said Morrie Warshawski, a Michigan-based consultant who gave a workshop at UH earlier this month based on his book, "Shaking the Money Tree: How to Get Grants and Donations for Your Film /Television Project."

Independent movie makers don't realize that they are in fact running a small business, Warshawski said.

"Unfortunately most of them were never informed of this when they were in film school and most of them were never given any training in business, such as simple things like budgeting," Warshawski said. "Rarely do I meet a filmmaker who was told how to raise funds, how to write a grant, how to ask an individual for money. It's criminal. And yet that's what they're going to spend most of their time doing."

The problem can be even worse for Hawai'i filmmakers, Warshawski said.

Local foundations seem to be giving smaller amounts for movie projects these days — from $15,000 to $20,000 down to $2,000 to $5,000, said Susan Horowitz, who directs Pacific New Media, a program of the UH Outreach College, and is also the executive director of Hawai'i Community Television.

Hawai'i's isolation makes it more difficult to tap into Mainland money sources and networks, Warshawski said.

"You're isolated from lots of resources and support systems," Warshawski said. "If you're a filmmaker and you want to find a mentor or talk to a lot of people with lots of similar experiences ... you're five time zones away."

To help pay for "Agent Orange," starring Dary Stroup, who is seen here, Anita Allison held a fund-raiser at the Hard Rock Cafe. Ken Libby

"Some people spend $10,000 on a film," Elmore said. "Me, I look for everything cheap. You basically have to be more creative with the buck."

Elmore's made nearly 25 short films by asking actors and crew to donate their time, getting businesses to contribute food to feed the cast and reusing equipment.

His latest project, called "Amasian: The Amazing Asian," stars local comedian and radio personality Paul Ogata as a super hero who has to save the world from the villainous Wai'anae Man. The film is a comedy.

"Amasian: The Amazing Asian" cost Elmore just $1,000 out of his own pocket. Elmore hopes to raise $2,000 at an upcoming fund-raiser at Dave & Buster's to pay for film festival entry fees and promotion expenses.

Elmore is one of the regulars who gather on the third Sunday of each month, often at UH's Outreach College, to talk about the craft of making independent movies.

"We show some raw footage, get input, get output," Elmore said. "It's basically a resource for film makers."

The monthly meetings of the Hawai'i Film makers group sometimes attract a couple of dozen people, Horowitz said. She estimates that Hawai'i has about a dozen independent films in production.

"It's a really good time for filmmakers in Hawai'i," Horowitz said. "Anybody can get a camera and edit on their own equipment. ... But it's always hard to raise money. It's something that has to be done and nobody enjoys doing it."

Allison, who produced "Agent Orange," has inadvertently been following Warshawski's advice, or "Morrie's Maxims" as he calls them:

• Be persistent.

• Be proactive.

• Personalize everything.

• Research is essential: Know who you're asking for money.

• Network, network, network.

Allison put together a package of material about her 15-minute film, which she describes as a political commentary on the culture of fear in America.

The movie tells the story of a cocky college student who goes to the campus health center when he discovers mysterious bruises on his body. The student, played by actor Dary Stroup, makes a sarcastic comment about building chemical weapons in his dorm room, and then gets a visit by the FBI.

"There's no (financial) return on a short film," Allison said.

"So I basically tell them that it's more of an investment in my future."

Allison also tapped into her personal network by having Jenny Chang — Allison's friend, co-producer and a night club promoter — organize a fund-raising party in November at the Hard Rock Cafe.

They charged $10 per head to the 200 people who showed up and got another $1,500 in donations.

The money nudged Allison closer to her fund-raising goal, but she still struggles for financing.

"People think you're trying to make money," Allison said.

"You're really just trying to be an artist."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.