Celebrating indies

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

The independent films "Point and Shoot" (above), "September Tapes," "Original Child Bomb" (below), "The Wooden Camera" (bottom) and "Bush's Brain" are but a tiny sample of the offerings at this year's Cinema Paradise film festival at the Varsity Theatre. Workshops, parties and Q&A sessions are also in the mix.

"There's a lot of quality stuff coming out of the independent film scene," said Sergio Goes, himself a filmmaker, who is the soul, the heartbeat and spine behind Cinema Paradise, this city's indie icon, which opens a seven-day film festival today at the Varsity Theatre.

"Several indies have been breaking into the commercial realm and doing well," said Goes, referring to Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," a popular film with political motives.

The recurring thread, or at least part of the seam, of the festival's collection of 100 films from 25 countries reflects a "what's real, and what's not real" theme.

"We've identified this trend of filmmaking," said Goes, a photographer/cinematographer/director, who said his peers are blending certain realities with certain unrealities. "A number of indie filmmakers mix reality with fiction, use non-actors and mix in actors, which ultimately make their storytelling more powerful. No, very powerful," he said.

He was referring to the festival's opening night feature, "Point and Shoot" (8 p.m. today and 10:15 p.m. Tuesday), by photographer/scenester/director Shawn Regruto, who focuses on the fashionistas of New York, in what likely will create the festival buzz. The film shows the beauty and the warts of the fashion industry, compete with drugs, sex, nudity and slice-of-life, off-the-ramp realities, making this unsuitable for minors.

Another real-unreal feature, "September Tapes," (7:30 p.m. Thursday) is a project from Christian Johnson that provides — through actual tapes found in the Taliban stronghold of southern Afghanistan — behind-the-scenes glimpses of war and the search for Osama bin Laden. It is the first feature film shot in an active war zone and the first non-Afghan film shot in the war-torn country since the toppling of the Taliban.

"These are fictional documentaries," Goes said of this "new" breed of films that blends cruel realities with questionable fiction.

He discovered these nuggets in the process of viewing 500 films, whittling down the number to a manageable 100. Further, more than 50 filmmakers will be in town to kibitz, hang out, do Q&A with audiences.

And he's encouraged by the pulse of the local filmmaking scene.

"With TV shows in production here, the creation of ACM (the Academy of Creative Media, or film school, at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa) and the additional technology available to young film artists, it's not surprising to see all that great activity here," said Goes.

He said Cinema Paradise, in its third year, continues to support and nurture a local film industry, with the annual Hale Ki'i'oni'oni Award, sponsored by the Movie Museum, recognizing achievement among Hawai'i talent.

To further encourage youthful participation, Cinema Paradise is scheduling a media workshop for kids 12 through 18. Participants will create, edit and produce a five-minute documentary on workshop day; it will be screened that evening — part of a programming segment themed "Next Coast," highlighting films that will help redefine the capabilities and manner of youth entertainment.

Youths are discovering the indie festival in growing numbers, although the core audience is age 25 to 45, said Goes. Still, teens are aboard, as are senior citizens, "because there's always something for everyone. For the young, we have surfing films, hip-hop movies, and animation. We have solid stories for older folks, both features and documentaries."

Consequently, the festival outlook is broad and varied.

"There are serious, international films, from such countries as South Africa, Iceland, Iran, Thailand and Japan," said Goes.

He flagged the South African feature "The Wooden Camera" as a must-see. It also is an opening night attraction (8 p.m. today and 5:15 p.m. Sunday) and was directed by Nishavheni Wa Luruli. It deals with two children and how their fates are set when a dead body spills off a train, landing at their feet. Sipho takes the gun, Madiba the camera, practically sealing their destinies — shooting in two different spheres.

Dualities are a recurring aspect of the festival, too. In "The Green Hat" (5:30 p.m. Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday), director Liu Sen Dou examines two tales in which people struggle to transcend traditional definitions of love.

During an election year, Goes said, it was easy to find political darts, mostly anti-Bush films. "Bush's Brain" (3:15 p.m. Saturday), by Joseph Mealey and Michael Paradies Shoob, is about Karl Rove, who helps set policies for President Bush and whose fingerprints are found in the political process. "Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War" (3 p.m. Monday) is a Robert Greenward documentary that purports that Americans are being lied to about a war that wasn't necessary.

"We couldn't find an anti-Kerry film," Goes said.

War is also hellish in "Original Child Bomb" (7:30 p.m. Monday and 3:15 p.m. Thursday). This documentary, by Carey Schonegevel, blends archival material with animation and media clips to create a quiltwork of exceptional and reflective meditation on the origins and power of the atomic age.

Hawai'i's cultural diversity is fodder for an "Island Visions" segment, which collates a rich assortment of titles, including Gerard Elmore's "Amasian: The Amazing Asian" (3:15 and 5:30 p.m. Monday); Robert Pennybacker's "Red Hibiscus" (5:30 p.m. Monday); Vilsoni Hereniko's "The Land Has Eyes" (6 p.m. today); and John Brekke's "Vent" (5:30 p.m. Monday).

Surfing buffs may want to splash into Keith Malloy's The Moonshine Conspiracy (5:30 p.m. Sunday), which collates short projects on folks passionate about the sport.

Short films and animation are plentiful, too. "We're trying to push 'The Greatest Story Never Told,' films being created from anything from cell phones to PDA devices, and tools such as Flash are enabling young artists to create miniature movies, to produce original content for the Web, DVD and other downloadable wireless entertainment," Goes said.

While most of the filmmakers are male, a few female directors are making their imprint on the indie scene, too, he said.

One, in particular, is Liz Mermin, director of "The Beauty Academy of Kabul" (7:30 p.m. Saturday and 10:15 p.m. Wednesday). "It's a powerful film about a group of U.S. hairdressers who teach the women of Afghanistan their beauty salon techniques," said Goes. In essence, it's an exposition of women in different spheres learning about themselves and others through real-life contact.

Goes, whose work in progress has 9/11 implications, will screen snippets of his film with "Parallel Lines," by Nina Davenport (3:15 p.m. Wednesday). "She traveled from the West to the East, following 9/11, in reverse of what I did, from East to West, before coming to Hawai'i," said Goes. "She finished her film; I've been too busy to complete mine. But the contrast will be quite interesting."

Goes said he's more passionate about filmmaking than ever. "And the fact that I'm a filmmaker makes Cinema Paradise more legitimate," he said.

"I mean, I'm able to attract other filmmakers who are in the same boat as I am. Both Chris Kahunahana and I (Kahunahana is vice president of the festival; Goes is president) work in films, and we try to be very fresh and cutting-edge. I think we're really right up to what's happening among indies, and this personality comes out in our festival."

As for drawing his peers to our shores, Goes chuckles. "I mean, really, being in Hawai'i doesn't hurt. It's definitely a great destination, for making and seeing films."

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

CINEMA PARADISE

A festival of independent films

• Today through Thursday
• Varsity Theatre, 1106 University Ave.
• $8, at box office (3 p.m. daily, starting today) or online ( $6) at www.cinemaparadise.org. Additional admission for special events.
• $50, all-access festival pass (allows minimal or no line-waiting, but requires ticket for each screening; free access to parties) 550-0496 For full festival schedule, visit www.cinemaparadise.org

PARTIES

Launch party

• 10 p.m. today at Indigo, following "Point and Shoot" opening night film
• Featuring DJ Shortkut from the Beat Junkies
• $12 at the door; free for festival badge and pass holders

Saturday

• 10 p.m. at Feng Shui, Hyatt Regency Waikiki
• Featuring a poolside/indoor club experience
• Open to festival badge and pass holders

Sunday

• 10 p.m. at thirtyninehotel
• Featuring music with Amos Zolo, Ryan Kunimura, Neckless and Head
• $5 at the door; 21 and older; BYOB
• Free for festival badge and pass holders

Closing night and awards

• 10 p.m. Thursday
• Buddha Bar, 260 Lewers St.
• Featuring J-Boogie and Club DJ; the Movie Museum will present the Hale Ki'i'iuoni'oni Award for local filmmaking
• $10; 21 and older

SPECIALS

Filmmaker's Lounge

• 3 p.m.-midnight daily
• Located in the circular building on University Avenue, next to the Varsity Theatre
• Box office, lounge, hospitality table, festival merchandise available here

The Barnstormers

• 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22
• Varsity Theatre
• The Barnstormers are a collective of 25 artists from New York and Japan, offering improv, collaboration, painting and filmmaking; Q&A will follow screening.
• The Contemporary Museum is sponsor of this residency program, which brings together The Barnstormers with Kuhio Park Terrace's PACT program
• $8 or festival pass

Best of the Honolulu Underground Film Festival

• 10 p.m. Sept. 22
• Featuring screenings of HUFF faves such as "Goiter Boy," "Heavy Metal Parking Lot," "The Operation"
• $8 or festival pass

WORKSHOPS

Pacific New Media Workshops with Liz Mermin, director of "Beauty Academy of Kabul"

Approaches to Contemporary Issues: Taking on Controversial Topics

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday
• Krauss Hall 012, Yukiyoshi Room, UH campus
• $50

Editing Documentary Films

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday
• Krauss Hall 012, Yukiyoshi Room, UH campus
• $50
• 956-8244, www.outreach.hawaii.edu/pnm