No, they're not 'Lost'

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kaua'i might have its Shipwreck Beach, but O'ahu can now boast of its own Plane Crash Sands at Mokule'ia.

"29 Down" cast members, from left, Lauren Storm, 18, Corbin Bleu, 15, Hallee Hirsh, 17, and B.K. Cannon, 14. The show, about a group of adolescents stranded on a Micronesian island when their plane crashes, will film 13 episodes, mostly in Mokule'ia Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

The series, about a group of 'tweens stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes, will film 13 episodes over the next three months for broadcast on the Discovery Kids Channel and NBC. No broadcast date has been set yet.

One of the centerpieces of the beach set is an old Hawaiian Air Tour Service plane. Set designers were busy yesterday charring a portion of the wing to give it an appropriately "crashed" look.

ABC's smash hit "Lost," to which "29 Down" is naturally compared, also shoots at a site in Mokule'ia. That set features a portion of an L-1011 plane.

But as producers, directors and cast emphasized during a meet-and-greet session with local media yesterday, "29 Down" is no "Lost" Jr.

D.J. McHale ("Are You Afraid of the Dark") first developed the idea for the show three years ago.

"It was intended as an adult show, and the title referred to the number of people who were stranded," McHale said.

McHale

Together with Stan Rogow ("Lizzy McGuire"), McHale came up with the idea of a group of adolescents on their way to an eco-adventure whose plane (29 DWN) crashes somewhere in Micronesia. In part because of Rogow's considerable clout, Discovery Kids ordered 13 episodes of the show without even seeing a pilot.

"As it turned out, we're thrilled that the show wasn't picked up by one of the networks," McHale said. "If that had happened, we would have been gone once 'Lost' took off."

Without a major network budget, however, producers have had to make the most of limited resources.

Rogow said nearly all of the filming will be done at three locations at the Mokule'ia site. That means the production schedule will be at the mercy of the elements.

"We can assume that the island these castaways are on will rain from time to time," Rogow said. "So as long as it's not too heavy, we should be able to keep shooting."

Blade Rogers, left, B.K. Cannon, middle, and Tani Lynn are all Hawai'i actors who have roles in the stranded-'tweens series "29 Down." Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Rogow said he can't wait to prove to people back in Los Angeles that Hawai'i is a viable location for modest-budget productions.

"The conventional wisdom is that it's too expensive here," Rogow said. "We will demonstrate that you can make high-quality shows at a reasonable cost here. That will be good for Hawai'i and its film community."

Rogow said the state's Act 221 tax incentive was the major reason why the production could afford to come to Hawai'i.

Rogow and McHale are co-producing the program for Discovery Kids with the new, locally based Hawaii Film Partners, founded by Rann and Gina Watumull. International distribution will be handled by Showcase Entertainment, headed by David Jackson. Jackson's wife, Shauna Shapiro Jackson, is one of the show's executive producers.

The cast for "29 Down" includes Hallee Hirsh ("ER"), Johnny Pacar ("Boston Public") and local actress and singer Tani Lynn Fujimoto. Two other local actors, Blade Rogers and B.K. Cannon, will appear in the first two episodes.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2461.

Correction: The name of the former owner of the airplane that is part of the set for "29 Down" was incorrect in a previous version of this story.