Paradocs Productions

The blog has moved!

2011-01-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

Aloha No!

I have launched a new website with an integrated blog and social media at www.paradocsproductions.com

It's really great, come and check out all the projects, filmmaker tips and info, and fun that is going on.

Nothing more to see here folks... but no worry still plenty more going on at Paradocs Productions

He Hawai`i Mau Short Film

2011-01-10T09:39:00.000-08:00

(Director Lurline Wailana McGregor)

To see the entire two-minute short film visit: http://www.piccom.org/programs/he-hawaii-mau

This video is a brief journey through Lurline's life, growing up in Honolulu in the 1950's and 60's, later moving to Washington, D.C. and coming home again in the 1990's. I tell this story through old family movies, photos, contemporary video and Hawaiian music consistent with the time period being covered. It is about her growing awareness of her Hawaiian identity and what defines her today as a Hawaiian.

(still from the film He Hawai`i Mau)

A Good Movie I Watched: Blind Fury (1989)

2011-01-07T08:44:00.000-08:00

Blind Fury (Theatrical Trailer)
Uploaded by NakedBrotha2007. - Full seasons and entire episodes online.

This movie is an action adventure film loosely based on one of the films from the Japanese samurai series Zatoichi. It stars Rutger Hauer as a blind Vietnam veteran who learns how to sword fight after being taken in by a small village. After he returns to America he finds himself protecting the son of another soldier who he served with in Vietnam from a gang of violent Reno gangsters.

It's campy, but totally badass. This is a genre and style of movie I wish could get updated for today.

I mean really, just look at this poster -

Funding Opportunity for Native Musicians and Composers

2011-01-05T08:25:00.000-08:00

NEW DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: FEBRUARY 1, 2011

See the complete request for proposals here: http://www.fnci.org/Opportunities/tabid/91/Default.aspx

FNCI funds the creation of newly composed work by American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian composers, commissioners or performing musicians. Awards are based on artistic excellence, merit and connection to audience and community.

Common Ground Overview
The Common Ground program is inclusive, and therefore encourages American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian composers, performers, and sound artists working in diverse genres/mediums to apply. Artists are encouraged to take risks in their creative endeavors. Common Ground is designed to fill the gap in funding for artists who are particularly interested in creating work without the burden of artistic compromise. Common Ground aims to give timely aid to those American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian musicians who are strongly dedicated to their art, who show artistic merit, and who propose an excellent project. We wish to award grants to varied artists from the many genres of music represented in Indian Country, and from diverse American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian cultures.

We are pleased to announce our NEW funding guidelines. Individual awards will now range from $500 to $5,000.

(Photo by Kevin McCarthy http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevin1024/2429835377)

Haku Inoa: To Weave A Name Funded by ITVS

2011-01-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

(A recent stop by the ITVS office in San Francisco)

The third time was the charm for Haku Inoa to finally receive funding from the Independent Television Service's (ITVS) www.itvs.org LINCS initiative. I have been very fortunate to have had the ongoing support of both PBS Hawai`i www.pbshawaii.org as a partner and the support of Pacific Islanders in Communications www.piccom.org for all three times that I have applied to the initiative.

As I have been slowly letting the news out about the new funder people naturally ask me what the next steps are. So, here is a little outline of what my plans are in the upcoming months.

1. Early to Mid February - Finish a full length 3-column script outlining all sequences in order with narration, interviews, visuals, effects, music, ect...
2. March - pre-production
3. April to May - production and shooting for
4. May to September - editing.
5. September to January - grant writing and other paperwork type things to raise the last $50,000 needed for completion funds.

So that's the plan. It's very exciting news to release at the beginning of the new year, and there will be a lot of happening to update updates about the project, so stay in touch! You can join the Haku Inoa mailing list on Mail Chimp by clicking here

(Mom, Auntie Linda, me, and all of the Haku Inoa team at PBS Hawai`i)

Filing 1099-Misc

2010-12-29T10:39:00.000-08:00

It's the end of the year, so it's time to get all of the tax documents in order. I have hired a few contractors this year, like a DP and a web designer, so I have to file some 1099 Misc. It is actually pretty easy to do, you just have to request for the forms through the IRS website. It takes about one to two weeks for them to be delivered. You can also get an instruction sheet that helps you fill them out properly if it is your first time.http://www.irs.gov/businesses/page/0,,id=23108,00.html

The deadline this year to get copies to your non-employees is February 1, 2011 and the deadline to get them to the IRS is March 1, 2010 or March 31, 2011 if you are filing electronically. So there is still plenty of time to get it done.

Photo by JD Hancock: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdhancock/3446025121/

Happy Holidays! Silent Night / Po La`ie

2010-12-23T10:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah!

As an aside, why am I the only Hawaiian that can't sing?

Eye-Land: My New Homeless Friend Kapi`i

2010-12-17T06:58:00.000-08:00

I went to Inglewood today to talk about a youth media program that I am developing with the Tongan Community Service Center http://tonganla.net/ I was taking the Blue Line Metro back to LA when a middle aged man with a bright green longboard got on at the 103rd Street stop in Watts. He had a Maui sticker on the back of his black helmet, so I slid across the aisle to take a picture of the back of his head. Then I noticed that written in broad black permanent marker was "Maoli Nō!" ( which translates to Hawaiian Indeed!) It was hard to see against the black background of his helmet.

It took a couple of seconds to work up the courage to tap him on the shoulder and ask if he was indeed Hawaiian. He said yes and told me his name was Kapi`i. I told him my Hawaiian name. He told me just about everything about himself. He had been living in the Watts area for about five years. He told me that he missed fishing in his boat in Hilo and showed me a picture he had of himself holding up two large Ono.

He also showed me the large scar he had across his elbow, which he said he got for being "too kolohe (crazy) and hanging out with the wrong kind of people". He said that he was staying in a shelter somewhere in Watts and kinda laughed. Looking with sincere directness at me he said "Well, you know how it is for us in Hawai`i we just all stay on the beach. Being on the street isn't so bad, here though it's good to stay in the shelter." He went on "But you know there is always a way off the street."

He was on his way to go to a business class near USC so he got off just one stop before mine, he is studying so that when his father passes away he will be able to go back to Hilo and continue on his family's fishing business.

The Maui sticker that started the conversation.

Radio Show Download: Violent Crisis on Rapa Nui Island

2010-12-16T11:39:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned on the blog last week here is the download link to the Indigenous Politics: From Native New England and Beyond episode on the events taking place in Rapanui.

http://indigenouspolitics.mypodcast.com/2010/12/The_Violent_Crisis_on_Rapa_Nui_Island-335489.html

Host J. Kehaulani Kauanui focuses on a dire situation that's been unfolding on the island of Rapa Nui. Where the indigenous Ma`ohi people are reclaiming traditional ancestral lands that the Chilean government seized for private development. We will hear from Susana Hito who is following the situation carefully through her husband Santi Hitorangi (Ma`ohi) who is currently on the island and who is directly involved with his extended family. He was shot during the weekend while filming a clash with the Chilean police opened fire on unarmed Rapanui civilians. Santi Hitorani is a filmmaker, artist and Rapa Nui representative of people to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He and Susana make up Te Pito Productions. Original air-sate: 12-07-10.

Moai photo by: http://www.flickr.com/people/pretamal/

THE ANIMATED ADVENTURES OF JUDO GIRL

2010-12-15T06:48:00.000-08:00

This is a really cute documentary that is in Production at Making Waves Films http://makingwavesfilms.com/. Director Kimberlee Bassford has recently completed a fundraising trailer for the film, which is included just above in this post. Kimberlee and her camera were with Teshya and her younger sister Teniya in October when they both swept their divisions and won gold at the Infantil Pan American Judo Championships in Panama City, Panama. It was their first international tournament and first time competing on the USA National Team. Teshya and the film project were even featured in an TeamUSA.org article, the official website of the United States Olympic Committee.

Kimberlee wil continue to film Teshya and her family over the next two years as she prepares for the 2012 Judo World Championships. It's bound to be an animated adventure!

Free Screenings of film featuring an inspirational Samoan Minister

2010-12-14T06:28:00.000-08:00

Free screenings of a great new film called "The Calling" which features a brilliant young Samoan American minister will be held in:

Long Beach, CA - Tuesday, December 28, 2010 6:00PM Location: Long Beach Public Library (see attached flier for more info)
Oakland, CA - Thursday, December 16, 2010 Doors Open @ 6:00pm Oakland Asian Cultural Center (see attached flier for more info)
San Francisco, CA - Wednesday, December 15, 2010 Doors Open @ 5:15pm San Francisco Main Public Library, Koret Auditorium (see attached flier for more info)

Here is a little more detail about the film:

Rob Pene, a Samoan, is busy studying at the Haggard School of Theology at Azusa Pacific University, working with a Presbyterian Minister in an upper-middle-class Los Angeles church, and mentoring poor teenage boys. All this is on top of a budding career as a Christian rapper, which he sees as his tool to minister to young people. Rob recently launched a new business focused on serving ministries, small businesses, schools, and mission-minded individuals.

Rob is just one of four characters (of different religious denominations) in the film on a path to the robe. The film follows Rob back to American Samoa during a difficult time, and speaks volumes to the unique, oftentimes difficult Pacific Islander experience in America when confronted with issues of identity, cultural preservation, and family. I really think that Rob’s role in this film will strike a chord in islanders living in the Los Angeles and Bay Area.

The film's website is: http://www.itvs.org/films/calling

Please forward on to anyone you think may be interested in watching and I hope some of you are able to get out see this film and show that Pacific Islanders are interested in seeing more of their stories in motion.

To Download Flyers for San Francisco go to: http://www.scribd.com/doc/45239426/Calling-FlyerSF

To Download Flyers for Oakland go to: http://www.scribd.com/doc/45239389/Calling-FlyerOAK

To Download Flyers for Long Beach go to: http://www.scribd.com/doc/45239465/LONG-BEACH-Large-Flier

Eye-Land: Conan Says Hawaiian

2010-12-13T07:08:00.000-08:00

Conan says Hawaiian is part of a group of videos called Eye-land, which is kind of a dumb name for a collection of clips that mention Pacific Islanders. As Pacific Islanders sometimes we think we aren't in the public consciousness. So here's to showing that we're out their for better or worse. What do you think this clip says about being Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander? Does it matter?

Maybe later I will figure out some kind of project to do with my collection.

Sharing New Media Tricks with Non-Profits

2010-12-12T20:51:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned last week I was hired as a new media consultant for the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council www.a3pcon.org. I worked really hard on putting together what I had hoped would be a useful primer on basic communication strategies and how those can be extended into social or "new media" strategies.

I am hopeful that A3PCON has a budding successful new media strategy. Part of my recommendation moving forward is that they identify a short list of goals to pursue that they can attach actions to and easily quantify their progress.

These are two suggestions I have for quantifiable A3PCON goals:

1. To increase membership
2. To involve Asian and Pacific Islander individuals doing community work in non-Asian or Pacific organizations.

Based on the discussion I also thought these were two goals in terms of communication objectives, but they are a little harder to quantify.

3. To mobilize the Asian and Pacific Islander community
4. To define the first impression of A3PCON's work

As promised last week, below is the slideshow that I used with my presentation. Feel free to pass it around and let me know what you think of it. If you were an attendee at the retreat definitely leave some comments for me below. Thanks!

New media for non profits is easy (I promise)

View more presentations from Christen Marquez.

Powerpoint Tips That Will Save Your Ass

2010-12-08T06:11:00.000-08:00

YOU SUCK AT POWERPOINT!

View more presentations from @JESSEDEE.

My friend Alisi sent me this really great Powerpoint presentation about how to give really great Powerpoint presentations. This was an extremely timely bit of wisdom seeing as I am giving a big powerpoint presentation on communication and new media this Friday for a non-profit called the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON) www.a3pcon.com. This presentation helped me kick up my slideshow and I am confident that it is going to be a good one. I put a lot of time into getting it together and I can't wait to let you know how the day goes with the A3PCON board and share my slideshow presentation as well. It is called "Non-Profits Can Do Social Media (I Promise)". Hope you like it!

Violence Erupts in Rapanui When Indigenous People Assert Their Rights

2010-12-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

(AP Photo/Prensa Pueblo Rapa Nui)

Over the past few months the indigenous people of Rapanui have been attempting to assert their right to self governance in their ancestral homeland also known as Easter Island. At the core of this week's flair up is an occupation that has lasted for over one hundred years. Recently the Rapanui population on the island, which is about half of the total population of the island, has been staging non-violent protests on the island. These protests have been uncomfortable for the tourism industry on the island and embarrassing for the government of Chile. A few days ago police shot activists and journalists with rubber bullets.

To learn more about this conflict you read this short article on Yahoo news: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101204/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_easter_island_riots

I also know that Kehaulani Kauanui of Indigenous Politics for Native New England and Beyond http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=61557912273 will be having a special podcast about this issue. I will post an update with a link to that podcast as soon as it has become available online.

Thoughts from Cambodian Student Activists after The Golden Voice Screening

2010-12-03T07:44:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I attended the Khmer Student Coalition Conference at the University of Berkeley in California to begin getting the word out about Two Shadows, which is a feature film that I am producing with Director Greg Cahill. Nearly 200 student activists from the Khmer community came together under the theme of “Reflections from a Shattered Past”. I helped the organizers to program two films to kick-off the opening night of the three day conference. On the first evening of the event we screened The Golden Voice which is a short narrative film about Ros Sereysothea, a Cambodian rock singer who was killed during the Khmer Rouge. The main feature film that was screened is a wonderful documentary made in 2003 that I saw for the first time this year called The Flute Player. It follows a musician named Arn Chorn-Pond who survived the Pol Pot regime and continues to fight to preserve traditional Khmer music and culture as a way to cope with the genocide. I wrote a more detailed blog post about this film after I saw it which you can read here:

It was a wonderful experience to see so many young people thinking about how to empower their community. I was able to capture some of their words on video and I have posted them on YouTube.

New Logo For Paradocs Productions

2010-12-01T07:37:00.000-08:00

Finally after about a year and a half of dreaming about a website and branding overhaul for Paradocs Productions I have been able to invest a little bit into the online presence for the company. I am working with Victor Pascual of Digital Navajo dnvjostudio.com a small but powerful design company. He is helping me put together a brand new website which will be up by early next year. For now he has developed this awesome new logo for me which I think is really cool. I hope that everyone likes it as much as I do.

2010 - 2011 Scholarship Directory for Pacific Islander and Asian Students

2010-11-29T07:22:00.000-08:00

This is a great directory of scholarships available for the Asian and Pacific American students. You can download the directory here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/42700899/Asian-Pacific-Islander-Scholarship-Directory

Reading: Spotlight on New Media in Harvard Business Review

2010-11-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

I headed to O`ahu the day before Thanksgiving to see my Mom, Auntie Linda, and her husband Uncle Chuck. One of my favorite things about flying is getting the chance to buy and read a whole bunch of magazines. Yes, young people still read magazines at least when I am on a plane I do. Hudson News is a great place to kill twenty or thirty minutes sifting through the racks and picking out a few eye catching periodicals. Usually the Harvard Business Review hbr.org/magazine does not make it with me to the check out counter with its $16 price tag, but the December 2010 issue boasted an eye-catching cover spotlighting “Social Media and the New Rules of Branding”. Given that I am doing leading a board retreat for a non-profit group early next month called the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council a3pcon.org, which I will be posting more about next month, I felt the cost was justifiable.

The spotlight section in the magazine consisted of four articles on the subject, and there was one additional article in the front of the magazine by Brian J. Dunn, CEO twitter.com/BBYCEO of electronics retailer Best Buy and how he has learned to love social media.

The articles in the spotlight section were thought provoking and full of case studies and examples of how social media plays into branding and communications in for profit businesses. However, the article I will be recommending to my non-profit clients is that of the Best Buy CEO, because his article chronicles how he has worked through many of the things that make many non-profits and other social media newbies uneasy. He has been using social media for the last five years and as the public social media voice for Best Buy he has seen it all from getting hacked to drama over a profanity laced employee created video but ultimately he concludes “The reality is that social media are where the national conversation are taking place today – and either you're a part of that conversation or not. “

Recommended Reading: How I Did It: Best Buy’s CEO on Learning to Love Social Media

Awesome Hawaiian Spoken Word Artist Performing in SoCal December 4th

2010-11-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

I must confess that spoken word is not necessarily my favorite medium of artistic expression. Bad spoken word is one of the most unfortunate and avoidable forms of pain that can be inflicted on an individual. However, good spoken word is a rare but exhilarating experience. Cleaver and passionate monologue is one of the purest forms of communication. At it's best spoken word is as raw as it gets, and a good poetry performer is amazing to watch because that performer shows a powerful contradictory combination of vulnerability and strength. Jamaica Osorio is a precious talent whose work honors her heritage as a Native Hawaiian.

If you are in Southern California on December 4th you absolutely have to go to her performance. There will be many talented Pacific Islander artists at the event. For more information about the event and to purchase tickets go to: http://www.pieam.org/spokenword Here is the flyer:

Doc Talk: Surfwise

2010-11-17T12:41:00.000-08:00

I watched a really great doc on the "first family of surf" the Paskowitz's last night, after coming upon the website and webisodes online. I was hooked, so I guess that campaign did it's job.

Even though this family is incredible they also reminded me in some ways of my own experiences growing up with my Father. He raised my brothers and myself as a single father starting from when I was eight years old. There were a lot of struggles disagreement and insanity, but in the long run I think we are all stronger for it.

It was funny though because it did spark a bit of debate between my boyfriend, Ryan http://ryangraber.com/, and I. After the film he said that he was glad that he wasn't raised like that because it seemed like there were so many opportunities that were cut off for the Paskowitz children because they had never received a formal education. This is true, and some amount of bitterness around this does come up in the film. However, I think it is a little more complex than that. It seems like for some of the opportunities that were closed off to the family, there were also many unique opportunities that came to the Paskowitz clan. Ultimately, I think it is very hard to compare the value of the upbringing of these people with anyone else in the world, since these nine people are an extremely unique group case.

Personally I believe your family is your family and for the most part people love their families no matter what. Given that, I would rather have an interesting family than a boring one.

(A picture of my Dad, me, and my youngest brother Will from a few years back. Looking as imperfect as we are. Ha ha)

I Got A Job With the Witness Protection Program

2010-11-16T14:38:00.000-08:00

Well sort of, I've been doing some research about interactive and new media projects for the ITVS Project 360 initiative. So I am looking at examples of different types of online and multi-platform media. I have just been playing with one which is an audience engagement tool for a USA network show called In Plain Sight which is a crime drama following Mary Shannon, a U.S. Marshal attached to the highly secretive Federal Witness Protection Program (WITSEC). Your role in the game is the rookie Marshall at the WITSEC.

(screen shot of the game)

The new media component is found at http://www.witsecconfidential.com/ It is a story game something like (and I am about to date myself right now) Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego.

Toward the more hipster side of the spectrum is the music video for Arcade Fire's single The Wilderness Downtown. The video incorporates google street view images of your childhood home into the music video, and cool live animated typing kind of tool.

There are different video clips that are housed in a series of pop-up windows. It is really cool. Just don't try to resize or move the windows when they start popping up like I did at first ha ha! You can input your own address and get a customized video experience at http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/ The video works best in the Google Chrome Browser.

(my desktop while playing the new Arcade Fire Video)

First Event USC - "PULE"

2010-11-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

November first this month was the first event for USC's cleverly acronymed "PULE" Pacific Islander student group. I know that pule in the Hawaiian language means to pray. I think also Sāmoans and Tongans use the same or a similar word. Anyhow the group name stands for Promoting Unity, Liberation, and Education. The groups mission is to focus on Pacific Islander community-building and cross-cultural engagement.

The event was a panel discussion with Pacific Islander leaders from various fields. Including architect Faleomavaego Falanai Ala, a medical researcher Dr. Ray Samoa, mentor and educator David Ga'oupu Palaita. Also to my surprise there was another hapa kanaka woman filmmaker there as well named Jennifer Akana Sturla. I have just watched her film Kamea on Vimeo http://vimeo.com/13382244 and it is amazing.

David Palaita is doing awesome work in the Bay Area starting the first ever Pacific Islander studies program. Which is a totally historic and ground breaking accomplishment. Right now it is just starting up, but you can track the progress at their blog: http://www.ccsfpacificstudies.org/

It was a really cool night and I was glad that I went.

Pacific Islander film crew. From left to right Jennifer Akana Sturla, me, and Danny Ve'evalu

Fellow Native Arts and Cultures Awardees

2010-11-10T12:02:00.000-08:00

This is the second spotlight on Native American talent that I am doing for the blog in honor of Native Heritage Month. I was recently awarded a grant from the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation http://nativeartsandcultures.com as part of the Artistic Innovation – Through the Soul of an Artist initiative. I decided that this week I will highlight just a few of the other individual artists who were also awarded this honor in 2010. This year eight artists were selected, below are just a few. To read more about all the artists from this year's cycle go to http://nativeartsandcultures.com/innovation It is such an honor to be included with this group of amazing talent.

Emily Johnson (Yup'ik)
Emily Johnson is dancer and choreographer whose work often functions as an “installation performance” that combines dance, storytelling vignettes, props, and theater sets. Funding for this project will assist the artist in the development of new work centered on movement, story, and sound housed within an installation of hand-made fish skin lanterns. The project will reach the stage after continued ripening of the piece. You can learn more about her and her work at: http://www.catalystdance.com/

Sonya Kelliher-Combs
Sonya Kelliher-Combs is a visual artist whose work is rooted in painting but is interwoven and influenced by traditional skin sewing and sculptural elements using animal parts. Funding for this project will support work with a master printer and the development of an exhibit. The project will culminate in a retrospective solo exhibit at the International Gallery of Contemporary Native Art in Anchorage. She is also on the board of the Alaska Native Arts Foundation: www.alaskanativearts.org

Ricardo Mendoza

Ricardo Mendoza is a seasoned muralist who follows in the tradition of the great Mexican muralists of the 20th century and the Chicano mural movements of California. Funding for this project will support the development of a large scale portable mural depicting the life of fabled Chemehuevi tribal member popularly known as “Willie Boy”. The project will culminate in the presentation of the mural in Yucca Valley, CA.

Martini Shorts Film Festival

2010-11-08T12:40:00.000-08:00

I am going to this film and music event in Longbeach on Friday. I like it because it is Pacific Islander run, but it might not necessarily be obvious at first glance. You can check out the facebook event page here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121983141193221 I am curious to see what the mix of the crowd is going to be like, but it is being put together by a really talented Sāmoan / Tahitian filmmaker named Hagoth Aiono http://www.hagothaiono.com/

Washington DC - Haku Inoa Screening

2010-11-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

I know the Smithsonian screening at the National Museum of the Native American was a while ago now, but truthfully I moved and I misplaced the disk with the pictures from the Q&A. I was being stubborn and I did not want to put up this post without the picture. So now that I have found it, here we go! The screening was really great. I thought that the programming was intelligently crafted by Melissa Bisagni she paired Haku Inoa with Heart of the Sea which is the documentary bio-pic about surf legend Rell Sunn. My film lead really wonderfully into Heart of the Sea because that film begins with the explanation of Rell's Hawaiian name which is Kapolikaehukai which essentially translates to Heart of the Sea. The beginning of the film shows very briefly shows how important a name is to Hawaiians. In some sense the rest of the film is really an illustration of all the different ways that Rell fulfills the meaning of her name.

As a part of screening at the Smithsonian I was able to have a personal tour with a cultural interpreter, she was basically a guide to the museum. My guide was named Zandra it was really fun to get to know her and check out the museum. She knew so much about all aspects of the museum. Including the architecture, which was really interesting to me because my father is an architect

Overall I really enjoyed DC and the museum. I can't wait to go back again.

Take A Picture with a Real Indian

2010-11-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Native American heritage month I will be highlighting the work one Native American artist each week during November. This week's artist is conceptual multimedia installation and performance artist James Luna of Payomkawichum (Luiseño) and Mexican American heritage. The first time I saw his work was when I was in high-school, he had a window installation at 911 Media Arts Center in Seattle, Wa. called Futuristic Native Outfits for Night Raids (and other paraphernalia). It was quite awhile ago, so I don't know if what I remember of the installation is real or just my memory twisting it up, but what I do remember was most certainly my first exposure to contemporary Native American art.

Here is a performance piece by Mr. Luna in observance of Columbus day from a few years ago.

Tech Stuff: Creating Droplets in Apple Compressor

2010-10-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

On my most recent project for the California Immigrant Policy Center on the California Budget www.caimmigrant.org I am mixing footage from the Canon 7D camera and a Panasonic HVX200. It is really easy to combine these two formats into one sequence in Final Cut Pro. I was skeptical, but my DP Topher Osborn www.topherosborn.com assured me that it wouldn't be a problem.

With a little research online using the keywords (transcode, canon 7D, FCP) I was able to find a good work flow using the program Compressor to turn the 7D files into ProRes files. I even picked up a little trick for making droplets with Compressor from this video tutorial.

Research Findings on the Justice System’s Impact on Native Hawaiians

2010-10-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has just released a study of how the justice system impacts Native Hawaiians. The findings of the report show need for improvement in how the system works with Native Hawaiians.

Here are a few of the most compelling pieces of information from the fact sheet:

Native Hawaiians make up the highest percentage of people incarcerated in out-of-state facilities.

In 2005, of the 6,092 people who were under the custody of the Public Safety Department, which includes people in jails, 29 percent (1,780) were in facilities operated by other states or private companies on behalf of states. Of the people in out-of-state facilities, 41 percent are Native Hawaiians.

Native Hawaiians receive longer prison sentences than most other racial or ethnic groups.

Controlling for severity of charge, age at arrest and gender of the person charged, Native Hawaiians are sentenced to 119 days more in prison than Tongans, 73 more days than Native Americans, 68 days more than Hispanics, and 11 days more than Whites.

Hawai`i has the largest proportion of its population of women in prison, with Native Hawaiian women comprising a disproportionate number of women in the prison.

While Native Hawaiian men and women are both disproportionately represented in Hawai`i’s criminal justice system, the disparity is greater for women. Forty-four percent of the women incarcerated under the jurisdiction of the state of Hawai‘i are Native Hawaiian. Comparatively, 19.8 percent of the general population of women in Hawai`i identify as Native Hawaiian or part Native Hawaiian.

To read the entire report, download fact sheets, and learn more about the study you can vising OHA's web page on the Criminal Justice System here: www.oha.org/disparatetreatment/

Webcasting for Rapanui Fundraising Event

2010-10-22T18:33:00.001-07:00

I have been going crazy this week trying to figure out how to use Ustream with my MacBook Pro for next week's Being Rapanui fund raising event. I would definitely recommend against attempting this. The details are a little tech-y and not very interesting unless you are trying to figure out webcasting for yourself. If you are interested you can send me a message and I will tell you all about it. Ultimately I scrapped using a Mac and went to a PC.

The good thing is that since everything seems to be in working order the panel discussion from the event will be broadcast live over the Internet at this channel: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/being-rapanui

The "Save Rapa Nui" event will be an evening of film, music, art, food, and discussion of the indigenous people of Rapanui also know as Easter Island and their current struggle for sovereignty.

The event will be next Thursday October 28th, 2010 at the Barnsdall Art Theater in Los Angeles. The program will being at 6pm. Tickets and more information can be found at www.saverapanui.org

We will be showing the film Being Rapanui - but this will not be screening over the webcast, so if you are local to the Los Angeles area you have to buy a ticket and come out. But if you are outside the Los Angeles area please do tune in to the panel discussion.

Tanya Joshua of the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders

2010-10-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

Last month I was part of a town hall style meeting of Pacific Islanders in Southern California who met with Tanya Harris Joshua. Tanya provides support for Pacific Islander outreach and Environment / Veteran's Affairs issues. She is a staff member of the new White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. She joined the Initiative from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs (OIA).

The meeting began with an awesome meal where dishes from each of the island groups represented was served. Ono!

Afterward community members were given a chance to speak about their most pressing community concerns. The video about is just a small slice of what happened that evening.

I have forwarded this video on to Tanya who is passing it on to others. I hope that it can be helpful in raising the profile of Pacific Islander people and the challenges faced by the community.

Here is snippet of a reaction from congressional staffer Jed Bullock "I hope progress and results in the area of health data for AAPI populations and the territories will be yielded from the leadership and focus of IGIA (Interagency Group on Insular Areas). I know there once existed – if it does not still exist – an IGIA subgroup or task force on health data collection. The Delegates and Governors have repeatedly called for it over the years at the IGIA plenary sessions as you know, and the Chamorro gentleman as well as the Marshallese community leader captured on the video meeting with you touched on the need for a comprehensive cancer study/registry and diabetes survey among data. I hope these needs can be priorities within the Administration and through IGIA and the WHIAAPI."

ID Film Fest

2010-10-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Next weekend is the ID Film Fest ( www.idfilmfest.com ) which is a festival by filmmakers and for filmmakers who create Asian American content and/or of Asian descent. The festival runs for three days next weekend October 8th - 10th. The film I am most interested in seeing is Air Doll by Hirokazu Koreeda, the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009 and is having its LA premiere screening at 10pm on October 9th.

"The movie is about a middle-aged man whose closest friend is a life-sized doll. This isn’t just any sex doll though; it was made with a heart. So when the man goes to work during the day, the doll goes out and explores the world. This film portrays the loneliness and lack of human connection in not only Japan but all industrialized big cities around the world." — Koji Steven Sakai

For all filmmakers interested in getting some free insight into the business there is going to be a Filmmaker Crash Course on Sunday from 10am - 2pm. Which will be a rapid fire pandemonium of short seven to ten minute presentations on everything you need to know about filmmaking from development to marketing.

I will be participating in the Asian American (and secretly Pacific) Independent Feature Conference. I will be there meeting people and developing more interest in the feature film I am working on with Greg Cahill called Two Shadows. I will let you all know how things went after next weekend.

All events will be taking place at the Los Angeles' National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 N. Central Ave.

Girls to the Front - History of the Riot Grrl Movement

2010-10-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

I was just sent a link to a project called "Girls to the Front" by a woman that I used to work with as a Camera Assistant in New York City Mary Billyou. The project is a online collection of videos, like the one above, of women speaking about their experiences with the Riot Grrl movement. The videos are an online accompaniment to a book written by Sara Marcus, who is also the woman in the video above. Her book is a history of the movement.

Check out what Vainity Fair has to say about the book -

"Sara Marcus’s Girls to the Front is not only a historical rockument of the revolutionary 90s counterculture Riot Grrrl movement, which birthed the DIY feminist punk scene, but also a rousing inspiration for a new generation of empowered rebel girls to strap on guitars and stick it to The Man." — Vanity Fair

3 tips from New Media Bootcamp - week one

2010-09-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you very much to Pacific Islanders in Communications who sponsored me to attend the two week New Media bootcamp being put together by Los Angeles non-profit LAANE and the Liberty Hill Foundation.

There was a whole host of incredible speakers including Philip Holmes, L.A. Director, Blue State Digital (the group that ran the new media for Barack Obama's presidential election campaign) and Rob Kramer of Campaign Live which is an easy to use low cost tool for fundraising and awareness widgets. It was a packed day but there were some useful concepts that I came away with. Here are the top five.

"A/B Testing"

How will you know if your messaging is maximized for your audience? You should use A/B testing. For example when you send out your email blast to your mailing list split it in half. It is a great way to find out what your audience responds to. For example on your donate button does "join the movement" or "support the cause" work better. If you send both of the phrases out you will have a better idea of what works for you.

Be Consistent

I have to admit that this is a big problem for me with my work. I am so busy running around shooting, writing grants, or just general hustling that I have a hard time getting things like blog posts together. But really posting at least two to three times a week is a requirement. I know this is hard to hear and even harder to follow through with.

Listen

Communication online is not a one way street. The beauty of social media is being about to talk directly to your audience and ask for their ideas and opinions. What better way to be able to cater directly to your audience than to find out straight from them the kind of content they most want to see?

Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege Screening

2010-09-14T11:19:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday I organized a screening of a documentary film called Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege. It was held in the Asian Pacific American Legal Center's 1st Floor Community Room. This film was finished in 2006 ago but it is a great video to set the stage to discuss the current new telescope developments happening on Mauna Kea and Haleakala. At the screening I presented a slide show on the issues by KAHEA - The Hawaiian Environmental Alliance. I would suggest visiting both the KAHEA and Mauna Kea film websites I have linked here to learn more about the issues facing the precious summits of Hawai'i.

Around twenty people came, and we collected 17 signatures to protect the summits. This was the first screening of this type that I have organized, and I look forward to organizing more.

You can also stream the entire film at Asia Pacific Films

Here is a excerpt of the Mauna Kea Film for you to check out:

I'm a typical Pacific Islander Lady

2010-09-10T17:35:00.001-07:00

So according to some demographics work done by the venerable institution of Okcupid.com I am evidently a fairly typical PI Woman being that hula and kickboxing are in the top five things that Pacific Islander women like. However it is atypical evidently that I do not like Michael Buble.

Good to know...

It's not Hollywood or Bollywood, it's Nollywood!

2010-08-06T23:27:00.001-07:00

The poster for Reggae Boys, which stars two of Nollywood's most famous stars.

The Nigerian movie industry also known as Nollywood produces about 2,500 movies a year. Which is about two and a half times as many films as Bollywood and over five times as many as Hollywood. The average Nollywood film costs between $17,000 and $25,000 US. The Nigerian film scene is fiercely low budget and DIY, but what makes it extremely interesting is the authenticity of the movies. This authenticity and proud African point of view is explored in depth in the documentary "Nollywood Babylon". This doc is one of the best written that I have seen in a long time.

Foxes! Dare to do What Others Dream Of

2010-08-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

I went to a really fun event last week at the The Cinefamily the venue is also known as "the silent movie theater". I hope that most of you in L.A. know about this great place.

The night sleepover party themed. The main event was a double feature of a film released in 1980 called Foxes. Which stars Jodie Foster and features a teenage skateboarding Scott Baio, and a creepy cradle robbing Randy Quaid.

There was complimentary wine provided by Bear Flag Winery and delicious gelato from Paciugo

This trailer does not do justice at all to the insane campy brilliance of this film's dialog.

Trailer:

If your parents bought you cigarettes as a teenager. If you ever got mixed up with a tranny named Burt. If you have ever gone toe-to-toe with a pimp on the boulevard. If you love Donna Summers or if you love the movie "Nowhere" by Gregg Araki even half as much as I do. This movie is a must.

Emerging Hawaiian Filmmaker

2010-07-28T16:31:00.000-07:00

A fellow filmmaker Hagoth Aiono brought to my attention. It's really pretty stuff.

Armed with a Camera

2010-07-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

Visual Communications annual armed with a camera fellowship is accepting applications again from now until October 2010.

The information on the website is out of date. So you can check out generally what the requirements are here: http://www.vconline.org/artistops/awc.html

The person to send it to is different (Kennedy Kabasares) so if you have any other questions just email her at her contact below.

How to Apply

Please send the following:

Information Cover Sheet (Go to www.vconline.org to download)

Letter of intent
Resume
Project Treatment (2 page maximum)
Project Timeline (All projects must begin in November 2010 and must be completed by March 30, 2011)
Budget (if proposed budget exceeds $500, you must show/explain other sources of funding; budget items may include artist stipend, equipment, supplies, location fee, food, etc.)
Sample work cued to five minutes
Self-addressed stamped envelope for return of sample work

DEADLINE: Received by 5PM, October 1, 2010. For any questions or concerns, please feel free to call Kennedy Kabasares at (213) 680-4462 x32 or by email.

Email to: kennedy@vconline.org
Fax: (213) 687-4848

Mail to:

Visual Communications, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Basement Level, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Stories from the 2010 SoCal 'Ohana Retreat

2010-07-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Here are a some short videos that I helped Uncle Victor and Auntie Jane Pang get online. Some interesting Hawaiian stories and legends as well as how to put an imu pit together. Enjoy!

New York Smithsonian Screening - Haku Inoa

2010-07-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the late update here on the East Coast Smithsonian Screenings. Both of the screenings were really fantastic for two main reasons. Number one to have my first museum screenings at two different Smithsonian museums is an amazing privilege. Secondly, it is inspiring to see the work of other Pacific Islander Filmmakers and learn about other indigenous cultures from all around the world.

First a short update on New York. Shortly I will get up an entry about DC, because the DC screening and trip was really amazing and deserves its own post!!!

The team from the Film and Video Center in New York were lovely. I was happy to be able to attend the artist reception on Wednesday before the Pasifika Showcase began. I had a chance to speak with Nancy Brunning who is in a wonderful Maori film called The Strength of Water. You can see the trailer here. Unfortunately, to be honest, the trailer doesn't do the film justice.

The Strength of Water is paced like a comforting drift of a lazy river. However, this underlying ease is upset by the trauma of the sudden accidental death of a young Maori girl named Melody. The entire village mourns her loss bitterly, but none more so than her twin brother Kimi. The film explores grief through magical realism brought to life through the love and loss of a young child.

Haku Inoa screened on a Saturday afternoon with a collection of other short films. A few hula sisters from New York and film school friends came by, and the Q&A after the films was fairly lively. There were maybe 50 or so folks at the screening, but that is not too surprising since it was a sunny Saturday afternoon in New York.

Two Shadows: A Fresh Cambodian-American Film, Now Casting Small Parts

2010-06-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles Production of the exciting new feature film by Greg Cahil (Director of The Golden Voice) begins next week and we still looking to cast a few small roles for a scene that will be shot in Echo Park from 10am - 6pm on June 16th. We are looking for two "groupies", three guys or girls for "bandmates", a "bartender" someone with a greaser kind of look is preferred, and four or more "bar patrons".

Two Shadows is about Sovanna (Sophea Pel) a Long Beach hipster wannabe who receives a cryptic letter from Cambodia claiming that her two long-lost siblings are still alive. Ditching her dead-end lifestyle and alcoholic father, Sovanna travels to her birthplace alone to seek out her brother and sister who disappeared during the civil war 20 years earlier. With guidance from a quirky motorbike driver named Munny (Polo Doot), Sovanna launches her search into the dark corners of Cambodia. Upon discovering a girl who may or may not be her real sister (Lida Lang), Sovanna is ensnared into an increasingly dangerous situation, pitting her in a tug-of-war between her own personal safety, and her hopeful compassion for a stranger.

If you are interested please email Christen at 2shadowscasting@gmail.com with a picture of yourself and the role you are interested in.

One Voice: This is No Ordinary High School Musical

2010-05-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

I am lucky enough to have Director of One Voice Lisette Maire Flanary (Lehua Films) a writing mentor, so before writing this entry I met up with Lisette at IHOP in downtown LA (my suggestion) to ask "Would it offend you if I described your documentary as Spellbound meets Native Hawaiian soul?". Her eyebrow raised and she shot up straight in the booth "No way! That's exactly how we pitched it."

One Voice follows a group of teenage chorus directors as they compete for the honor of their young lifetime. To represent their class and compete to take home the grand prize trophy in the Kamehameha Schools song contest. The contest is a unique amalgam of Hawaiian language songs, intense vocal arrangements, with a healthy pinch of band geek. Which, is totally hot now thanks to Glee.

This is Lisette's third film destined for public television broadcast, and is her most emotionally gripping documentary to date. While watching One Voice at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival the audience in the Director's Guild Theater, completed absorbed in the action, applauded enthusiastically along with the proud onscreen parents after the song performances.

One Voice will be airing next year on Public Television, until then the film will be screening at film festivals domestically and internationally. You can see the trailer a www.onevoicemovie.com

Inciting Incidents

2010-05-07T23:42:00.000-07:00

I have be struggling with finding a launching point for the 2,500th revision of this treatment I am doing. The major sticking point seems to be finding a inciting incident that really begins the quest for my name. I haven't found it yet, but I feel like I am getting a little bit closer at least thanks to this awesome blog entry from on the New Doc Editing website called "Launching the Protagonist's Quest"

Short Film: The Lychee Thieves

2010-05-04T17:39:00.000-07:00

ENCORE PRESENTATION TONIGHT THURSDAY MAY 6TH AT THE LA ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FEST: http://asianfilmfestla.org/2010/encore-screening-of-big-island-films-short-program-56/

I saw The Lychee Thieves as part of the "Big Island Films" program at the L.A. Asian Pacific Film Festival. This charming short film was shot last year on my home island of O'ahu. Beautiful cinematography by Anne Misawa (Treeless Mountain)helps the film stand apart from others in the program. But what I enjoyed most was the film's ability to distill complex cultural conflicts unique to islands into a cohesive and moving film under 30 minutes.

I spoke with Executive Producer Stephen Gyllenhaal at the Q&A after the screening. He told me Lychee Thieves is one of three short films that will eventually become a larger feature film called called Cosmopolitan. I am excited to see it once it all comes together.

For more information on screenings of Lychee Thieves take a look at: www.lycheethieves.com

Paid Summer Arts Internships

2010-04-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

AVAILABLE THROUGH

LOS ANGELES COUNTY ARTS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Job opportunities and descriptions posted April 28

Students should apply as soon as possible -- Internship positions close as soon as they are filled during
the April 28 to May 31 application period.

Los Angeles County, through its Arts Commission, has given grants totaling $250,000 to arts organizations throughout Los Angeles County to support paid internships for college undergraduates in summer 2010. Descriptions of and contacts for the internship positions will be posted on the Arts Commission’s Web site from April 28 to May 31, 2010. Go to www.lacountyarts.org, click on “Internships,” then “2010 Internship Positions.”

Interested students should apply as soon as possible as positions are closed as soon as they are filled. Students apply directly to the organization offering the internship, not the Arts Commission.

Qualifications: Graduating seniors who complete their undergraduate degrees by September 1, 2010 are eligible, as well as undergraduates. Applicants must have completed at least one semester of college by June 2010 and be currently enrolled (full-time) in a community college or a four-year university. Applicants must be a resident of and/or attending school in Los Angeles County.

Job Descriptions: Interns work for 10 consecutive weeks starting between May 31 and June 11, 2010 and ending between August 6 and August 20, 2010. They are paid $350 per week, for 40 hours a week, and take part in educational and arts networking activities. Through the program, interns gain a deeper understanding of the work involved in nonprofit arts administration and the role of the arts in a community and develop business skills that can be put to use in their future careers. Internship host organizations help mold and shape potential new arts leaders who may go on to hold positions on staffs, boards or as volunteers.

Students who are residents of County Supervisor Gloria Molina’s district may contact Rosamaria Marquez, (323) 881-7048 or ramarquez@lacbos.org.

Job Descriptions / Zip Codes:
Administrative Intern
Artist Department Intern
Assistant to Executive Director
Community Database Coordinator
Concert Database Coordinator
Development and Marketing Associate
Development Intern
Institute for Educators Intern
Junior Program Coordinator
Marketing & Communications Associate
Marketing & Development Intern
Marketing Intern
Theatre Intern
Theatrical Production Intern

What if Annie Leibovitz was a psyhic caught in a slasher pic?

2010-02-24T01:43:00.000-08:00

You would get "Eyes of Laura Mars" (1978)Set in late 70's New York City, Laura Mars is tense, outragously stylish murder mystery starring Faye Dunaway and Tommy Lee Jones. Fashion photographer Laura Mars (Dunaway)is the rising star of chic. Growing in infamy and notoriety for her sexualized depictions of violence.

Mars' glamorous world of double popped collars and pouty fuchsia lips collides suddenly with savagery. When her increasingly vivid artistic visions begin to fortell the murders of her dearest friends. She struggles to understand what she is forced to see through a killers eyes -- before it is too late.

Love it!!!

Check out the opening song. Sung by Barbara Streisand, and it can't hurt that it features photography by Helmut Newton and is the first studio feature written by John Carpenter.

Happy MLK Day

2010-01-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a sword that heals. [It] cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Asian and Pacific Islander Networking

2010-01-13T17:15:00.000-08:00

APA-UCLA

STUDENT CAREER

NETWORKING

CONFERENCE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Apa-ucla Student Career Networking Conference

Tour De Nez - 2010

2010-01-12T22:47:00.000-08:00

Here is a promotional video for the cycling race Tour De Nez (pronounced Nay, you know like French for nose). I was one of the motorcycle camera operators for the show that was on Versus in 2009. It was pretty fun. It's good to know they are back on for 2010. Some of the footage I shot last year is used in the promo for this year.

MOVIE TO WATCH: Treeless Mountain (Korean - 2008)

2009-12-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

If a clear border between documentary and narrative movies exists. I think it lies between the fictional film Treeless Mountain and the documentary The Story of the Weeping Camel. Both of these films unfold quietly and delicately at their own pace.

The world of Treeless Mountain is so enveloping and complete, and the are scenes so precisely selected. It manages to use mood, delicate as a leaf's skeleton, as the storytelling engine of the movie. Which is a nearly impossible task to accomplish or explain.

Treeless Mountain Trailer:

Here is the director So Young Kim talking a little bit about the making of the movie:

Townhall on the state of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health in California

2009-12-15T16:26:00.000-08:00

Here is the internet video series I have cut together from California Assemblymember Mike Eng's November 18th, 2009 townhall meeting on the state of mental health in the AANHPI community in California. This townhall is a continuation of the work that Assemblymember Eng has been doing to help disaggregate data on Asian and Pacific Islander sub-groubs.

This is an album of some of Mike Eng's opening comments, a few community members, and excerpts from all of the panel members who spoke that day.

Asian Pacific Islander Health Report

2009-11-19T10:11:00.000-08:00

California Assemblymember Mike Eng is committed to advancing health issues for Asian and Pacific Islanders.

He helped commission a report which disaggregates mental health problems for many diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities. You can download the report here.

Last night he also hosted a townhall presenting the issues facing these communities. I recorded the event and will be posting some videos soon. Legislative Aide Annie Lam was extremely vital to the success of the event and said "This is only the beginning of the work we hope to do in these communities."

Pacific Islander Youth Leadership Summit

2009-11-02T08:02:00.001-08:00

THE EVENT IS NEXT FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14TH, 2009 8am to 4pm

It is a free event and travel scholarships are available for PI students in Northern California and San Diego.

This program is part of a "College Day" event planned by CSUDH and the NHPI Youth Coalition. Please share with your Native Hawaiian high school and college students. Agenda to include, but not limited to NHPI Youth issues: Health, Education, Mental - Behavioral Health, "Island Identity" vs Acculturation.

For more info please contact:

Victor Kaiwi & Jane Ka`ala Pang
Pacific Islander Health Partnership (PIHP)
1-714-401-1784 (cell)
email: kaiwisplace@yahoo.com

To download a flyer and a registration form click here: www.drop.io/piyouthsummit

E Hula Mau on Pacific Networks

2009-10-23T18:54:00.003-07:00

In September I shot a three part video about E Hula Mau (A chant and hula competition) in Long Beach California. Now it is up on www.pacificnetwork.tv. Click here to see. The site doesn't have fixed links for each video so you have to look for E Hula Mau pt. 1, 2, and 3. Just click on it and there you go.

Let me know what you think.

The Four Budget Catagories

2009-10-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

The Four Catagories of film budets are.

No Budget / Student
Low Budget Indie
Mid Budget or Mini-Major Indie
Sudio

I am going to break down how to identify these budgets and give a few examples. This may seem like pretty obvious stuff, but it will be expanded on in the next articles in the series.

No Budget / Student ($0 - $60k)

Often films that work best in this category are short films, documentary, and comedy. Directors and Producers often make short films because they hope to raise money to create a feature version of their idea. Peluca is the short film that Napoleon Dynamite is based on. It is a good example of a good comedic student short (see it here) Period pieces and action movies are generally a bad idea to take on at this budget level.

Low Budget Indie ($50k – 5 mil)

The variety of films produced within this budget category is amazingly diverse. These producers and directors are largely operating outside of the studio system. Most of them are first and second time filmmakers who are extremely passionate and committed to getting their film completed with the help of a group of other committed individuals.

This budget range is also where many documentaries intended for PBS broadcast and educational markets live. Although the budget range for this type of project is generally quite narrow usually between $250,000 and $400,000.

Medicine for Melancholy is a great example of a low budget narrative ($50k):
See a trailer here

Bigger, Faster, Stronger is a great example of a low budget documentary (?)
Trailer here

Mid Budget or “Mini-Major” Indie (5 mil – 60 mil)

Films in this budget range tend to have known actors in them, since “name talent” helps lend credibility to a film. Most of these films are also being produced by what is known as a “mini-major” production company. These production companies are technically independent, but often have very close relationships with studios or other large distribution networks. It is often easier for films in this group to cast celebrity actors in roles. Check out a list of mini-majors and also a grid of the major studios and their production subsidiaries here on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_film_studio#The_.22mini-majors.22

The Soloist is an example of a mini-major production. Produced by Dreamworks SKG with Participant Media.
Trailer Here

Studio (Sky’s the Limit!)

The number of film production studios in the U.S. is very small. Here is a Wikipedia page that Everyone knows about these movies the are the block buster action movies like Transformers, the romantic comedies starring people like Sandra Bullock and Reese Witherspoon, screwball comedies like The 40 year old virgin, and the ever popular talking animal movie.

Surrogates is an example of a Touchstone/Walt Disney Picture
Trailer here

If you have any questions you can comment below, or ask a question to @paradocsfilm

List of Articles

2009-10-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

I was able to attend the Film Independent’s Filmmaker Forum in Los Angeles, California October 10th and 11th. This was an incredibly educational experience for me. I think and speculate a great deal about the general state of independent filmmaking. A great challenge for me and all independent filmmakers, not only Pacific Islander filmmakers, is the fact that we are like little points of light thrown across a gigantic galaxy. It is really hard to get a sense of the bigger picture of what is currently happening in independent production because of this. As a result of this it is difficult for first time filmmakers to find their starting position in the film and media making arena let alone be able to empower themselves to guide their projects successfully from concept to distribution.

In addition the difficulties of being spread out independent filmmakers are also infinitely varied in size, approach, and goal. However, we are all unified by the goal of making movies. By being able to conference with other filmmakers of all types I was able to learn new techniques and strategies fit the goals, scope, and market of my own projects.

Attending the forum this weekend I was able gain a choice outlook on the landscape. I have decided to create a report in the form of three blog articles with the intention to expand it to 10 articles total over the next three months. Which I hope will be used to help other filmmakers especially those representing the Pacific Islands begin to make their way in the larger world of production. These articles are mostly made up of the new things I learned from other filmmakers. Information I found innovative, inspiring or informative, and a few of my own insights that solidified over the course of the weekend.

Here are the titles of the articles I plan to write:

The Four Budget Categories
The Budget and Genre Grid: Where does your film fit?
How does film business work?
Knowing your voice, the low-budget producer’s best weapon.
Lawyers, Publicists, and Music Rights: All the junk nobody wants to think about.
What’s up Doc? Methods of fundraising, and increasing your chances of success.
Fundraising – the indie world’s answer to “development hell”
Film Festivals: How to prepare and what to expect.
Traditional Distribution Routes: Pros and Cons
Online Audience Building: The indie film savior
New distribution models: What the heck is day and date?
Selling your movie at $300 per DVD. (The Educational Market Demystified)
Passion versus Ambition: An Encouraging Reality Check

10 part indie filmmaker article series coming up.

2009-10-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

I absorbed an immense amount of new ideas and information this weekend. I will be writing a series of short articles on what I took away from the Film Independent Forum this weekend.

For now here is a little tidbit. I just joined this start-up network called Open Indie. Learn more at www.openindie.com

Publicist and Random Samoan Movie

2009-10-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

I am researching the different people who are going to be at the Film Independent Networking Lunch at this weekend's filmmaker forum. I got to this publicist Marina Bailey, who helped promote awesome films like Black Sheep. Which lead me to this movie called Samoan Wedding. What do you think?
See the trailer here

Film Independent's Filmmaker Forum

2009-10-01T21:07:00.000-07:00

I am very excited that I will be attending this Film Independent's Filmmaker Forum this year.

Here is the section of the keynotes speech from last year.

I will share what I learn here on the blog.

Lots of Pacific Islander videos heading this way

2009-09-30T14:57:00.001-07:00

I have been out and busy shooting for a few different videos pertaining to Hawai‘i and other Pacific Islander related subjects. I have started producing short news pieces again for www.pacificnetwork.tv the videos are not up yet, but I will definitely be reposting them soon. So hang tight.

Me with shooting some Samoans, Tongans, and other Pacific Islanders in Huntington Beach.

The Bronx is Building Episode #1

2009-09-25T16:02:00.000-07:00

This is another project I am involved with Leyla Rosario, it is a web series about economic development in the Bronx, NY.

Check out the first episode. Also take a look about more of the project here: www.thebronxisbuilding.net

The Waterpod™ Project from Leyla Rosario on Vimeo.

Webisode #1: The Waterpod ™ Project

Description: "Is it possible to create a self-sustaining home on water? A group of scientists, artists, and engineers have been working together over the last three years to set the Waterpod ™ afloat. Leyla catches up to them when they dock at Concrete Plant Park in the Bronx."

Pacific X-Change Participants

2009-08-31T12:39:00.000-07:00

I just got back yesterday from Oahu. I was there for three days for a filmmaker conference, and I met a lot of cool people. I have another blog entry that is being posted on the ITVS website about the conference itself, which is reposted below. But I thought it would be good to showcase some of the other filmmakers that I met while I was over there because there is absolutely a budding community of filmmakers all throughout Polynesia, which is very exciting for me to see. Here are just a few:

Jacob Holcomb - lives on Oahu and is currently working on a documentary about the revitalization of the art of Tongan Tatooing. I also got to see the vampire film that he made. It was an official selection of the 2008 Louis Vuitton Hawai‘i International Film Festival. He is working on making the feature. You can see the trailer and more at: www.hawaiivampire.com

Keoni Kealoha Alavarez - is from Pahoa, Hawai‘i his current project is about Hawaiian burial grounds. You can learn more about his productions here: www.hawaiianislandproductions.org

The Pacific X-Change ITVS blog entry

2009-08-30T16:19:00.000-07:00

Below is a little taste of the article I wrote for the ITVS blog. If you would like to see the entire thing and leave a comment that is great. Just go to the ITVS blog Beyond the Box.

The Jump Project goes to Amsterdam

2009-08-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

It is so satisfying to look around and see the great work that friends are doing. My friend Leyla Rosario is an amazing photographer originally from the South Bronx. She has so so many awesome projects happening. Here is just one. This video is about her recent trip to Amsterdam for her first international exhibition. For her photo project called The Jump Project

You can also see the rest of her photo work at: http://www.ltrphoto.com/

Luv ya lady!

Here are a few images from her project:

Future Tense on VIMBY

2009-08-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

VIMBY - Future Tense

I think you can tell from this video I had so much fun with these guys. I love riding in the back of trucks and shooting. I am not a track stand expert or anything but Allender is amazing. Thanks so much to Zach of www.zlogblog.com and Ryan of www.gomeansgo.org for working so hard to put the whole thing together, and thanks for the beer Maiki.

Blogging for ITVS

2009-08-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

I will be attending and blogging about the ITVS Pacific X-Change conference in Honolulu, Hi from August 27th - 30th. More to come about that.

Green Filmmaking Resources

2009-08-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

Filmmaking is hectic. Because of this it is also wasteful. The sight of hundreds of plastic water bottles all getting thrown into the garbage has always bothered me. Along with all the styrofoam plates from crafty, wasted food, and miscellaneous plastic, wood, metal and other junk from the art department I have seen some mountainous heaps of waste created in the wake of movie magic.

I understand that especially a low budget filmmaker is always trying to do everything cheaper and faster. But if we start making small changes and becoming aware of places we are wasteful on set and taking small manageable steps toward making less environmental impact while we work it is a good beginning. Most other industries are being required to make changes in their environmental practices. The film industry really shouldn't be any different. Here are a few suggestions and resources from the California Film Commission.

You can also find more suggestions at their website: www.film.ca.gov/greenfilmmaking

GREEN TIPS FOR FILMMAKERS

Catering and Crafty

- use bio-degradeable plates and utensils made from corn
- use prominently displayed recycling bins
- label garbage cans "landfill" so people will think twice
- donate leftover food to an organization like Angel Harvest (Don't worry you are covered by the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act)

Set Construction

- use-reusable building materials such as metals
- donate materials such as furnishing, hardware, lumber, and appliances after the shoot to Habitat for Humanity

Make Sick Shoes: How to Customize Shoes

2009-08-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

This is a video that I made for my friend Louie Gong. He is an artist and activist of mixed heritage living in Seattle, WA.

You can see more about him and his customized shoes at his website www.eighthgeneration.com

Join his Facebook Fanpage here

Most of the designs that Louie makes are in the 1st Nation style of the Coast Salish cultural group, but he does draw inspiration from all types of art including Northwest Coast Art, and graffiti. I am pretty excited to be getting my own custom pair of hummingbird design Van's in the next couple of weeks!

Seattle Screening Success!

2009-07-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to everyone who came to last weeks' fundraising screening of Haku Inoa at Central Cinema. As you can see the house was really packed!

The event raised about $2000 toward the completion of the project. I plan on using this money toward making a rough cut of the film.

I also want to congratulate Karen Winston who was the winner of the gift certificates to The Hotel Max and ‘Ohana in Belltown.

Also thank you so much to Malory and all the lovely ladies of Reel Grrls, Louie and Amanda of the Mavin Foundation, Vivian and Josh at The Wing Luke Asian Museum, and Pi‘ilani of AAPIP (Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthrophy) Without all of you this event would not have been so wonderful.

Here are a few fun pics from the event:

Haku Inoa sharing the marquee with Less Than Zero

Me dancing hula. Which by the way was very nerve wracking for me!

Me, my brother, and Auntie Linda (Mom's twin sister, who came up from Oregon for the screening).

Seattle Media Blitz

2009-07-14T01:57:00.000-07:00

I have been pretty busy trying to get the word out about the July 15th screening. It has been a good little test run of getting press and doing promotion. At this point pretty much everything is in place. I just have to keep practicing the hulas that I am going to dance so I don't embarrass myself. This post is a one stop shop for all of the TV, radio, and print stories that I have done while here in Seattle.

Lori Matsukawa of King 5 News interviewed me on the overall process of film film at the Wing Luke Asian Art Museum.

This interview by Jeremy Richards focuses more on the NW Native connection and what I learned about my mother through working with the people of the Puyallup Tribe:

Joaquin Uy of KBCS and I talk more about the universal conflict between younger and older generations.

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Here is the link to the Seattle Post Globe Interview with me by Himanee Gupta. Hawaiian Filmmaker Explores Past

Himanee touches on historical context of Hawaii that I hope people will be able to learn through Haku Inoa.

July 15th, screening flyer

2009-07-07T14:32:00.001-07:00

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction

2009-06-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

Go, go Washington State Film! I went to the Los Angeles Film Festival last night to check out the movie ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction, and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was filmed in Port Gamble, WA. Having lived in the Northwest for 8 years I hold Washington near to my heart.

I enjoy horror, and zombie movies are my favorite because of their tendency to be serious social commentary delivered in an audience pleasing package of suspense, explosions, and gunfire. Going into this film I was a little worried that it was going to be too overtly political without the gore to back up the allegory. However, with the first bloody face peeling human slaughter I knew I had better get ready for the plasmagasm about to come.

Director Kevin Hamedani an American of Iranian heritage was inspired to make this film after the events of September 11th. When he witnessed a change in the treatment of Middle Eastern Americans within the United States. Ignorance of culture and the sudden increase in aggression directed toward this group of people concerned Hamedani, but he did not want to address this issue through a serious film. So, in the tradition George Romero (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead) Hamedani uses the zombies as a device in his film to force his character's into small spaces where they would be forced to talk out larger social issues.

The tone of this social dialog is what is particularly refreshing about ZMD. Co-Writers Hamedani and Ramon Isao cleverly juxtapoz the tension of impending armageddon creeping in on the main characters with hilarious one-liners. The cast fires off rapid comedic quips, paired with campy slapstick gore that will make any Evil Dead fan titter with delight.

ZMD producer Yahya Sinno was hesitant to reveal in a Q&A the budget was less than $500,000 for the film. Which for the quality of the make-up, effects, and scenery is hard to believe. Although, at times the limitations of the budget could be felt, the film feels incredibly resourceful and intelligently produced. The filmmakers hardily and graciously thanked the Town of Port Gamble for their collaboration with the production.

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction --- 4 of 5

Go see it if you have the chance.

Playing this Saturday at the LA Film Festival

Tour De Nez

2009-06-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was in Reno, NV and Truckee, CA shooting a three day cycling race called the Tour De Nez. It was a lot of fun. I got to shoot part of the time on the back of a motorcycle, thanks Chris!

The three day Tour de Nez has a pro-women's, pro-men's, and pro hand cycling events all three days as well as a few community kids races. It is a really great cycling event.

The show is going to air on Versus in mid-July as an interstitial program during the Tour De France. Very exciting!

Here is a little peek of the footage that I shot for the race. It's not very much just what the director could send me. You can see a little of the hand cycling champion Alejandro Arbol. I am such a fan, he is amazing!

LAVSH LIFE

2009-06-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

These guys are great! They are coming up in fashion so get it while you still can. Cause pretty soon they are going to have Jamie Foxx and all of the Black Eye Peas all over it! (No really for real) You can already see Taboo in LAVSH click here.

GO TO THEIR WEBSITE HERE: www.lavshlv.com

VIMBY - LAVSH

Seattle Fundraising Screening Tickets

2009-06-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

A name is a name... unless its 63 letters long.

Central Cinema
1411 21st Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
July 15th, 2009
6pm - 8:30pm
www.central-cinema.com

Haku Inoa: To Weave a Name is the deeply personal story of filmmaker Christen Marquez’s journey to heal her family relationships, which have been devastated by her Mother’s mental illness. Driven by the desire to to learn the meaning of her enigmatic Hawaiian name. Christen attempts to unite her scattered family and come to terms with her estranged mother, because her mother is the only one who knows the true meaning. However, learning her name proves to be more difficult then Christen first realizes. The film brings up deeper questions about surviving in a family with mental illness, and the modern cultural identities of “on-island” and “off-island” Native Hawaiians also called Kanaka Maoli.

I will be screening some very old work of mine, and the very newest. I will also be dancing hula there too, so that should be cool.

BUY TICKETS HERE: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/69035

If you cannot make it to the screening you can still donate to the project here by clicking on the yellow donate button: http://www.paradocsproductions.com/haku_inoa_donate.html

Narrative Report - 5/28

2009-05-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

I realized that I had not done a narrative report for PIC in a few weeks. But I definitely have been at work. The progress that Ashley and I have been making on the animation is great. We reviewed the first draft of the entire two minute sequence on Monday. We spoke on the phone to plan the next set of revisions for about two hours. There was more work left to do than we both had expected. And the expected delivery date for the final animation is now June 5th. Thankfully Ashley is so awesome, and she is going to be working hard over the next week to get everything together.

I also cut together three additional scenes for the work sample trailer which is bringing my total running time for my work sample to around 15 minutes.

I have revised the treatment, budget, and all other written accompanying materials which are being reviewed and proof-read by Karin Williams and Ti Locke.

And next Thursday Karin and I will be going to a sound studio in Atwater Village to record the final VO which will be married to the final animation and work sample reel. The deadline I have set for all materials to be completed at this time is June 10th to hopefully apply to the National Geographic All Roads grant, before the LINCS, and PIC Production grants.

Movies for $6 or Less in Los Angeles

2009-05-25T17:50:00.001-07:00

The economy is no excuse to not go see movies in the theater. Quit your whining and go see movies at these theaters.

Thanks to http://celestronica.blogspot.com

You can see the original post here: http://celestronica.blogspot.com/2008/02/cheap-movie-theaters-in-los-angeles.html

Congratulations to Kuni Leal

2009-05-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

I had a good time at the Aloha Expo this weekend. I raised a little money for the completion of the film, and made a lot of new friends.

The winner of the $50 gift card to Back Home in Lahaina is Kuni Leal.

Mahalo nui makou! Thanks to all y'all! Especially Back Home in Lahaina for donating the prize.

For everybody who didn't win you can check out what you are missing out on at:
http://www.backhomeinlahaina.com

Go ahead eat a Luau plate for me with some of that ono haupia cheesecake!

Also a little pic of me setting up my booth.

O wai kou inoa? (What's your name?)

2009-05-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

No matter who you are or where you come from your name tells a story. The stories behind how people get their names are funny, embarrassing, and sometimes very meaningful.

I am started an off-shoot mini-project from Haku Inoa. It is called O wai kou inoa? or in English, What's your name? I will be taking photographs of people and asking them to share the stories and meanings behind there names.

This is she is the first picture I took for this project.

You can check out the progress of the project here: "O Wai Kou Inoa? (What's Your Name?)"

Documentary Camera Reel

2009-05-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

Here is my documentary camera work reel, finally got one cut together. I am pretty happy with it.

Documentary Camera Reel from Christen Marquez on Vimeo.

Dark Material

2009-05-11T16:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a cool short doc on the theme of Hope and Fear by my Reel Grrl buddies up in Seattle. Check out all of the other short films on the site, and vote for the ones that you like.

Here's the link

Aloha Expo

2009-05-08T13:55:00.001-07:00

Next weekend is the 2009 Aloha Expo, and I will be out there taking pictures and fund-raising for Haku Inoa.

I am going to be setting up a booth, playing clips, and hopefully some of the animation that Ashley is working on.

I am also going to be working on a mini photo project. I will take pictures of people and ask them the story that is behind their name. Last time I met people to talk about my film I learned so many interesting names and stories. Hawaiian and not Hawaiian.

So if you are in Southern California come by and say hello at the Aloha Expo

More Illustrations

2009-05-04T11:40:00.000-07:00

So here is some of the new stuff that Ashley is working on. I think it looks pretty great. I especially like the map of the contiguous U.S.

The composited one of me in the cityscape is good, but I will need to make sure Ashley needs to keep everything in a 16:9 format.

Other than that I think it is all coming along quite nicely.

Fair Use Free Speech

2009-04-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

A video produced by the Center for Social Media about best practices of fair use for documentary filmmakers. They also produced a really great document called The Documentary Filmmaker's Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use you can download it and find other fair use resources at: www.centerforsocialmedia.org/fairuse

First looks at illustration

2009-04-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

Check it out...

Beginnings of animation...

just at the illustration stage but very cool.

Also I get to meet Ashley in person today, that is if I can stop emailing people about setting up the July fundraiser.

Fresh Eyes for Work Sample

2009-04-18T10:05:00.000-07:00

Here is the rough work sample that Fiona and I have been working on. Please leave comments, send emails, tweets, Facebook comments ect. about what you think.

Especially if you have never seen the work before, thanks!

The only two caveats are obviously that the blue screen is not composited yet, and some of the audio is still from my laptop mic, so be forgiving on the audio quality. Other than that, rip it apart...

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

Making the Assembly Edit

2009-04-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

I am busy with putting together an assembly edit for my editor Fiona, before I go up to Seattle. Here is a little sample of the bluescreen part without any compositing so far.

I have also been doing much of the not so glamorous things such as sorting receipts and interim financial reports.

Media Database for Documentary Funding

2009-04-07T15:35:00.000-07:00

I have found this website for documentary film funding called the Grantmakers in Film and Electronic Media. http://media.gfem.org/ There is one requirement for entering your projects into this database is that you ave at least one foundation or government funder.

I haven't fully investigated all of the aspects of the site yet, but I have started the profile for my film, and I poked around and found this other interesting project called The Salmon People. I liked it because it is also another personal journey film dealing with family relationships and cultural identity.

You can check out that film's profile here at The Salmon People

Narrative Report - last days Hawaii

2009-04-06T00:18:00.000-07:00

The last few days in Hawaii were mostly spent shooting b-roll, but I was also able to meet up with Dr. Lau who was the psychologist who worked with my family until we left Hawaii. She did not want to be on camera, but we still had a really great talk and I think what she told me gave me more clarity for the story. She also connected me with the Child Protective Services caseworker who worked with my family before we left the island. I wasn't able to connect with her before I left, but I will most likely be going back in July, so I think that will work better anyhow since I was pretty burnt out on shooting by the end of the trip.

During the day before I left I shot one last interview with my Mom. I asked her about whether she felt that we had grown closer in this time. She had a lot of really good things to say about the whole experience. On the whole I really feel very good about everything that happened. I can't wait to start editing.

I touched bases with Ashley the animator/illustrator, and she said she will be able to get something to me by the end of next week as far as illustrations.

US Supreme Court Hawaii V. OHA

2009-03-31T13:06:00.000-07:00

Today's disappointing but not unfortunately not surprising US Supreme Court Decision in the case of Hawaii v. OHA reinforces that an apology is nothing more that an acknowledgement of a wrong that has been done. If you apologize that does not mean you are obligated to enable redress for these wrongs? I believe so. The US government does not.

I am Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) but since I am also United States Citizen. It saddens me to realize that a US Congressional Resolution such as the 1993 Apology Resolution would be passed only to effectively be reduced to a statement equivalent to “Oops, my bad!” by the US Supreme Court 16 years later.

The 1993 Apology states, "the indigenous Hawaiian
people never directly relinquished their claims to their inherent
sovereignty as a people or over their national lands to the United States,
either through their monarchy or through a plebiscite or referendum". The
court ruled today that this was merely "symbolic".

Here is the link to the Supreme Court Decision.
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/08pdf/07-1372.pdf

And two articles on the subject:

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090331/BREAKING/90331025/1352

http://www.hawaii-nation.org/publawall.html

Narrative Report 3/27

2009-03-28T02:36:00.000-07:00

Today was the last shoot with PBS Hawaii before I go back to Los Angeles. I think that it went very well. We shot everything that I needed for the animated opening and closing of the work in progress trailer I am putting together. So that is two short scenes both with blue screen. And we were also able to shoot a version of a scene with a black background too, which is extremely helpful at this stage. It was also great because those shots were very beautiful, it is not possible yet to know how the blue screen is going to turn out in the end.

The shoot went very smoothly, and I am glad that I had taken to time to put those photo collage storyboards together. Since I was in the shots also as well as directing, the way that we worked would be to work out the shot as best as possible shoot a take, and then I would watch the shot played back on the monitor to make any adjustments if necessary.

And a huge thank you to everyone at PBS Hawaii for all the help and support with Haku Inoa! It was wonderful working with you!

Here are a few pictures from today's shoot.

I had a make-up artist, which was fun. Her name is Karen, she was quiet lovely.

this is some of the lighting and camera set up. and running through one of the shots for the closing animation.

Doing the time lapse weaving scene. Thanks Premo for the weaving help.

Office Intern Sheryl, and DP Glen.

Premo at the lighting board.

Todd adjusting one of the lights in the grid.

One of the pages from the storyboards.

Narrative Report - 3/23 and 3/24

2009-03-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

March 23rd, 2009

Today was the second PBS shooting day and final on location shooting day with the crew. We shot Will and me arriving at Mom's house, she served us breakfast of potato salad, texas toast, bacon, tuna patties, chocolate cake, and fettucini alfredo. Thank god there was something wrong with the fettucini, and we didn't have to eat any of it.

After that we tried to shoot Will and I rocking out in the car, don't know if it really worked. No good songs really came on the radio.

We picked flowers and talked about our relationship with Mom.

Then went home, Mom did more chanting lessons with me, and a little hula. This parts sounds a little boring but there was a certain feeling in the air between me and Mom and I am thinking that this will come through on the footage.

I had wanted to try play music with Will. I bought a guitar, we tried to play the ipu with the guitar, it worked a little bit. I will have to see.

Then Mom and I cleaned ti leaf for the skirt that I will use in the Friday shoot. Will, Mom, and I all had a little wrap party that involved big slices of chocolate cake and Will playing some dance music on his keyboard.

March 24th, 2009

I met with Hokulani Aikau who is an Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department of UH Manoa. You can read about about her and her research.

She suggested a few books for me to read. One is specifically on Kahana, which is the place that my brother is named for.

It is available on Amazon. However I am going to see if it is possible for me to pick it up locally.

She also suggested I read the work of Noelani Arista, who is getting her Ph. D. from Brandeis University. Who has done some writing specifically on Hawaiian naming traditions. I hope to get to this next.

Narrative Report - 3/16/09 to 3/20/09

2009-03-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

3/16/09

Will arrives from Seattle. I shoot his arrival. We also go to Kualoa to celebrate his birthday (belated) with a cake that Mom made. I also shoot that.

Here is a picture off the Kualoa Regional Park website

Also followed up for permits with Foodland, Safeway, and State of Hawaii.

3/17/09

Began to research and track down Dr. Levay Lau and Diana Deucey. They are the Psychologist and CPS Caseworker that handled my family's case in the late 80's right before we left the islands.

I think it will be interesting to get their perspectives on what happened right before we left the island.

I was successful in finding Dr. Lau, with the help of my father, she remembers all of us, and said that she would be able to meet. It has been a pretty hectic week with all of the preparations for the shoot days, so we have been playing phone tag over scheduling a good time to meet.

3/18/09

Location scouted at Kahana Valley. Met a man named Anagan he told us all about the trails to get to the best vista's of the bay, and agreed to be interviewed about the valley and how people live there.

Will and I were pretty unprepared for the hike and got bit by mosquitos alot, but oh well. We just had our slippers on so we got a little mud on our feet since it had been raining.

3/19/09

Lots of flower picking and shooting, and running around getting little odds and ends for tomorrow.

3/20/09

The first shooting day with PBS Hawaii.

Will and I got there a little bit before nine. Everyone from the crew showed up a little bit after that. There was Terrence who was the camera operator, Robert from Creative Services, Primo the sound mixer, Todd the UH intern, and also Glenn who is another camera operator, showed up to help with lighting and see what was happening.

We started off shooting me dragging out Mom's old things, her ipu heke, which is a type of gourd drum pictured here.

The shooting space was tight, but we worked it out. We also shot Mom doing a couple of Mele Oli and and interview.

There was some b-roll of my dancing, it was hot and hopefully my face will not be too red.

After that moved to interview Anagan and hike in Kahana. You can see some of the pictures from this hike in the Picasa Album.

But Here are just a few:

Beginning out on the trail

Green lizard, green leaf!

At the Kahana Bay Vista. Hey Terrence you're shooting the wrong way!

Sunlight through the trees on the hike back down.

VIMBY - Fast Friday

2009-03-19T02:43:00.000-07:00

It was really great meeting you Dave. Always love to see a DIY film like this have success. Best of luck in LA! Hope to see you around.

VIMBY - Fast Friday

Narrative Report - 3/13/09

2009-03-14T01:47:00.000-07:00

So I fell behind and few days on the report, and honestly. I know that I have been doing things over the last few days, but I cannot remember much other than yesterday I met Leanne from PIC, and everyone at the office over there. That was great.

March 13th, 2009

The day was the most brilliantly clear here on the Windward side of the island that I can remember. I wanted to whip out the camera and take b-roll while it was so clear, but I had to get all of the storyboards and schedules copied and ready for the meeting with PBS crew and Mom.

I did snap this picture while it was beautiful, and hoped that the clear blue sky would last until after the meeting.

Mom and I went to a little cafe in the Macy's called The Gazebo which is a favorite of Mom's to meet with both of the camera men, and Robert.

The meeting went very well, and all know the outline of what will happen on March 20th and 23rd. This was the first time she had met the other people that I have been working with, and I think she was very glad to see some of the people that I have been leaving her in the middle of the day to go and talk with.

After that I showed her the trailer that was on my website, I was scared as to how she would react to this since it was the first time she had seen this, and it shows me crying because of her, and talking about her mental illness. She said that it seems like she abandoned us, but I told her that no I never thought of it like that. Which is funny since I had said the same thing to Leanne yesterday over lunch. Mom also said that it seemed "like a downer" and I told her that good stories have ups and downs. She agreed to this. On the whole I was surprised and relieved about her reaction. The more she sees what I am doing with the project the more open she is becoming with me, and the more easily we are able to work together. This whole process is very healing and constructive for us both I think.

After that we went around and got some more nature b-roll and finished buying the rest of the things that we would need for lei making. By the time that we did get back to shoot the Koolau Mountains it was of course not as blue and clear as it had been before.

And then of course again, as we moved away from the Koolau to take b-roll of flowers it got bright and sunny again. Here is a picture of Plumeria and Hina Hina in the background that I took in Mom's yard.

Our search for kupukupu ferns brought us to an old friend of Mom's who had a lovely garden. She has all kinds of flowers and plants that we will be able to use. Which means less things that we will have to buy from Safeway, and she also said that she did not care if we videotaped, which is great.

Lizards!

2009-03-14T01:24:00.001-07:00

I sure don't know what it is but I love to take pictures of lizards. So here are some that I took today.

Narrative Report - 3/9/09

2009-03-10T02:19:00.000-07:00

Good Day today. Did a lot of Location Release things. Found out that both Kahana Valley and He'eia Park are under the open blanket spots to through the Hawaii Film Office.
Which is very good. I will finish submitting that tomorrow.

Went to speak with Jon Osorio at UH. It was very helpful, and ended up meeting another young Kanaka Maoli filmmaker named Blane. I had a really great conversations with both of them today. It was really exciting.

Also spoke with Derek at the station about the finer points of getting location releases. I am going to do everything I can to get all the releases that I can just to cover all of my bases. Although maybe I will not work that hard on getting the release for the bush that is behind the bus stop. Hope I will be safe on letting that one slide.

Leanne canceled her meeting today due to illness, but I am looking forward to meeting with her soon.

I shot some footage with my mom today us practicing a chant, and also I ask her about commerce and commercialism on the island. My light starts to fade, and I don't realize it for about 10 minutes, so some of it is unusable. And most of the part about when I ask her about commerce is very jumbled, but there are a few poignant statements that I maybe be able to make use of.

It also looks like Mom and I will have a meeting on Friday with the station folks, so that she can meet all of them.

Narrative Report - 3/8/09

2009-03-09T00:59:00.001-07:00

A light day today. I do feel like I am getting a bit sick. I have a sore throat.

Basically took Mom to church today.

Went and saw this film by Kimberlee Bassford:

I went with my friend Sumi, and got to meet Kimberlee briefly. This film was a PBS Hawaii LINCS partnership also. She was really helpful to me before when I was trying to first establish my partnership with PBS Hawaii, so thanks for that!

Check out the upcoming screening times for the film at: http://www.aheadofthemajority.com/

More local flower scouting. Specifically looking for Pua Kenikeni, which is the flower that is representative of Kaneohe. It is a flower that needs a lot of rain, so obviously it grows pretty well here on the windward side of the island.

PUA KENIKENI

Right now I am going to write out the scene wish lists for my PBS Hawaii crew days. I have written an email to one of the Derek "The Production Man" to give him some of the location contacts that I have collected so far, and asking him questions about which locations I will absolutely have to release. I am so glad that I have someone to help me out with this. I am not good at asking for these things. I understand why people are wary of signing things but it sure makes life hard some times!