Big jump in spending
by film, TV industry
helps buoy economy

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

In the feast or famine world of the entertainment business, Hawaii's first quarter was fat city.

The $17.5 million in production spending from January through March is more than double the $8 million spent in the same period last year, state officials said.

About $12 million came from three television pilots: "Honolulu CRU," "Fantasy Island" and "Wind on Water."

The ABC-Columbia TriStar pilot "Fantasy Island," which completes filming on Maui this week, cost about $4.5 million, and the other ABC pilot, "Honolulu CRU," cost about $3.5 million.

The NBC-Zalman King pilot, "Wind on Water," filmed on the Big Island, cost about $4 million.

Gov. Ben Cayetano attributed the film and television revenue increase to tax incentives his administration created last year specifically to attract productions to Hawaii.

The new tax credits have given Hawaii "a competitive edge in attracting several major television productions, hundreds of music videos, documentaries, commercials, travelogues and still photography," Cayetano said.

"We are diversifying the economy, increasing visitor spending, and creating jobs through tax incentives that encourage clean industries like film and television production," he said.

More production companies qualified for the tax credits this year than last, Cayetano said.

Two Disney motion pictures last year -- "Mighty Joe Young" and "6 Days/7 Nights" -- qualified for 75 percent of the tax credits given. "Mighty" spent about $5 million filming here; "6 Days", about $10 million, according to Hawaii Film Office officials.

No television pilots or series were filmed in Hawaii last year.

The first quarter is "always strongest" in film and television revenues because it is pilot season and production companies like to film in Hawaii in the winter, said Georgette Deemer, manager of the Hawaii Film Office.

The second quarter usually is the weakest time of the year, she said.

Four motion pictures may be filmed in Hawaii this year, although only the Belgian production of "Damien" is confirmed for about eight weeks of production at Kalaupapa, the film office said.

The possibility of filming four motion pictures and several television series here this year could provide "400 to 600 job opportunities for technical crews, local drivers, extras and actors," Cayetano said.

The state and county film offices vigorously promote Hawaii in trade publications, film industry events in Los Angeles, and at the Sundance Film Festival, the film office said.

Film and television production spending in Hawaii last year was nearly $71 million, the second largest annual take in state history, and an 18 percent increase from the $59.7 million in 1996.

Hawaii's top production year was 1994 when spending hit $96.5 million, largely due to the $35 million spent for filming "Waterworld" on the Big Island.