Reel News
Roll 'em. Hawaii may be the location for a 22-episode, syndicated, hourlong action television series starring Chuck Norris and produced by his brother Aaron through the duo's Norris Brothers Entertainment. Time for action in isles
Filming is slated for March with a couple of major "ifs."
The Norris brothers and two of their attorneys met with state, county and labor officials last month, toured the Hawaii Film Studio and visited film locations. The brothers return to Oahu in the next couple weeks for more discussions and to meet with Gov. Cayetano while their negotiations continue with distributor Tribune Entertainment Co. Tribune officials had no comment.
The Norris group already have met here with Joe Blanco, Cayetano's executive assistant, in part to discuss the state's Act 221 tax investment credits for productions filming here. The meeting was facilitated by longtime Norris friend, producer-director Albert Pyun, who is completing five films on the Big Island under his Filmworks Hawaii banner.
The Norrises plan to produce movies-of-the-week here during the series' hiatus.
The "ifs": The Norris brothers need Act 221 credits, and to convince newly married Chuck, a father of 10-month-old twins, to relocate here. Chuck, 62, starred in the Texas-based TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger."
Filming for the one-season deal will be completed by mid-summer. The production likely will be based on Oahu so it can use the Hawaii Film Studio, although Aaron says he wants to do a lot of filming on the neighbor islands.
The brothers want to work with Tribune because they will have more control over the show than with other interested networks. Tribune produces and distributes syndicated action hours and daytime reality TV shows, reaching more than 80 percent of United States households.
Aaron has directed several of his brother's movies, was executive producer of "Walker, Texas Ranger," and has worked as a stuntman and fight coordinator on several films.
The estimated budget is just more than $1 million per episode. The series would employ 50 to 60 local crew members.
In Hawaii's favor: Aaron Norris is an avid surfer, brother Chuck an expert martial artist with black belts in tang soo do and tae kwan do -- there's a large martial arts community here -- and could there be a better location than Hawaii for his exercise infomercials?
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Contact Tim Ryan at tryan@starbulletin.com.