Reel News
Maui gets
new film chiefThe new year means a new Maul film commissioner. Hollywood production exec Benita Brazier takes over tomorrow, replacing Amy Kastens, who has held the post since 1999. Brazier has been a script supervisor on dozens of films and TV movies for nearly 20 years. Her production credits include "Boomtown," "South Central," "I Spy," "Big Momma's House," "Doctor Dolittle," "Private Parts," "A Very Brady Sequel," "Out of Darkness," "Radio Flyer," "Big Easy" and "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."
Under Kastens, Maui County production revenues rose to $8.5 million in 2000 from $4.5 million in 1999, and then $8 million in 2001. 2002 figures should end up in the $9 million range. Kastens helped convince youth market productions like MTV and VH1 to film on Maui. She also got Country Music Television to commit to hosting two shows on Maui. And the Christian Network is expected to do its first Christian "recommended tour" on Maui this year.
Kastens will commute between Maui and Los Angeles for a production company she's creating with two Hollywood vets ...
Could there possibly be any more changes for the Bruce Willis vehicle "Tears of the Sun," which filmed on Oahu last year? Formerly known as "Man of War," then "Hostile Rescue," the pic is in post-production in L.A. with a U.S. release date of March 7. The $80 million-plus production is about a search-and-rescue mission in Africa for a doctor. When they get to the village, the doctor (Monica Bellucci) says that she'll only leave if 70 refugees go with her ...
Another Hawaii location film, the action-comedy "Helldorado" starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, is set for release in September ...
"Punch-Drunk Love," partially filmed on Oahu, has made it onto five of the top eight movie critics' polls, along with Disney's "Lilo & Stitch," which is likely to be nominated for an Oscar in the Best Animated Feature category.
The Adam Sandler-Paul Thomas Anderson movie was filmed, in part, at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental and Royal Hawaiian hotels. They also filmed a scene that included the Honolulu Festival parade going on while Sandler's at a phone booth on Kalakaua Avenue ...
"The Big Bounce" is set to resume filming next week. Director George Armitage will be back at the helm after recent stomach problems forced him to return to L.A. for medical treatment.
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Contact Tim Ryan at tryan@starbulletin.com.