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Reel News Tim Ryan |
Director plans
return to islesJohn Stockwell called from the Bahamas, where he's directing the MGM/Mandalay Pictures film "Into the Blue," to say he'll be back in Honolulu in March to prepare to produce, direct and write (along with writing partner Lizzy Weiss) the WB's "Rocky Point" pilot on Oahu. Stockwell directed and wrote with Weiss both "Blue Crush" and last year's Fox pilot "The Break," which wasn't picked up for a series.
"Rocky Point" will feature an ensemble cast, with the drama centered on a 19-year-old woman who returns to the North Shore, where she grew up, to live with her estranged father, who is in his late 30s. No actors have yet been cast. Stockwell says all 10 days of filming will be done on the North Shore with a local crew. Hawaii casting director Anna Fishburn, who Stockwell hired to do extras casting for "The Break," is expected to do the same job for "Rocky Point."
"Into the Blue," which wraps in early March, centers on the conflict between young vacationers and treasure hunters when they discover a deadly wreck at sea ...
There's another name change and cast additions for the NBC pilot that begins filming here March 5. "Pearl City," which became "Hawaii Blue," is now "Hawaii." Rising star Eric Balfour (HBO's "Six Feet Under" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre") will play Christopher Gaines, a Hawaii local who is dedicated to his police work. Balfour will next appear in the upcoming feature "In Her Shoes," playing a nice-guy-gone-bad opposite Cameron Diaz. He's also producing and starring the indie film "RX," playing a kid whose plan to buy prescription drugs in Mexico goes horribly awry.
Michael Madsen will co-star in "Hawaii" as one of the best cops on the island, who also is a devoted father. Madsen made his name in Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs." He briefly appeared in "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" but will have a more predominant role in "Vol. 2," due out April 16 ...
Kristoffer Polaha has landed a lead role in Fox's "Oahu," playing the manager of the hotel. The drama centers around the guests and staffers at a luxury hotel in Hawaii, in this case the Turtle Bay Resort. Polaha is best known for his title role in TBS's "America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story" ...
CNN is planning to cover the Maui Film Festival's upcoming June event live for five days, as well as promote festival coverage for weeks in advance ...
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Contact Tim Ryan at tryan@starbulletin.com.
