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Action!
Filming begins on the set
of "29 Down"
It seems that anyone should be able to create at least a mildly interesting television series given a $2 million-plus budget per episode, the average cost of an hour-long drama last year. But what chance do productions have with one-fifth that budget?
Pretty good, according to producer Stan Rogow and writer/director DJ McHale, who created the NBC kids' drama "29 Down," which began three months of filming on Oahu last week.
"The way to accomplish something of high quality on a low budget is to be completely prepared, make your decisions early and commit to them," said Rogow, creator/producer of the "Lizzy McQuire" TV series. "If there are no surprises on the set, then things work out. But if you suddenly decide you need something right now, then you have to wait and that's money. Then you'll not succeed."
"29 Down" is a survival drama featuring characters 10 to 18 years old and their pilot, who crash-land on a South Pacific island. Thirteen episodes will be filmed through March, primarily on 26 acres in Mokuleia. The first show will air between April and September, Rogow said.
Cast members are Hallee Hirsh, Jeremy James Kissner, Johnny Pacar, Allen Alvarado, Kristy Wu, Corbin Bleu Rivers, Lauren Storm, John Kapelos and three Oahu actors, Tani Lynn, Blade Rogers and B.K. Cannon.
The production is a partnership of Honolulu-based Hawaii Film Partners, co-owned by Gina Watumull, and L.A.-based Stan Rogow Productions and Showcase Entertainment.
The beach on the Haleiwa side of the Mokuleia polo field is the official crash area where a retrofitted and "crashed" DeHavilland airplane sits on the sand. The group's campsite is just a few yards inland behind ironwood trees.
McHale answers quickly when asked about the show's $300,000-plus an episode budget. "Absolutely rock bottom," he says, agreeing with Rogow that preparation is key.
"I told the crew that if they like doing what you do here, this is the only show to be on because you'll be doing a lot of it," he said. "We don't have a lot of hands. They'll be doing more work than usual for less money."
The youngest castaway, 8-year-old Allen Alvaradod, above, was ready for a scene on the beach on the first day of filming Wednesday.
The production is leasing a renovated three-story apartment house on Waialua Road for offices and to house the actors, rather than renting pricier hotel rooms.
All 13 scripts were written and approved by Discovery executives before filming, which Rogow calls a blessing. "We know where we will be today and 10 weeks from now. There won't be a lot of surprises."
McHale developed the castaway concept three years ago in a story line that would feature adults, not kids. At the time, "29 Down" referred to the number of passengers on the plane.
Network executives turned the show down, telling McHale "no one wants to do a tropical island show," he said. "But I knew it hadn't been done in a long time, and the story line allows a chance to explore relationships in an odd, stressful situation."
McHale didn't give up. He contacted longtime friend Rogow, who had worked with the Discovery Channel before. The producer suggested changing the characters to children.
"I'm happy that it didn't sell to prime time because this show would never had happened (with the success of) 'Lost,'" McHale said.
Given the budget restrictions of a Saturday morning kids' show, the cast was cut in size, and the original name became the plane's numbers, said McHale, who will direct seven episodes.
"We aged the show down and funned it up," he said, describing the story as "Gilligan's Island" meets "Lord of the Flies."
Cast and crew of "29 Down" joined hands for a blessing of the set before filming began. In the background is the beached plane that, according to the show's story, crash-lands and strands the young passengers and their pilot.
The plane, part of the old Hawaii Air Transport System fleet, was stripped of fuel tanks, fuel lines and wings, then degreased and transported to Mokuleia under police escort late Dec. 27. The next morning, the plane, which cost producers $10,000, was lifted by crane onto the beach, where the wings were replaced.
"29 Down" will be far less dark "Lost."
"When our plane crashes, no one gets hurt or dies," says McHale. The "29 Down" plane crashes just offshore, thanks to computerized effects, then slides onto the beach. The story lines revolve around typical teenage dilemmas under the survival "umbrella," McHale says.
"There'll be a lot of who likes who, who will be boss, who will be messing up," McHale says. "And, oh by the way, how are we going to find food and water, and should we eat this thing or will we die?"
The 10 actors hurriedly walked arm in arm down the beach toward reporters for the first day's meet-and-greet.
"Hawaii!" cheered Halle Hirsh, who filmed "E.R." on Oahu last year. "We're finally here. I thought this day would never come. I filmed right across the street, over there, right across the street, across that street! It's like being home again."
"Uh, where did you film here?" joked actor Johnny Pacar, 23. "Are you sure it was right across this street?"
"Oh, I think she said it was across that street," teased Kristi Woo, 22.
"No, she said definitely across this street," added Lauren Storm, 18.
Local actors Cannon, Rogers and Lynn will appear in two episodes before heading into the island's interior with the pilot to search for civilization. Lynn will reappear for the last four episodes.
Cannon, 14, who plays Jory, was ecstatic. "I don't even have to get paid for this. I would pay them to let me do it. And these other actors I've seen on TV, and it's like, oh my god, I've seen them on TV!"
Blade Rogers, 15, son of local acting coach Scott Rogers, plays Ian. "All I know about my character is I go into the jungle with the pilot and two other kids to see if there's any civilization on the island, but I know nothing else."
McHale says he knows how children react because "I never grew up."
"I've been able to write for this age group, but I don't know why. Stephen King said he writes horror because that's what comes out. This is what comes out of me."
Art director Paul Guncheon cleared out the inside of the plane. The plane once flew with the old Hawaii Air Transport System fleet. It was purchased for $10,000 and brought to the beach on Dec. 27.
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