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Treasured islands


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POSTED: Tuesday, January 19, 2010

“;Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,”; starring Johnny Depp, is slated to begin filming on Oahu and Kauai this summer, continuing momentum in Hawaii's film industry after the hit TV series “;Lost”; concludes its sixth and final season in May.

The film's release date is May 20, 2011, according to the Internet Movie Database.

The fourth installment of Walt Disney Pictures' action-adventure movie series from Jerry Bruckheimer Films will be directed by veteran Rob Marshall. It joins “;The Descendants,”; starring George Clooney and directed by Alexander Payne; “;Battleship,”; directed by Peter Berg; and a couple of series pilots—including the “;Hawaii 5-0”; project—expected to land on island shores over the next six months. “;Hereafter,”; directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Matt Damon, wrapped shooting on Maui last week.

“;There's a lot of work coming, so we'll all benefit,”; noted Georja Skinner, the state Creative Industries Division administrator who oversees operations of the Hawaii Film Office.

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The production team estimates “;Pirates”; will generate more than $80 million in spending here.

Walt Disney Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger met with Gov. Linda Lingle on Friday, a gathering that revolved around the new Disney Resort on Oahu, scheduled to open in 2011, but fortuitously included discussion of the “;Pirates”; movie.

The production team began investigating possible locations in the islands last year. Yet it was not until the holidays that Hawaii secured the deal over a foreign destination. In addition to the state's Act 88 tax credit, the tourism industry—the Marriott on Kauai and the Ko Olina Resort, in particular—stepped up to enhance the package with room nights that could prove convenient during possible water scenes off Kalaeloa.

“;This will be great for Hawaii tourism; there will be thousands of room nights that are needed just for the pre-shooting and the actual shooting,”; said state tourism liaison Marsha Wienert.

“;We'll feel the impact over three or four months, although they will actually be shooting for two months this summer,”; she said. “;We'll benefit even more from the publicity when they are here with Johnny Depp and some of the cast members, and from the things written about the filming.”;

Director Marshall is scheduled to visit Hawaii to scout locations for four or five days, beginning Sunday. “;That will lock things into place,”; said Skinner, who anticipated pre-production would begin in late March or early April.

“;We've always sought out the most extraordinary and exotic locations for the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films,”; producer Jerry Bruckheimer said in a statement, “;and previously shot briefly on both Maui and Molokai for 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.' Hawaii provides an amazing range of both land and seascapes, and we're delighted to return for 'On Stranger Tides.'”;

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In addition, there's an Adam Sandler project brewing, as well as a Japanese drama series and a Korean drama series that have been exploring locations in Hawaii. The seven people remaining in the state Film Office, which was hit hard by layoffs last year and has resided within the state's Creative Industries Division since 2003, are receiving cross-training to complete the extensive permitting process required with each production.

Star-Bulletin reporter Allison Schaefers contributed to this report.