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Georgette Deemer
HAWAII FILM OFFICE MANAGER
WHEN Georgette Deemer steps down today following 15 years as Hawaii Film Office manager, she leaves after a record year of revenues from film, television and commercials that not only exceeded $100 million for the first time but will likely total some $125 million when final figures are released this month.
Georgette Deemer leaves the
Hawaii Film Office with
big shoes to fillBy Tim Ryan
Star-BulletinYear 2000's earnings are the result of having several high-budget pictures filmed here, including "Windtalkers," "Pearl Harbor" and "Jurassic Park III," as well as the television series "Baywatch Hawaii." Oahu received the lion's share of the work, drawing about $75 million to $80 million in production spending.
It's nearly a 500 percent increase from 1986 when production spending in Hawaii was $27 million.
Deemer, known for her calm-under-crisis demeanor, has the peculiar ability to blend administration, negotiation and problem-solving skills with schmoozing with Hollywood heavy weights and mega egos.
"She picked her battles very carefully and knew when to back away," said a Hawaii union official who requested anonymity. "Georgette didn't get involved in problems that weren't within her jurisdiction, like problems between the unions and producers."
When Deem-er took charge of the Film Industry Branch under the Department of Planning and Economic Development, Hawaii averaged about 63 productions a year, excluding commercials and counting each episode of a series as a production. The number today is between 200 and 300. A final number won't be available until the end of the month.
The Film Industry Branch budget in 1986 was $210,000, including $75,000 for promotion. The 2000 budget was $543,000, with $150,000 for promotion.
Besides promoting Hawaii as a film location, the office coordinates filmmaking activities, helps filmmakers scout locations, and assists with permits. It means that Deemer's successor must possess an array of skills that can as easily influence Hollywood producers as neighborhood boards and concerned citizen groups about filmmaking in their community.
But Deem-er's successor might not be hired for six months if the state decides to change the position from civil service to appointment. The state is researching how long that process might take and whether it requires legislative action, said Sharon Narimatsu, deputy director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
Reclassifying the job could be an economic advantage to the state because it means no overtime pay for a position that requires long hours and weekend work, though Deemer never took overtime pay, sources said.
But the candidate search won't even begin until a decision is made whether to change the classification. Meanwhile, an interim film office manager will be appointed -- though there is no deadline -- from a list of names submitted from the public and private sectors, Narimatsu said.
State officials, including Narimatsu, Deemer and Tom Smyth, DBEDT's Business Service Division, have met with some people and been notified by others of their interest, she said.
April Masini, instrumental in getting "Baywatch Hawaii" here, met with Deemer and Narimatsu earlier this week but is not interested in the job. Kauai film commissioner Judy Drosd and former Maui film commissioner Georja Skinner have informed state officials of their interest; and Oahu film liaison Walea Constantinau has been mentioned as a desirable candidate, although she hasn't contacted the state or met with officials, sources said.
State officials understand the importance of filling the job not only for the jobs and tax revenues the film office creates, but also for the publicity it garners for the state, Narimatsu said.
"We'll make sure whoever we hire knows the industry and knows Hawaii," she said.
Deemer helped establish Hawaii as a reliable location for film and television productions with much less government bureaucracy than a decade ago. On Tuesday, she starts a public relations career at Becker Communications
"Change is good for everybody," Deemer said. "It wouldn't be good for the industry for one person to stay in this job forever because it needs fresh blood."
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