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Several Hawaii filmmakers, tired of sitting idle during one of the slowest state film and television production years on record, have decided to make use of their spare time and expertise to create their own show. Isle filmmakers are commited
to tell local storiesBy Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.com"True Love and Mimosa Tea," a screenplay adapted from a Honolulu magazine short-story winner by Joey Char, completes six days of production on Oahu tomorrow.
The 30-minute piece, shot on 16 mm film, is directed by Cam Eason, who also wrote the screenplay, and produced by Dana Hankins of "Picture Bride," and "Moonglow."
"True Love" stars Elizabeth Lindsey, Cary Tagawa and Tamlyn Tomita. Others in the film include Greg Watanabe and Tony Silva.
The story is about a sage, played by Tagawa, who brews a mystical potion to bring two reluctant lovers together. Tomita plays one of the lovers, and Lindsey the possible love interest of Tagawa's and "almost" an intellectual match for him.
"It's great for the University of Hawaii to be talking about starting a film school, but in the meantime I'm doing this for Hawaii and for me because I would love to do more work here at home," said the Kauai-based Tagawa, who most recently appeared in "Pearl Harbor" and "Planet of the Apes."
"True Love" is the third production under the Tradewinds television series banner. Tradewinds tales are "dramatically fictional stories of life in Hawaii," said Hankins.
"Our goal -- and that means everyone involved from top to bottom -- is to tell our stories of Hawaii."
Hankins hopes this project will be so well received artistically and financially that Tradewinds becomes a series.
"We want to show that Hawaii can be a regional filmmaking center," said Hankins, who declined discussing the company's budget.
"Let's say it is so small that it's self-funded," she said. "The actors and crew basically are working for nothing on what really is an experimental film."
The complex roles required actors to reveal "their inner shadows ... bring to life some of all our fears, doubts and hesitations," she said.
The crew has worked with Hankins on other projects including "Picture Bride" and dozens of commercials. Major sponsors for the film include Aloha Airlines and Aston Hotels, who are providing transportation and accommodations for the actors and director. Local cinematographer Bob Johnson has been providing most of the production equipment.
"True Love" is being geared toward the film festival market as an independent project, although it may end up airing on local television, said Hankins, who hopes to premiere it around Valentine's Day.
Film sites included the historic Judd home near Kualoa Ranch, a Noela Place home, Kapiolani Park and the offices of Honolulu Publishing Co.
The idea for the Tradewinds series happened late one night in Hankins' kitchen when cinematographer Johnson and other local crew members were discussing producing local stories.
"I said the idea is big and wonderful, but no one comes forward, and I have no money to pay the crew," Hankins said. "They told me flat out that if I find the story and put the other pieces together, they'll bring the crew.
"They did, and now I have my field of dreams."
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