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Reel News Tim Ryan |
Film, TV tax credits survive
Gov. Linda Lingle has no plans to eliminate or gut Hawaii's Act 221 tax investment credits for film and television productions. Lingle does insist the legislation "be used for what it was written. I've made some very clear, moderate, common-sense suggestions to remove some liberal construction of the language ... closing loopholes ... that are counterproductive. Our goal is not to let a one-time film come here and walk out of the state with $20 million." Productions qualify for Act 221 if they're part of a long-term production plan to solidify the local industry and create permanent jobs. ...The fourth annual Maui Film Festival at Wailea starts today with actors Keisha Castle-Hughes ("Whale Rider"), Chino XL ("Alex & Emma"), Sophia Milos ("Passionada") and Best Actor Oscar winner Adrian Brody already in attendance. ...
Kaneohe-based and Light Impressions' director of photography Ken Libby is the first in Hawaii to purchase Sony's revolutionary High Definition CineAlta® HDW-F900 / 3 24P (film-like) camera (for $103,000, according to Sony), like the one used by George Lucas for the last "Star Wars" film. Libby selected the same High Definition system currently being used by many television series produced in Hollywood and New York. His first project with the equipment will be "The Red Hibiscus," an independent film written and directed by Robert Pennybacker. Libby is prepared to transfer the picture to computer for editing and down-converting to the broadcast system now in use, which will provide better results than any current acquisition format.
Libby, in his 30 years in Hawaii, has been responsible for numerous local TV commercials and programs, as well as that well-known opening trailer for Consolidated Theatres. ...
E! Entertainment's "Wild On!" show (Hawaii was a favored locale) is pau, thanks to poor ratings. ...
"Blue Crush" director John Stockwell has been tapped to direct the New Line Cinema feature "After the Sunset," starring Pierce Brosnan. No decision on whether the Firm Films' production will be shot in Hawaii as Stockwell hopes. Production starts this October. ...
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has created a new Emmy award category for reality shows, called Outstanding Reality / Competition Program, to acknowledge what audiences seem to crave. So why should we care here? ABC's "Celebrity Mole: Hawaii" looks to be a likely nominee.
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Contact Tim Ryan at tryan@starbulletin.com.