Waimea park
limits filming
Waimea Falls Park was a favored location for film, television, and commercial productions. But those days will be limited under its new caretaker, the Audubon Society, which renamed the area The Waimea Valley Audubon Center as of last week.
Acting center director Diana King says the policies are still being written regarding productions using the site, but only those that "support the protection and enhancement of its resources" will be allowed. Though a decision on use will be made on a case-by-case basis, one activity apparently out is diving, because of liability concerns. One of the locations at the newly named center that all productions generally want is the pool beneath the falls, but those companies that want to keep visitors out throughout the day will not be allowed, King said. Productions may be allowed to use the pool privately before the center opens at 9:30 a.m. and after it closes at 5 p.m. ...
Several of the original "Brady Bunch" TV cast -- Barry Williams, Chris Knight, Mike Lookinland, Susan Olsen and Florence Henderson -- are here on Oahu filming a promotional documentary for a special on The Travel Channel that will air early next year.
The actors are being filmed (some with their families) in the same places the cast visited 30 years ago when the show filmed three episodes here, including the Royal Hawaiian Hotel (where the cast and crew are staying), shopping along Kapahulu Avenue and surfing in Waikiki. Henderson will also get a kitchen tour from Don Ho himself at his Aloha Tower Marketplace restaurant.
Producers say the show cost in the high six figures and wraps tomorrow. It's reportedly the most expensive production ever for the popular cable channel. ...
The Sundance Channel will present "TV LAB," a program that showcases tomorrow's TV today. In the half-hour pilot episode, "TV LAB" will examine a handful of new ideas for television series as brief pilots, along with a "pitch" by their creators. Sundance Channel wants new ideas for television series, whether they be high concept, technical, comedy or drama and to reinvent existing TV formats, like game shows, sitcoms, soap operas, cop shows, dramas and reality shows. Submission deadline is July 18. For information, contact Benita Brazier, Maui County film commissioner, at the Maui County Film Office at 270-7710. ...
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Contact Tim Ryan at tryan@starbulletin.com.