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Reel News Tim Ryan |
‘Hawaii’ writer
heeds criticsTHE latest version of NBC's "Hawaii" pilot by executive producer/ writer Jeff Eastin deletes some material that had critics complaining about racial and cultural stereotypes. Gone are: " ... you stupid Samoan," directed at the character Kaleo (Cole'o in the original); references to some Hawaiian characters as "large," "big," or "heavyset;" most descriptions of Hawaiians or locals as "natives;" a description of a massage parlor scene with "Young Hawaiian girls in tiny outfits;" a Hawaiian crime ring's brutality referred to as "Hawaiian justice;" and dancing Hawaiian men and women described as "brown skinned, black haired, and virtually naked."
Surfer Matty Liu and former KGMB newscaster Sandra Sagisi appear in the pilot episode ...
ABC's two-hour pilot of the castaway drama "Lost" filmed its first two days this week in a rain and bamboo forest along Old Pali Road where three survivors of a plane crash -- actors Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly and Dominic Monaghan -- on an unnamed and deserted Pacific island find the dead pilot hanging in a tree, a dog (which suddenly vanishes) and a child's shoe. Most mysterious in this script by J.J. Abrams ("Alias") is today and tomorrow's Waikane Valley filming, when six of the survivors, while hiking, are attacked by a charging polar bear ...
Blaise J. Noto, who spearheaded the national publicity for "The Passion of the Christ," is teaching "Principles of Entertainment Publicity and Promotion" at Maui Community College's VITEC Program that began yesterday, and will run for five consecutive Tuesday evenings after that. No previous knowledge or experience in entertainment marketing or publicity is needed, and those interested can register by calling the VITEC program. The publicity campaign for "Passion" will provide students with insights into the creative marketing process, as well as how to structure and time a campaign for maximum effectiveness ...
CNN executives recently visited Maui for meetings and site inspections for access to communications satellites from their uplink truck for the cable news network's plan to cover the Maui Film Festival at Wailea on June 16 to 20. The operation has scheduled more than 30 live feeds during the event ...
Fox's "North Shore" has cast "Baywatch Hawaii" alumnus Jason Momoa and Kauai's Michael Ontkean ("The Rookies," "Twin Peaks") in recurring roles ...
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Contact Tim Ryan at tryan@starbulletin.com.