TV shows boost
isle economyTwo series get the OK to start
filming, and a third is likely to be
approved next week
Two down and one to go.
NBC announced yesterday that it has ordered 12 episodes of "Hawaii," its Oahu-based police drama. Add that to the filming of 12 episodes of Fox Television's hotel series "North Shore" and network spending in Hawaii is likely to be in the tens of millions of dollars this year.
Each NBC and Fox episode will cost between $2.1 million and $2.4 million, so final figures will be $50 million to about $60 million. Furthermore, if ABC approves its castaway drama "Lost" for 12 episodes, which sources say is likely, there will be at least an additional $24 million in spending here.
The three series would spend more than $70 million this year, more than any year in state history. Television expenditures last year 2003 were just $2.5 million.
In 1998 when another NBC show, the short-lived "Wind On Water," and "Fantasy Island" filmed in Hawaii, there was about $28 million in TV series spending.
It's possible that the shows could be canceled before the 12-episode deals are completed, which would mean less spending.
ABC's announcement on "Lost" is expected by Monday. Sources said executives like the show and are considering it as a midseason replacement in January.
A TV series provides steady employment for crew and consistent spending over a longer period of time than a feature film production.
Hawaii Film Office manager Donne Dawson called the NBC decision "more fantastic news for the state because it will keep our industry people working, and bring tremendous amount of positive exposure for the islands."
Jeff Eastin, "Hawaii's" executive produce and writer, said filming will begin on Oahu July 12 and continue through November. Pre-production will begin next week when some production executives arrive to organize set building and hire at least 80 crew.
"We're very happy," Eastin said. "The pilot came out really phenomenal, looks incredibly beautiful.
"We showed the pilot to the network almost a week early because we were so happy with it. Based on that and their reaction, we pretty much knew ... we would be picked up."
NBC is considering premiering "Hawaii" in late August on a Monday night, Eastin said.
The state is working with the network to locate a building for its sound stage and offices. NBC had leased the Hawaii Film Studio for the pilot but relinquished it to Fox when "North Shore" was approved. Fox Television is filming 12 episodes of its hotel drama "North Shore" through September.
When cameras start rolling in July, it will mark the first time since 1998 that two network series will be filming in Hawaii at the same time.
"Hawaii" stars Michael Biehn, Sharif Atkins, Eric Balfour, Ivan and Kauai resident Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Tagawa, who is in Vancouver, B.C., filming "Elektra" with Jennifer Garner, was notified by Eastin yesterday about the approval. Tagawa's last regular series appearances were in 1996 on "Nash Bridges."
On "Hawaii" Tagawa plays Capt. Terry Harada, who will appear in six of the 12 episodes.
"Part of my character is being the kindergarten cop, keeping track of the younger cops," Tagawa said. "And a lot of the cops are renegades ... I try to keep them all in line."
The show, originally called "Pearl City," then "Hawaiian Blue," is about a a diverse team of Honolulu detectives.
The last series to film on Oahu was "Baywatch Hawaii," which was canceled in 2001 after two seasons.