THE ENTREPRENEURIAL GUIDE TO ENTERTAINMENT: U.H. Film Students Rock the Hawaii International Film Festival

The Entrepreneurial Guide to Entertainment with Sandy McKee

Whenever I hear anyone bemoan the decline of the younger generation, I respond with one word: rubbish! Hang out with the talented students from the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (ACM) and you’ll soon agree.

October 23, 2009 was ACM Night at the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) and I went to support the Academy Award winners of tomorrow. I came; I saw; I bought the (ACM) t-shirt. Here’s why I’m glad I did:

• Flowers, Chocolates, and Candlelit Dinners, written and directed by Priscilla Stafford (a winner of ACM’s Grace Abernethy Women’s Filmmaker Initiative Award). The story of a hapless young man who has a serious crush on his coworker; but, can’t seem to catch a break as he tries awkwardly to communicate his feelings via the traditional romantic gestures (hence the title). According to Priscilla, she “wanted people to feel awkward” along with the hero. I could tell she succeeded when a loud, collective groan escaped from the men in the audience when the guy leaned in for a goodnight kiss and the girl drew away and got out of the car. Ouch! He becomes more frustrated as his best laid schemes “gang aft agley.” Ironically, it is this expression of real emotion (finally) that prompts the girl to insist on an explanation. Once he’s forced to get real, the way is paved for the happy ending he’s been working so hard for. (Learn from this, guys!)

• Live Tonight, written and directed by Aina Paikai. This was the first Hawaiian language film at HIFF by an ACM student. Aina promised there would be more, and I, for one, intend to hold him to that. The story is about a Hawaiian teenager who struggles between being Hawaiian and being “normal.” His family insists on speaking Hawaiian, sending the kids to Hawaiian language schools, and on eating Hawaiian food. He shows his discontent by picking at his food at the dinner table and posing the question, “Why can’t we eat Taco Bell?” (my paraphrase of the dialogue) Later, he sneaks out of the house to go to a club with his best friend, who explains to him that they are lucky to be able to speak Hawaiian and freely express themselves culturally. The film is authentic, with great acting, funny, original scenes, and many visual depictions of how sometimes the ingredients in the melting pot don’t always blend together.

• Li Hing Mui, Lilikoi, & Lychee, written and directed by Lauren Cheape. An adorable story about two brothers (played by newcomers Evan and Alika Mock) who just want to have fun all day. After running out of ideas about what to do next, they whine and nag their mother to take them to get shave ice, not caring that she was busy or that she had just bought them a shave ice treat the day before. She admonishes them to think about someone other than themselves. Rather than do that, they decide to steal papayas from their elderly neighbor’s tree and sell them by the side of the road. However, when they see the neighbor fall down under the burden of carrying her wares to her fruit stand, they run to help her up and give back her papayas. Their mother sees this and is so proud of them that she takes them to get a shave ice after all. What flavor? Li hing mui, lilikoi, and lychee, of course! Lauren says that the young actors (who were superb) are members of her church and that she wrote the script with them in mind. She cast her grandparents as the shoppers who come to the fruit stand. The night before the shoot she called and said, “Grandma, I need tourists!” When the actress who was to play the shave ice girl didn’t show up, Lauren took on that part herself. Versatile and resourceful---skills that bode well for this young filmmaker.

• Dog and Cat, written and directed by Robert K. Omura. One of the funniest films I’ve seen in a long time. Very cinematic, with sparse dialogue, this film shows us what can happen when a mom leaves her two kids in the van with their loopy uncle while she goes Christmas shopping. The kids fight like cats and dogs (hence the title) and the uncle can’t begin to control them. The look on his face as he asks, “When is your mommy coming back?” is classic. Great acting by the entire cast, authentic sibling rivalry, and a hysterical (but, happy) ending make this film a favorite.

• Watch Your Tongue, written and directed by Nasser Marghalani. This film about a young soccer player and his difficult relationship with his father is thought-provoking on many levels. Despite having been taught to honor his parents at Islamic school, the boy continually disrespects his dad as the father rushes to get him to soccer try-outs on time. The well-meaning dad embarrasses the boy, not only because the dad is handicapped, but also because he questions and second-guesses the soccer coaches. It takes a near tragedy to bring the boy and his dad back together---one that reveals to us that “watch your tongue” means more than just being careful what you say.

• Lulu, written and animated by Brittany Itsuno. This is the first animated film by an ACM student to be shown at HIFF. I don’t know the technical term for this type of animation, so I’ll describe it as minimalist, with characters drawn in sweeping black strokes on a white background. Brittany told us that about 800 drawings went to make up the four-minute film. The story is about Lulu and her two pets---straightforward, but powerfully poignant. What struck me about this film was the way the emotions of the characters were clearly conveyed with the simple, classic lines. This takes more than artistic talent----it demands the heart of a storyteller. If Disney isn’t already knocking on Brittany’s door, they will be soon.

• Jixiang Junction, by Kevyn Fong and Gloria Pan Huijia. This film, told in two-parts, is the result of an unprecedented art exchange between the University of Hawaii and Shanghai University’s School of Film and Television. Shot in Shanghai, it is the story of two girls. The first sits in the park sketching and discovers that what she draws comes to life. She tries to draw objects to improve the lives of the other people in the park (with varying success). The second part is about a girl and her stormy relationship with her mother. The mother wants the girl to be practical; and, the girl wants to go out and have fun. As with Nasser’s film, it takes a near tragedy to make them appreciate each other. Kevyn and Gloria do an excellent job of revealing unique Chinese cultural twists on these classic relational themes.

After the screening, I spoke briefly with Tom Brislin, the chairman of ACM, and congratulated him on a job well done by his students. Tom told me that the mission of ACM is to “create a new generation of Hawaii-based filmmakers” who will tell “original and authentic stories.” Based on these seven films, I’d say, “Mission accomplished, Tom!”

Learn more about ACM at their website: http://acm.hawaii.edu. And, to keep up with the next film festival here in Hawaii, follow along at: http://www.hiff.org.



For more information, please visit Sandy's TNNW Bio.

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THE ENTREPRENEURIAL GUIDE TO ENTERTAINMENT: U.H. Film Students Rock the Hawaii International Film Festival

U.S. HAWAII: Speak Aloha: Let Your Voice be Heard

by Sandy McKee
Hawaii Bureau Chief

There’s something to be said for being in the right place at the right time. Recently, I was sitting in the Kaimuki Public Library here on Oahu when my friend Teddy Wells pulled up a chair to say hello. Teddy is an entrepreneur and an actor (you can catch him in several episodes of “Lost”). Teddy is also a natural and incurable networker. He has a heart of gold and is always looking for ways to help other people.

True to form, Teddy recently launched a social networking site to help actors in Hawaii connect with each other and with resources in the film industry. He invited me to join at http://www.hawaiiactors.ning.com. I’m not an actor; but, I am working as a screenwriter and producer on a few projects for a new faith-based production company. At some point, God willing, actors will figure into my work, and I think it is a good idea to start networking with them now.

Teddy also told me that he is taking a Producers Class at ‘Ōlelo Community Television, the local public access station, in August 2009 and recommended that I take it, too. We’ll learn all the steps to producing a television show, and will receive certification to use their cameras, editing equipment, and facilities at no cost. I am affiliated with several nonprofit organizations that could benefit from having their messages shown on television. Since free is a good price, I decided to look into signing up for the class. I thanked Teddy for the info, said my good-byes, and promptly forgot all about it.

The idea; however, did not forget about me. The next day I drove to the post office to mail a letter and a white van with contact info for ‘Ōlelo TV emblazoned across it parked right next to me. As we walked in together, I asked the woman driver if she could tell me who to talk with at the TV station about signing up for the August class.

“Me,” she said, and handed me her card: Evern Williams, Media Center Manager for the Pālolo/Kaimuki Community facility. Yikes! Two right place/right time incidents in as many days. That can’t be ignored. And, yet I did. I put the card in my purse and put the task of calling her on the back burner.

In my defense, I had a number of things to do. Some of them were important, too----like preparing for a meeting with the principal of our neighborhood elementary school. I was running behind schedule and was just headed out the door to keep the appointment when I got an email from the principal asking to reschedule. The reason? You guessed it: he and several of his staff were going to the ‘Ōlelo TV station to sign up for the Producers Class.

Technically, that was not a right place/right time incident; but, it was close enough for me. I went down to the station and signed up for the class. While there, I ran into two former colleagues and learned that another good friend was on her way down; but, by this time the coincidences were becoming redundant.

Bottom line: ‘Ōlelo Community Television, one of Hawaii’s best kept secrets, is the new, happening place to be.

In Hawaiian, “’Ōlelo” means “to speak.” At ‘Ōlelo Community Television, the motto is “when our voice thrives, so does our community.” Ms. Williams took me on a tour of the facilities and shared with me that ‘Ōlelo is one of the top public access stations in the U.S. It has six cable channels, as well as six satellite media centers across Oahu. Since its incorporation in 1989, the programming has grown from a few hundred hours a year to over 5,700 hours in 2007.

The services and programming offered by ‘Ōlelo are diverse, ranging from local sports to politics to cultural events to University of Hawaii classes. The program that interests me the most is Easy Access, which provides nonprofit organizations assistance in producing a 30-minute show to reach out to the community to communicate their mission, focus, and needs. ‘Ōlelo provides the tools, equipment, training, facilities, and access to cable channels. This makes it affordable for nonprofits to expand their reach and get their message out.

It should be noted that all programming at ‘Ōlelo must be noncommercial in nature (no selling of products or services). A tear-soaked letter from your accountant stating that your company is a defacto nonprofit organization will not do.

‘Ōlelo prides itself on connecting the members of the public access community (whether producers, cast, crew, supporters, or the viewing public) into a network which facilitates the free exchange of ideas, viewpoints, and which fosters cooperation and community building. One way they accomplish this is by having a periodic Open House called a “Kāhea,” which is the Hawaiian word meaning “to call out.” The community members are invited to the Kāhea where they receive updates from the ‘Ōlelo staff and where they can provide the staff with constructive feedback. It is also an excellent networking opportunity for everyone involved.

The next Kāhea for the Pālolo/Kaimuki facility is tentatively set for July 11, 2009. I plan to attend and will report on it in a future column. For more information about this event and ‘Ōlelo in general, check out their website at: http://www.olelo.org.

I encourage anyone who is visiting Hawaii, whether for business or vacation, to attend an ‘Ōlelo Kāhea (or simply drop by one of the media centers). You will definitely be in the right place at the right time.

With aloha,

Sandy C. McKee

For more information, please check out Sandy's TNNW Bio.

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U.S. HAWAII: Speak Aloha: Let Your Voice be Heard

Late Bloomer

By Danielle Lum
Hawaii Bureau Chief

If today’s Ric Cornell could give advice to 18-year-old Ric Cornell, it would be to “start building your networks early.” He laments, “Outside my family, I didn’t have a network until I was 37!”

The then cocky 18-year-old know-it-all didn’t see the need for any networking. As a self-proclaimed “military brat,” Ric Cornell’s first job was stocking shelves in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) store in Honolulu while he was still in high school. With his “whatever it takes” attitude, he soon moved from a part time position to full time, then continued to move up the ladder. In record time, he was the youngest AAFES store manager in Hawaii. His work ethic was all he needed to further his career.

“What I didn’t know then was that a network could provide me with all sorts of information that I didn’t have,” says Cornell. “There is great benefit in knowing where to turn and a network would have helped me tremendously.”

His AAFES work soon led him to Johnson Island as an assistant manager. But the political and economical landscape soon escorted him out of AAFES and into a company that carried out government contracts. When operations on the island shut down in 2003, Cornell headed back to Honolulu where he tried his hand at his own business.

“I spent 12 years overseas. I had no network and no connections,” says Cornell. “I finally joined Business Networking International (BNI) to start building a network. It was around that same time that I concluded my business was not working well and I needed to find something else.”

Although BNI could not help with the business he was in, it led him to QMerchant Solutions, a credit card processing company. He began as an agent and then worked his way up. He is now president of the company.

Cornell laughs and blames his success on a character flaw, “I tend to take charge.” He also acknowledges that 80% of his business is generated through referrals and word of mouth marketing. “BNI helped me develop contacts and find referral partners.”

Cornell expanded his networks by serving as an Ambassador to other BNI chapters of BNI and later worked as a BNI area director. As an area director he helped to create four chapters and assumed responsibility for two others.

Networking vs Needworking

He says the key to networking is staying in touch when you’re busy and business is good. “We all know people who only call or email when they need something,” Cornell says. “That’s needworking. It’s very different than networking.”

To avoid “needworking,” Cornell takes time to keep in contact with the people in his network. “I have the strongest connections with the groups and people with whom I meet most frequently,” he says.

With others, Cornell maintains connections with a phone call, selected email, or mailed card. “I try to keep it flowing,” he says. “Just touch base with people and follow up on promises.”

He cautions people about email indiscriminately. “Be selective about the types of emails you forward. Be sure that the recipient will be able to benefit from the content of the email. That way you become a valued source of information. Otherwise you could be labeled a nuisance,” he says.

And what happens if he neglects his networks?

“Business falls off and I find myself having a lot of free time.”

Sage Advice

Most recently, he began teaching effective networking techniques with the Referral Institute. His best advice for networkers is to find a good, structured networking group. “It doesn’t have to be BNI,” he says. “Whatever organization you choose, make sure it is structured because it will help learn and develop the right habits.”

He also recommends taking a class in networking. “Not sales,” he says. “Networking. There is a big difference.”

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Late Bloomer