The Short List: The Protector
“The Short List” is a 100 percent locally produced TV anthology series airing on KFVE Mondays at 7:30 p.m. The Short List brings together local actors, directors, writers and crew in Hawaii’s filmmaking community to showcase their talents by creating high-quality short films.
The show’s premise is an anthology series similar to Steven Spielberg’s classic TV series, “Amazing Stories.” Each 30-minute episode features a stand alone story which is introduced by the mysterious crack seed shop owner, Mr. K. There are five unique stories by five different directors.
TalkStory Productions asked each of the directors to talk about their work on The Short List and their thoughts on the Hawaii film industry. This is the third in a series of interviews with the directors on the eve of their premiere.
Other interviews in the series:
The Short List airing Mondays 7:30pm on KFVE.
THE PROTECTOR — airing April 16 —
When a pampered socialite washes up on a deserted island, she must
work with a crew member to survive, and discovers something
unexpected.
Director/Writer: Jason K. Lau
Starring: Tricia Marciel, Jason Quinn, Ned Van Zandt, Don Nahaku
Producer: Renee Confair Sensano
An Interview With Director Jason K. Lau
What made you want to work on THE SHORT LIST? What about this project is different from what you normally do?
THE SHORT LIST was a chance to let local talent “show-off” their stuff. On larger projects, individuals often need to compromise a lot more because of the sheer number and size of the project. On THE SHORT LIST, you basically have a small cast and crew that becomes your ohana to create a final project. Everyone’s “voice” is heard, and it all shows on the screen. These kinds of projects can be so much fun and rewarding.
What was most memorable about working on THE SHORT LIST? Were there any challenges?
There were many challenges. They mostly stemmed from the fact that you are shooting a big film with a small budget. So, the challenge is to be able to pull off these great shots, and not break the bank at the same time. For THE PROTECTOR episode, people like Paul Atkins (Director of Photography) could just grab his camera and make great shots happen from a little sketch I would draw for him. Or, Jason Freitas (Gaffer) who could basically light up a set that would make it look absolutely beautiful, using his lights in a very clever way.
Did you have difficulty finding Hawaii talent (in front of/behind the camera) to work on your film?
On THE PROTECTOR, Renee Confair Sensano (Producer) was able to do her magic and put together a tight crew that made directing this episode very stress-free. We conducted an extensive casting call for the roles, and saw many talented actors and actresses that could have easily played these roles. In the end, we found two great leads, Trisha Marciel (“Sabina”) and Jason Quinn (“James”). They are both fantastic actors, and they both continue to do more great work on stage and television. I always felt that Hawaii has a diverse group of people that can work in front and behind the camera on any project.
How could Hawaii film community continue to have more projects like this?
The usual road block is often financing. But I think film producers can be creative on how they can get projects done given whatever limited resources they have. Often times, if cast or crew believe in a project, then they will forgo any monetary compensation. So, one needs to be persistent and creative, and more and more of these kinds of projects can get done.
How would you describe the film industry in Hawaii in general?
It’s robust. These past few years have been some of the most proliferate production times. If we can continue to train and expand our work force, Hawaii can continue to be Hollywood’s “backlot.”
What could local government do better in supporting local filmmakers?
The film offices are very supportive of film makers. But, in the end, the film industry needs to be more cohesive. And, with this cohesiveness, it also needs to work hand-in-hand with government as a partner. If we can align the goals of the industry with the goals of the government, we can achieve even greater things than what we are seeing today.
About the author: Born and raised in Hawai’i, Jason K. Lau is currently President of TalkStory Productions, LLC, (“TSP”) the award winning independent production company in the Hawaiian Islands. He is the product of Punahou School and the University of California, Los Angeles, and has worked in the financial industry for such companies as Dean Witter Reynolds and Bank of Hawai’i. He is currently the President of Honowaii Investment Co., an industrial loan company, and the Managing Partner of Lau Enterprises, a Hawai’i investment partnership, and BJM Partners, a private equity fund. He has served on the board of directors of Hawai’i Angels, an angel investment group, Hawai’i Venture Capital Association (HVCA), and the Hawai’i International Film Festival (HIFF). He is also on the advisory board for the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawai’i and a member of the Producer’s Guild of America.
Check out The Short List on Facebook.
