"Chief" at Sundance & HIFF

[kiwidiva]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

CHIEF just won the Best Dramatic Short Award at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival over the weekend. The award makes the locally-made film eligible to be nominated for an Academy Award.

CHIEF has been recognized by a number of high profile festivals. It is the first Hawaii-made film to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, and is being honored by the British Academy of Film and Television (BAFTA) with a Certificate of Excellence. BAFTA is the UK equivalent to the Academy of Motions Picture Arts and Sciences, who produce the Academy Awards.

Filmed in the jungles, waters, and urban nightscapes of Oahu, CHIEF tells the story of a highly ranked chieftain from Samoa who flees his village after the drowning death of his young daughter, and winds up a taxi driver in Honolulu.

CHIEF will see its Oahu premiere during the Hawaii International Film Festival in October.

http://www.chief-movie.com

http://www.honolulu.gov/csd/publicco...ws08/CHIEF.htm

[tutusue]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

Update...

The article lists those involved with the movie who made the trip to Utah. Quite a contingent of people representing Hawaii.

WAY TO GO, GANG!!!

[Kalei99]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

I'll let you know if I make it in the door! Full review coming soon.

[tutusue]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

[...]
Did your eldest spawn make it? If so, did she get to see this film yet?

Kalei

Aha! I was wondering if the short films were grouped together as they are at HIFF. The groupings are called panoramas. Thanks for that info. I'll pass it along to my cousin who is planning on taking his family next Saturday night.

Eldest, and now youngest, spawn will be at Sundance next week-end but because it's a business trip they have to attend certain activities...one of which is a dinner at the same time as the last screening of "Chief"!

[Kalei99]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

Oooooh...goooo, Kalei!!!
Eldest spawn has several friends attending Sundance. Now, she thinks she might go. We're telling all of them to say aloha to "my" filmmakers!!! "My"...ha! Guess I just feel like a proud mother hen right now!

Boy, it's really busy up in Park City. Busier this year than last. I tried to get tickets but found out that the Shorts are bundled together and tickets are not sold for them. You have to stand in line to see if you can get in or not. I tried that last year and the lines were super long ~ only the first few got in. Not to mention it's been freezing cold up here! I'm going to try and go on Tuesday night. Hopefully the crowd will have thinned out by then.

Did your eldest spawn make it? If so, did she get to see this film yet?

Kalei

[tutusue]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

Thanks for the links! I think I'll try and get tickets to go see the show. Last year it was crazy here and I stayed as far away as possible. Might be fun to go see this one, though! I'm only a few minutes away, afterall.

Oooooh...goooo, Kalei!!! You probably already saw this but just in case, here is the list of screenings:
Fri. January 18, 8:30am, Racquet Club, Park City
Fri. January 18, 6:00pm, Tower Theatre, SLC
Sat. January 19, 1:00pm, Holiday Village Cinema IV, Park City
Tue. January 22, 5:30pm, Prospector Square Theatre, Park City
Sat. January 26, 9:15pm, Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City

Most of the time the filmmakers are on hand for a post screening Q&A. If you attend, the "Chief" contingent of filmmakers is great so approach them afterward and tell 'em "Tutusue says 'break a leg'". Even they know me by that moniker. And they'll love your Hawaii connection!

Eldest spawn has several friends attending Sundance. Now, she thinks she might go. We're telling all of them to say aloha to "my" filmmakers!!! "My"...ha! Guess I just feel like a proud mother hen right now!

[kiwidiva]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

My article for SpasifikMAG.com

http://www.spasifikmag.com/latestupd...n08chiefmovie/

[Kalei99]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

Thanks for the links! I think I'll try and get tickets to go see the show. Last year it was crazy here and I stayed as far away as possible. Might be fun to go see this one, though! I'm only a few minutes away, afterall.

[tutusue]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

More in today's Star Bulletin...

The local production contingent heading to Sundance this week is so excited! And, I'm excited for them.

[zztype]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

The ‘Chief’ takes on Sundance

http://starbulletin.com/2008/01/13/f...s/story01.html

[tutusue]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

[...]I watched Chief's interview on Bumatai's show and he didn't mention the film at all.[...]

I found that strange as the film was mentioned at the top of the show.

[kiwidiva]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

Thanks again for the info T/S!

"Chief" will go on the film festival circuit.

Oh, that's disappointing (for purely selfish reasons! I want to have it on my I-pod!!) but it's totally understandable.

it's best to tell your friends around the world to keep an eye out for a film festival near them.

People that I have told about the film are already looking for it on I-Tunes and on the Sundance Channel! I know, totally jumping the gun!! I told them it at least has to PREMIER at the festival before it will be available anywhere else but the interest is definitely there already.

I watched Chief's interview on Bumatai's show and he didn't mention the film at all. No worries, I'll keep an eye out for Brett's interview next week.

[tutusue]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

[...]I know it'll show at the next HIFF but I was thinking of those who aren't lucky enough to live in HI - I have a lot of friends all over the world who are interested in seeing the film too and I think I-tunes is their best bet![...]

I've kept somewhat silent on this subject by choice as I know just enough to be dangerous but not enough to be articulate!!! That said...

I just returned from the screening of "Chief" and had an opportunity to speak with director, Brett Wagner, about Sundance, HIFF, iTunes, yada, yada! He asked me to pass along the following info to HTers.

Kiwidiva...for the next year, at least, it's best to tell your friends around the world to keep an eye out for a film festival near them. Sundance accepted films have the option to agree to participate in uploads to the film festival's site and iTunes...and make some money doing so. Upwards of 50%, iirc, choose not to do so because the films will be entered in other film festivals and, hopefully, play the circuit. A film can't do both. "Chief" will go on the film festival circuit.

I don't think I can objectively review what I saw tonight. It's always amazing to me to see the finished product after months, and sometimes years, of involvement. When I receive a script, such as "Chief", I pack it up in a bag with a bunch of paper and pens, a towel, a backrest and head for the beach. I sit by the ocean's edge for hours, reading it, breaking it down and asking my dad for guidance. The emotional involvement becomes so real. So often the end product is so different than what I expected. Not so in this case. My only complaint is that it's too short.

For those of you who eventually see this short film, please remember these words, "He didn't let out a peep", as they relate to the opening scene!

Director of photography is the exceptionally talented Paul Atkins, who contributed to such masterpieces as Planet Earth and The Voyage to Kure...not to mention Trippin starring Cameron Diaz!!!

Eventually the "Making of..." will end up online. That, also, screened tonight and was terrific...esp. the Samoans in a fale...rapping!!! They were great!

Brett will be Andy Bumatai's guest during this Monday's taping, before heading to Sundance on Wednesday.

(Brett...if you sneak a peak in here and I've made a boo-boo please correct it! )

[kiwidiva]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

Keep your HIFF eyes open!

Hi T/S thanks for your initial post on this.

I know it'll show at the next HIFF but I was thinking of those who aren't lucky enough to live in HI - I have a lot of friends all over the world who are interested in seeing the film too and I think I-tunes is their best bet!

I talked to the Chief the other night on the phone and he says they are talking about doing a "sequel" to show what happens when his character returns to Samoa! Of course it's in the very, very early stages of pre-production but the recognition of the short will hopefully help it become a reality. He said they still have so much more of this tale to tell and that it was hard for them to keep it down to 21 minutes so that it could qualify as a "short".

I'm EXCITED to see this and hope that they get to collaborate again on the next film.

Don't forget to tune in tonight to see Chief Sielu Avea on Andy Bumatai. The 2 funny men should make for an interesting interview.

[tutusue]

Re: A Hawaii produced film make it to the Sundance Film Festival

[...]I just hope that CHIEF is selected as one of the films they upload to the internet. I guess it will depend on how the film is received by audiences at the festival and whether it wins any awards. Fingers and legs crossed!

Keep your HIFF eyes open!

I've seen the trailer for "Chief" and it's dynamic. Can't wait to see the film which will be very, very soon, for cast and crew. The local film community is so excited for and proud of Brett.