Father Geek here with another report from our girl in the islands, Ms Moon Yun Choi, this time from the micro fest called The Kamehameha Schools Film Festival...

Aloha, Moon Yun signing in from Hawaii where I went to the 2nd annual Kamehameha Schools Film Festival. I also watched a special screening of "I Will, I Do, We Did" a week earlier at the University of Hawaii.

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS FILM FESTIVAL:

The Kamehameha Schools film festival was small with only six films screening but it was loaded with upcoming local talents. Two of the filmmakers were from the Academy for Creative Media, a film school the University of Hawaii created.

My favorite at the festival was a comedy by young filmmaker Gerard Elmore titled “Amasian: The Amazing Asian.” This 26-minute, low-budget short was, what can I say, amazing.

I loved everything about it -- the acting, the gags, the inside Hawaii jokes, the colorful characters and costume. This movie had me laughing out loud. Although some of the special effects were a bit crude, the movie never lost its overall charm.

The movie centers on the world’s most underappreciated superhero, the Amazing Asian, played by popular local comedian Paul Ogata. You may have caught him on the Late, Late Show. He’s also going to be on International Channel’s “Asian Street Comedy.”

The Amazing Asian is called to duty to save the world from the evil Waianae Man who has a device that’s drawing a gigantic meteor to earth. If he doesn’t get what he wants he’s going to let the meteor crash on to earth. Then he’ll get a giant wave on which only he can surf.

This film won third place at the 2004 Cinema Paradise Film Festival.

Ever since the Academy for Creative Media started classes, I’ve been curious as to what the film students will be producing.

The students made the school proud. Kaliko Palmeira Ma’i’i’ did a documentary on the life of his father, Steve Ma’i’i, a local music legend. This engaging documentary, which runs 15 minutes, won the 2004 Hawaii International Film Festival Blockbuster Award for documentary.

“Making this documentary has been a great experience,” said the younger Ma’i’i. “I think that everyone should do this for a family member…like someone’s 50th birthday. It’s easy, and it’s like a slideshow but a 100 times better.”

Andrew Ma, another student from the Academy for Creative Media, did a gritty drama about a career thug who’s at a crossroads in his life. A chance encounter with a little girl helps change his direction in life. This film runs 11 minutes.

As the first crop of students from the Academy for Creative Media, Ma says "it's been a great experience. There's a lot of excitement and energy. We really developed a supportive group dynamic."

I WILL, I DO, WE DID:

A week earlier I went to see the documentary about same-sex marriage titled “I Will, I Do, We Did.” Being a conservative myself, I thought I would be put off by the subject but I came out having more compassion for gays and lesbians who want to get married. Directed by Roland Joseph Torres, the film has interviews with about a dozen couple “When Harry Met Sally…” style. Through the interview, you get to see why they want to be legally married like everyone else, what it means to them, and why civil union just isn’t enough. The film chronicles the events that led to and follows that momentous Feb. 12, 2004 when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The documentary can be seen on Q Television Network which was developed to provide television programming for the gay and lesbian community. It is available via satellite by subscription via Direct TV.

"THE RIDE" ON DVD:

Last year’s sensation at the Hawaii International Film Festival – The Ride – is available on DVD. “The Ride” is about a surfer who goes back in time after a surfing accident and meets Duke Kahanamoku, the legendary surfer who introduced surfing to the world.

You can request an e-mail order form at theride@earthlink.net Third Reef Pictures e-mails you back an order form which you print and mail with a check payment. It takes about 3 weeks for delivery.

That’s all for now, Moon Yun signing out…

moonyunchoi@aintitcoolmail.com