‘Ohina Labs seeks applicants for annual filmmakers workshop

Nonprofit ʻOhina was created to support independent filmmakers and to give them a chance to share their work with others through an annual short film showcase. The nonprofit is looking for fellows for its next cohort of ʻOhina Labs, its Oʻahu-based filmmakers workshop, which pairs the writers of short scripts with guest mentors.

Current or former residents of Hawaiʻi have the opportunity to submit their short screenplays and workshop with mentors in the entertainment industry. Applicants must include an original screenplay of up to 15 pages, as well as a resume, cover letter and proof of residency, by Aug. 11. Each cohort is selected by alumni of the program.

“Consistently, the things that always cut through are the ones that are unique: one-of-a-kind voices, stories that haven't been told before or told from a different perspective,” Gerard Elmore, executive director of ʻOhina, told Aloha State Daily. “ʻOhina does look also at your connection to Hawaiʻi. If we see something that's rough but has good bones or a good idea, that might be good enough, too. It’s really about the idea and your voice as a filmmaker, storyteller. That's really what decides what gets in or not.”

Typically, up to 10 fellows are selected for each cohort. From that group, one ʻOhina Labs fellow will take home the ʻOhina Greenlight Award, which grants production support to help the script become a short film. This year, the free workshop will take place in November at the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design.

In the upcoming ʻOhina Labs intensive, fellows will be partnered with guest mentors. The mentors last year included Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, screenwriter for the live-action “Lilo & Stitch;” Zoë Eisenberg, writer and director of “Chaperone;” and Ty Sanga, the first Native Hawaiian filmmaker to premiere a short at Sundance Film Festival as the writer and director of “Stones.”

Guest judges joined a Pitch Day session during ʻOhina Labs to offer feedback to the fellows and included Stephen Broussard, vice president of production and development at Marvel Studios; Henry Ian Cusick, an actor and director; Aaron and Jordan Kandell, screenwriters for Disney's “Moana;” and Adam Wong, producer of “Chaperone.” 

More than a dozen scripts that have gone through the annual ʻOhina Labs have been produced, including films such as “Kūkini,” “Kalewa,” “Mauka to Makai,” “Other People,” “Racket” and “Last Hawaiian Sugar.” Many have gone on to win awards and screen at film festivals around the world.

Earlier this month, ʻOhina Labs project, “Kūkini," was released by nonprofit Pacific Islanders in Communications.

“It's a groundbreaking short for many reasons,” Elmore said. “But in five days, it already has 200,000 views. It is probably going to end up being our most successful short film out of the batch.”

“Kūkini,” which is about 24 minutes, is a story by singer and songwriter Paula Fuga. The journey to creating the short film started when ʻOhina worked with Fuga on a commercial. A few days after attending an ʻOhina film screening, she called Elmore and pitched the idea for the film “Kūkini.”

It was brought to life by screenwriter and director Mitchell Merrick. Its producers include Elmore and Christopher Kahunahana, along with co-producer Brian Keaulana. The entire piece was filmed entirely in Hawaiʻi and came together with a budget of $50,000, he said.

“It was Paula's big idea,” Elmore said. “And we took her idea, we raised the funds, got the team together and within two years, she's back in that same movie theater for ʻOhina Showcase and shown the film. That's ʻOhina in a nutshell.”

The film features many of the actors and consultants who also worked on “Chief of War,” he added. “Chief of War” is a mini-series, created by Jason Momoa and Thomas Paʻa Sibbett, which launches on Apple TV+ on Aug. 1.

“This is a little bit of a proof of concept to tell people that, ʻYes, you can shoot all in Hawaiʻi. Yes, you can do it with no money,’” Elmore said. “And also a little bit of, ʻWe are good enough. We can do it. Give us a give us a big budget and see what happens.’”

Learn more about ʻOhina Labs.

Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.