Producers share details of Hawaiʻi Film Alliance

Hawaiʻi Film Alliance, which launched July 14, includes film professionals, production companies, labor unions and hospitality, catering, construction and retail partners.

“We did create it with the focus of bringing productions back,” Angie Laprete, a producer of "Chief of War," told Aloha State Daily. “That was our main focus. But with that comes so many other things.”

The group's founding members include Laprete and Brian Keaulana. Laprete is a producer with more than 30 years of experience in Hawaiʻi's television and film industry, including with “Hawaiʻi Five-0,” as well as “The Tempest” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Keaulana is a waterman, actor and producer who worked on the television shows “Hawaiʻi Five-0” and “Baywatch,” as well as movies such as “50 First Dates." Laprete and Keaulana are also part of the producer team for “Chief of War,” which stars Jason Momoa and premieres Aug. 1 on Apple TV+.

Hawaiʻi Film Alliance was formed in response to recent legislation, Laprete said. Earlier this year, Senate Bill 732 — which proposed additional tax credits for the film industry for productions with a workforce of at least 80% local hires, among other requirements — died in chamber.

“There was this need to unify,” Laprete said. “And bring a voice together.”

The group includes committees focused on legislation, communication and workforce development, she added.

“We're now here as one voice, and it is made up of the industry from every angle,” she said.

The announcement of the alliance comes just before the release of “Chief of War,” which was filmed mostly in New Zealand. The series included 101 days of filming in New Zealand in addition to 32 days of filming on Hawaiʻi Island, Oʻahu or Maui, Laprete said.

She called the film industry’s current situation in Hawaiʻi “desperate.” This spring, Fox canceled its “Rescue: HI-Surf” show, which had been filmed in Hawaiʻi, after just one season, as previously reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

“There are talks about some shows, but nothing [is filming] right now,” she said.

Films have historically brought jobs and revenue to the Islands. NCIS: Hawaiʻi, Season 2 generated $53.7 million in wages for Hawaiʻi residents and $25.7 million for more than 800 local businesses. It also generated more than 1,100 jobs.

Keaulana added that the filmmaking industry has a leadership role in the community, since it provides opportunities for “locals to climb up,” he said.

“It's about the next generation,” he said. “It's about the legacy. It's how do we move the needle forward? ... It's about our future. How do we build that? ... For us, it's a reset.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.

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