HIFF Opening & Closing Press Conferences

HIFF Opening Press Conference on Oct. 13 at the Sheraton Waikiki RumFire

During the HIFF Opening Conference, panelists Doug Chin, Peter Shaindlin, Princess Dialta, Goh Nakamura and George Drakoulias shared about their own background, why they were at the festival and what they were looking forward to the most. 

Shaindlin, chief operating officer at Halekulani, started off by saying that HIFF is an international exchange of humanity through film. 

Chin of the City & County of Honolulu said that the festival started as a way to bridge cultures and promotes cultural understanding through film. He then presented a check of $20,000 to HIFF from the city.  

Dialta, of EuroCinema Hawaii, said that this was a way to extend culture from Europe to Honolulu, which she adores. She also shared about the EuroCinema films featured at HIFF. 

"There is a different viewpoint, a different construction of the film," she said. "Is it a detective story? Is it a drama? Is it a romantic comedy? No, it's all of those things." 

Executive producer Chuck Boller shared about how the festival is a great way for filmmakers to get screen time and exposure. 

"It's a great chance to meet people and work with them," he said. "I enjoy people from all over the world and it's just great that they all come together here."

He also let us know that they've started planning for next year already, following films all year long while also accepting submitted films. 

"I wish I had known more about film festivals when I was in school," Boller said. "I would have jumped on ship." 

HIFF Closing Press Conference on Oct. 21 at the Halekulani Kalia Room

On the last weekend of the film festival, the closing press conference featured panelists Peter Shaindlin, Masato Harada, Prashant Bhargava, Adam Peschi and Ruslan Pak. 

Shaindlin, chief operating officer at Halekulani, opened up the conference as he said that the Halekulani touches the human experience and leaves people with memories, much like the films at HIFF do. 

Masato Harada wears many different hats--director, critic, professor, and by accident, actor. 

For Ruslan Pak, filmmaking was a way to find his "Hanaan," or promised land. Growing up in the 19th century Soviet Nation as a Korean, he was moved around a lot and lived in a country that didn't exist anymore. 

"I always thought my Hanaan was Korea but when I got there, I understood it wasn't so," Pak said. "Initially why I wanted to do Hanaan was to find my identity." 

Hanaan is a true story of life and friends who actually star in the movie. He wanted to show real life and real problems. 

"I'm still searching for my Hanaan, that's how I feel," Pak said.

Prashant Bhargava, director and producer of Patang, can relate. He spent three years doing research in India for his movie because he wanted to capture the magic and power of family. It was a movie made by the will and love of a community, he said. For this film he worked with kids from areas of adversity to capture the purity of the laughter they had.  

For his film he allowed people to live onscreen. One of the characters in his movie has a first kiss, which was also his first kiss in real life. This was the first time his city was shown in a positive light. It is something that the community itself can be proud of.

"We all have an issue searching for our identity," he said. "In India I feel home."

Adam Peschi, director and producer of Splinters, spent nine months in Papua New Guinea without water or power and while suffering from Malaria a few times, before shooting Splinters. He heard that people in Papua New Guinea loved surfing and wanted to show the benefits of this sport through a movie about four village hopefuls in a quest to win a surfing competition.

For Pak, he took a big risk with hiring his friend that had no acting experience for the lead role. Women go with their intuition, so as a man I went with mine, Pak said. He didn’t give them a script nor did they know how it would come out. At the end, he said he pulled the reality out of him the best he could.

“If you have a real life story you’re passionate about and want to show it, this is where you can start,” Pak said.

Bhargava took 7 years of improv, 200 hours of footage, and two years of editing to make his film.

“Don’t wait for someone to tell you you can do it,” he said. “If you love it and believe in it you have to do it.”

“Making a film is like playing the guitar, just let it sing through you,” Bhargava said.

With amazing filmmakers and even more amazing films, HIFF 2011 was a great success to say the least.

“My dream is to make people who come to come back and make films to show,” Chuck Boller said.

HIFF 2012, get ready for us! 

The changing face of Facebook

by Alyssa Amasol

October 25, 2011

With this generation’s fascination with social media, Facebook has become the most popular of them all. It has 800 million active members worldwide, with approximately half of them logging on every day, according to Facebook developers.
As this social network expands, new changes and updates have become more common to the everyday user. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg aims to make Facebook a network that simplifies the sharing process by adding new features, settings and changing in design.
In a few weeks, Facebook will implement yet another new design to its interface.
It used to be a place where users could share basic information, however Facebook has evolved to show more of a user’s activity.
A “timeline” will replace a user’s profile page, streaming information about the user. The “timeline” can show everyday events or significant life moments dating all the way back to birth, according to The Facebook Blog. With the “timeline,” users can add photos and events to their page to allow them to go back in time, even before Facebook was born.
There’s also the “ticker,” a sidebar on the top, right corner of the news feed page. It is a live feed of updates and activity from both friends and non-friends that updates itself in real-time. The “ticker” moves as the user scrolls down the page, letting users hover over an item to see the full story. According to the Facebook Help Center, the privacy for this is determined by the privacy of the user in which the original post is linked to.
“It’s kind of scary and not worth it to read or know,” said Oswald Bumanglag, a senior at Hawaii Pacific University who goes on Facebook at least once a day.
Facebook will also add a feature called “gestures,” allowing users to do more than “like” a post. Instead, Facebook developers can turn almost any verb into a button that users can use similarly to the “like” button currently.
The update will make it easier for users to listen to music, watch movies and television and read news articles all without leaving Facebook. It will allow users to share all these activities with friends in real-time. This will turn Facebook into “a primary entertainment hub” by integrating music services such as Spotify and Turntable.fm, according to CBS News at the f8 conference.
There will also be lifestyle applications allowing users share posts about cooking, shopping or exercising.
“I don’t know if I like the update, it makes it harder to read,” Bumanglag said. “I don’t mind it, I actually like the mobile app but the computer interface is not the same.”
These new features have some users skeptical about privacy, especially since sharing has become even simpler.
“People can randomly search you on Facebook, like employers or just anyone, so I like to be able to manage that if possible,” Bumanglag said.

Privacy settings have evolved with the implementation of “lists,” where users can now sort their friends and manage sharing certain posts.

“The way I take privacy on my Facebook is that I don’t post,” Bumanglag said. “I actually put untrue information, limit my networking, and let people see only a very minimum amount. I post but I restrict it.”
Instead of his real last name, he goes by Oswald Boom on Facebook to ensure his own privacy.
Randy Manaverere, a third year student at HPU from Tahiti, goes on Facebook at least once a day and feels indifferent toward Facebook’s privacy settings.
“It’s okay, you can set it yourself. You just have to know how to use it,” he said. “You’ve got to be organized and sort your friends, family, real friends and leak whatever you want to share with them. It’s just a matter of adaptation and it takes time.”
Facebook is changing and with it, users are expected to adapt. The excitement of social media is not predicted to disappear anytime soon but it is hoped that updates and changes are better understood as networks grow.

The Price of Sex

by Alyssa Amasol

October 25, 2011

The screening of “The Price of Sex” at the Hawaii International Film Festival opened many eyes to the horrendous industry of sex trafficking within Eastern Europe. Photojournalist Mimi Chakarova produced this documentary to expose the intimate stories of young women trapped in sex trafficking. Through outstanding access and undercover footage, Chakarova uncovers the horrible world of sex trafficking that thrives in many countries.
The women interviewed in this documentary lived in the poorest villages in Eastern Europe. The promise of a job, passport and free plane ticket easily persuaded them to move to Western European countries where they believed they would be working as maids or seamstresses. Contrary to popular belief, these women were not deceived by agencies but by friends, acquaintances and other women who offered them jobs abroad.
“Because of one wrong move, you suffer for the rest of your life,” Chakarova said after the screening.
Chakarova grew up in Bulgaria, a country in which many young women are exported from. In her village, hardly any young people are present, leaving their parents and grandparents believing that they are living a better life in another country. Though some do obtain legitimate jobs, there are those who have been deceived or have turned to prostitution as a way out of poverty.
In the culture of Eastern Europe, where many countries suffer in poverty, moving away is a successful step for women. The stigma is that once these young women leave poverty behind, life could not get worse. When daughters are offered an opportunity to leave, few parents ask questions. Often these young women lie to their families because they don’t want them to think their life has worsened.
Many young girls in Eastern Europe are very trusting making them ideal prey, especially in a land where homemade wine rules and many of the parents are alcoholics. Girls are not a priority in these cultures and many parents are ignorant.
With no money, once these girls are taken from their homes and deceived, they have no way of escaping nor do they have anyone to turn to. Because of the corrupt government in many Eastern European countries, pimps are rarely charged for sex trafficking, but the women are put in prison and deported back to their country. They have nothing and are eventually taken and resold. The cycle continues.
This is not a new story. Many women in these countries know that sex trafficking exists. When Chakarova asked women how they got into these predicaments, they responded, “I knew about it, I just didn’t think it would happen to me.”
“The Price of Sex” won many awards, one of which is a Nestor Almendros Award for Courage in Filmmaking at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival. On her way to New York to accept this award for courage, Chakarova felt guilt and that she didn’t deserve an award for courage. She had been in the same type of environment and conditions these women were in.
“I took one path while others took another,” she said. “This movie is my contribution to them. It is ending the silence for women by showing their faces.”
Similar films share stories of women, but the audience never gets to see their face. They choose to remain nameless and faceless with no identity, as they are treated in the brothels.
“I’m hoping people walk away from this thinking of these women in different ways,” said Chakarova.
Exposing the nightmare of sex trafficking through film is just the start for Chakarova.
“I challenge people — put me, or someone with my experience, anywhere in the world, give me three days and I’ll find you trafficked women,” she said. “It’s a localized story but this is a global issue.”
Locally, a Honolulu-based advocacy group for survivors of human trafficking, Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery, will be helping to reach out to workers on the street during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation next month, according to the Associated Press. With approximately 20,000 business and political leaders expected to come from many countries, some in which trafficking is viewed as ordinary, Honolulu police are bracing for an influx of traffickers.
In June the state passed three house bills — HB 44, HB 240 and HB 141 — in an attempt to solve the problem of prostitution here. These new laws give prostitution cases a higher priority, increase the grade of offense and expand the offenses to cover patrons of prostitution and those who habitually patronize prostitutes. It also assigns greater penalties to those who promote prostitution and provide witness protection for sex workers. With the support of lawmakers, police and law enforcement are better equipped to fight prostitution.
Even with the newly implemented laws, prostitution continues to be a problem in Hawaii and worldwide.
“Look at the U.S. anti-smoking campaign. It took about 50 years to raise public awareness,” Chakarova said. “It shows that it is possible to change the mentality; the challenge is that it’s not just one country but globally.”

HIFF Wrap Up

During HIFF 2011, I watched five films — “The Salt of Life,” “Pacific Showcase Shorts,” “Samson & Delilah,” “The Price of Sex,” and “Surrogate Valentine.” I read the synopsis for each of the movies online and chose a list of movies, but out of those I only ended up seeing the two, “The Salt of Life” and “Samson & Delilah.” After going to the opening press conference and hearing Goh Nakamura, I really wanted to see “Surrogate Valentine.” I was also hearing good things about “The Price of Sex” so that really interested me as well. Oswald was going to the “Pacific Showcase Shorts” and so I was curious and tagged along to that one. I really wish I had more time to see more movies and take full advantage of my press pass.

I attended both the opening and closing press conferences, which to me were my favorite part of HIFF because you really get to learn about the background of the filmmakers and their films. I loved being able to hear the stories of why they made their movies told by the filmmakers themselves. It was also a great opportunity as a journalism major to work on my interviewing skills and to find a great story within the event. I also really loved seeing movies from different cultures and visually learning about it.

I’ve never participated in HIFF before so being that it was my first experience, it meant a lot to me. I really loved being able to attend the media events and being given the opportunity to meet people I would have never been able to meet otherwise. I learned a lot from my participation this year in HIFF — about different cultures and about different people from all walks of life and the stories they share through film.

One of the films I watched, “The Price of Sex,” really opened my eyes to see a whole different undercover side of the world, Eastern Europe in particular. This film really opened my eyes to the horrible world of sex trafficking. After watching this film, I felt so much more thankful for the freedom I have. Some of these women turned to prostitution because they had no money. Others were captured and deceived but had no way out. Seeing their faces and hearing their stories really makes me count my blessings.

I really enjoyed “Surrogate Valentine” because it was such a good movie on so many levels. There was the love interest, the comedy aspect, and the fact that it was made on such a small shoestring budget. The main character had the chance to play himself in a more scripted format. I thought it was a great perspective and a whole new approach to film making.

From the many cultures at HIFF, I learned a lot. EuroCinema provided me with a chance to learn that men treat women in Europe very well and that it’s a very expressive culture. In Eastern Europe I learned that prostitution has become a large problem because young girls are very trusting and parents don’t really ask questions. From the shorts, I learned about the culture of many islands in the Pacific. I also learned that many people live in poverty in Fiji, where “Samson and Delilah” was filmed.

This collaboration was extremely helpful both professionally and academically. I expanded my knowledge of cultures, worked on my interviewing skills through the press conferences, and worked on my writing skills through the blogs and movie reviews posted.

I loved my first experience at HIFF this year and I will definitely be participating again next year. I’ve already recommended it to my friends and family with stories about the amazing films I was able to watch.  I also hope my tweets influenced some of my followers on Twitter. During HIFF, it was all I would talk and tweet about. Now that it’s over, I can’t wait for next year. HIFF 2012 should be amazing. See you there! 

..and learn more about me!

Meet my new friend Oswald!

Pacific Showcase Shorts

Last night I saw the Pacific Showcase Shorts. It was pretty good. The theater was the most packed I've ever seen it because the audience consisted of the director, producers, actors and family members.

The first film shown was Blessed Assurance by Kama'aina Creations directed by Aina Paikai. It was a 10-minute film about a day where gasoline mysteriously disappeared. This was filmed in Hawaii on the North Shore with amazing water shots. I thought it portrayed Hawaii very well.

The second film was called Ebony Society. I really liked this film from New Zealand about two teen boys who could be found on the streets tagging and stealing. One night they break into a house to find themselves in an unexpected situation that changes their friendship for the better.

E Ho'omau! The Menehune and the Birds was the next short film shown. It was an animated, 23-minute short produced in collaboration with Kamehameha Schools. It took place on the beach with the aunty telling the little ones of the story of how the menehune respected the birds to teach kolohe Kaimi to also respect the birds. "Little ones working together can accomplish big things," was the lesson taught. It was a great short to show children in Hawaii.

Laura Green, of Fiji, produced a film called Lazy Razorbacks telling the story of a rugby team and their individual struggles. This film was beautifully shot in black and white.

In Lina'la' Lusong, the importance of the lusong was shown through the history and through the chant with a focus on the strength and endurance of the rock. This 5-minute film was produced by the PIC Micronesian Filmmakers' Workshop: Guam.

From the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Academy for Creative Media, Lana Dang produced two films: Huki Ulua and Pa'ahana. Huki Ulua was a comedy depicting just how small the island is while using the classic phrase, "Hook, Line, Sinker." Pa'ahana was inspired by her own family. It's a film about taking care of the land and the important life lessons a father can teach his daughter through the Hawaiian culture.

Lastly from New Zealand, we had two amazing films: Manurewa and The Winter Boy. Manurewa depicts the true story of Navraj Singh, a liquor store owner who is killed by Isaac, a young boy who tries to rob their store with his friends. This film was intense. It was 19 minutes of shaky camera angles so close up you felt like you were right there. Filled with dramatic music and emotion like no other, this movie was a lot for me during the screening. It kept me on the edge of my seat, that's for sure, however I didn't think it really fit with the other films. The Winter Boy was a great ending movie. It was the story of a mother who desperately tries to get her son to talk to her. A trip to the aquarium changes things for them. I must admit throughout this movie I was hoping it would put a smile on my face (especially after the last film) and it did!

There are two more showings of the Pacific Showcase Shorts and I definitely recommend it! I love shorts because it keeps my attention and is kind of like watching a bunch of YouTube videos. I also loved that these films were shot on islands in the Pacific. It made it feel close to home but also let us experience the different cultures of other islands near us. It's definitely worth your time to see.

The Salt of Life

What an interesting movie to see! The Salt of Life is based in present day Rome, Italy in Italian with English subtitles. The story follows Gianni, based on the alter ego of writer, actor and director, Gianni Di Gregorio.

As a retired, aging man, Gianni is put to work by the women in his life. His wife assigns him a list of chores to do, his daughter tells him all her boyfriend troubles and his mother is overdramatic, demanding and irresponsible with her money. While he patiently deals with these women, he can't help but fantasize about younger women. His friend Alfonso tries his best to get Gianni out to meet and seduce these beautiful women. They try, but luck never comes their way.

Throughout the movie, Gianni runs into old girlfriends, a daughter of his mother's friend, the nurse caring for his mother, a neighbor whose dog he always walks (pictured), and beautiful women on the street. He is a gentleman to each of them but they never end up working out.

I won't ruin the ending for you (although it wasn't even relevant and left me with many questions), but I will say that this movie did expand my understanding of the Italian culture. People are much more affectionate toward others with a greeting of kisses on both cheeks. I also have to mention that the location was beautiful and I did like the cinematography in this movie.

However, I thought this movie was really scattered and the plot was not very clear. I found myself becoming really sleepy while watching the everyday routine of an old man checking out younger women for 90 minutes. I didn't really see the point of having so many characters throughout the movie when they were only in it for a scene or two. It was an interesting movie, but I wouldn't see it again. Sorry, EuroCinema Hawaii, I hope your other films were better than this one.

Ciao!

Say hello to George!

Photo courtesy of www.hawaiiredmagazine.com

Oh hey, and look behind him! It's Oswald and I reporting for Hawaii Pacific University at the Hawaii International Film Festival Opening Press Conference! Unfortunately I think he's blocking Crissy.
This Thursday HIFF held its opening press conference at RumFire in the Sheraton Waikiki. What an awesome opportunity it was to speak with some of the huge names in charge of HIFF and to learn more about the film festival. George Drakoulias, music producer and supervisor for movies such as Super 8, was a pleasure to speak to. This is his second visit to Hawaii to attend HIFF. Most of the films  he's worked on, such as Super 8, Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend & The Wonder Year will be shown this weekend.
"There are really nice people here," he said. "I wish I could stay longer!"
This is my first year attending, but I can already tell you, it won't be my last!
Tomorrow I'll be watching "The Salt of Life." It's a EuroCinema film, which I've never seen before but I can't wait to. We got the chance to speak with Princess Dialta Alliata di Montereale, Director of PR for EuroCinema Hawaii, who told us that these EuroCinema films are hand-picked; the cream of the crop, in her words.

"The films are not a cookie cutter formula. They have a different vision, feeling and atmosphere. They're made with less money so they're able to be more free."
According to Chuck Boller, HIFF Executive Director, HIFF is a "chance to meet and interface with people, people of all ages, with a broad entity." 

HIFF had an amazing start and I can't wait to see how the rest of this festival turns out.

It's Alyssa & Kayla Rei day! :D

 Currently, I'm babysitting this little cutie. Meet my baby cousin Kayla Rei, who's no longer a baby anymore. We're a little past the terrible twos and now into the talkative threes. She's my favorite little person but sometimes I think she's just in her own little person world. She loves to sing and count and randomly will burst out in song or count random things around my house. We're so very much related, haha.

So far we've watched about three episodes of Barney and one episode of Sesame Street, her favorite shows. It's been a fun afternoon but I need a nap already or some coffee.


I really love little kids because they make life seem so simple. To keep this one happy all you need is a Barney DVD, some Kraft Mac & Cheese, a few toys and Teddy Grahams. Imagine if everyone in the world was like her? We'd all have a great time.

Growing up gets so busy and complicated.

I have no clue where I'm going with this blog entry or why I'm even posting it, other than to show off my adorable baby cousin (just kidding). I hope you're all having a beautiful Saturday, whatever you may be doing or wherever you may be. For me, I'm going to be a little kid today and play until I get tired enough for my nap. Homework will wait until tomorrow. :)