June 18th we wrapped the feature comedy “Aloha Surf Hotel”, starring Augie T, Taiana Tully, Alex Farnham, Branscombe Richmond, Lauren Shaw, Daniella Monet, Shawn Garnett, Peahi, Matt Corboy and many more amazing actors from the Hawaiian islands and beyond.
My fourth feature as a writer/director, this is a film developed over numerous years with Jon Stern of Abominable Pictures, who produced along with Keith Quinn and Branscombe Richmond. Shot entirely on Maui, the production brought together a team that’s worked on numerous films, among others DP Dan Hersey, production designer Burt Sakata, wardrobe dynamo Beth Anne Kelleher, HMU head Natalie Bruce, script super Darren Corrao, etc. I’m so grateful to everyone in every department for giving it their all — it was a demanding schedule but we made our days, and the dynamic on set was overwhelmingly positive.
Now editor Adi Ell-Ad and I will be holed up editing for the coming months. Look for the film to play festivals and release on big and small screens in 2020.
In addition to thanking cast and crew, I want to express my gratitude to all the individuals and companies that supported us along the way. A partial list includes: GVS Accelerator on the Big Island for supporting this project from infancy onward, Blackmagic Design for cameras, Sigma for cine lenses, Wailuku Coffee Company for keeping us fueled, Naish for kiting gear, Jud Lau Surfboards, Timpone Hawaii, Nona Lani Cottages and Kihei Charter School for amazing locations, Reef, Western Aloha, Rachel Sutton, Shelton Automasters, Urban Decay Cosmetics, PigOut Chips, Maui County and film commissioner Tracy Bennet, MBS, and many many more!
Mahalo All!
