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| Cast & Crew Biographies |
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WRITER, DIRECTOR, & PRODUCER: JENNIFER AKANA-STURLA |
 Jennifer’s diverse background comes from having a Big Island of Hawai‘i mother, a New Jersey father, and an upbringing in suburban Los Angeles peppered by highly influential experiences living with family on the windward side of O‘ahu and the Hilo side of the Big Island. KAMEA is Jennifer’s thesis film for the prestigious graduate Film & Television Production Program at the University of Southern California and for this project she was mentored by such notable advisors as director JOHN STOCKWELL (BLUE CRUSH), writer SAM GEORGE (RIDING GIANTS, SURFER MAGAZINE), and legendary cinematographer WILLIAM A. FRAKER, ASC. KAMEA is a rare example of an independent, 35 MM film shot in Hawai‘i, starring local talent, and comprised primarily of student crew. This ambitious project is the result of Jennifer's drive to create a "Hawai'i Cinema." contact:
hapaflick@mac.com |
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KAMEA: MALIA VERDADERO
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DANI: KIMIKO YENI ROJAS
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THOMAS: MAUI LAIGO
contact:
Terri Laigo, 808-637-9391 |
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KEAHI AND SURFING DOUBLE: KULA BARBIETO
contact: kulabula2001@hotmail.com |
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| PRODUCER: ANNE C. RUSSELL |
| Anne C. Russell received her MFA in Film and Television Production from USC where she produced several award-winning short films, in addition to KAMEA, and wrote and directed her own 35mm film, A LITTLE BIT OF HEART. During her time in film school Anne also associate produced television shows for the Bravo Channel, Discovery, and Discovery Health. Currently, she is developing her first reality series in conjunction with MGM Television and is working with Mark Victor Productions (POLTERGEIST, GREAT BALLS OF FIRE) to develop her first feature film project. |
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| PRODUCER: MEGAN PETERSON |
| Megan Peterson is currently line producing the National Geographic series EXPEDITION TO THE EDGE. Originally from northern California, Megan graduated with honors from Stanford University where she worked on professional documentaries and studied producing. After helping launch the United Nations Association Film Festival, Megan entered the graduate Film and Television Production Program at USC and finished her thesis film, IDLE, under the mentorship of director Robert Zemeckis (CAST AWAY). Since then, Megan has worked for 1492 Pictures, the Los Angeles Film festival, and producer Tom Sternberg (THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY) while producing several independent projects. |
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| ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: BRIAN L. KEAULANA |
| Filmography |
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| DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: ANNE MISAWA |
| Anne Misawa’s award-winning work as a cinematographer includes selections by the prestigious Venice International Film Festival and awards from the Director’s Guild of America. As a director she was selected as a Student Academy Award Finalist for her film, WAKING MELE, which traveled to over thirty film festivals around the world including the Sundance Film Festival and the Hawai‘i International Film Festival. Anne earned her master’s degree in Film and Television Production from USC. |
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| WATER CINEMATOGRAPHER: MIKE PRICKETT |
| Mike Prickett lives on O‘ahu and focuses on the big waves of the North Shore. Having been shooting in the water for over 20 years, Mike is well-rounded in all areas of film and video and is regularly hired by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) to cover the World Championship Tour (WCT) and had taken his cameras into every one of the world’s oceans.
www.prickettfilms.com |
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| VISUAL EFFECTS MENTOR: BILL GILLMAN |
| Bill Gilman has worked as a Digital Compositor at George Lucas’s visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and began working in the visual effects industry in 1994 on WATERWORLD. Since then he has worked on over 25 visual effects movies, including SPACE JAM, JERRY MAGUIRE, GATTACA, BABE 2: PIG IN THE CITY, THE PERFECT STORM, AI: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, STAR WARS EPISODE 2: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, and THE HULK for director Ang Lee. |
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| VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR: JASON SCOTT |
| Jason Scott is a graduate of the University of Southern California and currently works as an independent visual effects supervisor/producer. He started in the visual effects industry with A.I.: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, and has since supervised several independent films, music videos, and commercials, and also worked at Stan Winston Digital on films including GARFIELD and SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW. During his time at USC, Jason also served as president of SCFX, USC's special effects organization, providing training for interested students, as well as visual effects for dozens of student films. He serves on the executive council of the Los Angeles SIGGRAPH chapter and recently supervised work on THE SELECT FIT, selected for the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival. |
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| CHOREOGRAPHER: BERNARD KEALI‘I CEBALLOS |
| Kumu hula (hula teacher) Bernard Keali‘i Ceballos has taken teams from his hula school Halau Keali‘i O Nalani to compete and perform around the world, to the mainland, and in Hawai‘i, where his kane (men’s team) recently placed at the Merrie Monarch Festival. His teams have won first place awards at E Hula Mau and the King Kamehameha competition, among many others. Keali‘i is also an actor/singer and championship dancer of other styles of dance, and recently appeared on the L.A. stage in FOREVER PLAID. |
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| GRAPHIC DESIGN: François Audouy |
| François Audouy first began working in film visual effects under the tutorage of visual effects guru John Dykstra on BATMAN FOREVER. Production Designer Bo Welch then hired him to design the graphics for MEN IN BLACK, including the recognizable MIB logo. He next collaborated with Welch on PRIMARY COLORS, WILD WILD WEST, and MEN IN BLACK II, and went on to work on MINORITY REPORT, PEARL HARBOR, THE RING, and TERMINAL. François is currently working in England as the Graphics Art Director on Tim Burton’s CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. |
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| SURFING CONSULTANT: MATTY LIU |
| Matty Liu is a five-time Hawaiian Surfing Champion born and raised in the quaint town of Haleiwa, Hawaii, on the North Shore of Oahu and also and actor, recently appearing on NORTH SHORE . Matty regularly takes photo surf trips to exotic locations around the world and has been a contributing photographer to SURFER MAGAZINE for many years. His website is: www.mattyliu.com |
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| SURFING CONSULTANT: DAVE COSIER |
| Dave Cosier is the surfing team’s coach at Kalaheo High School in Kailua, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. He was born and raised on Oahu and is a lifelong surfer whose knowledge of the local surf spots and all around water safety made him a great asset to working out production challenges. |
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| WEBSITE DESIGNER: STACIE MILMEISTER |
Stacie Milmeister’s visual background began at an arts-emphasized Waldorf School and culminated at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where she studied photography. After working under the mentorship of Life Magazine photographer Betty Bennett, Stacie went on to work as a photographer for EToys, Disney, and CBS, and has been invited to show her work in galleries in Italy, Spain, and Canada. Stacie later extended her penchant for the visual into website production and design and has created numerous sites, including an online portfolio that showcases her photography.
Her website is: www.anastasiaart.com. |
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| PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: LORETTA AKANA STURLA |
| Loretta Sturla owned an interior design and general contracting business for 28 years. Since early retirement, she has lent her leadership and organizational skills, as well as diverse talents, to Childhelp USA, a charitable organization providing treatment to children who are victims of abuse. A past president of Childhelp’s Greater Los Angeles Chapter, Loretta led the group to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support their programs, and provides hands-on support at the residential treatment center in Beaumont, California. Loretta is now involved with Childhelp’s National Headquarters in their fund-raising activities, and is currently responsible for the Merv Griffin/Beverly Hills Country Club Celebrity Tennis Classic to be held in October 2003. |
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| RESEARCHER: MARTHA LEINANI ROBERTSON |
| Martha Robertson received her Bachelor’s in Education and Master’s in Library and Information Sciences from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is head librarian at Kalaheo High School in Kailua, Hawaii, where she assists researchers in the school and from the larger community. Born in East Tennessee and raised in Hawaii, Martha credits her Hawaiian-Chinese-Scots-Irish-English ancestry and extensive world travels for her keen interest in “things Hawaiian,” world mythology, and cultural diversity. She is a member of Beta Phi Mu, the international library and information studies honor society. |
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