HAWAII LONG BEEN BACKDROP FOR BLOCKBUSTERS HIT ST. TV SHOWS.

THE CANCELLATIONINGS NO BIG PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON.

HAWAII SETS GO QUIET.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO BUILD THRIVING INDUSTRY THAT TELL HAWAII'S OWN STORIES.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT REJUVENATING HAWAII'S FILM INDUSTRY NEXT ON INSIGHTS.

♪ >> YUNJI: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M YUNJI DE NIES.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A HUGE HIT ABOUT HAWAI‘I — JASON MOMOA'S CHIEF OF WAR — STREAMING TO AUDIENCES AROUND THE WORLD.

CLEARLY, HAWAI‘I IS A DRAW.

OUR STORIES RESONATE.

AND YET, NO MAJOR SHOWS ARE FILMING HERE TODAY.

THAT WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE - THINK OF MAGNUM P.I., HAWAII 5-0, LOST, JURASSIC PARK, 50 FIRST DATES, THE WHITE LOTUS.

BUT WITH THE CANCELLATION OF THE MOST RECENT SERIES SHOT HERE, FILM SETS IN OUR ISLANDS HAVE GONE SILENT.

SOME HAVE SAID THAT HAWAII'S TAX BREAKS ARE NOT AS FAVORABLE AS OTHER LOCATIONS WHILE OTHERS SAY THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SHOOTING AND FINISHING FILMS IS NOT ON PAR WITH OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES.

BUT WITH THE SUCCESS OF RECENT MOVIES AND SERIES ABOUT HAWAII, IS THERE HOPE ON THE HORIZON FOR OUR ISLANDS' FILM INDUSTRY?

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS, AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII YOUTUBE PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

SENATOR LYNNE DECOITE REPRESENTS DISTRICT 7 WHICH INCLUDES EAST AND UPCOUNTRY MAUI, MOLOKAI, LANAI, KAHOOLAWE, AND MOLOKINI.

SHE WAS RAISED ON MOLOKAI AND SERVED ON THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE BEFORE BEING ELECTED.

SHE CHAIRS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM COMMITTEE.

SUMNER LA CROIX IS A PROFESSOR EMERITUS IN THE UH MANOA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND A SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ECONOMIC RESEARCH ORGANIZATION.

HIS RESEARCH FOCUSES ON ECOMONIC HISTORY AND CONTEMPORARY PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES IN HAWAII.

JAMES TOKIOKA IS THE DIRECTOR OF DBEDT—THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.

HE SERVED ON THE KAUAI COUNTY COUNCIL FOR TEN YEARS AND AS A MEMBER OF THE HAWAII STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR 16 YEARS.

PRIOR TO HIS GOVERNMENT WORK, HE WORKED IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

RENOWNED WATERMAN BRIAN KEAULANA HAS WORKED AS A PRODUCER, WATER SAFETY EXPERT, AND ACTION COORDINATOR ON SEVERAL FILMS AND TV SERIES.

IN 2023, HE CO-FOUNDED THE INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL ARTS NETWORK, A NON-PROFIT DEDICATED TO ELEVATING PACIFIC ISLANDER REPRESENTATION IN HAWAII'S FILM INDUSTRY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

DISTINGUISHED PANEL FOR SURE.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOU WORKED IN THIS INDUSTRY IN NUMBER OF WAYS OVER THE LAST FOUR DECADES.

HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE HEALTH OF HAWAII'S FILM INDUSTRY SOMEONE WORKED IN IT FOR AS LONG AS YOU HAVE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW.

JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NO WORK RIGHT NOW.

I SEE THE FUTURE ACTUALLY COMING BRIGHT WITH A LOT OF CONCEPTS, SCRIPTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE THE GREATEST TALENT HERE AS FAR AS WORKFORCE.

I MEAN WE GOT GREAT ACTORS AN GREAT FILMER, GREAT DIRECTOR, AND THE SUCCESS OF HAWAII SHOWS WITH THE PAST LILO AND STITCH AND CHIEF OF WAR RIGHT NOW, ALSO TOO, SO FOR US, I THINK REALLY, WE NEED LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE REALLY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD IN ALL OF THIS.

BUT I FEEL THAT RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE DID IS WE CREATED THIS HAWAII FILM ALLIANCE SO WE GOT ALL THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF FILMING AND PUT EVERYBODY'S HEADS TOGETHER AND TRY TO BE REAL CREATIVE OF HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS A SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY TO WHERE THE INDUSTRY CAN LAST AND BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.

RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT WE HAVE ONE LOW BUT I THINK OUR HIGH IS COMING UP.

>>Yunji: SENATOR DECOIT, WE HAVE FOCUSED SO MUCH ON THE TAX CREDITS I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN A CHAMPION OF TRYING TO INCREASE OUR TAX CREDITS.

TELL US ABOUT WHY YOU THINK THAT THIS SAY WORTHY INVESTMENT FOR HAWAII.

>> SO AS BRIAN SHARED WITH US, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR TALENT HERE, YOU LOOKED FILM INDUSTRY, REALLY IS PROMOTING HAWAII.

WE TALK ABOUT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.

WHEN I LOOK AT MAJOR SHOWS THAT HAVE COME OUT AND MOVE ITS, I SEE, MOVIES TRAVEL ACROSS THE WORLD FIRST THING IS SOMEBODY FROM HAWAII IN THIS COUNTRY.

EVERYBODY JUST FLOCKS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

FILMING HAS PUTS US ON THE MAP.

IT HAS MARKETED HAWAII AND I BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU SEE OTHER STATE AND OTHER COUNTRIES, PUT UP TAX CREDITS.

YOU GOT TO INVEST IN THE INDUSTRY TO MAKE MONEY.

BUT MORE SO, INVEST IN THE PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE A GREAT CREW MANY OF THESE SETS.

>> LOCALS STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM AND WORKED THEIR WAY UP.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION BETTER THAN TO INVEST IN BUT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, WORK HERE, AND WANT TO MAKE THEIR LIVES HERE AND HOMES HERE.

I BELIEVE IN THE TAX CREDITS.

I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN IT.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE RETURN OF INVESTMENT IS THERE.

THE DATA MIGHT NOT SHOW THAT, I BELIEVE WE HAVEN'T LOOKED IT IN IN THE RIGHT PLACE ON THE OUS STREAMING DOES FOR US.

PUT A PRICE TAG WHAT IS THAT VALUE FILM HITS AROUND THE WORLD OR COUNTRY.

PERFECT EXAMPLE IS LILO STITCH.

HIT THE CHARTS NUMBER ONE AROUND THE WORLD.

DEPICTED LIFESTYLE OF THESE INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES.

REALLY, WHEN THAT CAME ABOUT, IN LIVE ACTION, YOU CAN'T BEAT IT.

I MEAN, IT REALLY SHOWED FAMILY'S LIFESTYLE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE OUR FAMILIES THAT ARE LITTLE JAMMED UP AS IT WAS SAID BY STITCH, BUT THAT'S OUR FAMILY.

WE LOVE IT.

THIS IS WHY PEOPLE COME TO HAWAII.

BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE THAT VOICE AND CLASSIC EXAMPLE.

UTILIZED WITH THE TAX CREDIT.

>>Councilmember Waters: HOW DO WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF WHAT THIS INDUSTRY IS?

TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF JOBS AND THE IMPACT THAT THE SENATOR IS TALKING ABOUT, HOW CAN WE QUANTIFY THAT?

>> I THINK DBEDT HAS DONE SOME GOOD STUDIES ON IT THIS.

TRIED TO QUANTIFY THE IMPACTMENT WE KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT IS.

INDUSTRY WORTH ABOUT 750 MILLION UP TO A BILLION DOLLARS.

PUT THAT IN CONTEXT.

WHOLE STATE ECONOMY IS ABOUT 110 BILLION.

$115 BILLION.

THAT MAY SEEM REALLY SMALL BUT YOU KNOW THAT'S EXACTLY HOW WE DIVERSIFY.

THAT'S HOW WE HAVE HEALTHY ECONOMY.

WE HAVE LOTS OF, BUNCH OF SMALL INDUSTRIES BEYOND OUR MAJOR ONES, OF TOURISM.

AND MILITARY.

HEALTH CARE EDUCATION, BUT I'M CONVINCED WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW IS A JUST A LULL.

REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT SERIES HAVE THEIR SEASONALITY.

MAGNUM SERIES PRETTY MUCH SPENT.

HAWAII FIVE-O SERIES GONE THROUGH REALLY TWO GOOD ONES WITH HAWAII FIVE-O.

TONS OF NCIS AROUND NOT SURPRISING REFORMULATING SOME OF THEIR SHOW.

I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE HAWAII BASED SERIES BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE TO WATCH HAWAII-BASED SERIES.

TOTALLY CONFIDENT.

THAT THAT'S NO SOLACE FOR THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE EMPLOYMENT RIGHT NOW.

BUT I DO THINK WE'RE ALSO FACING A TIME WHEN THERE'S A SHIFT IN COMPARE TON ADVANTAGE.

SHIFT IN COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE AWAY FROM U.S. AND TOWARD OTHER COUNTRIES.

THIS IS JUST PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE STRENGTH OF THE DOLLAR.

PRODUCERS LOOKING AND SAYING I CAN GET MORE BY GOING TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE INVESTED IN FACILITIES.

INVESTED IN WORKFORCES.

AND YOU'RE FINDING FILM PRODUCTIONS AND FILM PRODUCTIONS IN PLACE IS NOT JUST NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA AND CANADA, SOME OF OUR BIGGEST COMPETITOR, PLACES LIKE BULGARIA, OR HUNGRY.

DON'T THINK OF AS HOSTING LIVE FILM PRODUCTIONS BUT THOUGH DO NOWADAYS,.

>>Yunji: DIRECTOR TOKIOKA DO YOU THINK ART EFFICIENCY IS INFRASTRUCTURE OR TAX CREDITS OR COMBINATION OF THE TWO?

>> DEFINITELY COMBINATION OF THE TWO.

AND WE HAVE THE KALAELOA STUDIO.

WHO IS LEASING THE STUDIO TO US.

NAVY IS.

TO DBEDT, BUT RIGHT NOW, WITH THE TRANSITION GOING ON WITH THE LANDS FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THERE IS NO CERTAINTY THAT WE WILL STILL HAVE THAT FACILITY.

SO IT'S HARD FOR US TO INVEST INTO THAT OR GET A MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO INVEST IN THAT STUDIOEL BECAUSE THERE'S NO CERTAINTY THAT WE WILL STILL HAVE IT AFTER 2028.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO EXPEDITE THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO THAT IT IS OUR BIGGEST STUDIO.

AND YOU KNOW, MAGNUM WAS THERE.

A LOT FILMS WERE THERE.

AND THEY STILL HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE ON THE UPSTAIRS OF THIS STUDIO.

IS HOSPITAL SPACES.

FOR ANY SERIES ESPECIALLY SOME KIND OF ACTION SERIES, THEY NEED THOSE HOSPITAL SPACES BECAUSE IN THOSE SERIES THAT'S WHERE THEY GO.

AND IT'S THERE.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP THAT FACILITY.

WE HAVE DIAMOND HEAD.

DIAMOND HEAD HAS TWO BIG STUDIOS BUT IT'S BIG ENOUGH FOR SOME OF PRODUCTIONS THAT COME IN.

SO FOR US, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF MAKING SURE WE'RE PUTTING OUT RFP SOON FOR A PRODUCER TO COME IN AND SAY, I'LL MANAGE THIS STUDIO FOR YOU.

I'LL TRY TO GET THE PRODUCTIONS FOR YOU AND OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE RENTAL SO PRODUCTIONS COME IN DECREASE-MAKE IT FIREMAN.

PRODUCTIONS COME IN IN THE PAST MAKE IT AFFORDABLE.

CHARGED THEM COST OF THESE STUDS TO USE THAT PART OF SIN 10 SIN INCENTIVE TO COME TO HAWAII.

WORKING HARD ON THOSE THINGS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SOON SIGNING THAT RFP THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED US ABOUT, THEY WANT IT MANAGE THE STUDIO.

BUT UNTIL WE PUT THAT RFP OUTCOMING OUT IN THE CAN COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'LL KNOW WHO MANAGES THE STUDIO.

AND WHO IS GOING TO HELP US BREAK THOSE PRODUCTIONS, BRING THOSE PRODUCTIONS.

>>Yunji: THAT PERSON WOULD ESSENTIALLY ACT AS A BROKER TO GO OUT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH PRODUCTION COMPANIES AND SAY, COME SHOOT HERE?

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE SPOKE TO BRIAN AND HIS TEAM AND NOT SAYING BECAUSE HE'S SITTING RIGHT HERE.

I SAID IT MANY TIMES BEFORE.

GREAT TO SEE LOCAL PEOPLE LIKE BRIAN AND MANY OTHERS, MIN EKINEMAKA CHIEF OF WAR, PRODUCER YOUNG GREAT TO SEE ALL OF THESE TALENT BRIAN TALKED ABOUT EARLIER LOCAL PEOPLE.

LOCAL PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE INDUSTRY AND DOING WELL.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INVEST IN THEM AND ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT BRIAN IS INVOLVED IN, ICANN IS DOING THAT.

TEACHING THEM ABOUT ACTING, TEACHING THEM ABOUT BUSINESS OF FILM AND TELEVISION.

SO THESE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

SUMNER SAID, THESE THINGS ARE IN PLACE NOW.

WE LOST SOME OF THESE PRODUCTIONS BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS THAT WANT TO HAVE A PRODUCTION IN HAWAII BECAUSE WE KNOW AND THEY KNOW THAT THE TAX CREDIT IS NOT BEING USED FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR.

SO THEY WANT TO JUMP IN THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE TAX CREDITS CAN BE USED TO HELP WITH THEIR PRODUCTIONS.

>> FOR THE INDUSTRY TO BE HEALTHY HERE.

NEEDS TO BE THREE THINGS.

TAX CREDIT COMPETITIVE AND YET DOESN'T FACE THE WHOLE WINTER'S CURSE SYNDROME.

OVER PAY.

AND YOU END UP COMPETING WITH OTHER STATES TO A POINT WHERE YOU REALLY DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY OFF THE INDUSTRY.

OTHER STATES DONE THAT.

NEBRASKA OF THE WORLD, WISCONSINS, MICHEL MICHIGAN HIGX CREDIT IT'S TRY TO SET UP FILM INDUSTRY ONLY BEEN TEMPORARILY SUCCESSFUL.

LEFT KIND OF WITH WRECKAGE OF FAILED INDUSTRY.

I THINK THAT'S A REAL BIG POINT IN HAWAII.

NEVER REALLY GONE FOR EXTREME TAX CREDITS.

HAD VERY MODERATE TAX CREDITS.

SOMETIMES HAVE OS JMENTS HAVE TO BE MADE.

NOT ADJUSTMENTS HAVE TO BE MADE.

NOT JOINED THAT PARTICULAR RACE.

INVEST IN HUMAN CAPITAL.

DOING THAT U.H.

SYSTEM AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATION.

THIRD ONE NEED STUDIO FACILITIES, TWO FACILITIES STILL THINK WE LAG BEHIND ON THE STUDIO FACILITIES.

AND EFFORTS TO BUILD ANOTHER FACILITY OUT U.H.

WEST OAHU HAVE LAGGED.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY SLOW.

DOESN'T APPEAR AS IF THEY'RE GOING ANYWHERE.

ISN'T SURPRISING SINCE THERE'S NO PRODUCTIONS GOING ON.

I'M HOPING THAT EFFORT GETS A LITTLE BIT MORE STEAM.

WE END UP BUILDING THAT ADDITIONAL FACILITY.

GREAT TEACHING FACILITY.

OUT AT U.H.

WEST OAHU.

IT REALLY WOULD BE GOOD IF THAT WAS COUPLED WITH STUDIO OUT THERE.

THERE'S THE TRAIN.

AND ET CETERA.

ACTUALLY THINK YOU WE'RE ON THE ROAD TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THIS INDUSTRY.

STATE IS DONE QUITE A FEW GOOD THINGS.

>>Yunji: TO HIS POINT ABOUT TAX CREDITS, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE IMPOSED BASICALLY SUNSET ON THE TAX CREDITS.

GOVERNOR VETOED IT.

SAFING THAT.

WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS THIS SENTIMENT IN, TELL US ABOUT THE SENTIMENT AMONG OTHER LAWMAKERS MIGHT NOT FEEL AS PASSIONATELY TO SUPPORT THIS INDUSTRY AS YOU DO?

>> I THINK, WHY HFA WAS CREATED.

HAWAII FILM ALLIANCE WAS CREATED TO GATHER DATA PRESENT THAT DATA IN A WAY THAT CAN BE EXPLAINED TO A LOT OF LAWMAKERS.

SO COLLEAGUES WHEN THEY LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THESE GUYS MAKING MONEY OFF THE FILM INDUSTRY.

MAKING A ALL OF THIS MONEY.

BEHIND WHAT THEY DON'T SEE IS EXPENSES THAT OCCUR, INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE HIRING LOCAL, LOCAL TALENT.

WE'RE OUTSIDE TALENT IS BRING NEW HAVE ICANN LOOK AT ICANN NOT JUST, TRAINING IS THERE, BUT IT'S THOSE ACTORS IT ACTED IN MANY OF THESE FAMOUS MOVIES, THAT HAVE COMMITTED THEIR TIME.

IT'S ALSO ON US THAT THE STATE NEEDS TO SHOW GOOD FAITH.

GOOD FAITH IS ABOUT INVESTING AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF HAWAII.

WE TALK ABOUT THE TYPE OF TOURISM AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.

I CAN TELL YOU FILM INDUSTRY VERY RESPECTFUL.

FAMILY DRIVEN.

FAMILY ORIENTED THE AT THE SAME TIME HAVE INNERS WANT TO COME IN INVOLVE IN INDUSTRY.

SHOW OUR COMMITMENT IS THERE AND COMPETITIVE OTHER STATE AND OTHER COUNTRIES [INDISTINCT](N. NEW ZEALAND THERE'S A LOT WE CAN LEARN FROM HAPPENING.

WE'RE NOT SAYING MASSIVE TAX INCREASE.

HAVE TO MAKE CHANGE.

OR NEVER SEE THE OUTCOME FROM IT.

DATA SHOW IS NOT BEEN FOCUSED ON WHAT IS THE VALUE BEHIND STREAMING DONE PRIMETIME.

TELL YOU THIS, WHEN I ASK WHAT DOES IT COST ME TO STREAM SOMETHING FOR ONE HOUR PRIMETIME, COST US ABOUT 1 HAD $100 MILLION.

INVESTED THAT TOURISM INDUSTRY, SAY HTA, WHAT AM I GETTING OUT OF THAT WHEN TALK ABOUT MARKET AND PEOPLE MIGHT BASH ME ON THIS, TALK ABOUT MARKETING I SAY, HAWAII MARKETS ITSELF.

MAKE THAT REAL CLEAR.

YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE AND TALK ABOUT HAWAII.

TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE COME TO HAWAII, ASK THEM THIS QUESTION.

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF OUR ADS?

VIA HTA AND MARKETING PROCESS?

WHAT THEY TELL ME, NO.

IN A PERSON LIKE BRIAN INVICE INVITE THE ME AND I ASKED IF I COULD COME.

GET THAT QUESTION ANSWERED MORE TIMES THAN NORMAL.

WHICH IS WHY I BELIEVE DATA-DRIVEN, HAWAII FILM ALLIANCE AND ALL OF DIFFERENT PARTNERS AND UNIONS AND DIFFERENT AGENCIESES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT THEY NEED TO COME TOGETHER, THIS DATA NEEDS TO BE PRODUCED SO THAT WE AS LAWMAKERS CAN MAKE A SOUND DECISION ON THIS IS WHY WE'RE INVESTING.

THIS IS IT'S JUSTIFICATION BEHIND WHETHER OR NOT THE CAP NEEDS TO BE LIFTED TO RESCUES FIGHT THE MEANS -- JUSTIFY MEANS BEHIND WHERE WE'RE TRYING GO IN THIS INDUSTRY.

INDUSTRY GONE COLD AND DRY BUT YET NOW TAKING THIS AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE.

DOESN'T DO US ANY JUSTICE RIGHT NOW.

>>Yunji: I WAN HEAR YOUR EXPERIENCE.

YOU WORKED ON CHIEF OF WAR.

IN NEW ZEALAND AND CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE CLIMATE WAS LIKE THERE IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING THIS INDUSTRY WE HEAR A LOT COMPETITIVE THAT COUNTRY IS WITH US COMES TO THESE PRODUCTIONS, I THINK LIKE EVERYBODY THINKS COMPETE.

I THINK MORE COLLABORATE.

BECAUSE AS I ALWAYS SAY, WE'RE NOT DIVIDED BY LAND.

BUT CONNECTED BY WATER.

IT'S TRUE.

OUR POLYNESIAN CULTURES THAT WE FIND COMMON BOND AND HOW WE NAVIGATE WHETHER IT'S OCEAN OR FILM, WE ALL NAVIGATE TOGETHER.

SO EVEN OUR BROTHER AND SISTER FROM AOTEAROA GIVEN SO MUCH BACK TO US ALSO TOO.

HAVING ONE GLOBAL VIEW OF THINGS, NOT JUST WE FOCUS SO MUCH ON OAHU, REALLY, I LOOK AT THE OUTER ISLANDS.

LIKE CAN THEY BENEFIT.

CAN THEY BE LOCALLY RUN MAUI AND BIG ISLAND ESPECIALLY.

AND ANSWER IS YES.

THEY HAVE TALENTED PEOPLE ON THIS ISLAND THAT WE WORK WITH.

ALSO TOO.

WHEN THEY COME HERE, TO FILM ANY PRODUCTION, THE SHIPPING ALONE IS JUST CRAZY JUST TO TRY TO SHIP EQUIPMENT.

SO IF WE DIVERSIFY OUTSIDE AND THINK OF US INTO MORE STRETCHING OUT, NOW WE KIND OF BUILD MORE HANDS AND FEET AND WE CAN LIKE DIVVY OUT.

I LOOK AT OUR FILM INDUSTRY LIKE WHAT IS THE LEGACY.

FOR ME, BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR LIKE CLOSE TO FOUR DECADES.

BUT MY SUCCESS IS NOT ME RIGHT NOW.

MSUCCESS IS WHAT THE LEGACY AFTER.

WHO IS NEXT JASON MOMOA?

WHO IS THE NEXT ROCK.

DUANE JOHNSON.

NEXT DIRECTORS PRODUCE YOURSELF.

HOW DO WE BUILD THEM UP TO LIKE, HOW NEW ZEALAND IS.

TAIKO WATITI AND OTHER PART IS WE CANNOT FOCUS SO MUCH ON THE BIG STUFF.

WE GOT TO FOCUS ON THE LITTLE STUFF TO SMALL DETAILS, INDEPENDENT MOVIES.

THE KUKINIS WE JUST HAD, HO'OMAU, ALL OF THESE SMALLER ONES THAT THE CREATIVE LOCALS BECAUSE I TELL YOU, BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS HOW DO WE CONTROL OUR OWN NARRATIVES BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE OUTSIDE AND I HAVE A LOT OF SCRIPTS BEING GIVEN, THEY TRY TO TELL OUR MO'OLELO.

OUR STORIES.

AND I JUST COMMON FIGHT WITH MY OWN SELF LIKE, OH, MAN, WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT ACTUALLY CAN DO THE JOB AND VERSUS ALL OF THESE OUTSIDE FORCES THAT TRY TO COME IN TO DICTATE AND WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME.

BROTHER, WHAT YOU DOING?

ALL OF THIS KIND OF THINGS.

AND THEY INTERPRET US WHAT THEY THINK WE ARE.

CHIEF OF WAR IS ONE THAT IS PASSIONATE DRIVEN FROM JASON TAKING THIS STORY AND HOLDING ON TO IT TILL HE HAS THE CREATIVE CONTROL TO WORK IN THE SMALLEST OF DETAILS OF THE FEATHERS, TAPA, WEAVING, DONE FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THE BOTTOM UP.

AND TH PROVEN NOW THAT WE CAN DO THIS.

WE JUST NEED THE SUPPORT NOW.

>>Yunji: DIRECTOR TOKIOKA GET TO YOU ON SOMETHING THAT'S SENATOR POINTED OUT.

THERE IS THIS VALUE THAT COMES FROM STREAMING.

FROM CHIEF OF WAR BEING SEEN AROUND THE PLANET FROM LILO AND STITCH AND FAMILIAR LISTS GOING TO THE THEATER -- FAMILIES GOING TO THE THEATER AND HE ENJOYING THAT MAKING CONNECTION TO HAWAII.

THINK ABOUT MARKETING DOLLARS DIFFERENT SHOW WHETHER OR NOT HAWAII SELLS ITSELF.

I'M SURE THERE'S A DEBATE TO BE HAD.

WHEN DO YOU THINK IS THE BENEFIT, ECONOMIC BENEFIT HAVING THAT LACK OF BETTER WORD, FREE ADVERTISING FOR THE ISLANDS?

>> SUMNER KNOWS THIS.

ECONOMISTS KNOW THIS.

HARD TO PLACE A DOLLAR VALUE ON THIS.

IF YOU JUST LOOK AT FILMS THAT HAVE BEEN FOR DECADES FILMED IN HAWAII, YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THESE MOVIES NOW, SAY BOOK THEM DANO WHERE DID THEY GET THAT FROM?

HAWAII FIVE-O.

PEOPLE SEE AND NOT FILM, BUT LIKE GOLF IN HAWAII, DURING DECEMBER, HAVE CENTURY AND PRAY THAT'S CENTURY WILL CONTINUE TO STAY IN HAWAII, BECAUSE NOT A FILM.

BUT IT'S TOURNAMENT.

AND EVERYBODY AROUND THE WORLD ESPECIALLY ON THE U.S. MAINLAND SEES IT.

THERE'S A HUGE VALUE TO THAT.

I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU CAN PICK THE EXACT NUMBER OF OR PERCENTAGE OF SPAM VERSUS DOLLARS THAT COME IN.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY THERE.

THE SPEND VERSUS DOLLARS IT DOESN'T END.

CONTINUAL, REMINDER THAT I WANT TO GO TO HAWAII.

AND HAWAII FIVE-O, NCIS ALL OF THESE SHOWS DEPICTED HAWAII IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE SEE THE BEAUTY OF THE ISLANDS AND THAT'S THE PARTLY THINK WE ALL AGREE.

THAT THERE'S FOR PRICE TAG ON THAT.

AND NO PRICE TAG ON THAT.

THAT'S WHY IN HTA WE'RE SUBMITTING A BILL THAT WILL INCLUDE FILM IN THE MARKETING PORTION OF HTA.

WE WANT TO ADVERTISE.

WE WANT TO USE FILM PRODUCTION AS A WAY TO BRING DOLLARS INTO THE STATE AND IT'S JUST A COUPLE OF WORDS INTO THE HRS FILM PRODUCTION, SPORTS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

IN CHAPTER 201.

SO IT'S BIG FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

BUT IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY IT.

I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE INDUSTRY.

THAT WE PROMOTE IT.

>>Yunji: BASICALLY BRAND AWARENESS.

>> BRAND AWARENESS.

>>Yunji: FAMILY IN MILWAUKEE WATCHING THEIR TELEVISION PLANTS SEED I WANT TO SIT AND HAVE A MAI TAI AND SEE DIAMOND HEAD.

>> STUDIES HAVE BEEN, STUDY THAT'S BEEN DONE OF THIS BACK, DONE FOUR YEARS AGO.

2020.

TOURISM.

AND IT SHOWS THAT PEOPLE COME HERE FROM JAPAN PARTICULARLY COME HERE BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN HAWAII ON TV I THINK IT WAS UP TO 40% OF THE PEOPLE CHECKED THAT OFF LEADING REASON WHY THEY COME TO HAWAII.

AMAZING.

CANADA NUMBER 2.

U.S., MUCH SMALLER.

SAME THING WITH KOREA AND WHATEVER.

ALSO PEOPLE COME HERE FOR FILM TOURISM.

PEOPLE COME HERE TO SEE THE SITES WHERE THE FILMS ARE MADE.

STILL PEOPLE FLOCKING IN TO SEE LOST, WHERE LOST WAS FILMED WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT.

PART OF OUR TOURISM.

MUCH SMALLER REASON TO HAVE, THAT'S A MUCH SMALLER REASON CREDIT.

BUT I SHOULD NOTE THAT ALL THE EXISTING STUDIES OF CREDITS SHOW NET BENEFIT FOR HAWAII.

HAVEN'T SHOWN IN NECESSARILY FOR OTHER STATES.

FOR HAWAII CREDIT DOES YIELD A NET BENEFIT.

THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL THE BENEFIT THAT IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

DOESN'T INCLUDE JUST THE FACT THAT SPILLOVERS INTO TOURISM.

TOURISM GETS BR REMARKETING FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY.

>>Yunji: HOW BIG SHOULD THE CREDIT BE?

>> WHY I BROUGHT UP, SHOULD BE DATA-DRIVEN.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE COST OF THAT MARKETING POWER.

WE SAID FILM INDUSTRY BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

YOU TAKE A LOOK AT KAUAI.

JURASSIC PARK.

EVEN AT THAT LEVEL, THAT PLACE WAS BOOMING.

RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, ALL TIME PEAK.

WE GOT TO GRAB THAT DATA AND I LOOK TOWARDS U.H.

AND ECONOMISTS TO YOU THE P A PRICE TAG ON IT.

PUT A PRICE TAG ON IT.

ONLY THEN CAN I LITERALLY SAY TO MYSELF, BASED ON THAT DATA, SHOULD BE DRIVEN.

THERE HAS TO BE A JUSTIFICATION AND USE OF TAXPAYOR DOLLARS.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING SHOULD LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT JUST LIKE RUNNING A BUSINESS.

YOU GOT TO INVEST.

GOT TO PUT YOUR MONEY.

ESPECIALLY IN A TIME LIKE NOW, WHERE WE'RE LOOKING ALL OF THESE FEDERAL CUTS.

HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME OTHER WAY TO GENERATE IT AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE.

THAT IS NOT THE WAY YOU RUN A STATE.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THIS IS WHY WE PUSHED MORE DORDZ DIVERSIFICATION.

MOVE INTO STORA SPORTS.

SAW WHAT COVID DID.

CRACKED EVERY EGG.

ONLY INDUSTRY WAS RUNNING, FILM INDUSTRY.

RUNNING AT PEAK AND MOST SAFEST WAY POSSIBLE.

I WAS DOWN IN NEW ZEALAND COMPLETE DIFFERENT MISSION, AND WE MADE OUR WAY DOWN TO ACHIEVE OF WAR.

THREE HOUR RIDE.

CHIEF OF WARRY OUR LOCAL PEOPLE DOWN THERE, RELATIONSHIPS OF NEW ZEALAND, AND JUST BRIAN SAID, THAT'S OUR COUSINS.

WE SHARED.

SEPARATED BY WATER.

END OF DAY, COLLABORATION OF INDUSTRY IN IS ITSELF.

EVERY PRODUCTION WOULD LOVE TO DO IT HERE IN HAWAII.

EVEN WHEN WE MOVE AND GO INTO LIVE WITH MOANA, I DID TELL YOU, THAT WILL ALSO J PUMP THIS INDUSTRY AND MARKET OF HAWAII.

GOT TO REALLY WAKE UP AND SMELL THE LA ROSES AT SOME POIN.

CAN'T EXPECT MY COLLEAGUES TO BUY INTO DATA-DRIVEN INFORMATION TO SAY, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.

>>Yunji: SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE BEING TASKED TO DO ANOTHER STUDY.

>> >> I'M WORKING ON THE STUDY.

ALMOST DONE.

WE'LL BE OUT WITH ANOTHER STUDY SOON.

BUT I THINK SMALL INCREASE IN THE CREDIT IS WARRANTED TO SHOW THAT WE'RE STILL INTERESTED IN THE GAME.

WE'RE STILL PLAYERS IN GAME.

22% FOR OAHU RIGHT NOW.

AND 27% FOR NEIGHBOR ISLANDS.

MOVED AT THAT UP TO 25 AND 30% WARRANTED THE.

OUR CAP IS REALLY LOW AT $50 MILLION.

WE COULD WELL MOVE UP THAT TO 70 OR 80.

PRODUCTION FEE FROM 17 TO HIGHER NUMBER.

>> I'M SO GLAD THAT ANSWER IS COMING FROM YOUR MOUTH RIGHT NOW.

MEENTS A LOT.

>> IT'S OKAY.

MEANS A LOT.

I THINK WE COULD DO THAT.

REALLY NECESSARY TO HAVE A CAP THOUGH BECAUSE HAWAII BEEN BURNED BADLY BY TAX CREDITS DON'T HAVE CAT P KAS BEFORE.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS CAPS CREDITS STRUCTURING THEM APPROPRIATELY.

DON'T HAVE CAPS BEFORE TAKES ONE LAWYER TO LOOK AT THE TAX CREDIT HERE'S A WAY FOR ME TO GET A LOT MORE MONEY OUT OF TAX CREDIT THAN SENATOR DECOIT EVER INTENDED DIRECTOR TOKIOKA EVER INTEND WAS GOING TO COME OUT OF IT.

ALL OF A SUDDEN LEFT WHICH A BIG BIG BANANA PEEL.

WHAT HAPPENED EARLY 2,000.

PERIOD 1999 TO 2004 ACT 221.

GAVE TAX CREDITS ALL SORTS OFEL DEVELOPING INDUSTRIES.

THOSE CREADICK CREDITS WERE GAMED BY INVESTS.

EXPECT THEM TO DO.

GET THE BEST OUT OF CREDITS.

COST STATE ENORMOUS OOMENT OF AF MONEY.

FIASCO.

CRITICAL FOR US TO KEEP A CAP.

20% INFLATION 2019 LAST TIME ADJUSTED.

MOVE THE CAP TO 50 TO $60 MILLION A LOT TO BE SAID MOVE TO UP 65 TO 70 OR HIGHER AREA.

GIVEN THAT WE HAVE SO FEW PRODUCTIONS RIGHT NOW.

NOT CLEAR WE'RE GOING TO REACH THE CAP.

DON'T SEE THAT BEING TERRIBLE THING.

WE NEED TO REMEMBER ALTHOUGH THE TAX CREDIT YESTERDAYS NET BENEFITS FOR STATE, YIELDS LOSSES TAX REVENUE.

START MOVING CREDIT UP THERE WOULD BE A NET LOSS IN TAX REVENUE.

NOT GOING TO FIND A LOT MORE NET REVENUE FOR STATE GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE LOSS FOR THE STATE.

SOME OF THIS COMES AT A COST.

COMES AT A COST OF REVENUE FOR OTHER PROGRAMS.

>> THE THEORY IS WE SPEND IT ON THE TAX CREDIT BUT THE INDUSTRY SPENDS IT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THE THEORY.

>> MULTIPLIER.

>> HARD TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE AMOUNT IS.

I AGREE WITH SOME OF THAT.

WE DONE A LOT OF STUDIES AND THERE IS THE NET BENEFIT.

HARD TO PINPOINT THAT NUMBER.

HOPEFULLY, CAN HE COME UP AND POINT OUT.

>> LEE REPORT AN OUTAGE RELIES OUT OF STATE ACTORS.HOW .

HOW MUCH TAX REVENUE DO WE GET OUT OF STATE PEOPLE COME TO WORK HERE?

SOMETHING WE CAN FIGURE OUT WITH DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION.

BUT IT'S WHAT DETAILED.

THE THING IS WITH THE CHANGING INDUSTRY, GOING TO BE CHANGING EMPLOYEES.

CHANGING COMPOSITION OF PEOPLE WORKING HERE.

CHANGE OVER TIME.

LOOKING FOR PRECISION HERE.

GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

>>Yunji: BRING IN SOME OF VIEWER QUESTIONS.

I HOPE YOU CAN THAT I CAN ONE.

SHERRY WRITE IN WHY IS IT PAST TV SHOWS LIKE MAGMA ENOUGH PI, NCI HAWAII NO GOOD SOLID LOCAL ACTORS.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PROMOTE REEL LOCAL ACTORS?

BACK TO YOUR POINT HAWAII PEOPLE TELLING HAWAII STORIES.

>> ACTING IS AN ART.

AND AGAIN, ART OF THE PEOPLE WHO CRCREATIVES INTO THAT FILM WILLO TOO.

PEOPLE IN THE UPPER LEVEL OF, PROVIDING FOR THE INVESTORS.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE IN THE SEAT OF LIKE HEY, WE CAN PROVE THAT OUR PEOPLE CAN DO THE JOB.

WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE HERE.

WE JUST GOT TO LIKE TAKE A CHANCE.

LIKE WHAT JASON D TOOK ONE CHANCE.

BIG CHANCE.

WHOEVER HEARD OF ON THE INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM, OLELO.

RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE TRUST TO ALL OF AND STUFF TOO.

BUT I MEAN, WE GET ACT TASK TASK ALKIREACTORSMOSES GOODS.

SO MANY DIFFERENT TALENT HERE.

GOT TO REINVEST IN OURSELVES.

THAT'S THE WHOLE THING.

HOW DO WE REINVEST IN OURSELVES?

OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP IS THAT WE ALSO IN THE SEAT OF WE CLIMBED UP INTO THE ABOVE THE LINE PEOPLE.

PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS, WHERE THE FIRST TIME IT CAME INTO THE WHOLE HOLLYWOOD SCENE, A LOT OF MY FRIENDS FROM MAKAHA WOULD SAY, BRIAN HOLLYWOOD GOING TO CHIANCA YOU.

ESPECIALLY WHEN I WENT TO CALIFORNIA.

I HAD ATTITUDE, NO I THINK I'M GOING TO CHANGE HOLLYWOOD.

AND EXACTLY THAT.

BRING HAWAII HOME TO THEM.

JUST BRING THEM HOME.

FEED THEM.

PLAY WITH THEM.

MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND OUR VALUES WHO WE ARE.

PROVE OUR WORTH, OUR TREASURES OF WHAT HE WITH GREW UP WITH AND STUFF.

IT'S PROVEN AND NOW WE SITTING IN THE SEATS LIKE AGAIN, GO BACK TO ACHIEVE OF WAR.

CHIEF OF WAR.

HIGHER LOCAL VENDORS OR WHEN YOU CAST, CAST FROM THE AREA THAT WE'RE GOING TO IMPACT.

INSTEAD OF THROWING WIDE NET AND GET EVERYONE, CAST THERE FIRST BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS FOR ME IS LIKE WE MIGHT TAP INTO THE GENEOLOGY OF THAT CHARACTER THERE IN THE FAMILIES THERE AND GO MUCH DEEPER INTO THE STORY.

WHICH A LOT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.

WIBUT WE KNOW.

THAT'S THE WHOLE THING.

AND STUFF TOO.

SO THE FILMING HERE NOW IS SUCH ONE GREAT HEIGHT OF SUCCESS, WE JUST NEED EVERYONE TO LIKE OKAY WE TRUST YOU NOW.

>>Yunji: DIRECTOR TOKIOKA TAKE THIS ONE, WHAT OTHER LOCAL INDUSTRIES AND VENDORS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE IF I AM INDUSTRY FILM INDUSTRY.

THINK ABOUT THE RIPPLE OUTWARD THINK ABOUT HOTELS ALL OF THESE PRODUCERS AND ACTOR STAYS IN THE RESTAURANTS.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE RIPPLE EFFECT, HOW BIG IS IT?

>> IT'S HUGE.

I'LL GO BACK TO WHAT SENATOR DECOIT SAID.

SENATE PRESIDENT AND I WERE ON KAUAI FILMING JURASSIC PARK.

BROUGHT OUT A HOTEL.

BOUGHT OUT HOTEL AND HALF A HOTEL AND YOU COULD JUST SEE ALL THE CATERING DONE FOR THE SHOT.

ALL OF THE TRANSPORTATION THAT WAS BIG PART OF MOVING PEOPLE AROUND.

SECURITY FOR THE PRODUCTION.

BATHROOMS AND ALL OF THIS SET PRODUCTIONS CARPENTERS COMING IN.

THESE WERE ALL LOCAL PEOPLE.

AND WHEN WE WOULD GO OUT DURING THAT TIME, PEOPLE WOULD JUST SAY, THIS IS THE BEST THING.

THIS INDUSTRY AND YOU CAN SEE IT ON KAUAI.

KAUAI IS SMALL.

WHEN IT'S HERE ON OAHU, A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES TO STAY.

YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MICROSCOPE LIKE KAUAI.

AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY HIT HOME FOR MYSELF AND SENATE PRESIDENT THAT THIS IS WHAT MAKES KAUAI SHINE.

BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ON KAUAI FOR THE SUNY.

WANT TO BE THERE FOR THE PEOPLE.

SCENERY FOR THE PEOPLE, RESTAURANTS ARE DOING GOOD.

EVERYBODY IS DOING GOOD.

EXCITING, SO I WOULD JUST TELL THAT YOU THOSE INDUSTRIES TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, ALL BENEFIT FROM PRODUCTION COMING TO HAWAII AND WHEN IT COMES TO A PLACE LIKE HAWAII, EVEN DIFFERENT PARTS OF NEIGHBORING ISLANDS, IT'S HUGE.

OF COURSE, HERE IN HONOLULU, BUT THOSE INDUSTRIES GET HIT WITH BIG INFLUX OF RESOURCES AND CAPITAL.

>>Yunji: TALK ABOUT THE FLIPSIDE.

WHEN THOSE PRODUCTIONS PICK UP AND LEAVE.

HAVE HAWAII 50.

FIRST TIME I BELIEVE 25 YEARS DON'T HAVE A SERIES CONSISTENTLY SHOOTING IN HAWAII.

WHAT DOES THAT DONE TO US.

>> FILM INDUSTRY EXPORT INDUSTRY MOSTLY.

SOME FILMS THAT WE PRODUCE, SOME PBS FILMS FOR INTERNAL CONSUMPTION HERE.

BUT MOST OF THE FILMS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BE MADE IN HAWAII ARE THAT'S EXPORT.

OUTSIDE MONEY COMING IN AND PURCHASING GOODS AND SERVICES IN HAWAII.

KIND OF STUFF KEEPS ECONOMY HEALTHY HAVE THESE EXPORT GOODS.

WHEN THAT'S REMOVED, THERE'S A NEGATIVE MULTIPLIER.

IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE FILM INDUSTRY THAT SUFFER BUT THE FACT THEY'RE NOT BUYING AS MANY GROCERIES.

THEY'RE NOT SPENDING AS MANY ON RENT.

HURTS OTHER PEOPLE.

THEY'RE SPENDING IS AFFECTED.

THIS IS THE STANDARD MULTIPLIER FACTOR IN ECONOMICS.

NOT GOING TO HAVE INDUSTRY WITHOUT THE CREDITS.

EVERY SINGLE JURISDICTION IN THE COUNTRY KNOWS TRY TO ATTRACT FILM INDUSTRY, BECAUSE THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT.

GET THE FILM INDUSTRY COME IN, NOT JUST GOING TO GET THE FILM INDUSTRY.

OTHER SPENDING.

OTHER INDUSTRIES THRIVING.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE FILM INDUSTRY ASKS, PRODUCERS ASK IS HEY, WE WANT TO CERTAIN SHARE OF THAT SURPLUS YOU'RE GETTING.

YOU'RE GETTING SOME SURPLUS OUT OF US BEING HERE.

WE WANT YOU TO SHARE THAT WITH US.

LOLOLOCALITIES COMPETE.STATES CF THE SOME OF THE SURPLUS.

MAKE SURE WE DON'T OVER DO.

DANGEROUS GAME TO GET TOO INVOLVED.

>>Yunji: QUESTION FROM CASEY.

HOW DO WE GO-TO LOCAL FILM AND TV PRODUCTION BACK IN HAWAII HIGH-PAYING FILM JOHNSON FRONT AND BEHIND THE CAMERA.

TOURISM, REAL IT TATE DOMINATING LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNMENT FUNDING PRIORITYINGS.

YOU MENTION WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION OBVIOUSLY SHIFT FEDERAL, PRIORITIES.

LET'S SAY.

AND SO THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF PUSH AND PULL IN TERMS OF WHERE HAWAII TAX DOLLARS SHOULD GO.

HOW DO YOU MAKE THE ARGUMENT.

HEARD IT HE HERE ARTICULATED NUMBER OF WAYS.

HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT TO YOUR COLLEAGUES?

>> HAVING PBS TONIGHT,.

>>Yunji: SEND THEM THE LINK, REALLY GOOD.

I MEAN, IT PUSHES OUT INFORMATION AND AS WE HAVE THIS DIALOGUE AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, I CAN TELL YOU SHOWED UPEN BIG ISLAND.

INVITED TO TAKE A LOOK AT CHIEF OF WAR.

I WAS JUST AMAZED WHEN I JUST STEPPED OUT OF THE VAN AND JUST LOCAL A PEOPLE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I THINK ON THE LAST SHOOT.

WHAT I DO KNOW AND WHEN I SPOKE WITH BRIAN AND TEAM AND JASON GUYS AND BIG ISLAND, I WAS JUST AMAZED AS WE WENT INTO SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES, HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

COMING, WE WANTING TO COME IN, ASKING FOR ACCEPTANCE.

EVEN WHEN THEY WERE TOLD SOMEBODY SOME OF THESE AREAS NO THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT.

INDUSTRIES ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THESE COMMUNITIES AND WE'RE THANKFUL OF THAT EXCHANGE.

BUT IT STARTS WITH HAVING THAT CONVERSATION CHIEF OF WAR AGAIN IS PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A HAWAIIAN MOVIE THAT DEPICTS HAWAIIAN STORIES.

WHOEVER WRITES BOOK TELLS STORY.

WHY NOT LET PEOPLE HERE TELL THAT STORY AND THIS IS WHY THIS PLATFORM THAT WE'RE HAVING TONIGHT I BELIEVE SUPER-BENEFICIAL AND HELPFUL AS WE WAIT FOR S SUMNER FINISH OFF SOME OF THE DATA NEED UPCOMING SESSION.

FULL COURT PRESS CONVERSATION BEING HAD WITH MANY OF MAY COLLEAGUES MYSELF AND COMMITTEES.

SEVERAL INFO BRIEFING.

WORKED WITH DIRECTOR TOKIOKA AND DEPUTY DUANE WICER.

WORK IN PROGRESS BUT AGAIN WE HAVE TO INVEST BACK INTO THEIR WHETHER IT BE MONEY RESOURCES, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SHOW COMMITMENT TO THE INDUSTRY.

AND THAT COMMITMENT NEEDS TO COME FROM THE STATE THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT INVESTING NOT JUST FILM INDUSTRY BUT IN THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND TALENT WE'VE SEEN TODAY AND MANY OF THESE SHOWS AND MOVIES AND DOCUMENTARIES AS WELL.

I CANNOT TELL YOU THE OUTCOME OF ALL OF THESE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE LOST A LOT AND IT JUST LITERALLY WENT DRY AND BELLIED UP.

IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK ON HAWAII.

IT'S LIKE AS IF WE'RE NOT OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

BUT WE HAVE TO COMMIT.

AND GIVE THAT.

>> THERE BEEN HUGE DROP OFFS IN CALIFORNIA.

CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK EXPERIENCED MASSIVE DECLINE TELEVISION SHOOTING.

I THINK CALIFORNIA WENT FROM 18,700 SEPARATE SHOOTS DOWN TO 7,700 OVER 2 YEARS.

2021 TO 2023.

ANOTHER 22% IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025.

CALIFORNIA FALL OFF HAS BEEN HUGE.

THEY'VE HAD THE SAME KIND OF DISCUSSIONS THERE.

HOW DO WE REVITALIZE CALIFORNIA FILM INDUSTRY AND TALKED ABOUT CREDITS, RAISING CAP ON CREDITS.

OTHER THING THEY TALKED ABOUT THERE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO STREAMLINE REGULATION OF THE INDUSTRY.

PEOPLE COME HERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO FILM IN PUBLIC SPACES.

THEY WANT PUBLIC BACKDROPS.

THEY WANT FILM WITH MOUNTAINS BEACH, OCEAN.

IN SIGHT.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TIME FOR TO US TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT HOW WE'RE MANAGING ALL OF THAT.

NOT SAYING WE'RE DOING A BAD JOB.

BUT CALIFORNIA ONE OF THE THINGS CALIFORNIA RUNNING SOME OF SAME PROBA PROBLEMS WE ARE.

NOT ALWAYS THE CASE SOMEBODY WANTS TO LAY INTO THE FREEWAY CLOSED DOWN.

PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT NESTING BIRDS BEING DISTURBED BY SHOOTS ON THE BEACH.

SORE WORRIED SEA TURTLES.

FILM HAD SOME COMPLAINTS HAD A HARD TIME RESOLVING IT WHERE.

RESTING.

SURE.

>> SUPER-SUCCESSFUL.

ALSO TOO, OUR WHOLE THING REALLY, WE HAD THE MOST LOCALS ON TOP THERE.

AND WE WAS MINDFUL OF WHAT WE DO.

BECAUSE THE WAY WE OPERATE NOT OWNERSHIP.

IT'S IN STEWARDSHIP.

HOW DO WE BRING HAWAIIAN VALUES IN WHEN FILM MAKING WAY AND DO THAT WE HAD OUR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER MATT KESTER LOCAL BOY.

AND NOAH, MORE LOCALS ON THE UPPER END MANAGING THIS SHOW EVEN WHEN WE GO OUT LIKE LOCATION PEOPLE, ASK PERMISSION.

BEFORE PERMITS.

GO OUT TO THE LOCAL PEOPLE AND ASK.

IF THEY SAY NO, MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE.

I THINK THAT IS THE THING IS THAT IT WAS SUCCESSFUL SHOW.

TOO MUCH CHALLENGES AND WENT DOWN.

BUT OTHER THING WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, CALIFORNIA, THEY HAVE A LOT OF STUDIOS A LOT OF SHOWS.

AND SO INFRASTRUCTURE GOT TO BE MAINTAINED IN HUGE MANNER.

VERSUS OVER HERE.

WE GET FOUR SHOWS HERE.

WE RUNNING RICH.

THAT'S THE THING.

SO TO GET AT LEAST TWO ANCHORED SHOWS HERE.

GREAT.

ESPECIALLY FOR TV.

FOR US, WE HAVE TO THINK INTO ONE SPECIALTY KIND OF LIKE WE FIT ONE ON DON'T COMPETE.

COLLABORATE.

WE STAND ALONE.

THAT'S OUR SUC SUCCESS WE DON'T HAVE TO BE COMPLETING WITH ATLANTA AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> IT'S TRUE NOT ONLY HAWAII STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

ENTIRE COUNTRY IS STRUGGLING.

AND SO WE'RE NOT OUTLIER.

WE'RE PART OF THE INDUSTRY IS NEW NOW.

SO FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII, AND SENATOR DECOIT KNOWS IT AALL HANDS ON DECK.

GOVERNOR BEEN IN MANY MEETINGS WITH CHIEF OF WAR, OTHER PRODUCTIONS, WITH RESCUE HIGH SURF.

IN A LOT OF MEETINGS TRYING HO HELP WITH SOME OF THE GREEN SEA TURTLE WENT TO DLNR BRIAN AND I WERE THERE ARE SUPPORTING DIFFERENT WAY TO MANAGE THE SHORELINES.

>> DID 52 REAL RESCUES ON THAT SHOW.

52 REAL RESCUES.

RESCUE SHOW.

BUT OUR OWN LIFEGUARD AND ACTORS PULLED P PEOPLE ONE SHARK READY TO ATTACK.

FOOTAGE SHARK SWIMMING FOR TWO TOURISTS.

SWAM OUT THERE.

SHOW GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY ALSO TOO.

AS WELL AS EMPLOYING COMMUNITY.

BUT AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CRY OVER WHAT WAS.

WE WANT TO GO FORWARD AND WHAT WILL BE.

>> I ONLY BROUGHT THIS UP JUST BECAUSE I THINK I KNOW CALIFORNIA, JUST LOOK HOW CAN WE ICE CREAM LINE SOME OF THE -E SOME OF IT.

IMPROVE IT MUCH DON'T THINK IT'S WE DO A BAD BE.

>>JOB.ASK WORK ON SHOWS CAN BE SOLVED BETTER.

DOWN TIME.

PEOPLE INVOLVED IN INDUSTRY, NOT MANAGING A LOT OF SHOOTS RIGHT NOW.

GOOD TIME TO BE LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE PROCEDURES APPLICATIONS, PERMITS AND SEEING WE REALLY HAVE IT TOGETHER.

>>Yunji: DIRECTOR I WONDER IF WE STAY OUT OF THE GAME FOR TOO LONG, DO WE NOT GET TO PLAY?

I MEAN WE KNOW THAT WE'RE IF A IN A LULL NOW.

SORT OF MOMENTUM PROGRESS BEE GETS PROGRESS.

BODY IN MOTION P STAYS IN IN MOTION WE'RE NOT IN MOTION RIGHT NOW.

>> I HEAR THAT I HE CAN TELL YOU SITTING IN THE SEAT THAT I HOLD, WE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST FROM BIG PRODUCTIONS WITHIN THE LAST TWO ALA MOANA 3.

TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET PRODUCTIONS IN HAWAII.

JASON, THERE'S DUANE, THERE'S DANIEL DAE KIM, THEY WANT TO BE HERE IN HAWAII.

THEY WHEN THEY DO THEIR PRODUCTION.

TALKING TO A THE LOT OF PEOPLE, SERIES BEEN FILMED HERE BEFORE.

JUM ANJI TALKING ABOUT PRODUCTION COMING BACK.

I DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THE FACT IF WE'RE O OUT OF THE GAME BECAUSE HAWAII IS THE BACKDROP.

HAWAII IS THE PLACE THEY WANT TO BE.

WHAT WE'RE DOING AT DBEDT IS HAWAII FIRST.

AND THAT'S A CRITICAL MESSAGE IS HAWAII FIRST IN THE PRODUCTIONS, HAWAII FIRST IN THE UPTICKS.

IF WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE A BILL IF THERE IS CERTAIN UPTICKS IF THE FILM IS IN OLELO HAWAII, USE LOCAL MUSIC, IF THEY USE LOCAL UNIFORMS HIRES, ALL OF THIS, GOING TO BE CERTAIN UPTICKS FOR DIFFERENT THINGS WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.

AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR DUANE WICER WORK ON THAT.

IT IS HAWAII FIRST.

SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WILL INVOLVE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES AND ONE COLLABORATION WHEN A FILM HITS PRODUCTION HERE IN HAWAII.

IT'S CRITICAL.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH ICAN.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE FILM INDUSTRY.

YOU CAN'T ONLY HAVE THE FILM TAX CREDIT.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE TRAINING.

GOT TO THE WORKFORCE.

AND WE'RE GOING DOWN INTO THE SCHOOLS.

WAIANAE SEA RIDERS, CHIEFESS KAMAKA HELE SCHOOL ON THIS IN THE STATE THAT DO SO GOOD IN COMPETITIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHEN THEY GET TO COLLEGE, AND WHEN THEY GET PAST COLLEGE, WHAT IS THERE FOR THEM?

THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO WE'RG ENERGIZE THOSE PRODUCTIONS WAS GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO FILM, TO BE IN A PRODUCTION AND I THINK ICANN BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THAT AND UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

SO WE ARE GIVING PART OF THE TAX CREDITS COME FROM MONIES THAT GO TO FUND OTHER THINGS.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE DIRECTION OF SENATOR DECOIT AND SENATOR KIM TALKING ABOUT IN THE WAM COMMITTEE, TALKING ABOUT HOW WE LEVERAGE THOSE MONIES THAT GO INTO THE FILM SPECIAL FUND, TO HELP FUND SCHOOLS THAT ARE DOING EXCELLENT JOBS IN PRODUCTIONS AND TRAINING THE KIDS ON THE INDUSTRY.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

AND IT'S EXCITING.

BUT IT'S ALMOST LIKE STARTING FROM SCRATCH.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN SPOILED HATE USE THAT WORD.

SPOILED FOR A LONG TIME NOTHING IS THERE.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING THOUGHT NCIS WAS GOING TO LEAVE SUDDENLY LIKE THEY DID.

HARD TO HAVE A PLAN B WHEN PLAN A IS STILL IN THE ROOM.

>>Yunji: WHAT'S INTERESTING I MEAN, SENATOR DECOIT, THIS IDEA OF THIS TIERED INCENTIVE, DIRECTOR IS TALKING ABOUT, MAKES A LOT OF SENSE SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A GOOD PITCH TO LAWMAKERS.

IDEA THAT IF YOU GET MORE THE MORE YOU PUT HAWAII FIRST.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> A LOT OF THAT IS BEING WORKED OUTRIGHT NOW.

AGAIN TAKES BOTH BUY-IN FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

GOVERNOR HAS BEEN ON BOARD FROM THE BEGINNING.

SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH GOVERNOR AS WELL.

YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THOSE INCENTIVES.

WE HAVE TO BE GOING TO SAY, WE HAVE BID COMPETITIVE LEVEL IF WANT WANT TO BRING PEOPLE HERE.

I LOOK AT THE INDUSTRY ITSELF, AND WATCH AND I SEE ALL OF THESE LOCAL PEOPLE, SOME SAY, THEY'VE MAYBE COME OUT OF JAIL, AND I WAS AMAZED TO SEE ONE OF THEM DIRECTING ON SET.

THINKING, JESUS CHRIST, THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEVER HAD EDUCATION.

THEY FIND THEIR CALLING THERE.

ALMOST EVERY JOB YOU CAN IMAGINE WHETHER IT'S SET CREW, WHETHER WAS MAKING MANY OF THE PROPS THAT WAS THERE.

SOME OF THESE PROPS LOOKED SO REAL.

IT DEPICTS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW GROWING UP A NATIVE HAWAIIAN MYSELF, LITERALLY TELLS A STORY OF WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE CAME FROM.

SO THESE IN INCENTIVES NEED TO E PUT OUT THERE.

NEEDS BOY BUY IN HOUSE AND SENATE.

PROVIDE INFORMATION AND DATA THAT NEEDS TO BE WARRANTED, IT WILL PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

LIKE I SAID MANY OF THESE COMPANIES WAITING IN THE WINGS.

WHAT IS HAWAII REALLY WANT?

DO THEY UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE AT AS WELL AS WHERE WE'RE AT MOVING FORWARD?

AGAIN, WE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH DIRECTOR TOKIOKA.

CAN TELL YOU DEPUTY WICKE DONE AMAZING JOB GOING THROUGH, A LOT OF DIFFERENT EXAMPLES OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE LEGISLATION FORWARD.

IT'S SAD THAT WE WHEN WE'RE IN A PREDICAMENT LIKE THIS, WE TEND TO SCRAMBLE AND LIKE THEY SAID, GET ONE PLAN A, PLAN B, SOMETIMES C, D AND E AND WE NEED TO PREPARE OURSELVES BETTER.

LIKE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NATURAL DISASTERS.

I'M SAYING RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN A NATURAL DISASTER.

BUT THIS IS DISASTER ON OUR OWN AND WE NEED TO FIX IT AND WE NEED TO SHOW THEM THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO MOVING FORWARD.

>>Yunji: BRIAN, YOU STARTED OUT OF THE CONVERSATION TALKING ABOUT THE WEALTH OF TALENT AND DIRECTOR TALKED ABOUT EDUCATIONAL SPACES AND PLACES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY.

WE DO HAVE TO HAVE THE JOBS OTHER SIDE.

BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CREATIVE TALENT THAT IS HERE IN HAWAII, IS THERE ENOUGH DONE TO SUPPORT THEM AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN THAT REGARD?

>> WE DON'T HAVE THE SPACE.

SO I HAVE LIKE GREAT STUNT PEOPLE TRAINING EVERY NIGHT.

IN CALIFORNIA.

IN TEXAS.

ALL OVER.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A FACILITY HERE FOR OUR OWN STUNT PEOPLE TO HAVE.

AND TRAIN.

LIKE HAVING OWN GYM.

KIND OF THING.

SO JUST THAT.

THE OTHER THING TOO IS LIKE THINK SUCCESS IN PHASES.

CAN'T DO ONE BIG JOB.

PUT DOWN THE SWORDS GRAB THE RAKE AND WORK TOGETHER TRY TO CLEAN THIS PLACE UP.

FOR EXAMPLE, EVERYBODY HIRE US FOR WATER ALL OVER THE WORLD.

REGARDLESS IF IT'S HAWAII.

FLY US EVERYWHERE.

WE NEED ONE WATER TANK.

I WORKED IN THE BEST WATER TANKS IN MALTA MEXICO, IN NEW ZEALAND.

ALL OVER.

WE DON'T HAVE A GREAT WATER TANK.

WE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY HELD SOME OF MOVIES IN THE PAST HERE AND KEPT THE WHOLE SHOW HERE IF WE HAD ONE TANK.

OTHER PART TOO IS NOWADAYS, THIS ROOM, YOU GET THE WHOLE LED SCREEN.

IT'S MANDALORIAN.

AND YOU CAN DO AMAZING STUFF WITH JUST THAT.

AROUND SO MUCH PRODUCTIONS WOULD BE THERE AND YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING CONCEPTUALLY RIGHT THERE.

CONTROLLED AND DONE IN PHASES.

THEN FROM THERE, BUILD OUT.

>>Yunji: DIRECTOR, WHAT WE'RE REALLY HEARING NEED FOR MORE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TA UKD ABOUT THE IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND TALKED TALKED ABOUT KALAELOA FACILITY.

SORT OF APP TIGHT TO DO MORE BEYOND THAT OR DO WE HAVE TO STICK WHAT WE HAVE THE SHORT TERM?

>> TWO STUDIOS ONE-AND-A-HALF KIND OF.

PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING STUDIOS IN HAWAII.

I DON'T SEE THE APPETITE FROM THE LEGISLATURE OR EVEN THE ADMINISTRATION FOR BUILD ANOTHER BRAND NEW FACILITY.

BECAUSE WE'RE NOT, OUR TASK IS NOT GOING TO BE TO MANAGE THE STUDIO.

IT'S THERE FOR THEM TO USE.

SO I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING IN THE NEAR HORIZON.

BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT WHETHER THEY CAN AFFORD IT RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK.

ONE OF THEM IS IN U.H.

NEXT TO THE PROPERTY AT U.H.

WEST OAHU.

THERE IS ANOTHER UNDERSTANDING THAT SITE UP GOING UP TOWARDS WAHIAWA THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT TOO.

TO BUILD A STUDIO.

SO IF THAT HAPPENS GREAT.

BUT I WOULD THINK THAT THAT WOULDN'T BE IN THE APPETITE OF LEGISLATURE TO FUND RIGHT NOW.

I PERSONALLY WOULD RATHER HAVE THEM INCREASE TAX CREDIT THAN TRY TO BUILD A NEW STUD.

>> I REALLY DON'T THINK FUTURE STUDIO SHOULD BE PUBLIC STUDIO.

NO REASON WHY FUTURE STUDIO CAN'T BE PRIVATE STUDIO.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU LOOK AT ANY MAJOR MANUFACTURING FACILITY, THAT'S WHAT A STUDIO IS.

MANUFACTURING FACILITY.

IN UNITED STATES, PROJECT OVER $100 MILLION, ALL HAVE SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE.

IN BUILDING IT.

I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT TO BE SAID PRIVATE OPERATOR OPERATE THE NEXT STUDIO.

PERHAPS EVEN PRIVATIZE OTHER TWO STUDIOS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE.

REALLY NO REASON STATE BE PART OF THAT PARTICULAR PART OF INDUSTRY.

I'M NOT SAYING STATE DONE A BAD JOB WITH IT.

REMODELED A WAYS BACK.

REMODELED DIAMOND HEAD STUDIO.

WORKING DONE.

>> NOT OUR EXPERTISE.

REALLY ISN'T SOMETHING THAT STATE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN MANAGING.

BUT AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A ASSISTANCE.

ONE OF THE PROJECTS WENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND ASKED FOR EXEMPTIONS FROM SOME OF THE PROPERTY TAX BERT.

BURDEN CITY COUNCIL PASSED BILL THAT ALLOWED THAT EXEMPTIONS.

>> MAYOR BLANGIARDI PART OF OUR CONVERSATION.

AGAIN PRIORITY HAS BEEN TAX CREDIT AND INCENTIVES.

AND YOU CAN ASK FOR THE WORLD.

BUT WHAT IS THE PRIORITY?

AND WE'RE IN A TIME WHEN MONEY IS GOING TO BE REALLY TIGHT.

WE'RE DEALING WITH EVERYTHING FROM HEALTH CARE TO TEACHERS INCREASE IN WAGES AND SO FORTH.

YOU GOT TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF WHAT WE BELIEVE THAT THIS STATE CAN AFFORD.

WE GOT TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.

WHEN THE ASK COMES FROM THE INDUSTRY, IT'S MORE ON THE TAX CREDITS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TOWARDS.

AS WELL AS INCENTIVES WE GOT TO HONE IN WHERE WE NEED TO BE NOT SO MUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE I CAN TELL YOU WENT DOWN TO NEW ZEALAND, BRIAN TALKED ABOUT THE WATER TANK.

SOMETHING YOU COULD LITERALLY PUT TOGETHER AND NOW, WHEN I GOT TO HEAR FLYING PEOPLE OUT.

TO DO TRAINING IN WATER TANK.

SOMETHING AGAIN, TOO, HAS BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.

AGAIN, TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE FORMAT OF HOW THEY'VE DONE IT THE ON THE RECYCLING PART OF IT.

NEEDS A LOT MORE EDUCATION.

AND OUR KULEANA TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING SO THEY HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING WHICH IS WHY THE SUPPORT BASE BEHIND THE COMMUNITIES NEEDS TO BE HAD AS WE EDUCATED PEOPLE ON THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, TRY TO KEEP LOCAL TALENT HERE.

AND CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS AS BEST AS WE CAN RESPECTFULLY.

IN HAWAII.

WE NEED TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT BASE AND PRIORITIZE NEEDS OF THE INDUSTRY ITSELF.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

RIGHT NOW.

>>Yunji: WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF THE TIME.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.

BESIDES BUYING MOVIE TICKETS WHAT CAN US REGULAR FOLKS DO TO HELP BRING FILM JOBS BACK?

>> START WRITING.

I THINK EVERYONE THEMSELVES HAS A STORY.

IF YOU ASK ANYBODY.

YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF FUNNY STORY, DRAMA STORY, WHATEVER, JUST START WRITING.

BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW, I MEAN, I LOOK AT MY HERO RIGHT NOW IS MAT KESSLER BUSY KNOW HIM FOR SO LONG, LOCAL BOY FROM KAHUKU, SURF ALL OF THAT BECAME ONE SCHOOL TEACHER ALL OF A SUDDEN GOT INTO WRITING AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND HOW TO CREATE MORE MAT KESSLERS.

THEY'RE OUT THERE.

PEOPLE THAT JUST WRITE.

DO STORE.

>> IF YOU NEED HELP, CALL BECAUSE DO ONE STORY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE INVEST IN FOR ME MYSELF I GOT EQUIPMENT, STUFF AND I MEAN, LIMITED TIME.

BUT AT LEAST I CAN GUIDE PEOPLE AND HELP THEM FILM THEIR PROJECT.

PAULA FUGA KUKIN A.I.

PASSION PROJECT.

DID THAT AND LOVED IT.

KUKINI.

MORE OF THOSE REAL JUST INDEPENDENT, DOWN IN THE DIRT AND EVERYBODY GETTING INVOLVED AND HELP.

SNY LOVE THAT.

I LOVE THAT.

THING YOU SO MUCH.

MAHALO FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS• SENATOR LYNN DECOITE AND DIRECTOR OF DBEDT, JAMES TOKIOKA, AND UHERO SENIOR RESEARCHER SUMNER LA CROIX, AND WATERMAN, PRODUCER, AND STUNT COORDINATOR BRIAN KEAULANA.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, AROUND THE STATE AND GLOBE, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN INCREASE IN THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF FLASH FLOODS.

WHAT CAN WE DO HERE IN HAWAII TO PREPARE FOR SERIOUS RAIN CONDITIONS?

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI‘I.

ALOHA!

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