Summer Production Update BY TIM RYAN Executive Editor
S
ummer 2014 has been a slow one for productions filming in Hawaii.
Ask any of the state’s four film commissioners and you’ll likely hear the oft-repeated reasoning that “production is cyclical.” And they’re right. The production downturn doesn’t have an expiration date yet because no major productions are on Hawaii’s horizon. Steven Spielberg did bring his billion-dollar franchise to Hawaii when Jurassic World filmed on Oahu this past spring for four weeks, then moved to Kauai for two weeks of
Hawaii Five-O returns for its fifth season. Shooting began in July on Oahu. PHOTO BY TIM RYAN
Reality show Bad Girls Club 13 filmed three days on Oahu, spending $80,000. PHOTO BY TIM RYAN
June shooting (see page 25). But that’s it for major feature films. Of course, the production gift that keeps on giving—a network television series—is back for its fifth season with Hawaii Five-0 filming 25 episodes on Oahu. On the first day of filming in July, executive producer and creator Peter Lenkov sent an e-mail to every cast and crewmember thanking them for the quality of their work and aloha spirit. Lenkov wrote that the Hawaii community had embraced the production. He is especially touched by the huge turnout for the now annual Sunset on the Beach Hawaii Five-0 season premiere every September. Lenkov said he knew some crew started season four with concerns about the show’s future. “But a year later we stand on the eve of a new season with the confidence of being
a bonafide hit in our new time slot, Friday nights,” he said. “The order of 25 episodes confirms it. It is a major show of confidence from a studio and network that have the utmost respect for you and the hard work you put in week to week.” Lenkov conceded that season five “will be our longest and toughest, but I know we will shine as always.” He continued, “Let’s take good care of each other and this franchise. We all have the privilege of keeping this torch lit, sharing your islands and culture with the world is a huge responsibility. Always remember… we are not just a crew, but ohana. Welcome home.” Lenkov has said there were many doubters when CBS announced it was moving Five-0 from a highly competitive time slot on Mondays to Friday nights, which some critics have called a graveyard for television.
But Lenkov never stopped believing in his show’s power to draw fans. “I think the press started talking about shows going to the Friday night scrap heap,” he said. “For me that was never the case. But every time you make a move, you hope your audience follows you.” Five-0 finished its fourth season by winning the hour with 9.21 million viewers, capping an unblemished run of ratings wins that started with the season four premiere September 27. According to Nielsen ratings released by CBS, the show averaged 9.71 million viewers, which is lower than the average for season one (11.24 million) and season two (10.66 million), but higher than the season three average of 9.02 million. The steady ratings, along with the well-received casting additions of Chi McBride and Jorge Garcia, are what Lenkov called three proud moments of the season. This year, it’s rumored that Carol Burnett will make a return visit on the show and possibly golfer Michele Wie. Also guest starring this season is LOST vet William Mapother, who played creepy island resident Ethan Rom. Mapother is the ninth LOST alum to appear on Hawaii Five-0. Others include current co-star Daniel Dae Kim, and guest stars Terry O’Quinn, Jorge Garcia, Henry Ian Cusick, Sam Anderson, Tania Raymonde and François Chau. In other production news, Oahu got two little-known reality shows for a few days filming each. Bad Girls Club 13 by Bunim Murray Productions filmed three days on Oahu. The production budget was $100,000 with
hawaiifilmandvideo.com • ISSUE THREE 2014
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