Moon Yun goes video crazy with Kevin Smith, Ken Watanabe and the AMERICANESE peoples!

Aloha, Moon Yun signing in from Hawaii…   I spent the past few days working on the video journals of the Kevin Smith, Ken Watanabe press conferences at the Hawaii International Film Festival, and of Hawaii-raised director Eric Byler and his AMERICANESE screening and Q & A.   It was truly a labor of love and a lot of fun. I have to thank Titus Chong for filming and editing for me. I found Kevin Smith to be modest for such a talented guy. He’s funny as hell and great at adlibbing but I didn’t realize he swore so much in person. I guess “ET” cuts them out.   Here’s the link to Kevin Smith video:

Mr. Watanabe (LAST SAMURAI) was supposed to appear for a public seminar but he fell gravely ill. Hope he comes this way again. He’s to die for!   Here’s the link to Mr. Watanabe video:

Byler holds a special place in Hawaii since he grew up here. I believe every one of his teacher showed up for his screening of AMERICANESE. And like one of his fans said, his movies have an excellent way of showing the intricacies of man/woman relationships.   Here’s the link to Byler’s video:

I also wanted to recognize special short films and notable documentary.   When I heard that Hawaii Filmmaker Robert Pennybacker was going to have a film again in this year’s HIFF, I was eager to see it. His movies are a feast of visual delights and full of symbolism. In SUITE FOR 2, two lovers are in a hotel room laughing, playing, and conversing. They only have a sheet wrapped around them, they are in bed, and their relationship may promise not to go beyond this hotel room. It is just a moment, not a continuum. Pennybacker says he has no plans for a feature. That’s too bad. I would’ve loved to see one.   I’ve grown accustomed to seeing Gerard Elmore’s work. Most of his shorts are about goofy characters in unusual situations. But with his new 14-minute short titled BARRY, he’s found a new maturity in his filmmaking. His character is pathetic in his desperation to be liked. He is a drug dealer obsessed with cocaine and entranced with his client’s slutty girlfriend.   Each year, I’m always surprised by the cleverness of a short. This year it has to be THE ENEMY, a 10-minute short by Hanzo Hamamura. It is so hilarious. His character, Katsuo Shima, keeps calling himself the “Chosen One” from Japan and he walks around with a Japanese accent quick punching and jump kicking his way across Oahu. He finally gets his ass kicked and comes to a humiliating realization as to why he needs to disguise himself as someone else.   I also got to give a shout out to my friends who worked on SURVIVOR and INTRUDER. I can’t really write anything about Lena Kaneshiro (SURVIVOR) and Titus Chong (INTRUDER) because I helped them with publicity.   The film TIME AND TIDE (directors Julie Bayer and Josh Salzman) was honored with the Golden Orchid for Best Documentary, and Rob Stewart's documentary SHARKWATER received a Special Jury Prize.   Hope you enjoyed the video journals. Moon Yun signing out…