In the Wake of “Lost” Comes, Hopefully, “Hawaii Five-0″

Hawaii markets itself as “Hollywood’s Tropical Backlot” and the film and television industry has brought a significant amount of business to the islands since CBS began shooting the original Hawaii Five-0 drama there in 1968. According to state estimates, a typical TV series augments the local economy to the tune of $70 million per year; Hawaii Five-0 was credited with a $100 million contribution.

When Jack Lord’s long-running show came to a halt in 1980, Magnum, P.I. headed for the islands and remained there until 1988. It wasn’t until Lost debuted in 2004 that things began to look up again for the Aloha State.

Lost has pumped an estimated $400 million into Hawaii’s economy during its six-season run, which comes to a close this May. The ABC production made use of the services of roughly 1,000 local vendors. Any show profiting from the state’s film tax incentive program under Act 88 – which came into effect in July 2006 – is required to spend money in Hawaii. Under Act 88, television and film productions can claim a 15% tax credit return for filming on Oahu (20% on neighboring islands), with a minimum spend of only $200,000 required for commercials and movies.

Although shooting in Hawaii is expensive and there are cheaper locations available, Hawaii offers a good infrastructure and a qualified crew base, not to mention the authentic exotic flavor that is unique to the islands. Oahu’s state-run Hawaii Film Studio at the foot of the now extinct Diamond Head crater underwent a $7.3 million renovation in 2006 and now lists a 16,500 sq.ft. air conditioned soundstage, a new production office building and a new construction mill among its facilities. It was the home of the original Hawaii Five-0, Magnum, P.I. and is the current home of Lost.

When the film studio’s soundstage is unavailable, typically a vacant warehouse is rented. The new Hawaii Five-0 pilot production will be using sets built in a warehouse in the Mapunapuna area of Honolulu.

The Island Film Group and Hawaii Media Inc. offer the largest privately owned studio complex in Hawaii, the Halawa Valley Studios with two soundstages totaling 7,500 sq.ft.

‘Hawaii Five-0′ May Step into Economic Gap of Lost Departure’

“People have been asking me, how do you follow ‘Lost’; how do you follow a global phenomenon?” said Walea Constantinau, Honolulu Film Office commissioner. “I think we have the answer: We bring back one of the most beloved series of all time with some of the best creative minds in the industry.”

“Five-0″ aired from 1968 to 1980. In the years that followed, rumors routinely arose predicting its revival. In 1997, CBS filmed a pilot in Hawai’i starring Gary Busey — although not as McGarrett. It never aired.

Last fall, however, CBS hired a pair of writers skilled at crafting new versions of old favorites: Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who had teamed up on feature films that include “Star Trek” and “Mission Impossible III.”

The possibilities are exciting to ponder, said Margaret Doversola, who worked on the original series as the producer’s assistant and now serves as a casting director for the remake.

“It’s very action-oriented, which makes it very ‘Hawaii Five-0′-like,” she said. “Reading the script, I could see McGarrett standing there.”

The show will keep its familiar, brassy theme music, as well as McGarrett’s familiar phrase, “Book him, Danno,” but Doversola still wants to know what uniform the cops will be wearing: McGarrett’s coat and tie, or an aloha shirt?

CBS wants local flavor, she said. “The producers want to use as many local actors as they can,” she said. “Maybe someone wasn’t quite right for the pilot, but they are all going to get a chance to work because (the producers) … want to be here for a long time.”

Despite Doversola’s optimism, nothing is guaranteed. CBS will decide in May whether it wants to add the pilot and a “Hawaii Five-0″ series to its fall lineup.

“I think Hawai’i needs it now,” Doversola said. “Not just for us working here, but for all of us. It is public relations we can’t buy. And people are dying to see it again.”

[...]

Additional sources:

• Pacific Business News: “‘Lost’ Meant Business for Many Local Hawaii Companies and Employees”
• Honolulu Star Bulletin: “Isle Film Czars Wave Tax Lure at Hollywood”
• Lost Virtual Tour
• Hawaii Film Blog
• Tim Ryan’s Reel Hawaii

[tags]alex o’loughlin, alex o’lachlan, hawaii five-0, hawaii five-o, steve mcgarrett, cbs[/tags]