Amateur cinematographers on the Big Island looking for exposure will have an opportunity to share their versions of the world around them during a new Hawaii television series that showcases local talent.
The show, called “Everything Hawaii,” premiers at 7:30 p.m. May 5 on OC16.
Spearheaded by Farish Media Inc., a production company owned by Kailua-Kona residents Mason and Regina Farish, the show will feature videos of Hawaii, its people and culture that are created by local, independent video producers and filmmakers. Each episode will highlight content that demonstrates what is unique and beautiful about Hawaii.
Regina Farish said her husband first came up with the idea about two years ago while in the shower — where all his fresh ideas seem to come to him.
“He was just thinking how there are so many producers out there creating good video and film work, but often the only platform for displaying their work is YouTube, which is powerful, but you can get lost in the millions of videos that are out there,” she explained.
Farish said her husband knew that television would be an excellent medium for amateur artists to display their work. He thought that creating a 30-minute series might be a little far-fetched for the average video maker, and that a series that exhibits multiple works would be a better idea.
“We can take the work of multiple producers and assemble it together into a cohesive, entertaining TV series that reaches the whole state, and it’s a collaborative effort,” she said of her husband’s thought process.
And after two years, the show is finally becoming a reality.
Kawika Singson, a photographer from Kona, said he is one of the first to be featured on the series. His video, found on everythinghawaii.tv, displays a bait ball swimming peacefully in the Pacific. For him, photography and video making started as a hobby and has morphed into a way of life. He now has fans and support from people all around the world.
“I’m looking to encourage people who may think there’s nothing to do to take a step back and really look at the bigger picture,” he said.
He thinks “Everything Hawaii” will be an exciting outlet for local artists.
“It’s great. A lot of people are good at what they do and fly under radar. It’s a good opportunity to have people see what they do,” he said.
And showing off what you do is exactly what the series is all about, Farish said. Submissions should include personal stories and various footage that really displays what life in Hawaii is like.
“We love personal stories. One, for instance, is about a Hawaii woodworker and his passion for woodworking and how he and his family replant as they harvest koa,” she said.
Farish also encourages stories about kupuna, skydiving, the ocean, Hawaiian culture and surfing, just as long as the video tells a story.
“We want anything unique and uplifting and entertaining about Hawaii that’s filmed in Hawaii,” she said.
She’s also encouraging film students to submit footage, and is excited to announce that one episode will showcase old Hawaiian music videos. They’ve also received sci-fi and fantasy submissions, she said.
The maximum clip length for submissions is five minutes and the minimum length is 15 seconds.
OC16, where the show will be featured, is a statewide TV network received by all Oceanic Time Warner Cable customers, including basic cable customers. On the Big Island, the show is visible on channel 12 and 1012 for the HD version. All archived episodes of the TV shows can be seen via On-Demand on channel 14.
The production team for the show includes Regina Farish, Mason Farish, Mike Peele and Billy Gienger.
“Everything Hawaii” is produced in Kailua-Kona with contributions from producers across the state including Devin Hume and Abbey Koshak of The Love Waters in Kona, Jon Spenser of Eha Pictures on Maui, Matt Lovein of Holualoa Gallery in Holualoa, Ali Gollestani of Gollestani Imagery in Kona and Josh Lambus of the Maka Project in Kona.
Visit everythinghawaii.tv for a sample of the show and submission guidelines or call Regina Farish at 329-1655 for more information.
Show times:
Monday at 6 a.m.
Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday at 1:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Thursday at 1 p.m.
Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.
Sundays at 12:30 a.m. and 6 a.m.