FINDING OHANA
Directed By Jude Weng
Production Designed by Nigel Phelps
Finding Ohana was envisioned as a new take on The Goonies. While it is an adventure movie it also deals with the complexities of the family dynamic. Pili is in a race to become the top geocacher in her Greenpoint NY group. She of course triumphs and is celebrated in a very smart ceremonycomplete with banners, hats, shirts and gift bag goodies.
The action then shifts to Hawai'i where Pili is reunited with her beleagured Grandfather. He is in poor health and financially screwed. Collection letters fill every crevice of his worn out home. When I create such documents I make sure they are ready for their close up. Original copy, dates and addresses are needed.
Hawai'ians are proud of their culture, so we made bumper stickers tha reflect real interests and lingo.
The rental car company is spoof on Alamo Rental. Ala mo'o translates roughly to Road Lizard in Hawai'ian.
After finding a treasure map of sorts, Pili and company soon take off to the Kualoa Ranch, a real area that is famous for for being the backdrop to many films including Jurassic Park. We borrowed from their existing branding and amped it up. The signs were dimensional and hand finished to give them a rustic look. The filmed here signs were hand tooled and made to look like carved wood.
Mobile devices have become a necessity in films over the last 5 to 6 years in particular. Once an isolated item that was often hidden or omitted from the frame is now used as a storytelling device. The task of creating original graphics, operating systems and apps has become something the graphic designer is now heavily involved with. Graphics seen by the actors in real time create more authentic action. Finish work done with an App Tech creates real looking animations reactive to touch.
Often times I am required to do supplemental story telling with my graphics. A picture may be worth 1000 words, but a personal letter from a character's friend reminding him that his bar tab is long overdue can be worth 10 minutes of screen time... which is worth more than 1000 words.
NWC