the road we took

Parts Of The Same Circle

The road we took to get here…

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The Fast And The Furious

In 2006 after being asked to write a movie by veteran local actors Dann Seki, Allan Okubo, and others (because they heard he could write scripts “fast”), maniacal writer Eric Nemoto takes story concepts offered by the group and writes the 120 page “Parts Of The Same Circle” script in NINE days. The original story is basically intact and comprises over 85% of what became the actual movie that is present today. The other portions were additional scenes written by Eric during the course of filming when it was decided to expand various storylines. NOTE: There could have been more, but the group finally handcuffed him and pad-locked his laptop.

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Serenergy

“Parts Of The Same Circle” began with a different group. Allan Okubo, Dann Seki, and Eric Nemoto was part of that initial group. Eventually, Denny Hironaga and Jim Tharp came to join in. The five coined a made-up word to symbolize their company, “Serenergy,” a combination of the word “Serendipity” and “Synergy.” This was because they looked upon their “coming together” as a form of happy accident (serendipity) and the fact that they complemented each other very well (synergy). Since then, they have approached the production of “Parts” in this manner, accepting developments – good or bad - as a sign of how to proceed.

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Planning

In the beginning the team spends all of 2007 periodically meeting, exploring whether they can make the movie, discussing various strategies.

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More Planning

The team continue to meet in 2008. They seem to be making definite headway towards eventually making their movie.

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“Obake”

In 2008, Denny Hironaga films and directs Edward Sakamoto’s “Obake Neko” and casts future “Parts” actors Amy Tamaribuchi, as the ill-fated and tormented Kazue, Eric Nemoto, as her sadistic adulterous husband Tamotsu, and Nani Morita, as the seductress Sumi. The experience eventually leads Eric to recruit Denny to co-direct “Parts” with him, where Denny will eventually become a partner with Serenergy Productions. Ironically, “Parts” is completed before “Obake.” However, the company intends to complete post production of the movie which is based on the old plantation legend of the “ghost-cat.” It also features Janice Terukina and other “Parts” actors, Shiro Kawai and Eric Mita. Watch for it.

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Ideas Of Fundraising

In 2009 the group considers a variety of fundraising activities. At various times they consider: 1) staging “Parts” as a fundraiser play; 2) producing television commercials for a political candidate; and 3) making presentations to solicit investors. They even entered a contest to create a commercial about wine to possibly win the first place prize money. They didn’t win (in fact the contest was canceled) but the commercial was hilarious, and, it introduced the group to veteran actor Jim Tharp. You can catch the commercial on You Tube (see “I love wine”) where Jim is hounded by his Obake-faced wife, Karen Hironaga.

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Back To Planning

Having not won the contest that never was, 2009 sees the group go back to having very detailed, very long winded discussions of why a movie “can’t” be filmed on a low budget, over a long time frame, with very little crew, etc., etc., etc.

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The Epiphany

In 2010, Eric Nemoto relays a simple revelation to the group. “In order to get anyone to give you money to make movies, you need to make your first movie on your own dime.” Eric, who founded The Actors’ Group (TAG) in 1993 as a small band of passionate actors that eventually evolved over time - through the contributions of many - into one of Honolulu’s most successful community theaters, advises the team that their production company can be created on much the same basis. In other words, if they wanted to make movies, they were wasting time talking about it. They should merely start producing the movie and then invite those who shared their passion to join them. In effect, to just do it!

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“We’ll Finance It On Our Own”

The team “buy in” (so to speak) to Eric’s suggestion that everyone should contribute the needed financing from their own pockets. But even so the group starts to question the logic. Of the over 90 feature length scripts he had previously written, why must they do the one that features so many actors/extras and requires so many different locations? Perhaps they should select a different script and do a minimalist movie with few characters in a single location? “No, Parts is the story that brought us together,” Eric says, “So it will be the movie we do.” Thus it’s decided, “Parts Of The Same Circle” will be filmed on a production budget financed by the partners themselves!

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“Parts” Production Budget

Of course… this was not saying a whole lot.

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The Natural

The original script for “Parts” had the lead character of “Kats” patterned after the late Dr. Mitsuo “Mits” Aoki, who was an expert in the field of death and dying and who helped many through the process of dying for decades. Believing this central lead character would likely be the most difficult to find, the team thought to reserve this casting for last. But on the first day of open casting, 10-time Po`okela recipient Jim Tharp walked in the door and was the very first actor to read for a part. Though he auditioned for another role, once he was done it was very clear. On August 21, 2010, mere days after the passing of Dr. Aoki (August 19, 2010), “Parts” had found its pivotal lead actor. Jim would eventually join the team as a partner and the rest, as they say, is history.

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Recruiting The Talent

Once formally together, the five partners, very connected within the local performing arts community, spread the word about casting the rest of the ‘parts’ for “Parts” and between them they are able to cast every role with the actors they wanted. Eventually EVERY actor who was either recruited or who attended and stayed for the open auditions was cast in some role. This was in line with their belief in “serenergy.” They wanted to cast everyone who turned out.

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The First Reading

In January 2011, cast members gathered to do the one (and ONLY) group reading of the script. We parted that day with the message that the next time we’d meet would be at the movie premiere. Well, HERE WE ARE!

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Birds Of A Feather

Denny Hironaga and Eric Nemoto co-directed “Parts Of The Same Circle.” While both would collaborate on every scene, they mutually agreed that Denny would call the “shots” on the camera work and Eric would coach the actors.

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“We Have To Meet Real Soon To Lock In Our Next Shoot Dates Because After Today We Got NOTHING!”

RELENTLESS Allan Okubo was the irresistible force behind the group maintaining its grueling shoot schedule. His bull dog tenacity comes in handy as he coordinates the finding of 60 DIFFERENT SHOOTING LOCATIONS and always gave his famous quote before a current shoot was even completed.

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Mind-Boggling Coordination

Dann Seki took the lead with the immense task of not only casting the major roles but then to subsequently communicate with every actor and background artist alike to ensure that everyone arrives at the designated shoot site at the appropriate time. This is a MIND-BOGGLING responsibility as the talent pool for “Parts” eventually reaches 250 in number. And oh yeah, heaven help the poor soul who canceled last minute or who didn’t show up at all (and fortunately we could count these on one hand) for they were given the “memo” from Seki the Sage about “professionalism.”

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What Happens When You Miss A Meeting

Jim Tharp is assigned the role of Craft Services Coordinator. The rest of the team laugh because they feel they really put one on him for “Who wants to do that eh?”

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They Would Eventually Come To Regret Their Decision

Jim’s standard menu.

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Not Your Usual Template For Success

Allan Okubo arrives 15 minutes early to every meeting. Denny Hironaga arrives 30 minutes late… and that’s on a good day.Eric Nemoto will “call” at exactly the time when the meeting should be starting and give some type of reason (all BS) as to why he’s not there.And Dann Seki sometimes comes early, sometimes gets there on time, and sometimes comes late… but everybody lets it go because he’s “Dann”… and nobody questions HIM.

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Kenji Becomes The Glue

Rounding out this eclectic group of personalities is Jim Tharp, whose frequently off-the-wall humor binds the group together through thick and thin. In one classic moment, noticing that he is the only non-Asian in the group, Jim pronounces that he has changed his name to ‘Kenji’. The rest looked to him, then to each other, then back to him…

“Oooookay… ”

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A Journey Of 10,000 Miles Begins…

… with a single shoot. January 29, 2011, the first official shoot of “Parts Of The Same Circle.” Ironically, it involves Jim Tharp in one of the last scenes in the movie.

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Setting Up The Shot

Mike Ng and Denny frame Elissa Dulce.

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Roll Sound

Allan Okubo and Richard Tamashiro (pictured) were often the boom bearers. Dann Seki, Tracy Okubo, and Jim Tharp (on montage scenes when we didn’t need sound*) also assisted.

*Hey but don’t tell him, he doesn’t know, hee, hee, hee… 24 of 48

What Scene Is This?

With over 170 to do over an extended period of time, it’s sometimes difficult to remember and actually easy to forget. Here, Allan and Dann, gatekeepers of the script, realize that we’re actually doing the right scene.

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Examining The Back Story

Eric breaks down the scene and character of “Nicole” for Elissa Dulce.

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“Just One Last Time”

Near the end of every shoot, with all eyes trained on him for those seconds that seemed like hours, this was perfectionist Denny Hironaga’s usual response when every shot imaginable had already been taken from every possible angle. It was usually followed by a huge collective sigh and laughter by everyone on the set. Looking back we actually recall those wonderful moments quite nostalgically. (pause) NOT!!! Here, Denny and Mike Ng check the shot.

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Multi-Talented…

… Mike Ng worked on second camera. Turning down a feature role to help more behind the camera, he was what everyone looked forward to seeing walk on-site. For when Mike was on the shoot, everything went faster, smoother. And he didn’t really lose out on an acting opportunity. Already a veteran of many independent films and Hawaii TV series, he landed a role as one of the submarine crew members in ABC’s upcoming television series “Last Resort,” filmed in Hawaii.

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Film A Movie About Death And You Can’t Avoid The Grave Yard

Many scenes for “Parts” were filmed in some of Honolulu’s spookiest places, and many at night, and often past “Midnight.” And did we experience some strange things?

Yes.

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Those Endless Night Shoots

It seemed every week there were night shoots. The team would gather at the location site in the early evening, spend an hour setting up the shot, rehearse the scene, and off they would go. Here they discuss a scene shot at Kumu Kahua Theatre.

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More Than The Director’s Wife

Karen Hironaga plays dysfunctional Meg Tsunoda. And lest anyone think she got the role by sleeping with “Parts” director, Denny Hironaga, consider the fact that her previous acting stint was a featured role in the highly acclaimed “The Descendants.” Here she poses with director Alexander Payne at last year’s HIFF, and “talks story” with “fellow actor” George Clooney at the Hollywood premiere. In LA, Karen (and Denny) got to walk the red carpet and Karen actually posed for the Paparazzi. Of course, all that glamour didn’t change her. During a spare moment, she asked if she could have the sign from George Clooney’s portable chair (with his name on it) to keep as a souvenir.

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The Endless Stream Of Background Artists

Over 200 extras were utilized in the filming of “Parts” and each and every one of them we have tried to show in the movie itself. Of course… some of the shots may be fleeting, but it was our intention to have every extra who helped us appear at least once in the movie. We thank all of these wonderful people for giving of their time. Thanks also goes to Tracy Okubo, who was also an actor in “Parts,” for helping to recruit our background artists. Here, Eric rehearses the crowd at Ward’s Rafters.

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The Kahela Bay Shoot

A perfect day, a perfect shoot. Cheryl Bartlett got soaked at times but she was a trooper. Speaking about troopers, Eric Mita, waterman extraordinaire, did take after take of swimming, paddling, and diving in the middle of the bay.

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The Wonderful Folk Of Arcadia

A number of scenes were shot at the Arcadia Retirement Residence. The residents there treated us like family and even treated us to meals and refreshments! Thank you Ethie Mendonca and all the residents. We hope you had a great time. We did!

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The Ghost Tour Gang

No group of actors had more fun than the Ghost Tour Gang. We traveled to some of Honolulu’s spookiest places and never had more fun doing it.

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The Odyssey Is Completed

The incredible shoot schedule is finally completed on December 13, 2011 with, appropriately enough, a shot of the beautiful Hawaiian setting sun.

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Relishing The Moment

Looking back, the “Parts” team had essentially answered their own personal challenge. A year earlier they looked in the mirror and saw only themselves and a few others to help take on what was thought to be impossible, and basically shot the movie on their own. They became their own crew taking on all of the necessary tasks such as PA, sound, lights, electrical, catering, set decorator, make up, craft services, clapper, focus-puller, script supervisor, prop wrangler, etc., etc., etc. Every one of them had all been part of shoots where there are a myriad of people handling every need imaginable. A great source of pride for them was that they proved what can be done for less. Yeah!

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A Gargantuan Task

As the man now charged with editing “Parts Of The Same Circle,” Denny Hironaga is then faced with paying the price for his obsessive need to keep shooting. “Parts” eventually accumulates over 35 hours of footage for which he has to review, compile, and eventually piece together our story. He charges into this GARGANTUAN task like a mad man, editing during every free time he can spare (since like everyone else he does have a day job you know). He maintains this manic schedule over the course of a number of months to eventually carve out the movie that is present today.

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Imagine Listening To 500 Songs To Create A Soundtrack

That’s about what music supervisor Wayne Paakaula had to do when you consider that he had to listen to the submissions of 15 very talented artists encompassing 125 original compositions many times over which were contributed to this project. Wayne listened to each song over and over , taking a lot of time to think about the placement of the music into the selected scenes. He really wanted the music to not just stand out, but to complement the story as well as to maintain the emotional content of every scene. The music then had to somehow segue the scene smoothly into the next. Our gratitude goes out to the many musical artists who supported this film with their talent, creativity, and inspiration.

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The Musical Artists Whose Music Flows Through “Parts”

Clockwise From Top LeftJohn Keawe, Kevin MacLeod, Lenny Keys, Hiyah Fire, and Starla Marie.

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Ross Becomes The Great Equalizer

Ross Okamura, of Audio Bytes, Inc., was the movie’s sound designer extraordinaire. He received the work of Denny and the “Parts” team that took a “year” to film and which was edited over a period of “months,” and in WEEKS polished off the sound, added ambient audio effects, inserted the music selected by Wayne, and generally readied it as best as he could for the big screen. Of course, it wasn’t without numerous challenges since Denny kept revising things and Eric snuck in an added scene (“WHAT?!”). But through it all he provided his remarkable talents to help complete the movie that is seen today. Here, Ross takes out his frustrations by strangling his dog Toto.

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The Final Tally

One full year of filming. 176 separate scenes. 60 different locations. 250 actors and extras. A shooting schedule that took the equivalent of 36 8-hour days (four days ahead of schedule) that also came in under budget. It produced 35 hours of footage, hours of round-the-clock editing, and 15 artists who submitted 125 songs that served as the pool from which its soundtrack was created, of which the music of five artists was utilized. When considering every supporter, over 300 people have been involved in the making of “Parts” in one form or another. But even so, there are a few we’d like to thank for their contributions. These include…

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Thank You Sharon Davis

Sharon handled payroll for “Parts” which you’d think wouldn’t be much considering the great majority of actors gave their time and talent for free. However, the production operated as a SAG ultra-low budget project and therefore all SAG actors were required to be paid the daily minimum SAG rate. Sharon did the books, assured that all of the SAG actors were appropriately paid, and handled all the paperwork. She also appeared as an extra in a wedding scene (everyone wants to be a star).

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Thank You Bill Schaedel

Washington state resident and frequent Hawaii visitor Bill Schaedel handled the company’s tax filings and advised the partners on financial strategies for building the company. Not evasive of getting a turn on camera himself (another ham), he appears in “Parts” as one of the members of the mythical vigilante group known as the Guardian Squad. Thank you Bill. The future is just beginning.

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Thank You Bill Orihuela

Bill Orihuela allowed the “Parts” team to film at his beautiful house in Kahala, also at his company warehouse in Pearl City, and even opened up his home for meetings and preview screenings. His support was basically invaluable throughout the shooting schedule. Thanks Bill! You are a scholar, a gentleman, and a true Renaissance Man!

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Thank You Gary Okuda

Gary and Marlyn Okuda allowed the “Parts” team the use of their house for many scenes, and even fed the crew when we were there! Gary, an attorney with Leu & Okuda, also provided legal advice, covered many printing costs (e.g. scripts for actors), and was even an extra himself. Thank you Gary! We couldn’t have done it without you (for real).

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And Of Course Thanks To All Of YOU

The response to our premiere has been nothing short of phenomenal. Your attendance here today has exceeded our highest expectations and will go a long way to helping us continue filmmaking in 2013. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Stay in touch with us as we grow as a company.

www.serenergyproductions.com

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And Now On With The Show

“Parts Of The Same Circle” can be considered a PG-13 movie. There is some profanity, a few scenes with domestic conflict and implied violence, and as the story revolves around the theme of death there are moments depicting people going through the grieving process. There is no food, drink or smoking allowed in the auditorium. In consideration of others, please do not talk while the movie is playing, silence all portable devices, and if you have a child who becomes restless, please take the child outside for a moment. And as there are a number of group parties, if possible, please kokua and rearrange your seating to allow everyone to sit together. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Thank you and we hope you enjoy the show!

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