JUSTIN KIMATA : Writer & Director
Born and raised in Hawaii, Justin will be entering his senior year at the University of Hawaii at Manoa this fall. He is an ACM (Academy of Creative Media) major and music minor. Justin has worked on multiple professional film sets and has worked as a production employee at PBS Hawaii. Most recently, he directed a documentary short depicting the life of renowned opera singer Laurie Rubin which went on to screen at the Hawaii International Film Festival and the Made in Hawaii Film Festival. Justin looks forward to telling stories that surround film’s less explored topics. He is currently in the preproduction stages for a capstone film that he will be directing this coming semester entitled "Shalom".
ERICK MELANSON : Director of Photography
Erick is a recent graduate of the ACM program at UH Manoa looking forward to beginning a career in cinematography. Originally from Massachusetts, he always loved visiting Hawaii and has lived here for the past five years. Becoming a part of the local filmmaking community on Oahu has been one of his most rewarding experiences since moving. He won the award of Best Comedy for his film Rap’s Maps last year at the ACM showcase.
ZACHARY SMITH : Producer
Zachary is a recent graduate of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa after transferring from Wesleyan University in 2015. A Creative Media major and American Studies minor, Zachary has been passionate about film and culture since high school and hopes to pursue screenwriting. He has worked on numerous ACM sets as both Assistant Director and Producer.
DEBBIE KWON : Producer
Born and raised in Hawaii, Debbie will be entering her final semester as an ACM major at UH Manoa. She is currently animating most of her films but is passionate about directing live-action films as well. This is her first project as a co-producer and hopes to gain as much experience as possible for her future films.
KELCI MURAKAMI : Production Designer
Kelci is a recent graduate who majored in both Japanese and ACM at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Kelci hopes to further her film education on the mainland. While editing is her main passion, she loves to learn about the other various roles that go into film production. This is her first time as a production designer.
CHRISTIAN LEE : Assistant Director
Christian Lee is an aspiring filmmaker born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He currently attends the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s ACM program and one day hopes to make his own independent short film. He has found joy in working as an Assistant Director on countless short films at the University of Hawaii including, Lulu in the Summer, The Father, and Walls. He has also been a Production Assistant on many professional sets including Mo’o, A Simple Man, Bank of Hawaii, and Other People.
KYLE MOTONAGA : Sound Recordist
Kyle Motonaga was born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii. He grew up on the east side of the island in Kāneʻohe, away from the big city. Now, he is a senior at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is working towards a degree in creative media intending to write and direct in the film industry. Kyle has made a short documentary titled Skating is (my) Life which first premiered at the Honolulu Museum of Art’s HI Sk8 Films showcase and then at the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival in 2018. The next year, he premiered his experimental horror short film, Roommates, at the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival. Kyle made both of these films with no crew and no budget. Currently, he is in the post-production process of a new short film he is directing titled Good Father. Kyle has also gained on-set experience as an art department assistant for a Hawaiʻi based independent feature film titled I Was a Simple Man.
LESLIE DAM : Assistant Camera
Leslie is a transfer student from Sacramento, California, and an ACM major at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. Since moving, he has worked on many productions within the ACM and the local film community. Leslie hopes to tell stories that bring tears and laughter to everyone as well as inspire change for a greater tomorrow.
