Aloha Performing Arts Company

Sunday, April 5

Presented by The Big Island Film Office

Indie Film / Workshop: 'All for Melissa' & 'Chief'

At the Aloha Theatre
Sunday April 5, 2009 12:00pm-4:00pm

Open Seating (No Assigned Seats)
Tickets Available at the door
$8, and this includes the screening of both films and the workshop

ALL FOR MELISSA Screens at the Aloha Theater in Kainaliu

Fans of independent film and filmmakers will not want to miss a special screening of the Hawaii produced independent feature, ALL FOR MELISSA, written, produced, and directed by Gerard Elmore. The film will screen at the Aloha Theater in Kainaliu on Sunday, April 5 at noon. After the screening, a mini-workshop in film production will be held by Elmore, and the lead actor and actress in the film, Milan Tresnak and Jane Benney. The hugely popular and successful locally produced short, “Chief” will also be screened. Elmore and cast will then head down to Borders in Kona for a “sign in” for the DVD of his film at 5 pm.

Set in Hawaii, ALL FOR MELISSA tells the story about a young man whose obsession for a Hollywood starlet leads him on a quest to meet her and win her heart, but in the process, he discovers he may already be in love with another girl, his best friend.

Shot by the Oahu based Academy of Creative Media instructor and award winning cinematographer Anne Misawa, “Melissa” follows Jared Rogers, a 22 year old dreamer stuck in a dead-end office job and his fixation with actress Melissa Williams. Unrequited love, menehunes, and aspiring filmmakers figure in the film, which stars Milan Tresnak and Jane Benney as the leads, and Andy Bumatai, Kimberly Estrada, and Maxwell Smart in supporting roles.

ALL FOR MELISSA is the first full length feature produced by Oahu based Gerard Elmore. It was an Official Showcase Selection at the Discovery and Distribution Festival, and an Official Selection at both last year’s Hawaii International Film Festival and the Cinema Paradise Film Festival.

After the screening, Elmore will be joined on stage by lead actors Milan Tresnak and Jane Benney and marketing and distribution head for the film, Mericia Palma, to engage the audience in a mini workshop on the making of the film and issues related to independent feature film production, with a special focus on local production. The acclaimed Oahu produced short film, “Chief,” will screen after the workshop. “Chief” was screened at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, and won awards at the LA Short Film Festival and at the Nashville Film Festival.

At 5 pm, all of the filmmakers will be at Borders in Kona to take more questions and sign autographs for the DVD of the film, which is available at Borders stores in both Kona and Hilo. Ticket prices are $8, and this includes the screening of both films and the workshop.

This event is sponsored by The Aloha Theatre and The Big Island Film Office.