What does it take to make an engaging, educational short film? Turns out there’s a lot more to it than pointing a cell phone at some of your friends! Maui Hui Malama youth and staff learned that an eight-minute film can take months of planning, production, and post-production, several days each of filming and editing, and involve a dozen people or more when you consider all the different tasks and roles.
Maui Hui Malama provided resources to help former Baldwin High School senior Alan Louie plan and execute his Eagle Scout community service project to create a video educating Maui car buyers about electric vehicles. We connected him with professional filmmaker Wade Robson, who coached Alan through the entire process, including script writing, plot development, site-scouting, sound recording, and videography. MHM job and learning readiness coaches provided guidance as Alan developed a budget and schedule, recruited actors, and other production logistics. Our own electric vehicle even made a cameo appearance.
The video was designed specifically for young people, so that they would find it both entertaining and enlightening. It explains the pros and cons – and some of the idiosyncrasies – of electric vehicle ownership. Through this film, Alan fulfilled his requirements to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, and he is now enrolled in video production courses at UH Maui College.
Maui Hui Malama thanks our funders – Maui Economic Development Board Ke Alahele Education Fund, HEI/MECO, Maui County Office of Youth Services, Hawaii Community Foundation O‘io Fund – and our production partners Wade Robson, Baldwin High School Drama Club, and UH Maui College.