The Short List is a YOMYOMF Network series,  where we present short films we love every Friday at Noon EST.  For the month of September, we’re doing it kama’aina style, showcasing 4 award-winning and unique short films that were shot and produced all in Hawaii by locally born and raised filmmakers. So sit back, relax, snack on a spam musubi and enjoy THE SHORT LIST: Hawaii Edition!

We’ve reached out to the filmmakers with 5 Questions to see what’s up with the filmmaker since the production of their short film. It’s a way for them to revisit their work and get an update on their next projects. You can view all The Short List films here.

This week’s first short from our Hawaii film series comes from filmmaker Michael Inouye. We ask him 5 Questions to see what’s up.

1. How did you come up with the concept for this short?

This film was made for a contest called Showdown in Chinatown.  The prompt for this contest was to produce a short about “inspiration”.  I approached my good friend Aly Ishikuni and asked if I could dramatize her life as a talented singer-songwriter for the film.

2. Any challenges or setbacks during the production?

The biggest challenge for this film was directing, producing, operating, and catering all at the same time, having had little experience doing any of these things.  I’d just bought a 7D, and I was literally learning how to use the camera as we were filming.

3. Any funny stories from the making of this film?

I ordered “Mackie the Cat” from some props department in LA, but when it arrived I realized that the bottom was rock solid and pancake flat.  We had to wrap a towel around the bottom to give it more depth.

The underwater rock was too heavy for Aly to pick up on her own, so for every cut I had to dive down and place the rock in her lap and then swim quickly out of frame.  It took about 30 attempts to get the right shot.  It was quite a workout for both of us.

4. Where has your film played? Festivals or other places around the world?

It played at the Showdown in Chinatown: Championship Round and won, which allowed it to be screened at the Hawaii International Film Festival.  It also played at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

5. What’s been going on with you, filmmaking wise since the completion of this short? What are you working on next?

I’ve done almost exclusively commercial work since making Alex Ikeda, but I’ve been dying to go back into producing some creative work.  I’ve gathered a lot more experience and resources since making this film, so I’m really looking forward to getting back in the game soon.