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, we ask 5 questions to STONES director Ty Sanga…

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

The film was inspired by an old Kauaʻi legend by the great storyteller Buddy Wichman. It was a story that haunted me while I was away from Hawaiʻi. The power of the original legend allowed me to address themes and issues that concerned me about my home.

 2. Any challenges or setbacks during the production?

We filmed the movie during Hawaiʻi’s rainy season. We were pretty lucky with the weather until half way through the shoot the valley that we were filming in started flooding. It was crazy. We lost a day of filming because of that. The next day we returned and the weather looked as miserable as before. It started to rain again but we couldn’t loose any more days so we shot through it. It was a good call because the weather helped create the atmosphere that the film needed.

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

During production our sound designer lost his wallet on location. We searched for hours in the rain only to find out it was by his bed when he got back to the house.

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

Hawaiʻi International Film Festival 2010
Charleston International Film Festival 2010
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2010, Nominated: Best Director
Pacifika Showcase 2010 (NMAI, Smithsonian)
Maui Film Festival, Winner: Best Made in Hawaiʻi Short
Native Cinema Showcase 2010 (NMAI, Smithsonian)
All Roads Film Festival 2010 (National Geographic)
imagineNative 2010
Sundance Film Festival 2011
Skabmagovat Film Festival 2011
Native Eyes Film Showcase 2011
Festival of Native Film and Culture 2011
15th Native American Film + Video Festival (NMAI, Smithsonian) 2011
Fallbrook Film Festival 2011
Newport Beach Film Festival 2011
Seattle International Film Festival 2011

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

I’m working on a feature film that I developed through the Sundance Native Lab and I’m aiming to go into production very soon.