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BASCO
DANTE
PRODUCER/ACTOR
With a career spanning over two and a half decades, DANTE BASCO is one of those Hollywood actors who has become a cult classic and pioneering figure. He was first introduced in Steve Spielberg's fairytale movie Hook, as "Rufio", the leader of the Lost Boys.
Recently Dante starred in Newline's Take the Lead, opposite Antonio Banderas. His flair for dance helped him lock this role down. He is also Disney's animation series American Dragon: Jake Long as well as Prince Zuko in Nickelodeon's phenomenal hit, Avatar: The Last Airbender. Not only is Dante an actor of many talents, but also a producer for Kinetic Films. He starred and produced two of Kinetic's feature films, "Paradise Broken" and "Hang Loose".
MISSION
TO BRING A VOICE TO UNTOLD STORIES WITH A FOCUS ON EXPLORING ASIAN-AMERICAN IDENTITIES THROUGH FILM.
MISSION
JAMES
SERENO
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
James, a Hawaii native, graduated from the USC Film School with a degree in Cinematic Arts. Upon graduating, he worked at Disney Studios and Columbia Pictures.
As a film producer, James has numerous accolades under his belt, and was personally invited by Roger Ebert to showcase his work at Ebert's Ebertfest. His short film, "Silent Years" won numerous awards including first runner up at the exalted British Academy Awards, L.A. (BAFTA/L.A) He has also won a coveted Cannes Bronze Lion for his commercial work.
Through his production company, Kinetic Films, he directed and produced the feature film, "Paradise Broken," a gritty drama about the underbelly of Waikiki; produced the feature film, "Hang Loose," a coming-of-age comedy both of which were nominated for best film at the LA Asian/Pacific Film Festival; and “Man Up” distributed by Lakeshore Entertainment. James has also executive produced, Gook and Ms. Purple, Sundance winners, as well as August at Akiko’s, listed as one of the best films of 2019 by The New Yorker.
Click here for his IMDb.
-JAMES SERENO-
-DANTE BASCO-
OUR FILMS
HAOLE
SYNOPSIS
Thirteen-year-old DAVID KALAMA dreams of escaping rural Hawaii. But when JONAH MORRIS (13), a white kid from Phoenix, Arizona moves into the neighborhood, tragedy strikes, irrevocably changing the trajectory of David's life and those closest to him.
GROWING UP LOCAL
SYNOPSIS
In a place known as paradise, Stanley’s life is far from it.
Using the unexplored and often tough neighborhoods of Hawai'i as a backdrop, Growing Up Local uncovers a boy’s struggle to establish his identity beyond his father’s fists and his loyalty to his friends. The tale of Stanley explores three generations of the Nagata family, and tells the universal story of the conflict between father and a son and the expectations and burdens that are passed on from generation to generation.
Growing Up Local takes us beyond the stereotypical view of Hawai'i, and goes deeper into a world and a culture that many call home.
MAN UP
MAN UP
SYNOPSIS
It's summer and 19 year old Martin is looking forward to chilling with his girlfriend Madison who is now out of high school. But Madison has other plans. After dropping the bomb on Martin with the news that she is pregnant, she decides to skip town to focus on her future apart from Martin who is nothing but an ambition‐less lazy bum.
With Madison gone, Martin has nowhere to turn. He gets kicked out of the house for getting his girlfriend pregnant on top of being a slacker with no job who has been avoiding college for over a year. He is forced to crash with his goofball best friend Randall who was recently abandoned by his mom and left to fend for himself. All alone in the world, Martin and Randall must put their dull-witted heads together and figure out for themselves what it means to be a man.
HAOLE
SYNOPSIS
Thirteen-year-old DAVID KALAMA dreams of escaping rural Hawaii. But when JONAH MORRIS (13), a white kid from Phoenix, Arizona moves into the neighborhood, tragedy strikes, irrevocably changing the trajectory of David's life and those closest to him.
HANG LOOSE
SYNOPSIS
Kevin must go to Hawaii to attend the wedding of his big sister. The day before the wedding he goes on a misadventure with his future brother-in-law and his crazy groomsmen that changes his life.
HANG LOOSE
HAOLE
SYNOPSIS
Thirteen-year-old DAVID KALAMA dreams of escaping rural Hawaii. But when JONAH MORRIS (13), a white kid from Phoenix, Arizona moves into the neighborhood, tragedy strikes, irrevocably changing the trajectory of David's life and those closest to him.
PARADISE BROKEN
SYNOPSIS
Ray and Misha's one bedroom apartment, only a half-a-mile from Waikiki Beach, feels a world away from the white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters of Honolulu. As the sun sets and the sightseers retire for the evening, Ray, a small-time drug dealer, and Misha, a hula-dancing prostitute, work the back alleys of Waikiki, trying to scrape a living from tourist crumbs. When the couple splits after a blow out, regretful Ray searches for a pregnant Misha while she, alone now, must face off against forces that wish to possess her - her abusive father and a kingpin pimp of Waikiki.
Can Ray and Misha reunite and rise above the powers that fight to bring them down? Or was their split the only chance they had to survive the brutal world of back alley violence and addiction tucked away from the pristine beaches of Hawaii? Broke is the Hawaii unseen. It's about what goes on in this paradise city after the lights go out.
PARADISE BROKEN
HAOLE
SYNOPSIS
Thirteen-year-old DAVID KALAMA dreams of escaping rural Hawaii. But when JONAH MORRIS (13), a white kid from Phoenix, Arizona moves into the neighborhood, tragedy strikes, irrevocably changing the trajectory of David's life and those closest to him.
HAWAII STORIES
SYNOPSIS
Hawaii Stories is the anthology feature film of five Hawaii filmmakers. Each of the four stories revolve around rooms with the number 6B and the film examines the darker side of island life: a man struggling with drug addiction has a revelation about his identity; an ex-con must enter an underground poker game to reunite with his daughter; a young woman befriends her neighbor, a former hit man; and a local family deals with an impending tsunami. Hawaii Stories features an all-Hawaii cast, crew, and production.
HAWAII STORIES
HAOLE
SYNOPSIS
Thirteen-year-old DAVID KALAMA dreams of escaping rural Hawaii. But when JONAH MORRIS (13), a white kid from Phoenix, Arizona moves into the neighborhood, tragedy strikes, irrevocably changing the trajectory of David's life and those closest to him.
HAOLE
SYNOPSIS
Thirteen-year-old DAVID KALAMA dreams of escaping rural Hawaii. But when JONAH MORRIS (13), a white kid from Phoenix, Arizona moves into the neighborhood, tragedy strikes, irrevocably changing the trajectory of David's life and those closest to him.
HAOLE
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