Program Overview

Spring Lab is put on by Hisako Film Lab and Maui Huliau Foundation.

This advanced filmmaking program offers an in-depth immersion for motivated high school students eager to elevate their storytelling and production skills in an exciting, project-based setting. Small teams will each be tasked with creating an original Narrative or Documentary short film that brings attention to a significant environmental or cultural topic as outlined below. Students will receive detailed guidance throughout the process and will be joined in-person and virtually by industry professional guest speakers, including Hisako Film Lab founder Destin Daniel Cretton, (writer/director of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the upcoming Spider-Man 4).

The program takes place between January 20-April 17 and will be organized into 2 separate cohorts stationed in Central Maui (at the UHMC campus) and Lahaina (at Fuzz Box Productions). Further details below.

Project Theme

Students will pitch their own environmental film ideas as related to an important sustainability, cultural, or social issue unfolding right now on Maui or the broader community. Films can be created as either Narrative (scripted, with actors, fictional and/or dramatization) or as Documentary (highlighting real people and real events) with the potential to take on any tone or style from serious, lighthearted, funny, bizarre, animated, or beyond. The ultimate goal is to create work that is both ENTERTAINING and RELEVANT, and our team of filmmaking instructors, environmental experts, and guest speakers will be guiding students every step of the way to achieve this!

Eligibility: Age, Experience

We’re looking for enthusiastic students who are excited to use storytelling and filmmaking to create a real social impact. Students currently in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply. Applicants will ideally have previous filmmaking experience and understand basic digital camera settings and editing software. However, serious applicants with less film experience are welcome to apply.

If you answer YES TO ONE OR MORE of the following questions, you may be a great fit for this program:
- Are you deeply interested in creative, hands-on projects of all sorts and have experience seeing them through to completion?
- Are you deeply interested in filmmaking, including writing, camerawork, and/or editing, and have a strong desire to further develop these skills?
- Do you have a passion for environmental, cultural, or social causes that you would like to apply into a creative project?

Application/Acceptance Process

Acceptance to the program is on a selective basis. Not everyone who applies will be invited to participate. After submitting an application, students will be contacted for a brief virtual interview. Acceptance status will be announced through an email to applicants.

Early Application Deadline: Application due Dec 13. Acceptance status announced by Dec 20.
Extended Application Deadline: Application due Jan 8. Acceptance status announced by Jan 14.

We encourage you to submit applications as soon as possible.

$0 Cost, Attendance, General Requirements

Attending the program is absolutely FREE.
Attendance is mandatory for all class sessions and all location filming. Before applying, review the program schedule to determine your availability to participate. Please notify instructors ahead of time for any scheduling conflicts you foresee.
In addition to regular meeting sessions at the UHMC campus (Central Maui cohort) and Fuzz Box Productions (Lahaina cohort), students will need to arrange travel for off-site filming locations during the production (filming) phase. Limited transportation may be available to arrange from instructors as needed.

Meeting Locations, Schedule, Cohorts

Regular meeting sessions will take place after school 2 days per week and will be divided into 2 separate cohorts stationed in Central Maui (at the UHMC campus) and Lahaina (at Fuzz Box Productions). For each week, Mondays will be a combined session with both cohorts meeting together at UHMC campus. Lahaina cohort is highly encouraged to attend these combined sessions in-person, but may choose to join virtually instead.

Weekly Schedule

Mondays, 3-5pm at UHMC | Central Maui Cohort & Lahaina Cohort (Combined)
*For Mon sessions, Lahaina cohort has option to join in-person at UHMC or join virtually through Zoom
Tuesdays, 3-5pm at UHMC | Central Maui Cohort (Lahaina Cohort Does Not Attend)
Wednesdays, 2:30-4:30pm at Fuzz Box | Lahaina Cohort (Central Maui Cohort Does Not Attend)

NOTE: The very first meeting on Mon, Jan 20 will be an extended session from 9am-3pm at the UHMC campus. In-person attendance is mandatory for both cohorts.

NO SESSIONS - March 3-13
No formal meetings, but can arrange to meet independently as needed

Week 7
Mar 16-22 | Production Week! (School Spring Break)
Teams will coordinate to film off-site on any day of the week. Must be available to film at least 3 days without other Spring Break conflicts.

Premiere Party!

Students will premiere their films at a special red carpet screening night open to the public! Date: Early May. More details to be announced.

Contact

Question? Send to: bk@hisakofilms.com