The Latest

Time flies when you’re having fun (and you’re busy juggling projects, raising kids and surviving a pandemic). It’s been almost five years since I posted here so I just wanted to give you a quick Top 10 of things that I’ve been up to since I last posted (in no particular order):

10. I was part of the NMG Network team that won a Northern California Emmy for our “Heart of Hawaiian” video campaign for Hawaiian Airlines.
9. I taught my daughter how to ride a bike.
8. I was selected to be a part of the Creative Lab Hawaii Animation Immersive where I was mentored by Pamela Ribon (co-writer, MOANA, RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET).
7. I became the Education Director of the ‘Ohina Filmmakers Lab, helping local filmmakers make some award-winning shorts (and helped produce two of them).
6. I learned how to use a chainsaw.
5. I started teaching a screenwriting class at the University of Hawaii West O‘ahu’s Academy for Creative Media.
4. Looking back, I wish I invested in Zoom, Peloton and Bitcoin.
3. 26 Keys Creative won two Gold Pele Awards (as a writer and director for Kamehameha Schools and La Tour Cafe) and my freelance copywriting work was a part of a Pele Awards Best of Show, American Advertising Awards Gold, Telly Awards Silver and the Communication Arts Advertising Annual.
2. I’ve met so many awesome new clients, crew members and collaborators. It’s been fun.
1. I’m still grateful for every opportunity, I still love creating great work, and I can’t wait to see what the next five years will bring.

MAISA: OFFICIAL HIFF SELECTION & LITTLE PICTURE AWARD

Good news: the short, animated film I wrote, "Maisa, the Chamoru Girl who Saves Guhan" was named an official selection at the Hawaii International Film Festival.

Better news: Maisa was also just named best short film (Liklik Piksa - Little Picture Award) at the Pasifika Film Fest.

Best news: I'm writing again.

Check out "Maisa" at the the Hawaii International Film Festival, Pacific Showcase Shorts program.
• Tuesday, November 8th, 8:15 pm
• Friday November 11th, 12:30 pm
 

26 KEYS CREATIVE

So almost two months ago (has it been that long already?), after almost ten years at MVNP... 

I took a leap.

I left agency life to pursue the world of funemployment. Well, not exactly. I left to pursue screenwriting, freelancing and to try a few new things.

So I created "26 Keys Creative." The name came to me half-awake at bedtime after days of trying to come up with a DBA (it's not as easy as it sounds). Since writing was my unique selling proposition (as the marketing folk say), I thought of the 26 letters of the alphabet, the 26 keys on a keyboard, and the keys that unlock your imagination.

My first big project was for Consolidated Theatres. It's a trailer that's playing before all their movies, getting people excited about Consolidated's 100th anniversary next year. It was my first solo writing and directing gig.

It was a little stressful.

Today, I was surprised to learn our trailer was selected to "Creativity" online,  a worldwide showcase of "The best ideas in advertising." To see our little, local ad listed amongst advertising titans like Wieden + Kennedy and Goodby Silverstein felt like a dream.

So here's to taking the leap.

PAU HANA PODCAST

Look ma, I'm on my first podcast! My old friend, Ty Robinson, invited me on his Pau Hana Podcast for a long Sunday night conversation. Ty's a jack of all trades, specializing in game design, animation, editing, producing, and investing. Most recently, I worked with him on the short film, "Maisa." We talked advertising, screenwriting and the true nature of Superman. Take a listen if you're going on a looooong car ride (perfect for Ewa, rush hour traffic). Listen here.

2016 AWARDS SEASON

It was a great year for shiny, heavy, pointy, and generally dangerous to handle while drinking, advertising awards. The creative I worked on won numerous awards including:

• 1 Silver National Addy: Consolidated Theatres, "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Poster"
• 6 Gold Pele Awards:
2 for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, "Let Hawaii Happen."
3 for the Department of Transportation, "Hawaii Storm Patrol Activity Book."
1 for Consolidated Theatres "Tokyo Drift"
• 1 Shorty Awards Finalist "Let Hawaii Happen: A Surprise Wedding."
• 1 Silver and 3 Bronze Telly Awards (including a "People's Choice") for "Let Hawaii Happen"

Thanks to all my collaborators and clients at MVNP. Here's to more great work this year as I branch out on my own with 26 Keys Creative (more on this to come!).

CREATIVE LAB HAWAII

It was the beginning and end of my modeling career. Hawaii Business Magazine did a feature on Creative Lab Hawaii, an annual program designed to inspire creative entrepreneurship in Hawaii. 

Somehow, I got on the cover. Oboy.

I participated in the second year of the screenwriter's accelerator program from 2014-2015. It was a fantastic experience, working with and learning from some very talented and inspiring writers - many who deserved to be on the cover more than me. This may be the universe's way of telling me to get writing. Read the article here.

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MAISA

I was looking for parking at Ala Moana Center when I got the call. An old friend, Ty Robinson, and Michael Ceballos of Twiddle Productions were creating an animated short based on a Guam legend called "The Maidens That Saved Guam." It had a giant fish, a spunky heroine, and it would be the very first Chamorro language animated film.

They had me at giant fish.

This little short turned out to be a wonderful experience. I got to dip my toes in the process of animation and I had the honor of literally writing a piece of Guam history, working with the Guam Department of Education, Special Projects Division. The reaction to the film in Guam was overwhelming. As it screened in schools and theaters throughout Guam, we watched as it reignited excitement for Chamorro language and history. In the end, I couldn't be prouder to have written on a script that's had such a positive effect on the kids and culture of Guam.

And the giant fish was pretty cool too.

THE ROGUES GALLERY

It was the first screenplay I ever wrote and somehow, it was made into a movie. An amazing experience, an incredible cast, and a final film that didn't quite come out the way I intended. Watch my "Hawaii's Reel Stories" interview below and see how my script "The Rogues Gallery" became the film, "Operation Endgame."

Hawaii's Reel Stories interview of Brian Watanabe (originally aired on 3/14/11). I talk about how my script THE ROGUES GALLERY became the film OPERATION: ENDGAME starring Rob Corrdry, Maggie Q, Joe Anderson and Zach Galifianakis.