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Claudia
Lokahi
USA
152 Posts |
 Posted - 11/27/2011 : 05:41:19 AM
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Just saw Alexander Payne's movie set in Hawai'i and starring George Clooney: The Descendants. It's terrific and the all slack key soundtrack is just wonderful! Here are my kumu, Keola Beamer's comments on being a part of this project:
My Music Featured In The Film "The Descendants"
"The Descendants" is wonderful film based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. It stars George Clooney, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard and Shailene Woodley. It is directed by Alexander Payne and was just released in the United States.
In the past, Hawai'i has been poorly portrayed by Hollywood, so I was feeling …. shall we say …. "hesitant", to participate? With the advice of some trusted professionals on Oahu, I flew to in to try some things in the studio and to have dinner with Alexander Payne and the the music staff of The Descendants. I sincerely tried to understand their vision for the film. I listened and I learned. Before I knew it, I was full in. I think the reason my hesitancy vanished, was that I discovered Alexander Payne to be a quality human being with exceptional story telling skills skills and a warm, open sensitivity to Hawai'i and its people. He really, really worked hard to get this right.
I highly recommend his movie to friends and fans. You will enjoy its its deep gravitas, somehow amazingly balanced with genuine humor. This is the sweet portrayal of a detached father re-building his family under some very trying circumstances.
I feel really honored to be involved in the score for "The Descendants". Please see this film, you won't regret the experience!
By: Keola Beamer
Here is the songlist from the movie soundtrack's CD:
Ka Makani Ka 'Ili Aloha - Gabby Pahinui
Kalena Kai- Keola Beamer and George Winston
Hi'ilawe- Gabby Pahinui
'Ulili E- Dennis Kamakahi
Ka Loke - Dennis Pavao and Makaha Sons
Auwe-Raymond Kane
Leahi- Gabby Pahinui
Hawaiian Skies-Jeff Peterson
He'eia- Gabby Pahinui
'Imi Au Ia 'Oe-Keola Beamer
Kaua'i Beauty-Gabby Pahinui
Hi'ilawe-Sonny Chillingworth
Wai O Ke Aniani-Gabby Pahinui
Paka Ua-Ozzie Kotani
Hapuna Sunset-Charles Michael Brotman
Deep in an Ancient Hawaiian Forest-Makana
Mom-Lena Machado
Ka Mele O Ku'u Pu'uwai-Sol Ho'opi'i's Novelty Trio
And here are Alexander Payne's comments on the liner notes about the reason for this soundtrack:
.......some of the magnificent musicians included here: Sonny Chillingworth, Ray Kane, Lena Machado and in particular, Gabby Pahinui.
I feel deeply in love with Gabby's music during the months spent driving around O'ahu and Kaua'i searching for locations. I'd already made the decision to score the film exclusively with Hawaiian music, and the car was the perfect place to do my homework. When I started playing Gabby, I felt the same chill as when at 18 I first heard Miles Davis's "Kind of Blue." I suspected I probably wouldn't be able to score the entire film with his music, but it occurred to me that his could still be the unifying musical voice, as were Cat Steven's, Leonard Cohen's and Simon and Garfunkel's in notable films of yesteryear.
.......I wanted to use only pre-existing music in the film, but for technical reasons we re-recorded in Honolulu a few tracks with the great Keola Beamer and the gifted young Jeff Peterson. This gave us the opportunity to meet the artists behind some of the music we now loved, and, like the other contemporary musicians included, they were unfailing warm and very agreeable to being part of a project showcasing work too often overlooked outside of Hawai'i.
It is a joy for us to share what we've been listening to while making the film and perhaps open some ears and hearts to the beauty of Hawaiian music. Our only regret is the inability to include more. -Alexander Payne[/i]
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cmdrpiffle
`Olu`olu
USA
553 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2011 : 08:43:35 AM
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Interesting, I'd not heard of the film. I'll be looking it up.
Cheers! |
my Poodle is smarter than your honor student |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2011 : 4:01:52 PM
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For various reasons (and I can't sit still for 2 whole hours!) I haven't been to see a movie in probably 25 years. Having read this post, I may actually try to catch this one. Thanks for the info...
Julie |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2011 : 02:22:37 AM
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It was a most excellent film. The music, of course, was superb. It was so cool to watch the movie, laugh and cry my way through it, but oh my, at the end when they rolled the credits and I saw Gabby's name, Ozzie's name. Unle Sonny's name, Uncle Raymond's name, Dennis' name, etc. shown on the big screen, in a packed movie theater, well, I've got to tell you, it was true chicken skin.
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2011 : 06:08:08 AM
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Jeff Peterson spoke about it at the talk story that he did in New York City. The Descendents was directed by Alexander Payne who also directed the Oscar award winning film Sideways. Jeff spoke about how Alexander Payne places high importance on the soundtrack and views the music like another character.
Very cool to have a soundtrack that features some of our favorite players. |
Andy |
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2011 : 06:09:08 AM
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Local movie critics are raving about this one -- not just for the excellent soundtrack and the actors (George Clooney...swoon!), but also for the accurate portrayal of "normal" life here in the islands. The film was shot entirely on O`ahu and Kaua`i.
When Bob and I finally go see the movie, we'll have to see it 3 times. First time will be to see the locations; second time will be to look for friends who were cast as extras; third time will be to actually follow the plot. We'll wait for the DVD for viewings 2 and 3!  |
Auntie Maria
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My "Aloha Kaua`i" radio show streams FREE online every Thu & Fri 7-9am (HST)
www.kkcr.org - Kaua`i Community Radio
"Like" Aloha Kauai on Facebook, for playlists and news/info about island music and musicians!
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2011 : 07:43:55 AM
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On Auntie Maria's cue I will mention someone who I saw in the film that was a great surprise.
Those of us who have frequented the "Sunday Hawaiian Open Mike" at Templebar in Berkeley
know the owner of the place, Uncle Kem. My understanding was that he had moved back to
Mokupuni Nui to work a coffee farm. Well, in the scene that takes place in a Local Bar
on Maui (maybe Hanapepe Town?), there is a three person band and the person on the right
is a dead ringer for Uncle Kem, with big white hair and all. I did not get a good look
at his Ukulele (to see if the Headstock was a hand with fingers), but it sure looked like
him. With all of about 4 seconds of footage it was hard to be sure.
Of course that scene could have been filmed anywhere, but I doubt that they brought crew
to the big island, when there are pleny bars on Oahu or Kauai, where they were already
shooting.
Good Film, did not recognize where Matthew Slalinkovich or Jeff Peterson played, but there
was pleny of Keola's version of Kalena Kai and lots of a very deep sounding Gabby (I don't
remember his voice being that deep on my recordings, almost thought it was Moe Keale) and
a fair amount of Dennis (with David on Uke). The version of He'eia that was used was very slow
and had a dirge quality, very different than an image of King Kalakaua surfing.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 11/28/2011 08:52:16 AM |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2011 : 08:28:06 AM
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| Definitely well worth seeing, for all the reasons stated earlier. Even for us mainlanders that are just visitors to O'ahu and Kaua'i it was neat to see places during the movie and be able to say to each other, "We've been there!" |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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bubba
Akahai
72 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2011 : 10:29:53 AM
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| I believe that a small portion of movie was also filmed on Hawaii Island, with the white rocks near the Kona airport being evident. And, of course, local bar was the iconic Tahiti Nui in Hanalei, For some time I've wanted to use the word iconic in a sentence, and now I have. |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2011 : 10:50:01 AM
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Oh, that is correct, they do go over to Kona for a short while. Are you sure that bar was in Hanalei? So then what was Uncle Kem doing on Kauai, (not that he is not allowed to fly around)? Hmmm... need second opinions on whether that was Uncle Kem after all. 
Here are some picts of Uncle Kem:
And the Templebar link:
http://www.templebartiki.com/ukeband.html
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 11/28/2011 11:03:42 AM |
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Larry Goldstein
Lokahi
267 Posts |
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2011 : 07:10:31 AM
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Although I haven't seen the movie yet (arrrggghh!) I'll hazard a guess that the white-haired gentleman in the band, is Koko Kaneali`i -- veteran island musician and longtime resident of Kaua`i northshore. The band plays regularly at Tahiti Nui in Hanalei.
Glad to know our local band evaded the cutting-room floor!  |
Auntie Maria
===================
My "Aloha Kaua`i" radio show streams FREE online every Thu & Fri 7-9am (HST)
www.kkcr.org - Kaua`i Community Radio
"Like" Aloha Kauai on Facebook, for playlists and news/info about island music and musicians!
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cyril
Lokahi
USA
110 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2011 : 11:18:01 AM
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The Descendants is a great story my good friend Kaui Hemmings did the book. I liked the book a lot even before it was the movie. When they asked to use our family music we were a little worried about it and hoped it would be like the book. We did have a good talk with Dondi Bastone the music supervisor and decided to go with it. They came to the So CA Slack Key Festival to listen to some of the Slack Key players and drove around Kaua'i with Gabby playing to get into the feeling of connecting the music and the sites.
It was a good story and reminds us of so many local stories. I think using the He'eia was a little off for the part of the story it was used at but it was a good version that sounded sorrowful for the scene.
There are lots of good reviews on this here is one on the music to check out
http://theenvelope.latimes.com/news/la-et-1129-descendants-20111129,0,6616643.story
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Cyril Pahinui
cyril.cyrilpahinui.com |
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Tommy
Akahai
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2011 : 2:58:31 PM
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| I enjoyed the movie, and the soundtrack, and the way this post was carefully constructed by Claudia. FYI-- I saw the movie with Claudia and I hope she bought the cough and sneeze routine as I was wiping away a tear or two. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2011 : 4:17:57 PM
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I am glad that Cyril said what he did about the point in the movie when they used He'eia. That is exactly what I told Paul and my in-laws when we went to see the movie. I couldn't understand why they would put in during that scene.
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2011 : 4:18:48 PM
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And Tommy - no shame. Lots of tears in the audience during that movie. They weren't all women, you know.
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Topic |
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The Descendants movie-all slack key soundtrack
