GRAHAM "SANDY" SALISBURY - Author, Screenwriter

Graham is the author of 18 award-winning young-adult novels, including Night of the Howling Dogs, Eyes of the Emperor, House of the Red Fish, and the popular Calvin Coconut series.  He grew up in Kona, Hawaii, surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man o’ war, swam for his life from a moray eel, didn’t wear shoes until the 6th grade, didn’t see snow until he was 19, and was a singer in a rock band called The Millennium.

Salisbury comes from a 100-year line of newspapermen, all associated with Hawaii’s morning paper, the Honolulu Advertiser (now the Honolulu Star Advertiser). Although a career as a newsman could have been possible, Salisbury chose to imagine rather than report. “I enjoy writing about characters who might have been. To me, exploring fictional themes, situations, and lives is a quietly exhilarating experience. There are times when completely unexpected happenings take place as my fingertips explore the keyboard, things that make me laugh, or get choked up over, or even amaze me.”

Salisbury’s drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: “I’ve thought a lot about what my responsibility is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don’t write to teach, preach, or criticize, but to explore. And if my readers vicariously experience story characters making choices, living with the consequences of those choices, and learning from them ... then perhaps I will have done something worthwhile.”

DANA SATLER HANKINS – Producer

Over 30 years in the film industry with production credits in films such as The Tempest (directed by Julie Taymor, starring Helen Mirren), Chief (Official Sundance Selection), Picture Bride (Official Sundance and Cannes Film Festival Selections), Bird On A Wire, Stakeout, Short Circuit, American Flyers, WarGames, Blue Thunder, 4 more short films for Hawaii audiences – The Fishing Club, The Lemon Tree Billiards House, Dancing with the Long Bone, True Love and Mimosa Tea - and over 100 TV commercials and a dozen projects for National Geographic Explorer, Discovery and The History Channel. She is married to a retired USN submarine captain, has twin 24 year-old redheaded daughters and splits her time between Portland, OR and Honolulu, HI.

SHAWN HIATT - Director of Photography

Award winning Director of Photography Shawn Hiatt has cinema in his blood. His grandfather was an animator for Disney in the very early days of Mickey Mouse and his father is a Cinema Special FX Designer in Europe. Shawn loves working in the medium of moving pictures, whether it is 5k, 4k, 35mm, DSLR, or Super – 8, it’s all about the story.

“I’m captivated by the alchemy of light, shadow, science and magic that is movie making; not only by seeing it in the viewfinder, but also with the process and challenges of engineering dreams for others to enjoy and realizing a director’s dreams.”

ROBERT BATES - Editor

Having lived most of the last 30 years in Hawaii - working as a director and editor of documentary films, and being the father of two wonderful daughters - Robert counts himself a lucky guy. Best known for creating and directing the James Beard Award winning television series, The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter, he was also the director/editor of the award winning films, Ganbare, O’Hawaii, The First Battle, and Ingredients.

Robert is passionate about the making of movies, “It’s never a clear cut formula. Each film is made in its own way. For the editor, it becomes a journey of discovering what the film wants to be, rather than trying to force my imprint upon it.”

When he’s not cutting pictures, he is a restaurant management consultant.

CHRIS SANDERS - Composer

Music has always been a part of the Sanders family (Von Trapp-esque.) Chris started piano at the age of 2  1/2 from the best piano teacher in the world, his mother.  Starting in classical, he then began to transition into contemporary learning from his father, who was a worship pastor.

At 11, Chris and his family went to New Hope, a church that excelled in the use of the arts. He religiously trained in music (pun intended) which lead him to attend Musician's Institute in Hollywood.

After graduating at the top of his class, Chris returned to Hawaii to work full time in music, from shows in Waikiki, to musicals, teaching piano, to working as a music and vocal director for New Hope.

UNDER THE BLOOD-RED SUN is his first feature film as Composer.

AMOS KOTOMORI - Production Stylist

In the 1980s, Amos Kotomori emerged as one of Hawaii's avant-garde designers, inspired by Issey Miyake, and eager to push boundaries at a time when Asian-American artists, writers and visionaries were beginning to find their voice.  His work took him to Paris, where a bundle of his batik furoshiki won him contracts with Cardin, Dior and Ted Lapidus.  And then, called home for family reasons, his fashion work stopped and he disappeared into the invisible world of behind-the-scenes styling and multimedia production for films, commercials, print advertising, live events and interior design.

Since then, for more than 20 years, Amos Kotomori has contributed his unique sense of fashion and visual design to films, commercials, print advertising, live events, and interiors. He has won numerous regional and national awards, including Addys, Clios, and a Rockefeller Fellowship.

KATIE DOYLE – Casting Director

Formerly a working actress based in NY, Katie Doyle now specializes in casting projects for companies coming to film on location in Hawaii. She casts principal (speaking) roles and/or extras and “specialty” actors. Credits have included: many TV commercials, the Pilot show for CBS’s HAWAII FIVE-O, Universal’s BATTLESHIP, ABC’s LAST RESORT, Warner Brother’s GODZILLA, HUNGER GAMES – CATCHING FIRE, Tim Burton’s BIG EYES, and she just completed the Hawaii portion of Universal’s next giant blockbuster to be released soon. Katie is grateful - every single day - to be able to work in a profession she loves in a place that most people can only dream about. Her house is filled with husband Bill, son Connor and a menagerie of animals, including a pot-bellied pig.

GERARD ELMORE - Assistant Editor/Colorist/DIT/MacGyver

Gerard is an award winning writer/editor/producer/director who has a wide range of experience, varying from television production to film and to TV commercials.  He has directed a number of award-winning spots for many local and mainland clients.  Gerard's music videos have aired on CMT, FUSE TV, and other mainland channels.  As a producer, he has helped coordinate the popular Discovery Channel Specials for Shark Week.  Additionally, he directed a feature film entitled ALL FOR MELISSA, which was distributed nationally.  Gerard's latest feature length comedy concert film, the Na Ali’i of comedy, starring Augie T, Andy Bumatai, Mel Cabang, Frank Delima and Ed Kaahea just finished a successful theatrical and pay-per-view run in Hawaii.  He also hosts Hawaii Reel Stories on OC16.

Currently, Gerard splits his time between freelance work and lecturing at the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

He couldn't do it all without the support of his awesome wife and family!

JESS JOHNSTON – Production Design Artist

Jess is a filmmaker with a unique skill set, working as a Director, Designer and Creative Collaborator, developing distinct visuals and handcrafted storytelling for his clients and his personal work.  His passion for story telling and filmmaking resulted in his first film - Hotel St - which premiered at the 2011 HIFF (Hawaii International Film Festival).  Since then he has worked on numerous local, national and international film and commercial projects.  You can currently find Jess working with production companies Super 8 Cowboys & Shooters Film Productions, always ready to shoot.