Joining Together in One Vision: The Sixth Annual Awards Ceremony
By: Ryan Kawamoto

On May 18, 1996 students, community members, and industry professionals joined together at the John F. Kennedy Theatre for the 6th Annual SVFA Awards Ceremony: Lokahi I Ho'okahi Mana'o. The event took nearly a year of planning by the Awards Ceremony Coordinating Committee, led by Coordinator / Producer Lori J. Chun.

Students from Hawaii's high schools and colleges were recognized for outstanding work in the categories of PSA / Promotional, Music Video, Animation / Experimental, Long Format Non-Fiction, Short Format Non-Fiction, and Fiction.

"It's overwhelming, I didn't expect to win," said Lindsey Yost, after winning the Long Format Non-Fiction category.

In addition to category awards, three Judges' Mention Awards were awarded in recognition of student production that displayed outsanding achievement in a particular skill and/or technique. This year, the three categories that were recognized were in Production Design, Technical Merit, and Outsanding Producer. These were presented by FAVAH Vice-President and 1996 Judge, Dan Ziegler. Jennifer Kelleher, the winner of the Outsanding Producer Award said, "This contest has really inspired me and my members to continue with film production."

Awards were also given out by the Pacific Islanders in Communication and KTUH FM90.3 for the DJ of the Year Award. The Grand Prize was awarded to Matt Yamashita of Molokai High School for his comedic production of "Unique Man." Yamashita's family and friends flew over from Molokai to attend the ceremony.

". . . I don't know what to say . . . this is unreal," (432K.aiff/ 432K.wav) exclaimed Yamashita.


"Not only is it an opportunity to get your work recognized in a statewide competition, but also to start building your network of 'real world' contacts," said Awards Ceremony Producer, Lori J. Chun.

The theme, "Lokahi I Ho'okahi Mana'o," translated means, "let's join together in one vision." It was the vision of over thirty student committee and crew members with the support of the local film / video industry and community that made the annual awards ceremony possible. It was the first ceremony to broadcast live statewide with the assistance of the Office of Information Technology Services and 'Olelo: The Corporation for Community Television.

"This time is the first time we're going love, so we want to make it a blast," said Jason Nishimura, ITV Coordinator.

Other members of the professional community also heeded the call for unity. Members of FAVAH, the Film and Video Association of Hawai'i, judged the student entrants and the results were tabulated by the international accounting firm of Price Waterhouse, LLP. Support from also came in the form of prizes, donations, and technical support from businesses such as Sony Hawaii Company, the Audio Visual Headquarters, Honolulu Cellular, KHNL NBC Hawai'i News 8, Izumi Deisgn, and a host of other SVFA supporters.

The evening was hosted by Lee Cataluna of NBC Hawai'i News 8 and Brickwood Galuteria of KCCN FM100. Award presenters included personalities such as Ray Bumutai, Ron Mizutani, Rick Agan, Shannon Scott, and Cedric Yamanaka as well as producers, directors, and other industry professionals including Dana Hankins, Tim Savage, Georgette Deemer, Dan Ziegler, and Lurline McGreggor.

Three members of the coordinating committee and crew were also honored for their efforts in the production of the Awards Ceremony. The Lokomaika'i / "Patty" Awards were awarded to Lori J. Chun (AC Coordinator / Producer), Jason Nishimura (ITV Coordinator / Master Control), and Ryan Kawamoto (Technical Coordinator / Director).

"This [Lokomaika'i Award] is a small token of our love and respect for these individuals who have put forth unconditional sacrifices, not so much to achieve their own goals, but to help others obtain their dreams," said Patricia Amaral Buskirk, volunteer SVFA advisor.

"There have been so many people who have made this Awards Ceremony possible . . . everyone worked really hard," said Lori J. Chun.

"Everybody that worked together had a lot of fun in the past couple of days . . . decorating the set, setting the screen. We did a lot and I had a great time working with everybody," said Cody Waggoneer, Assistant Director.

The 6th Annual Awards Ceremony stands as a symbod of cooperation and support between SVFA, the film and video industry and the community. Those who participated in the ceremony or in its production will always remember "Lokahi I Ho'okahi Mana'o: Let's Join Together in One Vision."

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Copyright © 1997 Student Video & Filmmakers' Association