Swell Cinema: Heart of the Sea

"Brilliant and Moving"

Outside Magazine

"...A love poem to Hawaii's matriarchal heritage"

Bay Area Reporter

"My favorite of all the years entries, is the amazing tale of the Hawaiian surfing champion Rell Sunn... luminous, amazingly brave, Sunn is one of the most heroic documentary subject in memory"

San Francisco Chronicle

SYNOPSIS

Heart of the Sea is an hour-long documentary about Hawaiian legend Rell “Kapolioka'ehukai” Sunn who died in January 1998 of breast cancer at the age of 47. Known worldwide as a pioneer of women’s professional surfing, in the Islands Rell Sunn achieved the stature of an icon — not only for her physical power, grace and luminous beauty, but for her leadership in a community that loved her as much as she loved it. Named one of Hawai’i’s most influential women of the 20th century by ABC television, Sunn - whose Hawaiian name means Heart of the Sea - was eulogized in the New York Times for having “captured the heart of Hawai’i during a 14-year battle with cancer.”

The story is set primarily in Makaha, a beach town on the leeward coast of Oahu that is troubled by crime, drug abuse, high teen pregnancy and school drop-out rates — but Rell thought of it as “paradise on earth”, surfing by the age of 4 and becoming a peerless spearfisher. Throughout her life, Rell led by doing. A woman who carved the way for women’s professional surfing, in a sport dominated by men, Rell also lead her community as an organizer and activist for at-risk youth and for the preservation of the natural beauty and cultural traditions of her native Hawai’i. At the age of 32 Rell was diagnosed with breast cancer. With no family history of the disease, Rell discovered that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women have the highest incidence of breast cancer of all women in the United States and detection and prevention programs were largely under funded. She became an activist for breast cancer awareness and for the protection of the environment from the toxins she believed caused her disease.

Heart of the Sea traces Rell’s personal and public life, interweaving her last interview in 1997 — two months before her death — with archival footage and news, home videos, and interviews with her daughter, friends, fellow surfers, her doctors, and others in the community whose lives were changed by the way Rell chose to live hers. Rell, the storyteller, is never far from the dramatic center, as she recounts adventures and adversity with the openness and warmth that was her trademark.

The film’s lyrical style combines traditional Hawaiian music and ambient sounds of nature with captivating underwater scenes shot by award-winning cinematographer Don King. The mix of DVCAM, used for interviews and hospital settings, and 16-mm film, for the ocean and landscape footage, brings the audience closer to the depth and beauty of Rell’s world. The result is a view of the islands at once vibrant, authentic, inspiring, and alive.

Through Rell’s feats, her tales, grace, beauty, and her canny use of the media, she left behind a larger-than-life story that was perhaps her greatest gift to the community that loved her, a story that delves deep into the heart of Hawai’i.

Length: 56 min. 40 sec.
Format: 16mm, Black and White

TEAM

Charlotte Lagarde, Producer, Director

Charlotte Lagarde's documentary Heart of the Sea: Kapolioka'ehukai (2002) about Hawaiian legend Rell Sunn was broadcast internationally. In the US, it won PBS Independent Lens Audience Award 2003, the Audience Award at both the San Francisco International Film Festival and the Newport Beach Film Festival and Best Documentary Award at the Ashland Independent Film Festival.

Lagarde's productions Voting in America (2004), Every Child Should Have a Chance (2001), Tribal Sovereignty: Unplugged (1998) and Juvenile Justice: Unplugged (1997), are distributed in public schools throughout the United States, and the latter was screened at the White House for public policy makers. Lagarde's documentaries Swell (1996), about four generations of female surfers in Santa Cruz, California (Gold Apple from the National Educational Media Network) and Zeuf (1994), a documentary about a woman surfer's struggle with breast cancer (Directors' Choice award at the Black Maria Film and Video Festival) were broadcast on PBS stations and the Sundance Channel and are currently in distribution on home video.

Lagarde holds an MA in documentary filmmaking from Stanford University, and a BA in Political Science. She founded Swell Cinema in 1996 and teaches media study in high school. Lagarde is the executive producer of Reporter Zero, directed by Carrie Lozano (The Weather Underground) to be released in September 2005.

Lisa Denker, Director, Cinematographer

Lisa Denker started working in film after attending the Art Center School of Design film program. She was the Art Director for the independent feature: Gas, Food and Lodging (Dir. Alison Anders); the Grammy Award Ain't It Heavy rock video for Melissa Etheridge, and was the Set Decorator for the feature film Citizen Ruth (Dir. Alexander Payne). She then went on to union work on films such as Warner Brothers Batman Returns (Dir. Tim Burton). Close to a decade later, Lisa wanted to get back to creating her own films. Lisa applied her talents to projects: Swell (1996), along with others through to Every Child...(2001), conceptualizing, story boarding, cinematography, building dramatic moments and finding the narrative spine. Directing has always been Lisa's goal. "It was reading about Rell Sunn that drew me into imagining an intimate film about her." As Lisa went deeper into seeing Rell's many layers: her generous personality, her passion and zest for living, complicated as it was with the built-in conflict of living with cancer, made it clear to her that Rell's story could be a dramatic film. "I believed the viewer must go into Rell's world, experience it intimately, discovering significant emotional moments, thus allowing them to feel empathy for her". This film portrait, Heart of the Sea, Kapolioka'ehukai is a clear affirmation of Lisa Denker's talent as a director.

Janet Cole, Executive Producer

Veteran producer Janet Cole’s executive producing credits include the Oscar-nominated Promises, Regret to Inform, and the upcoming Freedom Machines. She received Academy Award and Emmy nominations as producer of Regret to Inform, as well as a George Foster Peabody Award. She also produced the Emmy-nominated Paragraph 175 for HBO and Channel Four and Absolutely Positive with director, Peter Adair. Cole has specialized in the strategic distribution and production of social issue films for over 20 years and is a frequent consultant and advisor to filmmakers, media arts groups, and foundations.

Vivien Hillgrove, Editor

Vivien Hillgrove is a highly acclaimed editor whose picture editing credits include Henry and June and The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Phil Kaufman, Academy Award documentary Broken Rainbow by Victoria Mudd and The Devil Never Sleeps by Lourdes Portillo. Her sound editing credits include Blue Velvet by David Lynch, and Amadeus by Milos Forman.

Don King, Underwater Cinematographer

Award-winning cinematographer Don King is known internationally for his groundbreaking surf and ocean photography. His unique style provides stunning visualizations for many of Rell’s stories, bringing the audience closer to her world. His credits include the IMAX films The Living Sea and Extreme and the feature films City of Angels and Cast Away.

CREDITS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Janet Cole

PRODUCER
Charlotte Lagarde

DIRECTORS
Lisa Denker & Charlotte Lagarde

EDITOR
Vivien Hillgrove

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Lisa Denker

UNDERWATER CINEMATOGRAPHY
Don King

SOUND RECORDISTS
Esther Figueroa & Charlotte Lagarde

ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS
Julianne King

ADDITIONAL CREW
Laura Harisson & Jacob Vaughan

ASST. CAMERAMAN
Craig Davidson & Dave Homcy

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Ruthie Wells

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Kimberly Bortfeld & Nalani Mattox

ORIGINAL SCORE
Miriam Cutler

ADDITIONAL MUSIC
Ledward Kaapana

ORIGINAL COMPOSITION
Shawna Ngum

SOUND EDIT & MIXING
Lora Hirschberg

ON LINE EDITOR
Heather Weaver

ASSISTANT EDITORS
Margaret Andres & Lindsay Sablosky

ARCHIVAL RESEARCH
Lisa Denker & Charlotte Lagarde

ADDITIONAL ARCHIVAL RESEARCH
Patty Tauscher & Matt Warshaw

ASST. ARCHIVAL RESEARCH
Brena Smith

TITLE & WEBSITE DESIGN
Renaud Garnier

ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE
ABC Sports
Archive Films
Bishop Museum
Michael Bovee
Bud Browne
Betty Depolito, Banzai Productions
Bruce Carlson
Bob Condon, Tropic Image Films
Courtesy of E! Entertainment Television
Emme, Inc. Hawaii
Yuri Farrant
Hawaiian Moving Company
Pete Hodgson, H3O
Bruce Jenkins
Juniroa Productions, Inc.
KGMB
KHON
KITV
Opper Sports
Chris Rust
Starr Siegle Communications
The WPA Film Library
ARCHIVAL STILLS
Bernie Baker
Bishop Museum
Jeannie Chesser
Jeff Divine
Sonja Evensen
Tom Keck
KHON
Kimiri Kondo
Jim Russi
Rell Sunn
Jan Sunn-Carreira
Keoni Watson
LEGAL ADVISOR
Alison Austin
ACCOUNTING
Diane Mendez
TRANSCRIPTION
Phillip Guilbeau & Annie Hershey
FISCAL SPONSOR
Hawaii Community Television

POST PRODUCTION SOUND SERVICES
Provided by SKYWALKER SOUND, a division of Lucas Digital Ltd. Marin County, California

MUSIC RECORDING
Live Oak Studio

ON LINE FACILITY
BAVC

SOUND SERVICES
Bison Bison SF

PUBLICITY STILLS
Aicha Roffe & Jeff Divine

FUNDING
James & Abigail Campbell Foundation
The Gerbode Foundation
Atherton Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. James W. Growney
Pohaku Fund
Pacific Pioneer Fund
Watergirl Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Jacques Lagarde
Suzanne Avina
Castle & Cooke
First Hawaiian Bank
Cynthia Foster
Hugh Foster
Kapiolani Health Foundation
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Teresa Tico
Hawaii Medical Service Association
Women’s Fund of Hawai’I
Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation
Jane McKenzie
…and additional Funders. A complete list is available from ITVS.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR INTERVIEWEES
Becky Benson
Keith Block,MD
Jeannie Chesser
Jeff Divine
Sonja Evensen
Luana Froiseth
Fred Hemmings
Brooke Holt-Froiseth
Malia Jones
Vi Jones
Dalani Kauihou
Brian Keaulana
Momie Keaulana
Jennifer Lee
Marilyn Link
Ron Mizutani
Mark Renneker, MD
Jan Sunn-Carreira
Kathy Terada
Keoni Watson

RELL AS A GIRL
Naluehu Pu’u

DIVER
Desiree Desoto

SPECIAL THANKS
The Sunn family
APIAHF
Shay Bintliff,M.D.
Leah Bernstein
Bronwyn Bounous
Kevin Boyd
Lynne Boyer
Michael Bovee
The Breast Cancer Fund
David Brown
Bud Browne
Deborah Denker
The Denker Family
Vicky Durand
John English
Gayle Goodman & Michael Shuster
Marya Grambs
Michael Harris
Hawaii Community Foundation
Hawaii Community Television
Amy Heibel
David Hughes
Zeuf Janizeufski
Sharon Kaapana
Buffalo Keaulana
John Kelly
Glenn Kiser
Kimiro Kondo
Mike Lane
Susan Leahy
Lisa Leeman
John Mardesich
Michael May
Jon de Mello
Jan Montgomery
Annie Moriyasu
Eva Napoleon
Gordon Ng
Shawna Ngum
Donna Olson
The Pu'u family
Charles Rehm
Jeanne Rizzo
Kris Samuelson
Erich Stratmann
Emme Tomimbang
John "J.T." Torrijos
Fred Van Dyke
Betty Winstedt
Matt WarshawLOCATIONS
Block Medical Center
MD Anderson
UCSF Medical Center

“Radio Hula”
Performed by Ledward Kaapana
Public Domain

"Ku'u Kika Kahiko"
Performed by Ozzie Kotani
From the album Kani Ki Ho'alu (Dancing Cat 38013)
Courtesy of Dancing Cat Productions

"Hano Hano Hawaii"
Performed by Sol Hoopii
Courtesy of Rounder Records

“Searching for Da Cat”
Performed by The Blue Hawaiians
Courtesy of The Blue Hawaiians

"Waltz of the Wind"
Performed by Ledward Kaapana
Written by Fred Rose
Courtesy of Milene Music c/o Acuff Rose

“For Your Needs Away From Home”
Performed by Double Naught Spy Car
Courtesy of 11-ft Pole Record Co.

“Rell’s Song”
Performed by Ledward Kaapana and Shawna Ngum
Written by Shawna Ngum

“Rell's Chant”
Performed by Shawna Ngum, Malia King, Makani Da Silva, Julie Mau, Del Medina, Marie-Therese Rigaud, Leigh Yafa
Written by Shawna Ngum

"The Beauty of Mauna Kea"
Performed by Keola Beamer & George Winston
From the album Kolonahe -- From the Gentle Wind (Dancing Cat 38047)
Courtesy of Dancing Cat Productions

"Hawaii 78"
Performed by IZ
Courtesy of Mountain Apple Company

“Aloha Hale O Ho'oponopono”
Performed by Sonny Chillingworth
Courtesy of Diana Aki and Dancing Cat Records
Produced in Association with Pacific Islanders in Communications, the Independent Television Services and KHET.

MUSIC
The music is a mixture of pre-recorded songs by Hawai’i’s most renowned musicians such as Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Sonny Chillingworth, Sol Hooppi and Ozie Kotani and a chant and song especially written for Rell by Kumu Shawna Ke'alameleku'uleialoha Ngum. Hawai’i’s most beloved traditional musician, Ledward Ka’apana performs Rell’s song improvising on traditional Hawaiian music for the score. The recordings were mixed and re-arranged by composer Miriam Cutler who also wrote the score for the film.

Miriam Cutler, Composer

Miriam Cutler has been writing, producing, and performing music for over 20 years. Getting her start in bands including the popular Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo she developed her own recording studio and moved from live performance into composing full time. Pursuing her passion for documentaries, she has combined her love of music and film with meaningful and activist projects. These include the award winning Licensed to Kill, Double Life of Ernesto Gomez Gomez, Hidden Neighborhoods of San Francisco - The Castro, Death a Love Story, Shattered Lullabies, Slender Existence and Scouts Honor. Her scoring credits also include many features, short films, TV shows, and a circus.

Ledward Ka’apana, composer and musician

Ledward Kaapana is known as one of Hawai'i's most beloved traditional musicians. He has been a professional musician for forty years with over 25 CDs released. A master of ki ho'alu (slack key guitar), Led is also accomplished on 'ukulele, autoharp, bass, steel guitar and other plucked string instruments. He is a fine, emotional singer in both baritone and leo ki'eki'e (falsetto). Ledward's improvisational skills make him a favorite of singers, especially leo ki'eki'e singers such as Aunty Genoa Keawe, Uncle Joe Keawe, The Ho'opi'i Brothers, David Chun and others. He has teamed up with other slack key guitarists, especially Cyril Pahinui, and with steel guitarist Bob Brozman. Under the auspices of the National Council for Traditional Arts, Ledward has toured nationally three times with a host of top country, blues and jazz guitarists., including dobro wizard Jerry "Flux" Douglas. In the last year, Ledward has opened for Bob Dylan, at the request of Dylan's band, and for bluegrass sensation Alison Krauss, with whom he's recorded.

Kumu Shawna Ngum

Shawna Kealameleku‚uleialoha Ngum Alapa'i‚i is the founder and Kumu Hula (Hula teacher) of Hula On! Productions and its adjunct dance troupe, Halau Hula Na Pua O Ka La'akea, in Marin County, CA. Kumu Shawna has been involved in Hula for over 30 years. She has performed internationally, and is widely known as an accomplished hula dancer, teacher and Hawai'ian chant composer. For additional information please visit http://www.hulaon.org.

SOUND EDIT & MIXING
Lora Hirschberg has an extensive list of credits as sound editor and re-recording mixer in feature, IMAX and documentary films. Her feature film credits include Panic Room, Quills, Pitch Black and Titanic. She has worked on IMAX projects, including Whales, To be an Astronaut and The Journey Inside. Her documentary film credits include Senorita Extraviada , First Person Plural, and The Celluloid Closet. She currently is on staff at Skywalker Sound in Northern California.

CAST/INTERVIEWEES
Keith Block, MD – Medical Director, Block Medical Center Comprehnsive Health Services in Evanston, IL.

Jeannie Chesser – Former professional surfer, friend of Rell’s since the seventies.

Jeff Divine – Photo Editor of Surfer’s Journal, has known Rell since the seventies.

Sonja Evensen – Former professional windsurfer and educator, has known Rell since the seventies.

Luana Froiseth – Outrigger coach and childhood friend of Rell's.

Fred Hemmings – Hawai’i State Senator, former world champion surfer, and former surf promoter, knew Rell in the sixties as she embarked on her professional career.

Brooke Holt-Froiseth – Organizer of the Menehune contest, lives in Makaha.

Malia Jones – As a child, she idolized Rell and was one of the kids on the trip to Biarritz, France. Former professional surfer, former Menehune, and professional model.

Vi Jones – Surfer, mother of Malia Jones, knew Rell since the seventies.

Dalani Kauihou – Surfer, teaches traditional crafts and culture and lives in Makaha.

Brian Keaulana – World known waterman, lifegaurd, lives in Makaha, knew Rell since he was a child.

Momie Keaulana – Rell’s auntie, lives in Makaha.

Jennifer Lee – Surfer, former Menehune.

Marilyn Link – Former neighbor and friend of Rell.

Ron Mizutani – Television Sports Newscaster for KHON, Hawai’i.

Mark Renneker, MD - Patient Advocacy Specialist in San Francisco, California

Jan Sunn-Carreira – Rell’s daughter

Kathy Terada – Surfer, nurse, hula dancer, lives in Makaha, friend of Rell's since the seventies

Keoni Watson – Former Menehune then professional surfer, grew up in Makaha under Rell’s wing.

FUNDING
Heart of the Sea is a production of Swell Cinema in association with Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC), KHET & the Independent Television Service (ITVS), with funds provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Additional funds were provided by:
The James and Abigail Campbell Foundation
The Gerbode Foundation
The Atherton Family Foundation
Mr. & Mrs.James W. Growney
The Pohaku Fund
Watergirl Inc.
Pacific Pioneer Fund
Kapiolani Foundation
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
The Women’s Fund of Hawai’I
The Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation
Quicksilver
And many generous individuals

AWARDS
PBS Audience Award
PBS Independent Lens, 2003

Audience Award for Best Documentary
San Francisco International Film Festival, 2003

Special Jury Prize /Aloha Spirit Award
Hawai’i International Film Festival, 2002

Best Documentary Award
Ashland Independent Film Festival, 2003

Audience Award for Best Documentary
Newport Beach Film Festival, 2003

Documentary Feature Honorable Mention
Tambay Film & Video Festival, 2003

Best Documentary Award
Orinda Film Festival 2003

Audience Award
Orinda Film Festival 2003

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