“Ah, the great Ernst Lubitsch’s Ninotchka is a movie that will fill you with charm and humor of the highest order. Emma Stone’s Air Force Pilot Captain Allison Ng was modeled on Greta Garbo’s memorable Russian envoy character Ninotchka.”
Tag Archives: Cameron Crowe
Aloha Featurette: The Mana of Hawaii
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IMDB shared this brand new exclusive Aloha featurette yesterday. You will see a few new tidbits from the film, but I’m most excited for your first look at “Bumpy”. Bumpy is played in the film by the real Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele. He plays a key role in the film and both he and Cameron talk about what Aloha means to them in this video. Enjoy!
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May 20, 2015
Aloha Inspirations: Hawaiian Traditions & History
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“Another inspiring photo. Hawaii, far more than the mainland, values its traditions and history. The remnants of generations gone by are especially sacred there, and unearthed bones are links to myths, legends and the real-life stories of our ancestors. Another piece of the puzzle that would become the story of the culture and life of our characters in Hawaii.”
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May 19, 2015
Aloha Inspirations: Ledward Kaapana – Hawaiian Slack-Key Legend
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“And then there was the music… some of the worlds’ greatest and most expressive guitarists live and work in Hawaii. Here’s one of my favorite guitarists in the world, Ledward Kaapana, with his sometime accompaniest, the equally evocative Mike Kaawa. That’s me directing them both for a sequence in “Aloha,” a real dream come true. The movie was always going to be a stew of intoxicating elements, set to Ledward’s guitar and other music that you might hear on any given week in Hawaii. Talk about the Aloha spirit… it lives in every note of these wonderful artists’ work.”
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May 14, 2015
Aloha Inspirations: Who Owns the Sky?
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A new feature entitled Aloha Inspirations makes its debut today. These images, films and people helped inspire Cameron as he wrote and directed Aloha. The comments are from Cameron in his own words. Enjoy!
“This photo was an early inspiration for “Aloha,” a story which takes place partially in the new world of space exploration. I was fascinated with the effect of the shrinking budgets allowed for modern space study, and this was a fascinating photo of an astronaut who had been sent up to fix an ailing space shuttle. The photo went around the globe, and pre-dated the current situation where private investors are now so active in launching rockets. Who owns the sky? Is it for sale? The idea really got me going.”
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May 13, 2015
Daily Aloha: Carson Welch and Brian Gilcrest
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For your daily Aloha viewing pleasure is a brand new image from the film as Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper) meets with Carson Welch (Bill Murray).
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May 5, 2015
Songs of Aloha
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It’s been a big week for Aloha announcements. Today, we want to share the soundtrack cover and tracklisting. It will also include liner notes from Cameron when its released on CD and digitally on May 26th via Legacy Recordings, Madison Gate Records and Vinyl Films Records. A vinyl edition will happen later this Summer.
As an exclusive tidbit for the Uncool readers, legendary Slack-Key guitarist Ledward Kaapana will also appear in the film!
- Hanohano Hanalei – Alfred K. Alohikea
- Tropical Swing – Bobby Ingano
- Alika – Genoa Keawe
- I’ll Weave A Lei of Stars For You – The Royal Hawaiian Serenaders
- Slack Key Lullaby (Live at Maki’s Studio) – Ledward Kaapana
- Ipo Lei Manu – Cyril Pahinui
- Kids and Dogs – David Crosby
- I Know I’m Not Wrong – Fleetwood Mac
- I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) –Daryl Hall & John Oates
- Take My Advice – Kurt Vile
- A Field of Birds (Live at KEXP) – The Tallest Man on Earth
- Midnight Mix – Jónsi & Alex
- Vapour – Vancouver Sleep Clinic
- You and Jake – Evening Hymns
- Come and Find Me – Josh Ritter
- Always Gold – Radical Face
- Let’s Go Out Tonight – The Blue Nile
- Heart Is a Drum – Beck
- Shooting Stars – Jónsi & Alex
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Apr 21, 2015
A Comment on Allison Ng
From the very beginning of its appearance in the Sony Hack, “Aloha” has felt like a misunderstood movie. One that people felt they knew a lot about, but in fact they knew very little. It was a small movie, made by passionate actors who wanted to join me in making a film about Hawaii, and the lives of these characters who live and work in and around the island of Oahu.
Thank you so much for all the impassioned comments regarding the casting of the wonderful Emma Stone in the part of Allison Ng. I have heard your words and your disappointment, and I offer you a heart-felt apology to all who felt this was an odd or misguided casting choice. As far back as 2007, Captain Allison Ng was written to be a super-proud ¼ Hawaiian who was frustrated that, by all outward appearances, she looked nothing like one. A half-Chinese father was meant to show the surprising mix of cultures often prevalent in Hawaii. Extremely proud of her unlikely heritage, she feels personally compelled to over-explain every chance she gets. The character was based on a real-life, red-headed local who did just that.
Whether that story point felt hurtful or humorous has been, of course, the topic of much discussion. However I am so proud that in the same movie, we employed many Asian-American, Native-Hawaiian and Pacific-Islanders, both before and behind the camera… including Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele, and his village, and many other locals who worked closely in our crew and with our script to help ensure authenticity.
We were extremely proud to present the island, the locals and the film community with many jobs for over four months. Emma Stone was chief among those who did tireless research, and if any part of her fine characterization has caused consternation and controversy, I am the one to blame.
I am grateful for the dialogue. And from the many voices, loud and small, I have learned something very inspiring. So many of us are hungry for stories with more racial diversity, more truth in representation, and I am anxious to help tell those stories in the future.
Thanks again