Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon Awarded Golden Honu at Big Island Film Festival – Day 3 Recap

Two weeks ago at the Fairmont Orchid, Saturday Night Live’s own Kate McKinnon was awarded a “Golden Honu Award” on the third day of the 2013 Big Island Film Festival.

Kate McKinnon and her Golden Honu Award

The third day of the festival began with a Filmmaker Workshop given by Ron Osborn entitled “What’s So Funny?”

Filmmakers talk story

The content of the workshop explored into the fine line that separates comedy and drama, the current market for comedy, and how to approach just about any subject from a comedic standpoint.

The Filmmakers pose for a picture.

The second workshop was on adaptation and finding inspiration in existing stories or events, classic stories, previously filmed stories and making them your own.

Ron Osborn talks to Film Festival Director Leo Sears

If you weren’t interested in the workshops that were going on during the day, there were also films that were being screened throughout the day beginning at 9:00 with “Side Walk Wars”, “The Lion’s Den” and “Stenwyken”.

The other films that played on Saturday were “Lost Dog”, “Broken”, “Out of Focus”, “Hatch”, “Lipstick Lies”, “Bumsicle”, “What If?”, “Balancing Emma”, “Homecoming” and “Boys Are Us”

At 4:30 a reception began for Kate McKinnon where the public was allowed to mingle with her, talk story with her agents and take pictures with her.

Big Island Photographer Kirk Aeder, Kate McKinnon and Filmmaker GB Hajim pose for the camera

Food was catered by the Fairmont Orchid and consisted of a Moo Shu Duck Station and a dessert bar.

I can honestly say I’m not a duck eater but this was pretty good!

Of course I wasn’t going to pass up on the desserts!

After folks ate their food people moved from the Wailana Garden into the theater where the reception and salute to McKinnon continued with a one-on-one interview with Hawaii Filmmaker Brian “Get A Job” Kohne.

McKinnon talks about her career with Brian Kohne

I had to leave early the next morning, however, on Sunday a reception and salute was also held for Vincent Kartheiser of the TV show “Mad Men” amongst other things.

Big Island Musician RJ Kaneao and Actor Vincent Kartheiser

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• Big Island Produced Film “Strange Frame” Wins Best Animated Feature at the 2013 Big Island Film Festival (damontucker.com)
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• Kate McKinnon Impersonates Ellen … on Ellen! (thehollywoodgossip.com)

 

Eloise Mumford Awarded Golden Honu at the 2012 Big Island Film Festival

On Saturday at the 2012 Big Island Film Festival there were more movies and films that included “Nobody’s Child” and “Steve Phoenix – The Untold Story” in the morning followed by “Buzkashi Boys” and “Donkeys’.  Then in the afternoon the films “Election Day”, “Found” and “Searching for Sonny” were shown.

The big event of the day was the “Reception and Salute” to actress Eloise Mumford.  The reception included a carving station that had roasted turkey and then this steamed platter of Chinese food.

After the reception and salute, there was a celebrity awards ceremony where Big Island Film Festival Director Leo Sears presented Mumford with a 2012 Golden Honu Award for Acting.

Maui film producer Brian Kohne (Get a Job) interviewed Mumford about what it was like to work in the industry and she mentioned how fortunate she feels to be so far along at such a young age.

While only a few weeks ago Mumford learned that the current show she stars in “The River” has been cancelled, she remained upbeat and talked about a current project she is working on entitled “Waikiki”.

Eloise with the producers of “Waikiki”

She talked about the auditioning process and how many auditions folks really need to go out and do before they may even get picked up. Of course Kohne tried to convince her to come play a part in one of his upcoming movies.

After the awards ceremony, I had the opportunity to go on a walk with Eloise and ask her a few more questions about herself.

Eloise Mumford and Singer/Songwriter/Producer RJ Kaneao

When she was talking to Kohne earlier in the evening she mentioned that she graduated from High School in Olympia, Washington and that struck a nerve with me as I attended a High School there as well my freshmen year.

Well it turns out that she went to Capital High School and I went to a high school on the opposite site of Olympia called Tumwater for a brief time during my younger days.  Of course I really didn’t want to ask her how old or young she was… but with this connection I was having with her… I just had to ask her what year she graduated, but with respect for how young she really is… I won’t say what year she graduated in!

Of course all the guys want to know if she is single.  Well she does have a boyfriend that arrived just in time for her to receive an award.

Sorry guys… taken!

Later on in the evening the “family films” held at The Shops of Mauna Lani, were “Dissolving Destinies”, “A Finger”, “Two Dots”, “Giant Monsters” and ” Miss Minoes”.    The festival films held at the Plantation Estate of the Fairmont Orchid were ” Technicality”, “Nani”, “Silver Case”, “Scenen” and “Irvine Welsh’s Ecstasy”.

I had to leave early the next day to go to Oahu but according to the Big Island Film Festival Facebook site… The previous attendance record of 1954 patrons was smashed this year with 2202 patrons and visiting filmmakers visiting this year.

Related articles

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“Reception and Salute” to Local Girl Kristina Anapau at the Big Island Film Festival

Tonight there was a “Reception and Salute” to local girl Kristina Anapau at Monstera Noodles & Sushi at The Shops at Mauna Lani where she was presented with the Golden Honu Award for Acting at the Big Island Film Festival.

Kristina Anapau in front of the Fairmont Orchid

She is a very nice young lady and most folks that I have talked to have all talked about how genuine and sweet she is.

Talking to fans at Monstera Noodles & Sushi

Big Island Film Festival director Leo Sears and movie star Carey Hiroyuki Tagawa were on hand to give her the award.

Leo Sears and Carey Hiroyuki Tagawa

I had to leave early as I had to meet my wife and son as they finally made their way over from the other side of the island, but I look forward to talking to her again before she leaves.

Kristina Anapau talks to fans at Monstera Noodles and Sushi

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Local Girl Kristina Anapau to Receive Golden Honu Award for Acting at Big Island Film Festival Tonight

Today is the third day of the 2011 Big Island Film Festival that has been going on at the Fairmont Orchid and Mauna Lani Resorts properties.

Kristina Anapau at the 2011 Big Island Film Festival

Tonight there will be a “Reception and Salute” to local girl Kristina Anapau at Monstera Noodles & Sushi at The Shops at Mauna Lani where she will be presented with the Golden Honu Award for Acting.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to spend some time talking to Kristina about her career and her life away from the Big Island.

Kristina at the Fairmont Orchid

Kristina is the daughter of Richard and Gloria Roper from Hilo, Hawaii and she attended Hilo High School for a couple years while also attending UH Hilo.

Kristina's Parents and her Boyfriend

In her most recent film, the thrilling movie “The Swan” directed by Darren Aronosky,  with Natalie Portman, she played the role of “Galima” a ballet dancer which really is not even like acting for her as she has been active in ballet since she was four.

For all you guys who may be wondering… she is very much in love with her boyfriend Neuroscientist/Neurosurgeon Moran Cerf whom she met at a dinner party in Los Angeles.

Here is her Biography listing on the Internet Movie Database website:

Proving to be a true triple threat to Hollywood, Kristina Anapau has wowed audiences on the big and small screen. Her latest endeavor, Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, is a thriller set in the professional ballet world. Kristina plays “Galina” and stars opposite Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder, and Barbara Hershey. Black Swan debuted as the opening film at the 2010 Venice International Film Festival, and was also shown at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival.

Born in Hawaii, Kristina Anapau spent her youth studying classical ballet, music and theater. She graduated from high school at the age of 15, and that same year began her studies at The University of Hawaii. With dreams of pursuing a professional dance career, Anapau’s life would soon take a fateful turn, as she was cast in Universal Television’s, Escape From Atlantis, landing her first professional starring role at the age of 16. Soon after, she relocated to Los Angeles where she continued to work steadily both theatrically and commercially. At age 20, Kristina landed a recording contract with Hollywood Records and spent much of that year recording an album and opening for Destiny’s Child on MTV’s TRL Tour, but her true love and passion remained performing in film and television.

Anapau recently completed the independent film, The Speak, in which she stars opposite Tom Sizemore. She also acted alongside Golden Globe winner Diane Venora and Greg German in ThinkFilm’s Independent Feature, Self Medicated, winner of over 35 International film awards. Anapau also starred with Christina Ricci and Jesse Eisenberg in the Dimension Films’ thriller, Cursed, directed by Wes Craven, and shined as Cassie Merteuil in the Sony Pictures/Newmarket Films release, Cruel Intentions 3. She appeared in the films, Madison, starring Jim Caviezel and Bruce Dern, as well as, the Lions Gate comedy, 100 Girls.

Her television credits are impressive as Kristina has recurred and guest starred in many noteworthy productions, including: The Glades, House, Monk, CSI:NY, Without A Trace, Once & Again, General Hospital, and Knight Rider. She also starred opposite popular comedian, Dane Cook, in the Sony Television produced pilot, Cooked.

In her spare time, Kristina enjoys taking ballet classes, traveling, writing, and working with Beyond Shelter, an organization that combats poverty and homelessness among families with children in the LA area. She is a graduate of Skidmore College in New York and currently resides in Los Angeles.

Trivia:

Named one of Stuff Magazine’s “Hollywood’s Most Wanted – The 50 Hottest Women To Watch”.

Named one of Stuff Magazine’s “Sexiest Women In The World” in 2003.

Graduated from high school when she was only 15 years old. Started her first year of college at University of Hawaii while she was still 15.

Daughter of a scientist and an artist.

Graduated from Skidmore College in New York with a major in Performing Arts and a minor in Art History.

Kristina is definitely a go-getter type of a person who when she was younger idolized Madonna and when I asked her about some words of wisdom she has for aspiring local kids who may want to become actors or actresses she stated, “…I think you just need to jump into it (acting) as soon as possible!”

It was great talking to Kristina and I just want to personally say congratulations to her for winning this years Golden Honu Award.

Feel free to click on the pictures below for larger versions:

Kristina Anapau at the 2011 Big Island Film Festival

Kristina at the Fairmont Orchids

Kristina’s Parents and her Boyfriend

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