[00:00 → 02:49]
Introduction and Guest Introduction
-
Jason Schwartz hosts the Maui Neutral Zone on KAKU 88.5 FM and AKAKU Maui Community Media.
-
The show focuses on art, music, energy, environment, and features notable guests from Maui.
-
Branscombe Richmond, a well-known Hawaiian actor and producer, is the featured guest.
-
Branscombe humorously wears his mother’s hat, symbolizing a special occasion.
-
Branscombe is recognized locally and nationally for his long career in motion pictures and video production.
-
Upcoming production: Branscombe plans to start shooting a romantic comedy movie on Maui by the end of March.
-
[02:49 → 07:14]
Branscombe Richmond’s Background and Career Overview -
Branscombe’s family roots include his mother from Kipahulu, Hawaii, and his father with French, English, Native American, Tahitian, and Italian heritage.
-
His father was involved in early Polynesian cinema in Hollywood, working with stars like Dorothy Lamour and Bing Crosby.
-
Branscombe entered the entertainment industry young, acting in many classic TV shows and movies such as Donovan’s Reef, Adventures in Paradise, Meeting on the Bounty, Jake and the Fatman, and Matt Houston.
-
He has been active in the industry since 1963, spanning over 55 years.
-
Despite his acting credentials, Branscombe is also deeply involved behind the scenes in production, lighting, and other technical roles.
-
He is recognized as a foundational figure in Maui’s film and television industry, mentoring younger generations.
-
[07:14 → 13:05]
Career Development and Hustle in Hollywood -
Branscombe began as an extra and stuntman stand-in, inspired by stunt performers making significantly higher pay ($400/day vs. his $37.50).
-
He learned the importance of hustle and multiple income streams early on, including renting out his stunt pads and equipment to other productions.
-
Early career included playing gang member roles and performing stunts involving fire and falls.
-
His family experienced financial hardship, including periods of homelessness, which motivated him to pursue multiple jobs and opportunities aggressively.
-
After years in Los Angeles, Branscombe and his wife, a Kamehameha High School graduate, moved to Maui and began creating local films.
-
[13:05 → 18:33]
Local Production and Community Impact on Maui -
Branscombe operates as a vendor supplying production equipment and locations on Maui, collaborating with other local professionals.
-
Emphasizes sharing resources and giving opportunities to upcoming talent; believes in community upliftment rather than individual wealth accumulation.
-
Highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, and building trust within traditionally homogenous stunt and production communities.
-
All his children are involved in the media industry, continuing the family legacy.
-
Maui Arts and Music Association promotes local Hawaiian culture, environmental awareness, and responsible tourism by showcasing Maui’s artistic and cultural richness.
-
Branscombe stresses the interconnectedness of arts, music, environmental stewardship, and economic development for Maui’s sustainable future.
-
[18:33 → 25:53]
Industry Incentives and Production Landscape in Hawaii -
Maui, along with other Hawaiian islands, offers a 25% production tax incentive, with Honolulu offering around 20%.
-
These incentives attract filmmakers and support job creation across the islands.
-
Federal tax incentives exist but typically benefit investors rather than production companies directly.
-
Branscombe manages small production facilities in Georgia and Kentucky aside from Maui, employing local crews and expanding reach.
-
The film and television industry on Maui is described as a green industry—low environmental impact and aligned with the island’s values.
-
Branscombe recalls earlier days managing studios, troubleshooting issues (like green screen sound leakage), and connecting with local experts to improve facilities.
| Location | Tax Incentive (%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maui County | 25% | Attractive for productions, especially smaller projects |
| Honolulu | 20% | Large productions tend to gravitate here |
| Federal Level | Not specified | Incentives mostly for investors, varies by investment structure |
-
[25:53 → 31:36]
High-Profile Industry Connections and Notable Projects -
Branscombe references Larry Ellison’s children who are involved in film production, highlighting the potential for significant investments in Hawaiian productions.
-
There is speculation about new projects on Lanai, reflecting growing interest in Hawaiian island filming locations.
-
Branscombe’s involvement in Finding ‘Ohana (Netflix original filmed in Oahu) brought worldwide recognition; the film ranked #1 globally on Netflix for several weeks and remains in top viewership charts in multiple countries.
-
Maui-based crews collaborated with Oahu counterparts on Finding ‘Ohana, exemplifying island-wide cooperation.
-
Plans to release Finding ‘Ohana in native Hawaiian language as a tribute to culture are underway.
-
Branscombe is multilingual in Mandarin, German, and Slovakian, adding to his versatile profile.
-
[31:36 → 37:38]
Simultaneous Projects and Role Management -
While working on Finding ‘Ohana, Branscombe was also involved in Aloha Surf Hotel, a Maui-based film featuring local talent including young actress Kealani Warner.
-
Recently completed One Million Dolla (a story about a homeless man followed by a reality show producer offering a million dollars to test his reaction), directed by Stefan Schaefer, filmed entirely on Maui.
-
Branscombe balances acting, production, and creative development simultaneously, keeping his creative mind active even during downtime on sets.
-
Emphasis on the importance of continuous hustle and seizing opportunities in the industry.
-
[37:38 → 41:31]
Advice to Emerging Talent and Industry Insights -
Branscombe encourages newcomers to “hustle” and show their value consistently to be remembered for future opportunities.
-
Shares story of discovering an impressive young art department worker at a local production, emphasizing observation and recognition of talent in action.
-
Early production jobs, even seemingly menial ones like carrying ice, contribute to understanding the importance of every role on set.
-
The production process is a collaborative family effort, where trust and proven reliability are crucial.
-
Branscombe stresses that talent alone is not enough; timing, chance, good fortune, and persistence are equally important.
-
His personal formula for success: Timing + Chance + Good Fortune + Persistence + Talent (with talent being the “glue” holding everything together but last in order of importance).
-
[41:31 → 46:26]
Philosophical Reflections and Community Responsibility -
Branscombe views the current global pause (likely referencing the COVID-19 pandemic) as a “giant reset button,” an opportunity to build a better future.
-
Jason Schwartz identifies himself as a “Branscombe Richmond cheerleader,” admiring Branscombe’s grounded approach and community involvement.
-
Branscombe stresses the importance of respecting elders and local knowledge in maintaining Maui’s cultural and environmental integrity.
-
He shares personal losses due to COVID-19, including close industry colleagues, underscoring the need for health safety and community care.
-
Advocates for positivity, kindness, and selective listening to constructive feedback while letting go of negativity.
-
Branscombe maintains humility despite his accomplishments, often downplaying his superstar status while remaining deeply respected locally.
-
[46:26 → 47:00]
Closing Remarks and Call to Action -
Branscombe encourages everyone to stay healthy, wear masks, and care for the kupuna (elders).
-
He expresses hope to continue engaging with the community through media and education.
-
Offers Mahalo (thanks) and Aloha (love/greetings) as a warm farewell.
Key Insights
-
Branscombe Richmond is a deeply rooted cultural and industry figure in Maui’s film and television scene, blending acting, production, mentorship, and community engagement.
-
His career spans over five decades, beginning as a child actor and stuntman, evolving into a multi-faceted producer and industry leader.
-
Maui’s production industry benefits from tax incentives, local talent, and a green business model aligned with environmental values.
-
Collaboration across Hawaiian islands and with mainland productions is growing, providing opportunities for local talent and economy.
-
Branscombe exemplifies the “master-apprentice” model by bringing newcomers into the industry and sharing his extensive knowledge.
-
The current global challenges are viewed as opportunities to reset and build sustainable, culturally infused creative industries on Maui.
Timeline of Notable Events and Career Milestones
| Year / Period | Event / Milestone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Branscombe Richmond born | Family roots in Hawaii and mainland |
| 1963 | Began acting career at age 12 | Early roles in classic films/TV |
| 1974 | Started stunt work and stand-in roles | Inspired by stuntman paychecks |
| Early 2000s | Moved to Maui with family | Began local film productions |
| 1993 onward | Active in TV shows such as Jake and the Fatman | Extensive TV acting career |
| 2019-2020 | Acted in Finding ‘Ohana (Netflix Original) | Worldwide #1 on Netflix |
| 2020s | Produced and acted in Aloha Surf Hotel, One Million Dolla | Maui-based productions |
| Ongoing | Mentor to younger generation, vendor of production equipment | Community leader and educator |
Production and Industry Data Summary
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maui Production Tax Credit | 25% incentive |
| Honolulu Production Tax Credit | Approx. 20% incentive |
| Federal Incentives | For investors, varies by investment methods |
| Key Projects | Finding ‘Ohana, Aloha Surf Hotel, One Million Dolla |
| Industry Focus | Green, environmentally responsible productions |
| Roles Branscombe Fulfills | Actor, producer, stunt coordinator, vendor, mentor |
Core Concepts and Terms
-
Vendor: A provider of production equipment and services for film and TV projects.
-
Master-Apprentice Model: Experienced professionals mentoring new talent to build industry sustainability.
-
Green Industry: Business practices that prioritize environmental stewardship and sustainability.
-
Tax Incentives: Financial credits offered by government entities to attract film and television production.
-
Hustle: Persistent, proactive pursuit of opportunities, crucial for success in entertainment.
Closing Thought
Branscombe Richmond’s life and work embody the synergy of culture, creativity, community, and commerce, positioning Maui as a vibrant hub for sustainable film production and cultural storytelling. His philosophy underscores that success comes from a blend of timing, chance, good fortune, persistence, and talent, held together by community and respect for heritage.
Transcript
00:00
[Music] it’s just a matter of screen when i think about you i think of big screen and when i think of you i i got half a screen there we go you get you can do it all first of all let me let me start us i think we are starting three two aloha my name is jason schwartz i am your host here at the maui neutral zone on kaku 88.5 fm the voice of maui and also akaku maui community media and youtube and the maui neutral zone were anything but neutral and we have all kinds of interesting guests we’re art music energy environment today
00:54
i feel we hit the jackpot because we have you guys are looking at this screen and saying who is that handsome hawaiian man let me say young hawaiian man young to me hey you’re a youngster i got four years on it but branston richmond is a household name in mali aloha thank you for having me thank you so much for having me i thought uh i thought i’d wear my mom’s hat which went to my wife and uh i only get to wear it occasionally on special occasions and i figured this was a special occasion so i’m wearing it
01:37
and then you know you just kind of pull your hair back and flop the hat on you know what i mean you’re just fantastic i i i little could you know improv that i would your mom’s hat and so you know the world doesn’t know but i know that when we have moments with branscom richmond we are these are precious moments you know when you when you know that is all an expression you know i try to invite people to the show and they have results well what’s it about when are we doing it how do we hold it
02:10
branscum says let’s do it now that’s only a busy man who knows how to put something in when do you start production you have a new production coming up yes i do uh here on maui and uh i’m gonna say end of march so uh we can still stay under the blanket as you know what i say yeah and uh yeah what kind of project is that rom-com romantic comedy a movie a television kind of thing i guess do we say tv now i guess do we say it’s a movie it is a movie well you know the world here knows branston let me
02:49
give the world outside of maui because you know we are are the maui arts and music association what is that yes congratulations on that too by the way thank you well you know we’ve been around since a long time and talking about that if we promote the arts from here we can educate the world about environmental solutions and we can get them to look by showcasing the incredible we have a local hawaiian culture that is like wanting to be elevated to the world and has an incredible richness to it
03:23
we have local people that want to reach out to the world and have everyone see us be responsible about what we’re doing we’re the most remote landmass in the world all these combination of stuff but you’re someone like me you know how to just move a lot of pieces and you see they all have to fit together it’s one production so it all comes together we all find our partners picture so branson i want the world to know if they don’t already that you’ve seen this face maybe not with this hat because this is
03:54
a special occasion but thank you there you go frankie is a young man who has been in the motion picture and video and bro and you’ll tell me business since you said 1963 i was um i was 12. you were just a few younger than me and you were already in the movies did you have family in the movies or how do you yeah so uh let me share this so my mom was uh her gr my grandmother her mother was from keepahulu and uh you know when you’re from people hulu you always go toward where jobs are and where money
04:34
is and that was that was honolulu and then my mom went to los angeles to get into the insurance business right because uh 1959 turning statehood and uh she had gone to the mainland uh i’m born in 55 so she kind of went to the mainland before it became a state my father who was french english alu native american tahitian italian was born in pape so uh you know he’s in los angeles because his mother uh went from tahiti to san francisco and my dad was in those very very early polynesian movies with uh
05:21
dorothy lamore and you know rake of the wedding witch and the bing crosby and and uh those kind of movies in the early days along with amy hanai lee gilliam’s grandmother and uh auntie dahl told me she was doing it too they were going to new york to the clubs and was we’re working with lawrence welch was that the or it was yeah so my dad my dad was a singer and a dancer and that’s how you got in the movie business and then uh at the lexington hotel early on and my dad was in the shows with uh
05:55
buster crab aquanauts you know yeah with the uh oh with the famous singer who is lorenzo lamas’s stepmom um oh i’m losing it but i’ll remember here in a second so anyway that’s how i got in as a young man so as a young man of uh five six seven eight uh donovan’s reef devil at four o’clock adventures in paradise meeting on the bounty um stuff like that wonderful and all movies that all of us have seen and uh what a wonderful thing and then so you’ve done when i looked at your
06:33
background in phil tv it’s like it goes on it’s like the star wars opening just keeps going and then it keeps going just extraordinarily rich the parts that you’ve played i mean i said to myself from years ago oh i remember him from matt houston oh right yeah a lot a list of long things are jake and the fat man or all these things i was like wow so you were in my household long ago uh like i’ve been hearing now and i was doing this doing shows since uh 1993 too right so people have seen me they
07:14
come up to me i know you from somewhere you too probably but you’ve been just a one when i learned that you lived here and then i met someone who knew your kids and said wow that’s close this guy is great he’s a star and you are you what you what i get about branscomb is i don’t even think of you in the acting side because you’re so busy you have a thing that does the lighting it does the back you do the producing i meet somebody and they mentioned you’re sort of in the middle of
07:47
things you in all these years and now the business comes to you it’s like i don’t know if that’s the right word but you’re well important in being able to be a foundation for the future you are a guy who’s had a success so in a master apprentice program you know question you guy who can tell you know someone says oh i want to do this and you said let me tell you something and how do i know because i’ve had a career for 55 years and i’m just giving you a little thing to look at son
08:21
and let me put you on this job production car you have the capacity to be the general that you already are but the world needs to thank you see you up close because you’re a superstar you’re so no in my mind you’re a superstar in that you hello yeah i’m right here i’m right here well i lost my picture can you see her okay you can still see me yeah i see i see you i had a glitch what that was funny you’re a superstar in that you do what’s in front of you you you know when ronda says
09:02
be here now your credentials happen and because they accumulate i started doing shows and after doing 800 it’s like i look back and say wow looks like you you’ve done a massive amount of work and your level of responsibility of what you’ve done to bring the young people if they want a role model of someone that they can say wow no you think about it you are the man if not the only one of someone that needs to be celebrated as who he is an incredible renaissance man and so yeah we can talk about anything
09:43
but i want to honor you for who you are because well thank you i want to think about getting a job i think about talking to branscomb oh yeah there’s a production coming to the island who would know what’s going branskin that and that is on this island like magic because let me let me tell you what the happiest day in a man’s life is are you ready please when all his kids got full-time jobs don’t spit your coffee but isn’t that right it is it’s like okay son yeah you got a job so
10:24
i’ll put a cap on that i i i started out as an extra standing in for a wonderful act who was just recently passed gregory ciara from uh barney miller oh yeah and uh i watched his stunt man come in one day and do a fall and crash and and then i heard hey that guy just made 400 and i’m thinking to myself man i’m making 37.50 being a being a stand-in right and i said boy if i could make 400 dollars every day doing stunts i could you know i might make 20 grand so that was that was the goal
11:10
right and and 20 grand in 74. uh that’s a lot of money you know a lot of money and believe me my dad my dad and i didn’t have a lot of money we were uh you know what happens you get a divorce and things happen and the man got what he got and the wife got what he got but my dad my dad raised me but we were always close with my mom so having said that i mean you know we there was those times where we’re sleeping in the car for seven weeks eight weeks and you’re back in a your buddy’s garage and now you’re back
11:46
out on the street again it just depends how you fly so i learned early to look where the profit streams were and one of them was hustle as hard as you possibly can toward that goal and i said wow i was a failed baseball career yeah i signed out of high school and i after seven months i got dropped but uh you know working at nightclubs and doing three or four jobs and then i i saw a stunt guy he also got 25 dollars for his stunt pads right he yeah he get so now i learned this term vendor i went vendor what is that
12:27
so i went and bought some stunt pads and i went to other stunt coordinators and i said hey i really want to be a stuntman and i go come on come on come on right about that time the the hispanic culture um was in the news and they were having um a growth in a negative area i’m not saying anything bad because i because if it wasn’t for them i would not be where i am today but i got to play a lot of gang members early in my career so they say hey richmond we’re going to light you on fire
13:05
throw you down the steps we say these five lines before you do it and i go yeah can you rent my pad at the bottom of the stairs they go we’ll rate your pad you know i’ll give you 25 to that so a little by little by little so that that’s what happened to me and and i lucked out and then you know my my mom being from uh hawaii my wife kamehameha kamehameha high school grad uh she she had about enough of los angeles you know because we were there forever and we got a beautiful opportunity we moved
13:40
here to maui and i continued on you know i i work in georgia and kentucky and los angeles i just happened to have a home here and uh and then we said let’s make little movies here and that’s what happened we make little island movies here when you say georgia kentucky los angeles my brain says so you rented the pad and you said hey i can rent my pad and my box of kleenex i can rent my pad my block to kleenex and my lights and and you become a production company by the nature of you have everything you
14:19
take to do it and if you have everything you take to do it why not do it especially with your background so have you presented yourself as a studio or part of a production company here locally yes so uh i’m a i’m a vendor here on maui that has production supplies i see and also locations in hand and i’m not the only guy here there’s a couple other guys here yeah and uh when you live on an island you want to be sensitive you want to do the right thing and you want to uh share you got to share man you know what i
15:00
don’t want to be the richest guy in the graveyard right i’m with you yeah every all ships rise how can you live yeah man yeah uh so what i like to do is to give the up-and-comer jobs uh and that’s what happened to me you know when i was young a couple stunt guys uh listen if you want to be a stunt guy you’re going to come from the rodeo or the circus and there’s not a lot of people of color there so so what when you intro yourself in there you you’ve got to make it a comfortability factor that those guys
15:34
who are the stunt coordinators have a trust in you and like you you know what i’m trying to say so that’s what that’s what i learned you know you don’t want to walk into the stunt community where it’s cowboys and circus people and you know here’s this guy who’s you know got long hair and his eyes are a little almond and the skin is a little brown and you know what i mean so you gotta fit in you gotta be a part of the team so that’s how that’s how i learned so
16:04
now you now i got kids right my oldest one is gonna be maybe i shouldn’t say this is going to be 44. it’s gonna be 44. so all my kids are in in the industry and they um your picture just went off by chance okay hold on one second let me get rid of brad starts call you later that’s what i just did are you there there we are okay brad’s another guy we haven’t done our interview yet but i it’s like certain people come to mind you know it’s like i’m not trying to rebuild it i’m trying
16:37
to show how all these things fit together in this art and music association if we focus on maui arts and music and the world does we get responsible tourism we showcase our art our music our people our culture to the world and we set the example and elevate that’s what you that’s why i said you just said i want to bring on new people a master brings on apprentices he builds for the future brian cohn running the creative media thing at the college or um adi a lot doing the editing there’s like well and i’m just
17:13
mentioning people a few people what a wealth of words what if we can show this to the world well that’s what you stand for to me when you talk about all that you’re doing and how you’re doing it brad and you you know i i am just i’m all wound up because i live the name of my thing here is dream acres foundation vision plus action and where mama and papa maui arts and music association papa people aligned in positive action and we have three environmental areas carbon back to the soil and uh water
17:51
from air and hydrogen for health for long and how do we show the world we get them here by what you do the way you help elevate the culture create jobs created so that people can stay here because they get the skills here and they get the opportunity again through someone like sure you know what maui is a great place to lay a foundation um you know if you’re going to go if you’re going to go catch the big whale you know you you you will leave the comfort of maui because of the uh mass volume of what’s
18:33
being so we’re manufacturers we make content and the content volume is happening a lot on the mainland so for those who go and i i’ve done both so i i can see it on the wall uh and you go and you know i i’m in a movie right now and we’ve got some wonderful native actors in there and they’re in la they’re in la they started here and they’ve gone to l.a and um god bless them they’re doing well and and i i but now that that is so powerful in what you said but now imagine all these kids coming up here
19:13
that know they can grow into something like that the people that are in la that come back here to work what a blessing for them they get to come oh yeah and enrich their community and their examples to the other people that’s what i like about what who and who you are that’s why i gave you that role thank you it’s just because of the way you give you give in a way that builds for future and empowers people rather than treating them like they’re not important because they are important
19:45
when i got a production job right and it was a carrying ice from the lower house to the upper house but i found out how important each piece was oh yeah you know you’re a producer and you you need lights there and you need drinks because your people are this and such an exciting thing to realize it’s a job you you have staff there i’ve met and here on maui we we all get to meet the people in all kinds of different roles you know an incredible wealth of people and talent here you know
20:18
yes we have a lot of wonderful talent here and we just got to be able to uh create the content so everyone has an opportunity you know what i love about the movie business and the television business and anything that has to do with what we do from catalogs to commercials to music videos whatever it may be this county is behind those types of green environmental businesses so we’re we’re a green business so that’s wonderful where you know we don’t have steel mills here or paper you know what i mean things that create
20:57
jobs sure the jobs are short term you know the they’re at least a month long or you know could go to seven months long just depends but at least we’re a green environment keeping maui nice and green well and with the things i’m talking about we become a green industry and jobs and we export incredible things including our knowledge where we can send people from here to other places as consultants as we create you know like christmas lights light them up but we can do it what you’re doing here um you know when
21:32
i i remember years ago there was a guy named joe rossi remember joe rossi had no sure love joe rossi god bless the soul yeah now he passed away but he called me and asked me to manage his studio there at his location down on lower main and i remember when i tested it out this green screen and i heard the chickens on the other side of the wall and i knew there was something wrong with the construction so i met this guy paul eamon because i called some you know i mean so i i was what do they say i didn’t
22:04
know who i was calling what i’m doing i’m just looking so he came down so over the years i’ve come to see there’s a beautiful local fabric and with your kind of a temperament to bring on new people and and the education going on here at the school the future looks really bright yes it does that would like to realize that their content you just said it you want local content so their input will create all that paper you’re talking in a different way and create jobs it’s very exciting and
22:41
um some people say well what is the movie business or the family or that have to do with green what happens if we make money and how we spend our money at the non-profit is we’re going to give environmentally responsible things and put them into the community to show what these things do we’re going to create it right here and all comes because of the entertainment because why do people even focus in on here because branson richmond is a no i’m seriously you know yeah yeah my next guy is vince mina runs the farmer’s
23:17
union you know vince mino you probably do if you saw him you’d know known he’s a guy whose son passed away and was lost in er valley oh yes and him and his wife are the sunflower sprout guys yes he’s the head of the maui farmer the farmer’s union and created his major thing and he’s part of the board of mahi pono see we have people that have roles like yourself what happens if i’m looking for a board of advisors who they think of guy like you right who says well you know if we did this and this
23:54
that’s what i’m doing i’m making less aware that there’s this matrix that can do even more than we’re doing now sure and and that’s like i say so then when i talk to you now i’m hoping this is that glitch makes me wonder if it’s here but looks like it says recording okay i’d like to have a couple of assistants there beyond my budget you know what i wanted to say to you was you said i i said i’m in georgia and kentucky and in los angeles exactly so so guys like me we look for
24:33
assistance um so you know i got a little facility in georgia and i got a little facility in kentucky and what i mean by that is little you know but we’re able to hire the local guy there and the maui county has a 25 incentive right you know and that’s why maui and all the neighbor islands are uh uh a great place to be as well as you know honolulu is twenty percent and naturally you know all the bigger jobs go there but there’s enough to go around and um is there on top as well is there a 50
25:15
total or not the fed give any credits as well well it’s it depends how you do the investment from the investor’s side you know so on our side as manufacturers there’s an incentive for the manufacturing how the investor invests his money into a project there are some incentives for him on the on the fed side but we don’t we don’t get to partake in that and in essence the incentive is really for the money people either way and i wouldn’t say they’re double dipping it’s just it
25:53
depends how you do your taxes and that’s beyond my p grade well you know i am i’m the one to believe likely if you had investors for example someone like a larry ellison i use him as a blind example but he owns okay great and that money can be poured back into creating more jobs it can create a perpetual motion machine an environmental education entertainment model that cranks that is then exportable as a concept for other people that have money you know by example because i think we can solve so many
26:34
things by seeing how we all work together when you do a movie and you see that guy goes i think that cut when he says cut 83 people move to make sure they got that in three dimensions with sound everything when you start getting doing this at home like our zoom call you start to think well this stuff is like pretty easy all i do is put on my thing hit record we’ll see if that requires that’s right but when you do a production it becomes it’s an art form and it it creates something very different it gets its own
27:11
experience beautiful thing well let me comment on larry ellison so larry ellison’s has two children his daughter owns a company called anna purina oh and she made some great movies yeah and his want some academy awards so that’s his daughter and his son owns skydancer i don’t know if i’ve seen so let’s say mission impossible movies uh let’s say uh i believe he he funded some of the james bond movies he’s he’s got a standing deal at paramount uh so sky sky dancer is doing very well
27:49
so you know larry uh larry’s children are very fortunate to go ahead and well kids what do you want to do well i want to make movies okay so here’s uh xyz dollars for you and here’s xyd dollars for you and i’ll turn you on to the ceo of paramount and you do some investments with them and the daughter became independent she did smaller movies independent movies as a producer and and she rolled her money so yeah and i keep hearing that larry might do something on lanai we’ll find
28:21
out well again that’s why we’re doing these kind of shows because what would happen if larry got that and suddenly caught our vision and realized we could showcase this to the world and yeah anyway you appreciate that you are the spirit that you carry and the way you operate is the the blessing it’s what makes you the star it is what you’re not somebody who’s aloof and distant you live in this community and the best part is when you see branston at the gym and he’s huffing and puffing just like
28:57
you and when he says hello to someone he’s in the community and you really i mean that’s a big deal i mean i no one really treats you as a star maybe they do but i want you to feel the star that you are because um you know well i was at the gym yesterday huffington post this guy is it pretty safe there i was at the gym yesterday i’m staying away from my lady friend she’s a little older and concerned about the gym still did it seem safe yeah yeah you know i go in i i do my thing and i’m out of there and
29:35
um everyone’s social distancing and there it was it was really really really good so because you know i want to stay healthy because there might be a finding ohana too so we’ll see what happens that was quite a movie it’s still going up up up up up uh when you do a movie like that and i i see people i always wonder do you cut your deal as a production company i always see in to be able to get your stuff on netflix as easily as you do and to be placed where you were what a fantastic opportunity to be seen
30:12
you probably have had more views than in sitting in theaters like all right you do you get a accounting of all that stuff well let me let me say this so i was very lucky and fortunate to be hired as an actor on finding ohana we shot the movie in oahu it was a netflix original film and uh for the last three weeks or 18 days worldwide we were number one right now we’re uh in the top five and in germany today i think we’re number nine so um i i didn’t have any equipment on that show but here’s what i
30:52
did know we had maui guys working with the oahu guys on that show and that is that’s the beauty of that whole thing and uh finding ohana when you figure netflix is the the biggest screen out there when people say well we don’t go to the movies anymore well you can watch finding ohana right here on this phone or on your tv or on your computer whenever you want and um when you start to see branston speaking mandarin german uh uh slovakian uh that’s unbelievable that’s unbelievable and pretty soon you’re
31:36
going to be able to see finding ohana all in native hawaiian um that’s going to be that netflix is going to do that to as a homage uh for the film and we’re we’ve been blessed to be doing so well there’s the talk of um doing this yeah and and so here’s what i’m learning i never knew what an algorithm was right so somebody explained yeah oh wow so netflix is going through this whole thing about algorithms they’re a smart company they don’t waste money and this is all about money in the end
32:14
but we got to tell the hawaiian story slice of life and uh i i feel great i feel so proud and honored to be in it oh yeah i’ve had people already compare it with indiana jones and you’ve heard them all right you know yeah the whole thing and it’s really a lot of fun i think everybody is watching this is going to go out and watch finding ohana and add to the the viewership it’s great um yes please everybody watch finding ohana on netflix that’s my plug do you find your juggling
32:50
place like when you do that you you’re going over and being in a movie are you also doing other things and getting in production it seems like for you to be an actor is like an extra you’re almost like adding to your production side which have been so extraordinary and to always start from a pad isn’t that fun oh my gosh so let me let me answer that in a very interesting way sure we’ve got some a very talented guy here his name is stefan schaefer and we’ve made some wonderful movies so
33:29
at the time we were doing uh finding ohana we were doing aloha surf hotel right which is now playing in all the theaters in the state of hawaii and and starring augie t and myself and tayana tully and uh alex farnham um and uh uh kealani warner a beautiful little actress here uh 15 years of age that girl’s gonna go places man and and so we were doing that so to answer your question as an actor um you know you do your homework you learn your lines you experiment you do some stuff uh you may fall flat on your face and you
34:11
just pick yourself up and say okay let me do it this way and then on those down times like when you’re sitting in your hotel or whatever you do your mind is still fired it’s still firing so then you you worked on your other little projects and and i i will say we just finished another movie here on maui called one million dolla about a million dollar excuse me about a homeless guy alex farnham who uh is being followed by a uh a reality show and the producers give a million dollars because they want to see
34:46
what their reaction is and he does all the wrong things and then something great happens and i don’t want to give it away good i don’t want to give it away but we’ll have to come see right here on maui filmed right here on maui and uh stefan schaefer was the director and you know we had great people and uh so to answer your question once again yes when i’m on a job all my all my uh mufflers are shooting and burning all the time well and you have i mean when he used the name stefan shaper and i think okay
35:18
brian cohen and barry wurst and all that’s going on there and all the actor pool there oh and then you know the how do new people get a chance to be found when there’s so much going on what do you recommend to young people i know they can all come to you but that’s a little much little pain or others also i’m sure but i’m wondering sure so making being in the industry is like playing parts so you get a set of cards and you’re gonna throw certain cards on the table and you’re gonna say hi this is what i
35:55
do this is my value and this is what i’d like to share okay and eventually those guys hustle their way around where you say hey what about that guy what about that girl and uh like on one million dollar i saw a girl in the art department i’d never seen before and she came out of uh mapa in the eow theater and this girl was good and i and i asked bert our production designer i said bert where’d you find this girl and he told us and i go well how old is she he said 20. and i said well she looks 16
36:33
you know what i mean and i go that girl is running from here to there to there to here here to there she’s putting the paintbrush she’s painting the stuff she’s dressing the set she’s getting the props and i just sat back and i watched her and i went this girl’s going somewhere so that’s what happens you kind of gotta hustle your way in and um and i’ve seen that and i was here just on as a summer job i had an opportunity to work as a production assistant on the second season of temptation island
37:04
and i’ll tell you watching the whole thing as because i was just there really you know filling time but and to see it all put together it was such a beautiful thing you could see the people you know i was going in the and i was driving the bus and so when you get to talk to the producers and the people that are working you really get a feeling for it becomes a family and over time they notice that person that hustles and yeah the next time we have a show let’s make sure we remember to bring that person right so
37:38
it’s it’s hustle hustle hustle hustle like you say that’s really great common sense too if you’ve got great common sense that’s awesome just because starter i mean when you’re standing around you know what to do you don’t have to pick up that cup you know right right do you get involved in the production part after a shot much or no you mean in post-production yeah uh like an adr added dialogue recorded or uh you know like when i think of production on maui you know i think of okay we’re gonna
38:16
bring new people on and some people do in production some are production and acting and maybe your own creations you get into post-production but you know i mean when i’m thinking about these young people i’m i’m really thinking past you and i in i don’t want to be funny about it but let’s just say in 50 years you and i might be gone and it’s what we do now that’s the foundation for the future that’s why i say you’re a master all that you’re talking about the young
38:49
kids are going drink it up let’s because your experience is like a megaphone and um and all that you just spoke about i mean i know we could go on talking about this i feel like i’m being privileged just to sit here with you what do you want to tell people you know here people get a close-up of branskin with his hat without his hat he is a man who i think of you i smile i think of you we talk about you as a heavy and i was like wait a minute those are fun roles those are fun rolls that’s really cool
39:30
well here i i i got a little something that i’d love to share that hopefully uh this is something my dad told me so you take your five fingers and you go timing chance good fortune persistence talent when the time comes you need to take a chance on yourself god willing you get a little good fortune you know if you hit a single you hit a double grade you’re not going to hit a home run persistence keeps those four things together and talent is last it keeps all of you together now people say well
40:13
why why is talent last i know some of the most talented people who never take a chance on themselves you see and it’s like this well if they want me they call me uh yeah you know everybody knows i got great talent uh so i’m i’m gonna sit here i’m gonna wait dude don’t wait don’t wait so take the time on your timing chance good fortune persistence talent there you go well that that’s a fistful but it’s that’s really also an open hand what a blessing that was a beautiful thing and
40:51
you know it’s i’m getting very philosophical but i really believe that the greatest things that you have to do are those that are ahead of you i mean i when i’m looking at a guy like you and i’m realizing like when i’m talking about things you realize well yeah you put pieces together and we’re at that point but who would think that the world would stop now your world hasn’t stopped but it’s like a giant reset button if we let it be and now we have an opportunity and here you i mean
41:31
i i keep feeling like i’m i’m the branson richmond cheerleader i don’t have a little short dress thank you but i do i mean i here this is probably the first time we’ve had a chance to speak a little bit you know i mean you’re right you’re right and um to me this is the way i meet great people i hope to because it’s what we can do from here right that is to me what is this about why is jason doing this show he’s almost 70 years old a little older than you know you know i still want to sing dance act
42:06
i’m not not only that all of that fits into this bigger picture i came here to bring renewable energy here what in 1988 and spoke to the electric company and started talking and put it on tv and i thought i was known as that bad guy maybe the green party guy i ran for i ran for mayor against goro hakama and linda lingle in 94. why i was running to contribute give ideas right 20 years later all the things we said everyone says you were right you were right now we’re right let’s together that’s
42:43
what’s going on your experience you look back at your experience but it’s the foundation for that vision plus action so you are like i say the candidate for someone who i want your input not only that you probably just your presence contributes to grounding something that others need your experience and what you’ve done let’s the people in the room know you’re you’re listening you’re in fact really a powerful important part of everything thank you and and once you’re a klingon in star trek
43:24
that might have helped a little bit how’s that do you keep any of your stuff as souvenirs you have a house full of stuff oh no oh yeah man i i i keep the stuff for the grandkids right i got two grandkids and uh and you never know that’s just the beginning of the grandkids so yeah i got all kinds of stuff and those wonderful boxes that are black with yellow tops they’re all inside those babies [Music] well um what do you want everyone here to look forward to or where to direct them if they want to
44:00
be in touch with you and all that you’re doing because you’ve been a great guest i hope you’ll come back of course of course we’ll be talking you know i say we’ll be talking if i can catch your attention because you you really are busy and i honor and appreciate the time that you’ve taken to be here with me and and this audience because really are you’re you’re very much appreciated and thank you you stand tall the hat i’m not worthy i’m not worthy i’m not
44:29
worthy hey here’s what i here’s what i will say listen when we are in a weird situation in the globe of uh life right now so stay healthy treat everybody wonderful uh wear your mask and and take care of of our kupuna you know the lessons to be learned about how we keep this land this space here on this island with respect is is from our elders and uh uh they still got a voice that’s so important that the knowledge there you want to be able to pass on so for me personally that’s how i like to
45:15
look at it and you know i’ve lost gosh i’ve lost four friends from covid and um one was an assistant director the other guy was uh they were both assistant directors in fact and uh you know when i did renegade john sharer was one of our first and god bless so he he caught covet and another guy who filmed a movie here we did a chinese movie here he was our second a.d and he lived out of texas and he caught coveted he died at home and um so let’s take care of each other let’s love each other and you know if
45:53
you got something to share that’s in a positive way awesome and you know some of the naysayers that that that have what they want to say you know there’s a there’s an interesting thing my dad said you you listen and then you keep what you want and you let go of the what you don’t want but you know you don’t need to fight anybody you just go got your brock my hollow bite and down the positive road man you’re an inspiration branscombe i thank you for the time you spent with us all
46:26
here many blessings to you and god bless everybody out there thank you and we’ll speak soon aloha mahalo take care you
