Albert Pyun easily is the Hawaii filmmaker you’ve never heard of. Yet he’s one of the most active in the B-film indie genre, and he’s now off to South Africa to shoot a project called "Blood Sucking Devil" with Kevin Sorbo and Joie Fulco (a new "find," Pyun said). He will launch a web series shortly called "The Kickboxer," featuring Sasha Mitchell and Michael Dudikoff, set in Somalia.
So far this year, three of his earlier films have been rereleased — "Alien From L.A." (1988), "Captain America" (1990) and "H.P. Lovecraft’s Cool Air" (2013). Further, his new titles "Road to Hell," "Bulletface" and "Cyborg Nemesis" are awaiting a launch later this year, and the BUT (B-Movie, Underground and Trash) Film Festival in Breda, Netherlands, has tapped him and his writing partner and producer, Cynthia Cuman, to screen five of his movies. Last month, Comic-Con in San Diego screened "Captain America," so he’s making some inroads to familiarity.
Also, Universal is releasing his "Streets of Fire" on Blu-ray in September.
Pyun still hopes to schedule his "Road to Hell" on a Ward screen this fall; this would enhance his visibility and bring credo to his decadeslong career. "It’s probably the best-received film I’ve ever made," he said.
A homecoming also will be an opportunity for him to do a short documentary on the history of a Japanese language school in Manoa, marking its 100th anniversary this year. It’s where his parents also teach. "They asked (to have the doc done) and I can never refuse my parents," Pyun said. "It’s their support that got me to the life I’ve led."
He fondly recalls his small kid time … and is eager to revisit the past via some kind of film. "I was a kid running around Oahu shooting my crazy 8-mm movie shorts," he said. "My dad used to drop me off in front of Anderson’s Camera on Kapiolani and I’d spend the day in the store wishful, in awe of the Super 8- and 16-mm cameras in their display cases."
Both the Japanese school flick and the other doc would form "essential bookends of my life. Feels like I should (do it) for my soul." …
NOW AND THEN: Naveen Andrews, who was Sayid for six seasons of ABC’s "Lost" here, is joining the cast of "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland," a spinoff of "Once Upon a Time," premiering Oct. 10. Andrews will portray the villainous Jafar, a character in the 1992 Disney animation film, "Aladdin," but that’s not all, He’s set to co-star (as Dr. Hasnat Khan) with Naomi Watts (she’ll be the princess) in "Diana," a feature on the late mother of Princes William and Harry due this fall. …
Jason Momoa, the local who’s starred as Khal Drogo on HBO’s "Games of Thrones," will star on the Sundance Channel’s "The Red Road," previously dubbed "The Descendants" but changed for obvious reasons. Momoa will portray Philip, a menacing but charismatic Ramapo Indian who becomes involved in the death of a police officer’s twin brother that sends him fleeing. Momoa also has a role in director David Hayter’s film, "Wolves." …
AROUND TOWN: Maui entertainer Fulton Tashombe will sub for Maggie Herron when she takes a breather through Aug. 24 from her slot at the Halekulani’s Lewers Lounge. A jazz pianist and singer who recently had a lung transplant earlier this year, Tashombe’s doing fine, and joins Rocky Holmes in the gig. …
Ron and Mo Bright and actor Cliffton Hall (here for Bright’s "Les Miserables" at Paliku Theatre this fall) and his two sons Kaeden and Brycen were among the applaudience at Johnson Enos’ "Honu by the Sea," doing its final lunchtime shows Thursday and Aug. 15 at the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Room. Hall’s wife, the former Deedee Magno, will join the family when her commitments with Disney are pau in California. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
