I'm Naomi Sedgwick, I am a half-Japanese filmmaker, and the co-writer, and producer of PLUMERIA which is now kicking off it's fundraising efforts so this film can become a reality.

 

 

 

Hawaii: synonymous with paradise. A dream destination for so many to soak up the sun, play in the waves, and roll in the sand. Everything about the place is magical. I had been going to Kauai since I had been born, as all my family on my mom's side had been from there for generations. But it wasn't until I moved to Kauai for an extended period of time a few years ago, that I recognized the deeper, darker history that lies beneath the picture-perfect surface of these islands. The devastating effects of colonization and gentrification have pushed Native Hawaiians to fight for the sovereignty of the land to this day. 

 

Plumeria is the story of Lily, a mixed-racial teenager from California, who unveils the Hawaiian paradise mirage when she moves from California to Kauai with her father. Living on Kauai is far different than visiting for vacation as she must confront the ethics of tourism. Plumeria highlights these issues through the lens of Lily, a fish out of water, who slowly finds her place on the island through friends, family, and community. 

This coming of age short film touches on light moments of teenage joy, heavy moments of family trouble, and dark moments of a cult that threatens the peace of home. “Love Has Won” is based on the real cult that came to Kauai in 2020 and proved just how dangerous ignorance is by appropriating Hawaiian culture and stealing local resources. Our team’s goal is to allow the audience to learn alongside Lily as she herself discovers how to be a respectful and mindful visitor/settler on the islands.  

Much of Hawaii’s history has been erased and replaced with phony commercialism. We hope to shine a light on the true beauty of the islands- its rich culture and people. Kauai is more than just a backdrop for our film- the wonder of this story’s world is the inherent symbiotic relationship between the characters and the island. One cannot exist without the other. We are excited for the visual storytelling opportunities that capture the island’s nature, landscapes, and light. 

The land and ocean prove to be healing for Lily as she learns to connect with the islands on a deeper level. Although her mixed identity often causes a divide between her and her father, Joel, they are able to rebuild their family by opening their minds and listening to one another. As Lily navigates her relationship with her dad, Kai, an old friend, becomes a compass for her through her journey. Growth is only possible with empathy and our ultimate hope is that people walk away from this film with more aloha in their hearts to share.

Other key team members are co-writer and director Emily Kim who moved from Korea to Hawaii in 2011, and our associate producer Lauren Luke who was born and raised in Oahu. Our combined experiences as AAPI women with various connections to Hawaii have fueled our passion to uplift mixed and Hawaiian representation in media both behind and in front of the camera.

 

Our project advisor is Lorenzo DeStefano a born and raised award-winning filmmaker from Oahu, and we are working with From The Heart Productions as our fiscal sponsor.

 

 

 

As a team of different AAPI backgrounds, we've never fully connected to the stories we've grown up with, so we are excited to be telling a story that explores all of the complex racial dynamics in Hawaii. We want to show all the multiple viewpoints and our goal isn't to demonize anyone or anything. Our mission is to promote respect, care, and love for the people and the island, and we hope to see Plumeria continue on as a feature film and tv show. 

 

 

We are currently kicking off pre-production, and are targeting to shoot this summer. The reason we need to shoot over the summer is that we are planning to work with a lot of actors that are minors and will be out of school. Also, since we are filming in the water, there are too many ocean swells in the winter that make it dangerous for filming. If we shoot by July, that will also give us enough time to kickstart pre-production, and also begin post-production in time to hit festival submission deadlines.

 

We are aiming to premiere at Hawaii International Film Festival, and have a large viewership across top festivals like Sundance, SXSW, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival etc. Following a hefty festival run, we would look to obtain a streamer, much like Emily's last project (watch Neh on HBO now). Finally, this project is a proof of concept and we hope to develop this into a feature film and a tv series.

 

 

We need your help to make this dream of a film into a reality and help kickstart our film into production. We’ve budgeted PLUMERIA at $31,000 which will cover all costs related to the film; pre-production, production, post-production, and some submission fees.

 

Funding will be used for: 

 

Production

Cast & Crew

Post Production

Also, I'm especially pleased to share that we have received fiscal sponsorship with From The Heart Productions LLC, our partner whose 501(c)(3) status will provide all donors with a tax deduction for their gifts.

 

We would like to create some joy and connection with you with some goodies, as our way of saying "THANK YOU." Any donation counts, and we've put together tiered thank-you gifts when you join our global team of supporters!

 

Please share this campaign and film project with your friends, families, and social media!

The Impact

Every dollar you give makes a difference. Whether your gift is $25 or $25,000 or more, your support will go a long way in making a positive difference in our world. Each donation will go towards the hard costs of the project. We intend to bring on a majority of cast and crew that are local to Hawaii and are of AAPI descent. While the dollars you contribute are a vital component of our production, the energy and enthusiasm you infuse into this important project will expand the potential for PLUMERIA to touch the lives of everyone who experiences it.

Risks & Challenges

The biggest challenge we have in completing the production of this film is fundraising. My team and I have worked on award-winning films and tv shows and even created some ourselves. But raising funds as independent filmmakers is the largest hurdle. However, once we receive the funds, I fully believe we can make a truly impactful film that goes beyond just a passion project. 

Other Ways You Can Help

• Get the word out and make some noise about our campaign. Help in sharing PLUMERIA with your circle of friends and family and to ask for their contribution, however great or small, is vital.
• Share our campaign on social media with your peeps using the We Did It tools!
• Visit our website at plumeriafilm.com and rsvp to our virtual events so we stay connected with you! Also, send us a note on our "Contact Us" page. We're looking for anyone who identifies with the film to become a collaborator!
• Follow us on our new social media by clicking on the links below and "follow" us to see developing news, invitations to screenings, and other special events about the film:  
  • Instagram