The HGTV cable show "House Hunters" is hunting for Realtors and buyers in Hawaii for its next season.
The No. 1 show on the cable network, produced by Pie Town Productions, just got picked up for a new season and "nothing makes me happier then the chance to shoot in Hawaii — besides the natural beauty, I always experience the aloha spirit with the people, too," said field producer Laura Patterson.
The show looks for people that are "just at the final stages of making that decision — buyers getting ready to buy, or Realtors who have clients that are getting ready," she said.
Timing can get complicated, but the show’s producers have 13 years’ worth of experience in working it all out.
The production staff is looking for people "with outgoing personalities and strong opinions of what they want" who would be "fun to watch on the show."
The episode will clue viewers in on the buyers’ back stories, and a bit about their lifestyles and careers, "to get to know them a little better," Patterson said.
It can be a fun experience for home buyers and clearly, "it’s a great marketing opportunity for Realtors."
The network makes the ultimate casting decisions based on videos the applicants submit via email to Patterson at laura_patterson@pietown.tv.
Also, applicants needn’t be wealthy house-hunters. Producers like to feature a range of real estate, so the home price is "not the deciding part, it’s the people," she said.
It also needn’t be Oahu only, given Patterson’s desire to "showcase a number of islands." Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii island and Molokai have been featured in previous episodes "and we would love to return to any of those places."
Five Realtor-buyer pairings will be cast for the show, which will likely shoot in November or December, so video applications should be sent to Patterson rather quickly.
"I’ll be the first point of contact," and will turn applicants over to others to see the process through casting. After that, "I would be the one ultimately coming back to shoot the show," she said.
Episodes are shot during two trips, the first, lasting two days, and the second, three days. The shows depict the "before" of the home-buying process and the "after" when producers "come back to see them living in the new home."
"It’s a fun show to watch, but it’s deceptively hard to produce," Patterson said.
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On the Net:
» www.pietown.tv/index.htm
» www.hgtv.com
Speaking of HGTV
The next new episode of "Million Dollar Rooms" on the cable network, which airs Tuesday at 5 p.m., will highlight the great room of the Kapalua, Maui, home of artist Christian Riese Lassen.
The program showcases high-end design and luxury living, as one might infer from the show’s name.
Lassen’s private home previously has been featured in design magazines and on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," famously hosted by Robin Leach.
Million Dollar Rooms will home in on the great room’s blend of Balinese and tropical architecture, 18-foot pocketing doors, detailed customization and, oh yeah, its beachfront luxury, the architecture firm said in a statement.
Lassen’s humble abode was designed by architect Jeffrey T. Long of Honolulu-based Long & Associates Architects and Interiors, and was built by John Kaahui of Maui-based Web Development Ltd.
"The home for Christian Riese Lassen was a wonderful journey in creativity and excitement," Long said. "Working closely with the client, ideas soared and resulted in a home with captivating contemporary and tropical imagery."
For those seeking such soaring inspiration, or who like a good opportunity to turn green with envy, the episode will repeat at 8 and 11 p.m., and likely at other times on other days. As they say, check your local listings.
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On the Net:
» www.lai-hawaii.com/home.html
» www.webdevsite.com
» www.lassenart.com
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Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com, or on Twitter as @erikaengle.
