Pre-production on the big fantasy film "Ethyrea: Code of the Brethren," which was to begin in early June on Maui, Molokai and Kauai, is three months behind schedule, but the author who created the story insists her film will be made.
The delay was caused by the death of the project’s senior legal counsel, Milton Everett Olin Jr., who was bicycling in December when he was struck by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrol car, said author Danica Fontaine from her home in Florida.
"We are definitely coming to Hawaii," Fontaine said. "We are picking up the pieces and moving into full-blown casting and pre-production by the end of this month."
The film, which is based on Fontaine’s young-adult book series "The Order of Ethyrea," could start an economic boom on Maui County. It’s expected to spend $62 million there and will be followed by four sequels, Fontaine said.
The family-friendly stories take place in a fantasy land with griffins, gargoyles, dragons, a skeleton army and apelike creatures that disappear in shadows. Fontaine has described the movies as a cross between "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Clash of the Titans" — on steroids.
Fontaine said casting will take place over 12 weeks in Los Angeles, starting in early June. When that’s complete, everyone relocates to Maui to open production offices, scout locations, build sets and create costumes, she said.
Instead of filming from January to April 2015, which was the original plan, the cameras won’t roll until next summer, Fontaine said.
Maui County film commissioner Tracy Bennett believes the film will get made. But the schedule of a movie of this size is hard to predict because it’s independent, Bennett said in a phone call from Los Angeles, where he is meeting with one of the film’s producers, Billy Badalato.
"In my opinion it’s going to happen, but I don’t know exactly when," Bennett said. "I’m confident that things are going to get going here real soon."
The project will test the county’s ability to host a huge production. There will be four or five key shooting locations on Maui and one on Molokai, a production crew of about 200 people and "tons of cast," Bennett said. Several scenes will use up to 500 extras, he said.
Every county department will have to be in sync with the plans.
"They will utilize most of the island," Bennett said. "They will utilize many, many vendors on the island. I think getting everyone educated about what they are doing and being on the same page is important. We want to roll out the red carpet and show them we are ready and can handle a film of that scope and size."
The headliners have not been announced yet, and Fontaine won’t reveal the names of actors she’s negotiating with. But she said she got some of her top choices. The delay affected their availability, though.
"We are negotiating our schedule around our headline talent," she said. "We have to work with their availability."
The project recently added veteran actor/producer and Maui resident Branscombe Richmond as a producer, Fontaine said.
"He’s a seasoned producer and is completely dialed into the Hawaii production environment," Fontaine said. "He is an asset we are very excited to add."
Fontaine can’t wait to be here. Hawaii has always been the place where she wanted to film because of its lush tropical beauty. Last fall she said she had already purchased a home on Molokai.
"I’m excited," she said. "The ball is rolling and it’s rolling fast. We couldn’t get out of the way even if we wanted to. We are coming. We are getting ready to move. Literally."
AND that’s a wrap …
Mike Gordon is the Star-Advertiser’s film and television writer. Read his Outtakes Online blog at honolulupulse.com. Reach him at 529-4803 or email mgordon@staradvertiser.com.
