If Adam Braff finds success as a Hollywood screenwriter, it’s going to be on his own terms.
That’s the promise he made to himself six years ago this summer when he and his wife decided to move from Los Angeles to Hawaii. And no, success hasn’t quite happened yet.
But July 18 could be a big day for that cause: "Wish I Was Here," the movie he wrote for his brother, Zach, will open in select cities, including some theaters in Hawaii. Zach Braff — best known for his breakout "Garden State," which he wrote, directed and starred in, and for his role on the long-running TV series "Scrubs" — directed the new film and has the lead role, too.
"Wish I Was Here," which also stars Kate Hudson, is a comedy about a struggling actor who discovers he can no longer afford a private-school education for his children and winds up trying to home-school them. At the same time, his father becomes seriously ill. The experience teaches him unexpected lessons about life.
The brothers have worked on other projects, but none as successful as this one, said Adam Braff, who at 49 is a decade older than his brother.
Their film was funded by a Kickstarter campaign last year that raised $3.5 million and shot about a year ago in 25 days. After it screened in January at the Sundance Film Festival, it was bought by Focus Features.
Living in Hawaii made Adam Braff more creative — he’s written two television pilots and four movie scripts — but moving here wasn’t part of his career plan. His wife, Michelle Moder, grew up in the islands and often suggested the idea.
"I used to say to my wife when she would ask to move back, ‘You know, peace of mind, it doesn’t matter where you are because it’s something you have inside,’" he said in a call from Los Angeles. "And as much as I would like to believe that, I love living in Hawaii. It really gave me a peace that I didn’t know I was capable of."
When he left Los Angeles, Braff had just sold a TV pilot called "NightLife" that was produced for Fox but not picked up by the network. It was a big success followed by letdown. People told him he was crazy to leave.
"When it wasn’t picked up, my wife and I decided it was time to leave L.A.," he said. "But it was a big risk for us. Could I maintain my career?"
The idea for "Wish I Was Here" came from brother Zach, and Adam Braff felt his own life was inspiration. He was spending a lot of time with his children at their Waialae Nui home, taking them to school, writing during the day and picking them up in the afternoon.
But even after all this, Adam Braff doesn’t feel like a success just yet.
"One of my big things has been to make my own name irrespective of my brother," he said. "And that has proven a bit difficult here and there."
Of course, that’s the rub when you’re working with a brother more famous than you.
"He has such game in Hollywood, and I feel like I’m riding on his mojo," Adam Braff said. "Maybe that’s where our competitive brother thing is. Deep down, I would rather do it on my own. But at the same time, the ride is fun."
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.
