We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kā’eo Drumright. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kā’eo below.
Kā’eo, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
As a proud Kānaka (Native Hawaiian), I’ve always been interested in telling the stories of my people and sharing some aspect of my culture and identity in each project. A recent example is my short film, “Lono and the Pig” (currently in post-production), which is a coming-of-age modern fantasy about a Hawaiian boy losing his way in the woods and ultimately finding himself. As writer and director, I have dedicated over two years to developing the script, researching Native Hawaiian folklore, casting fellow Kānaka, shooting, and now editing the film. The journey has been at times scary due to its personal nature but has proved to be the most rewarding of my efforts as a visual artist. To put this incredibly personal story to the page was vulnerable and at times scary but I was touched by the multitude of friends, family, and fellow creatives who connected with the material and freely gave of their time and talents to bring the film to life. That, to me, is the core motivating force for why I create art. I want to build exciting worlds, yes, but I also want to build strong communities.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Kā’eo Drumright (they/them) and I’m a Kānaka Maoli filmmaker currently based in Utah. I fell in love with film as a medium and as a creative process from an early age and like many others, spent much of my formative years getting friends together on weekends to shoot short sketches and movies. Thanks to online resources like YouTube I was able to learn a ton about film history as well as production and editing techniques – all before entering film school. I attended Brigham Young University and had the opportunity to learn from industry professionals and connect with emerging actors and filmmakers. Since graduating in 2022, I have founded Hale Pahu (meaning “House of the Drum” in Native Hawaiian), my own independent production company, and have written and directed several original short films. While I feel I’m only getting started, I sincerely push to differentiate my work by highlighting underrepresented voices and stories. This includes Native Hawaiians but also extends to the LGBTQ+, BIPOC, Neurodivergent and so many other communities. While the large studios struggle to catch up, I strongly believe we can start making a change now by creating equitable and inclusive art on our own terms. If this mission statement resonates with you in any way, please reach out so we can make cool stuff together!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I believe the best art is often the result of a collective effort to create something beautiful. As a filmmaker and especially as a writer/director, it is sometimes tempting to approach each project as the realization of my singular vision. The cast and crew are there to help make that dream happen. But the more I work in this industry, the more I realize that couldn’t be further from the truth. What brings me the most joy as a creative is not just seeing my work up on a big screen, but it’s all of the inspired interactions with actors to explore character, or with a Director of Photography to choose the right lens, or even with a gifted composer to create a score that is uniquely designed for that specific story. I love seeing other people do what they love, learning from them, making discoveries together, and building a lasting bond. The resulting film is a culmination of all of the blood, sweat, tears, and dreams of everyone involved. In short, I’m a huge fan of and believer in the collaborative aspect of creation.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
This may be a gross oversimplification of this colossal issue, but I feel the best support society can give to artists and creatives is an undying commitment to curiosity. The course of human history has proven time and time again that we move forward when we are able to interrogate why things are the way they are and how they could be better. We need to be open to new technology, new forms of storytelling, and especially voices and ideas that may be new to us. I’m not insinuating we should discard the past, but rather that we take the best parts of it and leave behind those that had us back. To put it more concretely, I refer again to my Hawaiian heritage. I have been taught to listen to my kupuna (ancestors/elders) and do my part to preserve those teachings for the next generations. Thus, my creative efforts include casting Native actors, hiring Native crew, having characters speak ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i, writing stories that include ancient Hawaiian folklore and teachings, and the like. And while that’s all well and good for my part, I need a platform to be able to share that with the world. As a society, we should encourage the elevation of diverse voices, cultures, and lifestyles. Whether that means donating to a crowdfunding campaign, viewing media with subtitles, or simply engaging with creatives whose stories are different than your own, we can all do something to ensure the creative ecosystem thrives.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halepahuproductions
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1oAUg1cz0NHOOSpZad6NsA
Image Credits
Penny Anae Fuimaono