More than 200 guests, including extras and VIPs, were invited to a private screening of ‘Tropic Thunder’ Thursday night at Kukui Grove Cinema. During the pre-screening, Kaua‘i Film Commissioner Art Umezu paid tribute to the late mayor Bryan Baptiste as
More than 200 guests, including extras and VIPs, were invited to a private screening of ‘Tropic Thunder’ Thursday night at Kukui Grove Cinema.
During the pre-screening, Kaua‘i Film Commissioner Art Umezu paid tribute to the late mayor Bryan Baptiste as well as Kaua‘i High School chorus director David Conrad.
In addition, eight members of the Kaua‘i High School Singers offered a musical tribute, ‘Homeland,’ in honor of Conrad, Baptiste and members of the military. The group sang under the direction of Nina Saraos.
Daphne Sanchez also performed ‘Prayers’ to honor Baptiste.
Kaua‘i Bakery created a special cake to celebrate the screening, so guests were treated to cake in addition to free popcorn and a soda.
VIPs included Tom Fee of O‘ahu, who was instrumental in helping Dreamworks clear some of the hurdles necessary in filming the movie here.
According to Umezu, some 90 percent of the film was shot at six main locations across the island, including near Lihu‘e’s Grove Farm, at Kaua‘i Sands, and in Hanama‘ulu and Wainiha.
The film stars and was directed by part-time North Shore resident Ben Stiller.
