Paul C. Curtis - The Garden Island
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LIHU‘E — After a three-year drought of major film-making on the island, Kaua‘i is suddenly one of Hollywood’s most-sought-after locations.

Not since 2007’s “Tropic Thunder” has a major motion picture been shot here, and, this year, no fewer than three major big-screen films are scheduled to work here, nearly simultaneously.

“The Descendants” with George Clooney recently wrapped up filming here, and Adam Sandler’s “Just Go With It” began filming Monday, said Art Umezu, film commissioner in the county Office of Economic Development.

The biggest buzz, though, is over the arrival of Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz and others for the big-budget, Disney “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” which has set up a production shop in the old pineapple cannery building on Kawaihau Road in Kapa‘a.

Umezu, busy Tuesday with permitting and logistical issues relating to both the Sony Pictures’ Sandler venture and Disney’s “Pirates,” said in an e-mail the heat of Kaua‘i is related in part to “Tropic Thunder” and constant courting of Hollywood executives.

“I do have an opinion and made a comment about this after ‘Tropic Thunder’ filmed here in 2007,” said Umezu.

“I had dinner with Dreamworks Studios’ president Steve Molen in LA last month and thanked him, Ben Stiller and ‘TT’ for starting the ‘big buzz’ about Kaua‘i in Hollywood with their 10-month production on Kaua‘i in 2007,” he said.

“I believe it’s constant marketing and staying in touch and establishing relationships with film executives throughout the years that has helped to keep Kaua‘i on Hollywood’s radar,” he said.

“One of the events that I attend every year to solidify these types of relationships is the Film Expo in Santa Monica. The expense of airfare, hotel and miscellaneous to attend the Expo is overshadowed by the return on investment when just one film decides to come to Kaua‘i,” said Umezu, who like other film commissioners before him is sometimes criticized when he isn’t able to deliver large-scale filming to the island with regularity.

“I also think that the 20 percent film-production tax credit is a major factor in why movies are being filmed here. This was mentioned in a recent article by someone affiliated with ‘Pirates,’” said Umezu.

And the major motion pictures aren’t the only ones taking a liking to Kaua‘i as a location.

A reality TV show based in New York City is planning six days of filming on Kaua‘i next week, Umezu said.

“Also, while in LA I met director Jim Wynorski and producer Roger Martin Corman, son of legendary film icon Roger Martin, and (they) said ‘Dinocroc Vs. Supergator,’ which they filmed here last May, will be on SyFy (channel) soon and features Kaua‘i’s many spectacular sceneries,” Umezu said.

• Paul C. Curtis, assistant editor and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.