Producing in Paradise: The Real Cost of Filmmaking in Hawaii

From The Big Picture

What does it really take to build a sustainable film industry in Hawaii? Ricardo Galindez, co-founder of Island Film Group, opens up about his journey from corporate law to producing major projects like Soul Surfer, Lost, and Katy Perry videos—all made possible through Hawaii’s evolving film tax credit system. In this powerful conversation, he explains how tax policy directly impacts production decisions, why most films never turn a profit, and what Hawaii must do to stay competitive with oth...