Yesterday I had the tremendous good fortune of a chance meeting with Island Film Group producer Ric Galindez and his stellar wife, Lauri Ann Galindez.  This is the group that produced and is promoting the movie that gave so many of us well-paid work, "Princess Ka'iulani."
  As we spoke about that film and his efforts to promote it, I was struck with how very difficult a job his would be.  I was stressed out just thinking about trying to gather the investors for a multi-million-dollar endeavor, and then organizing the army of people needed to get it distributed.
  I was pleased to be able to tell him what an incredibly moving experience being on set was for me and for so many of the other actors I'm in touch with.  He was glad to hear it.  I can only imagine the criticism and complaints he usually hears! 
  He and Lauri Ann were so top-notch, so well-meaning, so personable, I found myself offering to do whatever I could to help the movie succeed.  He asked that we set in motion that most valuable of all marketing strategies: word of mouth.  I told him I would, and immediately thought of this wonderful forum.
  So I come to my fellow actors and actresses with a request that we contact as many people as we can, especially on the mainland, and encourage them to see the movie.  Ric said that it's booked in 13 theaters across Hawaii and 50 on the mainland.  Whether it gets booked into more theaters depends almost entirely on whether those 50 theaters have good gate receipts, he said.
  Having thought a lot about it since we spoke, I come to this discussion board with two reasons for us to promote the movies we're in. 
1) More successful movies could help bring more work to Hawaii in the future.
2) If we feel that a movie is good, we can spread the word simply on the basis that it deserves promotion from informed insiders.  Many of us on the set of PK felt it was a very worthwhile endeavor, and feel it is a grand movie, in all the senses of that word. 

  Please join me in chatting up "Princess Ka'iulani" on our social networks, by phone, and sending out an email.
  I'd love to see any comments anyone has on this idea!

  In case it helps, here's a sample email.  Modify and use as your own.  If you were in the movie, most people love to get the "inside scoop" for which character you were, or what scenes to find you in!  Otherwise, you can mention how marvelous it was to have such a high-level production done on our shores.   There's a fair amount of controversy surrounding it, which you can mention if you think people will be interested in that angle.  Lots of news stories cover the saga at http://www.islandfilmgroup.com/ , hit the "news" link.

  Sample email:
Hey, howzit from Hawaii!  Great news: an awesome movie about Hawaii is hitting theaters this month!  I'm in it!  It was so cool to be a part of and it's a high-class production.  We all fell in love with the star, Q'orianka Kilcher!  She did such a fantastic job of showing the heavy-duty issues the young Hawaiian princess grappled with in the late 1800's.  The movie is set back then, so the ladies get to complain about the corsets and the guys their false mustaches!  LOL  I hope the movie is up for some major awards; the hair and wardrobe were authentic and super-fancy!  I had elbow-length gloves, a parasol, and the men had tophats, canes, gloves, spats....you get the idea!
  So go see it and get all your friends to see it too!

Aloha,
Aleesah
PS.  They're on Facebook and Twitter; the official trailer is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GXLnIHsB1g .
PPS Here's the Facebook list of show dates and cities:
Check your local theater for showtimes and ticket information!
FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010
Oahu, HI
. Victoria Ward
. Kahala Theaters 8
. Dole Cannery 18
. Pearlridge West 16
. Kapolei Theaters 16
. Miilani Theaters 14
. Ko'olau Stadium 10
Maui, HI
. Maui Maui Megaplex 12
. Kaahumanu 6
Big Island, HI
. Prince Kuhio Stadium Center
. Keauhou Cinemas 7
. Makalapua Cinemas
Kauai, HI
. Kukui Grove Twin
Los Angeles, CA
. Santa Monica Laemmle 4 Plex
. Century City Landmark 12
. Encino Leammle Town Center 5
. Pasadena Leammle Playhouse 7 Theaters
. Irvine Regal Westpark Cinemas 8
Palm Springs, CA
. Cinemas Palm D'Or 7
San Diego, CA
. Del Mar Flower Hill Cinemas 4
. La Jolla Village Cinemas
San Francisco/Sacramento, CA
. Landmark Embarcadero
. Stonestown Twin Cinemas
. San Jose Camera 12
. Berkeley Elmwood 6
. Sacramento Tower Theater
Seattle, WA
. Regal Meridian 16
. Landmark Guild 45th
Las Vegas, NV
. Regal Village Square 18
New York, NY
. East Side Cinemas
. Angelika Film Center

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2010
Portland, OR
. Regal Fox Tower 10
Phoenix, AZ
. Scottsdale Camelview 5
Boston, MA
. West Newton Cinema 6
. Cambridge Kendall Square Cinema
Philadelphia, PA
. Landmark Ritz
Washington, D.C./Virginia
. Landmark E Street Cinema
. Falls Church Shirlington 7
Chicago, IL
. Landmark's Century Center
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
. Landmark Edina 4
St. Louis, MO
. Landmark Plaza Frontenac
Atlanta, GA
. Regal Tara Atlanta
Charlotte, NC
. Regal Manor Theater 2
Dallas/Austin, TX
. Dallas Angelika Film Center
. Austin Regal Arbor Cinemas

FRIDAY, JUNE 4 2010
Denver, CO
. Landmark Chez Artiste

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2010
Houston, TX
. Houston Landmark River Oaks
Baltimore, MD
. Charles Theater