Zang Pictures & The Safe Zone Foundation presents in cooporation with Poetry Slam, Inc. HAWAII SLAM: POETRY IN PARADISE

NEW YORK PREMIERE
4th Annual PACIFIKA FILM FESTIVAL
MAY 20th 2006

MAUI PREMIERE
MAUI FILM FESTVAL
JUNE 2006

OFFICIAL WORLD PREMIERE
25th Annual HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 2005

Running time: 60mins
Shooting format: MiniDV
Produced & Directed by Kathryn Xian

Logline

What happens when four friends from Hawaii fly to the middle of America to compete for the title of “Best Slam Team in the World?”

Synopsis

For the first time ever, in August 2004 the HawaiiSlam Team which hosts the largest Slam poetry (performance poetry) competition in the world represented Hawaii at the Slam Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri. This film highlights what it means for this team to represent the voice of young Hawaii, fighting against racial stereotypes and intense competition.

HawaiiSlam hosts a monthly "Slam" (or performance poetry) competition that attracts more than 500 people per event. Its poets speak unabashedly about politics, complacency, love, war, unity, separation, sustainability and consumerism.

Win or lose this team reminds us of the foundation that Slam can bring people from all walks of life together for the real essence of the competition: for the sake of sharing poetry.

CAST

Kealoha
Selah Geissler
Melvin Won Pat Borja
TravisT.
iNTREPiD
Marc Smith, Founding Father of Slam
Danny Solis, Chair, Slam Nationals 2005, Albuquerque
Taylor Mali, President, National Poetry Slam
The Poets of Slam Nationals 2004
The Poets of 1st Thursdays Slam Competition, Honolulu

This film is currently avaiable for film festival viewing & for educational sales

Click here for purchase (coming soon!)

This film is a non-profit educational documentary.
To make a tax-deductible donation to contribute to the
distribution of this film please contact:
The Safe Zone Foundation
Tel & Fax 808.599.3931
Email: safezonehonolulu@cs.com

On January 21st and 22nd 2005 Zang Pictures and The Safe Zone Foundation test screened
"Hawaii Slam: Poetry in Paradise" at the ARTS at Marks Garage.

click here for pics of the event