‘Talk about representation’: Jason Momoa describes uphill battle to produce ‘Chief of War’
Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett talk about the uphill battle to produce "Chief of War."
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The cast and crew of “Chief of War” are hoping Apple TV+ will approve more seasons of the epic story of Kamehameha the Great.
Creator, executive producer, co-writer and actor Jason Momoa plays Kaʻiana, and spoke with Hawaii News Now about the war scenes and the uphill battle to make the production.
“We have a lot of fights to battle and to go through because it’s not our money making this, but you know, it’s a collaborative process,” said Momoa.
“It’s at a certain point when I was directing, it’s written by Hawaiians, directed by Hawaiians, acted by Hawaiians,” he added.
“You got 50 warriors fighting 50 warriors. There’s arguably in one of our famous battles, you’re talking about nearly 30,000 on one side, 22,000 on another. This is not small,” said Thomas Paʻa Sibbett, creator, executive producer, writer.
HNN asked Momoa about this kuleana in producing and acting in “Chief of War.”
“This is definitely my dream. I mean to talk about representation. I’ve never had the opportunity to play anything like an ancestor,” said Momoa.
Watch our full interview with Momoa and Sibbett:
The first two episodes are in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language).
Momoa has a respected list of local experts who were part of the production, including Kaumakaiwa Kanakaʻole, Kahoʻokahi Kanuha, and Brian Keaulana.
“My cousin, Brian, who I came over here with, he’s directing. We’re directing together. He’s the reason why I’m acting,” said Momoa.
HNN asked about the pressure telling the story. Did they lose sleep? How did they make sure it’s authentic?
“I am a professional screenwriter. We produce movies, but I happen to be kanaka that loves it so it was always on my mind. If you called me at 2 o’clock in the morning on a Tuesday night, I was crying my eyes out because I realize, this is bigger than me,” said Sibbett.
“It was very challenging,” he added.
Behind the scenes, Momoa and the crew have had meetings with Gov. Josh Green and other leaders while hoping to extend film tax credits, support a cultural credit, and boost the pipeline for local jobs.
Only 20 percent of “Chief of War” was filmed in Hawaii while 80 percent was filmed in New Zealand.
Producers say they’re aiming to have half filmed in Hawaiʻi.
“We brought them all together and I think this is where the impact hit the most, because we are so close to the show premiering and Jason’s voice is very loud and it’s a good loud,” said producer Angela Laprete.
“For me, it’s like the aftereffects of surfing “The Eddie.’ The biggest thing in your life, by far, the most proudest I’ve ever been in a production,” said Keaulana.
“Our boat is going to succeed regardless of what shoreline it’s going to sail, but our target is we try to make sure we are sailing home,” he added.
Momoa directs the ninth and final episode. Producers say they’ll learn in September if Apple TV will greenlight a second and third season.
“Chief of War” drops on Apple TV+ on August 1.
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