Around The Islands
Feature Profile
Chris Lee: Local Man RETURNS
by Dean Hayashida
Christopher Lee's office at the University of Hawai`i, Manoa, probably isn't fancy compared to what he is used to in Los Angeles. The first thing you notice is the energy-almost as though you've stepped into the middle of a movie when somebody's hit the "pause" button. Everything seems frozen in mid-action. There are open books on his desk, faxes, screenplays, and DVDs scattered here and there. Behind him, the walls are covered with photos and movie posters-memorabilia from past projects. Just in front of his workstation is a television that is tuned to live news broadcast, which was muted once the interview started.
It's the middle of the afternoon when we sit down with Chris Lee-which means it's also the middle of his workday. Every few minutes, one of his telephones rings and the busy department chairman/film producer holds up an apologetic hand and checks the caller ID. If the call is important, he excuses himself and seems to jump right back into an ongoing conversation as though it had never been interrupted. The man's ability to quickly-accurately-aim and fire his attention is amazing.
At the time of this interview, Lee has only been back in Hawaii for a few months. He was in Australia, where he had spent half a year overseeing the production of a major motion picture (released early in 2006). He agreed to meet with Transition! Magazine to talk a bit about himself and how he sees the future for Hawaii.
Home Again
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Chris moved to Hawaii with his parents when he was in third grade, for what seems like an unusual reason.
"There weren't a lot of hapa [hapa haole] people on the East Coast back then," says Christopher Lee, "and my father wanted us to grow up in a place where he thought we'd feel comfortable." And, he was comfortable, attending Iolani School with its diverse ethnic mix. He says that the friends he made at Iolani continue to influence his life to this day.
Although now playing the role of chairperson of the Department of Creative Media at UH Manoa, Lee's career has been that of film producer. In fact, he is a former president of production for Sony Columbia Pictures and TriStar Pictures and co-founder of the start up, Legendary Pictures. His list of projects for the past several years reads like Hollywood's version of a bestsellers list: "Final Fantasy," "Jerry McGuire," "Philadelphia," "As Good as it Gets," and, of course, "Superman Returns"-the project he oversaw in Australia.
No wonder he seems more like a fast track Hollywood-type than university administrator.
So, why is he here? Why would a major film producer put his career on hold to develop a film program at the University of Hawai'i? It turns out that his reasons are part personal, and part based on a responsibility he feels to invest in the future of his home and community. Chris is a local boy, after all; who's been away and is now back to help out.
Role Of A Lifetime
"I came home in large measure because of my father." Lee says. "He'll be 80, next year and has health issues. I was away when my mother passed away and I've always felt bad that I didn't spend more time with her."
Family matters aside, Lee feels that he, and others like him, can contribute to Hawaii's future.
Although he still produces movies, his work with the Center for Creative Media also gives him a chance to apply what he knows toward contributing to Hawaii's list of future professionals. Under his guidance, the program (currently consisting of over 200 students filling seven classes) is indeed racking up acclaim in film festivals from Toronto to China. The projects are all locally produced with an eye toward an international audience. All in all, students of the Center for Creative Media learn the many aspects of film production and development.
Even though he's been away, Lee has always kept one eye on what's going on in his home state. He's watched different industries come, go, or stay: agriculture, real estate development, hospitality-film of course. He's seen the same things happen again and again, and he believes he knows some of the reasons for these trends. One secret to success in any major undertaking here, Lee says, is that it develops from within.
Develop Thyself
"What Hawaii has traditionally done every time the economy gets bad, is bring in people from the mainland who enter as senior people…" Lee says. "In my opinion-this hasn't worked because [they] have to understand what it is to be here…. You have to combine two things that I would call a "Western" style with the indigenous community."
Chris believes that if new arrivals adapt and join in our culture, they may start to prosper…"Otherwise, they just get frustrated and they leave after several years." He says throwing up his hands in mock frustration. "They lose money and everybody's mad at everybody..." This has a trickle down effect on the people who depend on these guys for jobs. "You end up [working for] people who have no history with the islands and who don't understand the community particularly well." This makes it difficult for people to stick around.
Lee sees parallels between Hawaii and other countries in the pluses and minuses of remoteness. The most important similarities are in the education and job preparedness of local, or, indigenous, populations. So, one of his solutions for hanging onto a sense of place in Hawaii is not surprising.
Bring 'Em Back
"The future of Hawaii is dependent on our ability to bring back our students..." He says, confidently. "…Especially if the kids that went away-like myself-come back and apply what they've learned." Chris then goes on to explain that whole countries, such as India and China-earlier, Japan-have succeeded, largely by "foreign"-educating of many of their students, while managing their economic growth on their own.
"One of the things that you realize when you go away from Hawaii is how special this place is. But, you [also] realize that in the last 20 years, there's been increased demographic change in the islands... You see it in the 'Letters to the Editor' that you read in the paper."
Chris is talking about changes in local lifestyle, which can translate to who is speaking up the most about local issues. Lee is so concerned about preserving local culture, that he is making a digital archive of photographs, film, and audio files which he says might otherwise "rot away in someone's garage." In this way, he can make sure that there is always something familiar here to which folks can keep coming back.
Okay, so, we can all agree that it would be great to bring our kama'aina home. But, how can you when there are so many opportunities elsewhere?
Aside from the sense of place, one way of keeping workers here has to do with technology. Technology is (literally) changing the landscape of business. With cheaper and better communication systems and new "hoo-hoo!" gadgetry showing up every day, Lee predicts, "more and more people will be working where they want to live-Instead of the other way around."
In an age where you can hold international board meetings online, or speak to someone in India for help on a product that you bought three blocks from home, this seems more than just possible!
A Good Start
With the changes in technology, Chris Lee also sees changes in education and career development-changes and opportunity. "Kids are empowered by technology." He says. "Computers [are] engaging them in a way that traditional education hasn't."
Of course it's not all computers and technical equipment that are helping our students, but also the ways in which our schools use these things. He points to Wai'anae High School's Searider Productions program.
