Meet the people who made Strange Frame. This film was not only a labor of love by so many creative individuals, but also a serious project to create a sustainable and uniquely Hawaiian filmmaking culture. Here’s what Ke Ola Magazine had to say about the making of Strange Frame:

To develop a sustainable business, Hajim has worked with career programs through the University of Hawai‘i-Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College, as well as the East Hawai‘i high schools—including the Huiana Internship Program for youth—to build a critical mass of expertise. His indie film has been done on a very small budget—less than $2 million—and has been the training platform for high school and college interns who work alongside some hired staff. Hajim has provided invaluable work experience for more than 40 interns over the past six years.

“Here in East Hawai’i, there aren’t many opportunities for our talented, artistic, and technically-capable kids. Often, they have to choose between staying with their families, whom they love, and resigning themselves to working entry-level jobs or giving up everything they cherish to pursue a career elsewhere, and I don’t think that’s a fair choice.”

Through “Strange Frame” and future projects, he aspires to develop a viable digital animation studio on the island so the talent that is here can stay here, work here, and get known enough to compete for the large-scale projects out of Hollywood. “It can be done,” he insists. “This project [“Strange Frame”] has been a struggle, but I always remember what one of the mothers said, with tears in her eyes, when I gave her daughter an internship:

“When I was her age I could draw as well as her, but there were no opportunities here; so when I graduated, I joined the military, then came back [and] got married, had kids, and never drew again. Thank you for me and my daughter.”