Meet the talented trio interning with HIFF this summer: Jordan, Sean, and Robby!
JORDAN BROWN
My name is Jordan Brown and I am a recent graduate of UH Manoa with a degree in communications. My main career goal is to ultimately become an actor, but I would also love to become more involved in the creative arts industry in any capacity, primarily within marketing or project management. My main favorite movie genres include horror, animation, psychological thrillers, and music biopics (not to be confused with musicals hehe). Outside of film I am a devoted music fan primarily within alternative, punk, hardcore, and metal, as well as an avid anime watcher and gamer.
If you could visit any movie set from the past or present, which one would it be and why?
This is honestly a difficult question for me to just narrow down one specific set as there is so many I would like to see. Ultimately, my main top 3 would be:
1. the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (my all time favorite movie and favorite exterior set)
2. THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (I’m just absolutely in love with the German Expressionism influence)
3. WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (who doesn’t like candy???)
How did you learn about HIFF and why should others intern for HIFF?
I’ve heard of HIFF through its fall festival programs that frequented Dole Cannery theaters. I wasn’t familiar with the programs that HIFF offered, but I definitely wanted to intern for an organization that aligned with my interests and career goals. I’ve read that HIFF provided an internship program and ultimately decided to reach out to them in hopes that I would be given an opportunity to learn more about the film industry through such a wonderful team! I believe that others should intern for HIFF as HIFF provides them a unique opportunity to learn and network with industry professionals as well as developing creative media and leadership skills that they can take with them for their future careers.
SEAN OKETANI
Hi! My name is Sean and I’m a queer, mixed Native Hawaiian and Japanese-American writer passionate about crafting compelling stories, especially stories that explore intersectional and marginalized identities. I was born and raised in Kāneʻohe on Oʻahu and graduated from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts with a B.F.A. in Television Writing and Production. Since graduating, I’ve moved back to Oʻahu and I’ve been interning with HIFF since last fall as a contributing writer to the HIFILM Blog. Outside of HIFF, I also work for a digital marketing agency based in Chinatown. In my free time, I enjoy taking grainy photos, attending concerts, and keeping up with the latest in all things pop culture.
If you could visit any movie set from the past or present, which one would it be and why?
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. I would love to walk around each and every iconic set, admire the set design, and meet young Tim Curry.
How did you learn about HIFF and why should others intern for HIFF?
ROBERTA (ROBBY) CORREIA
I was born and raised in Brazil until I was 16 years old, then I had the opportunity to live in the United States for the first time as an AFS exchange student in Kansas City where I graduated from high school. Upon my return to my hometown, Sorocaba, in the state of São Paulo, I started getting my certifications in English and became an EFL/ESL (English as a Foreign / Second Language) teacher. Along the way, I attended university as a communications / journalism graduate, but ended up transferring to radio broadcasting and embarked on a musical path as a DJ. After over two decades forging a career in education, I decided to dive deeper in my artistic passions and pursue my teenage aspirations in music and cinema. I am currently enrolled in the MELE (Music Entertainment and Learning Experience) program at Honolulu Community College taking the audio engineering pathway and, when I graduate next spring, I will transfer to a film school to fulfill a long awaited dream.
If you could visit any movie set from the past or present, which one would it be and why?
As a movie aficionada, there are certainly many films in my list that I wish I could’ve been on the set; however, one in particular that I would’ve loved to visit is TITANIC. In my opinion, it is absolutely jaw-dropping. The fact that they had a near life-size replica of the real ship built in a studio for this blockbuster, which also happens to be the most expensive movie set ever built, and one of the most expensive movies ever made.
How did you learn about HIFF and why should others intern for HIFF?
I learned about HIFF through the Fall Festival announcements on MELE’s page and the emails our course coordinator, Eric Lagrimas, sent us about the opportunities for students to obtain a pass to watch the films for free. Since then, I have been able to attend several screenings, as well as talks with people in the film industry. I recommend interning with HIFF to anyone who is interested in movies, networking, learning curious facts about the production of movies directly from people who make them, and ultimately to have a great time working with a lot of amazing people!
Interested in interning with HIFF? We’re currently recruiting for the upcoming 44th Hawai’i International Film Festival. Learn more and apply at: hiff.org/internship
