1 00:00:05,279 --> 00:00:07,519 Hey. If you think leading saints is just 2 00:00:07,519 --> 00:00:10,240 a podcast, well, that's a big mistake. We 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,240 are so much more than a podcast. We've 4 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,219 established online a leading saints community. 5 00:00:15,664 --> 00:00:18,324 That's right. If you go to leadingsaints.org/zion, 6 00:00:18,704 --> 00:00:21,204 you'll be pushed towards a community online where 7 00:00:21,344 --> 00:00:23,585 the discussion is really happening. Sure. You're gonna 8 00:00:23,585 --> 00:00:25,184 listen to this episode. You'll get some great 9 00:00:25,184 --> 00:00:27,524 tips and ideas and hear a thought provoking 10 00:00:27,744 --> 00:00:29,364 discussion, but the conversation 11 00:00:29,664 --> 00:00:32,409 doesn't end there. We, go over to the 12 00:00:32,409 --> 00:00:34,729 Leading Saints community and talk further there. You 13 00:00:34,729 --> 00:00:36,570 can make comments. You can ask questions, and 14 00:00:36,570 --> 00:00:38,649 we'll probably do some follow-up live streams with 15 00:00:38,649 --> 00:00:39,869 maybe the same guest. 16 00:00:40,250 --> 00:00:41,770 But a lot is going on at the 17 00:00:41,770 --> 00:00:44,215 Leading Saints community. So check out the show 18 00:00:44,215 --> 00:00:47,195 notes for the link, leadingsaints.org/zion, 19 00:00:47,414 --> 00:00:49,354 and join the leading saints community. 20 00:00:57,899 --> 00:00:59,500 I would be rude if I didn't take 21 00:00:59,500 --> 00:01:01,760 the time to explain to the newer listeners 22 00:01:01,980 --> 00:01:04,319 what Leading Saints is. Here goes. 23 00:01:04,700 --> 00:01:07,020 Leading Saints is an organization that started as 24 00:01:07,020 --> 00:01:09,120 a hobby blog in 2010 25 00:01:09,260 --> 00:01:12,159 and then really caught some traction in 2014 26 00:01:12,219 --> 00:01:13,599 when the podcast started. 27 00:01:13,965 --> 00:01:15,884 We talk about all things leadership in the 28 00:01:15,884 --> 00:01:17,724 context of The Church of Jesus Christ of 29 00:01:17,724 --> 00:01:19,884 Latter day Saints. We aren't owned by the 30 00:01:19,884 --> 00:01:21,805 church, but we have a great relationship with 31 00:01:21,805 --> 00:01:23,825 them and always aim to be faith promoting 32 00:01:24,204 --> 00:01:26,384 even though we talk about the tough topics. 33 00:01:26,750 --> 00:01:28,829 My name is Kurt Frankem. I'm generally the 34 00:01:28,829 --> 00:01:30,590 voice you hear as the host of the 35 00:01:30,590 --> 00:01:31,090 podcast. 36 00:01:31,469 --> 00:01:33,310 I've tried to get other hosts, but people 37 00:01:33,310 --> 00:01:34,769 demand my smooth tone, 38 00:01:35,150 --> 00:01:38,590 and I really enjoy it. Check out leadingsaints.org 39 00:01:38,590 --> 00:01:40,270 to really get into the weeds of what 40 00:01:40,270 --> 00:01:42,644 Leading Saints is and learn all about our 41 00:01:42,644 --> 00:01:44,644 mission to help Latter day Saints be better 42 00:01:44,644 --> 00:01:45,625 prepared to lead. 43 00:01:52,004 --> 00:01:54,450 Hey. Do you remember Meet the Mormons, that 44 00:01:54,609 --> 00:01:56,869 that feature film documentary series, 45 00:01:57,170 --> 00:01:58,530 that we all saw in the theaters, and 46 00:01:58,530 --> 00:02:00,129 now you can stream it all over the 47 00:02:00,129 --> 00:02:03,090 place? Well, Blair True was the mind behind 48 00:02:03,090 --> 00:02:04,929 that, the director and producer of Meet the 49 00:02:04,929 --> 00:02:05,429 Mormons, 50 00:02:05,810 --> 00:02:08,775 and he's out with another film very similar 51 00:02:08,775 --> 00:02:11,354 to that, same look and feel and experience, 52 00:02:11,495 --> 00:02:14,215 and it's called Sharing Aloha. Now I had 53 00:02:14,215 --> 00:02:16,215 the opportunity a few months ago to actually 54 00:02:16,215 --> 00:02:18,935 see a screening of Sharing Aloha, and it 55 00:02:18,935 --> 00:02:19,754 was fantastic. 56 00:02:20,629 --> 00:02:22,629 I cried. Okay? And you're gonna cry too 57 00:02:22,629 --> 00:02:24,069 when you see this. You've got to see 58 00:02:24,069 --> 00:02:26,090 this movie, and I'm I couldn't help but 59 00:02:26,150 --> 00:02:27,370 invite Blair into, 60 00:02:27,909 --> 00:02:30,389 at least virtually into the studio here and 61 00:02:30,389 --> 00:02:33,030 to talk about this, this film and some 62 00:02:33,030 --> 00:02:35,784 leadership principles that were found therein and what 63 00:02:35,784 --> 00:02:38,365 we can learn about the YSA generation, which 64 00:02:38,504 --> 00:02:41,224 the stories in this film, Sharing Aloha, focuses 65 00:02:41,224 --> 00:02:42,125 on the stories 66 00:02:42,425 --> 00:02:44,905 of the Polynesian Cultural Center. Now I've never 67 00:02:44,905 --> 00:02:47,305 had the opportunity yet to attend a a 68 00:02:47,305 --> 00:02:49,465 Polynesian Cultural Center, but I'm looking forward to 69 00:02:49,465 --> 00:02:50,284 it. This movie 70 00:02:50,620 --> 00:02:52,379 definitely put it on my bucket list. And 71 00:02:52,379 --> 00:02:53,599 those of you who have, 72 00:02:54,300 --> 00:02:57,020 been to the Polynesian Cultural Center just knows 73 00:02:57,020 --> 00:02:59,340 just how impactful it is and the good 74 00:02:59,340 --> 00:03:01,180 it is doing. And so I encourage you 75 00:03:01,180 --> 00:03:03,500 to see this movie, and, I'm excited to 76 00:03:03,500 --> 00:03:05,740 interview Blair and talk about some leadership principles 77 00:03:05,740 --> 00:03:08,194 that he learned, that he observed, and what 78 00:03:08,194 --> 00:03:10,935 he learned about this YSA generation. Those students 79 00:03:10,995 --> 00:03:13,014 at the Polynesian Cultural Center, they're 80 00:03:13,555 --> 00:03:14,055 giving, 81 00:03:14,514 --> 00:03:16,754 so much and focusing on taking their life 82 00:03:16,754 --> 00:03:18,294 to that next level. So, 83 00:03:18,754 --> 00:03:20,610 all the details are in the show notes. 84 00:03:20,689 --> 00:03:22,629 Comes out August 29. 85 00:03:22,849 --> 00:03:24,689 This is definitely one we want to promote 86 00:03:24,689 --> 00:03:25,569 and share and, 87 00:03:26,129 --> 00:03:28,129 share the the good word of of the 88 00:03:28,129 --> 00:03:30,370 good that the Polynesian Cultural Center does. So 89 00:03:30,370 --> 00:03:33,110 here's my interview with Blair True, the director 90 00:03:33,344 --> 00:03:34,165 of Sharing 91 00:03:37,224 --> 00:03:37,724 Aloha. 92 00:03:40,784 --> 00:03:43,205 Alright. Blair, welcome to the Leading Saints podcast. 93 00:03:43,344 --> 00:03:45,264 Cool. Thanks for having me. Yeah. This is 94 00:03:45,264 --> 00:03:46,865 cool. A few months ago, I had the 95 00:03:46,865 --> 00:03:50,169 opportunity to see, a screening of this, upcoming 96 00:03:50,169 --> 00:03:50,669 movie, 97 00:03:51,209 --> 00:03:52,750 sharing Aloha and 98 00:03:53,050 --> 00:03:55,550 really just inspiring some fantastic stories, 99 00:03:57,370 --> 00:03:59,449 in so many angles. How did you maybe 100 00:03:59,689 --> 00:04:01,544 like, how did this project come to be? 101 00:04:02,104 --> 00:04:03,544 Well, I got a call just kind of 102 00:04:03,544 --> 00:04:04,365 out of the blue 103 00:04:04,985 --> 00:04:05,805 from Randy 104 00:04:06,185 --> 00:04:06,925 Randy Rigby, 105 00:04:07,625 --> 00:04:08,664 who had been, 106 00:04:09,465 --> 00:04:11,064 you know, he was a service missionary out 107 00:04:11,064 --> 00:04:12,985 there at the Polynesian Cultural Center, he and 108 00:04:12,985 --> 00:04:15,019 his wife, Sandra. And he just called me 109 00:04:15,019 --> 00:04:15,919 out of the blue. 110 00:04:16,459 --> 00:04:17,819 I guess he was talking to a lot 111 00:04:17,819 --> 00:04:19,500 of different folks about, they were trying to 112 00:04:19,500 --> 00:04:21,500 put together kind of a concept for a 113 00:04:21,500 --> 00:04:22,479 documentary film. 114 00:04:23,339 --> 00:04:25,500 I had been there years before. I've filmed 115 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:27,579 many times at the Polynesian Cultural Center on 116 00:04:27,579 --> 00:04:28,639 various projects 117 00:04:29,375 --> 00:04:32,175 and was already kind of enamored with the 118 00:04:32,175 --> 00:04:32,675 story 119 00:04:33,055 --> 00:04:34,735 of the the scene behind the scenes, you 120 00:04:34,735 --> 00:04:36,574 know, of of what these kids, especially these 121 00:04:36,574 --> 00:04:38,435 kids that come from all over the islands 122 00:04:38,814 --> 00:04:39,795 and work there, 123 00:04:40,495 --> 00:04:42,095 what they go through to get to to 124 00:04:42,095 --> 00:04:44,095 get there, to stay there, and to graduate 125 00:04:44,095 --> 00:04:47,110 from there. And it's just an amazing, story 126 00:04:47,110 --> 00:04:49,589 that's never been told. And so it didn't 127 00:04:49,589 --> 00:04:51,669 take much, he didn't have to twist my 128 00:04:51,669 --> 00:04:52,949 arm too hard to to get me to 129 00:04:52,949 --> 00:04:55,750 do it. And Randy, you know, he's former 130 00:04:55,750 --> 00:04:57,829 president of Utah Jazz and and is a 131 00:04:57,829 --> 00:04:59,589 great guy, just a great guy to work 132 00:04:59,589 --> 00:04:59,985 with. 133 00:05:00,464 --> 00:05:02,464 And so he took on the role of 134 00:05:02,464 --> 00:05:05,264 executive producer and then, hired me to come 135 00:05:05,264 --> 00:05:06,324 out and and, 136 00:05:06,784 --> 00:05:08,944 you know, kind of explore the idea. And, 137 00:05:09,745 --> 00:05:11,745 we batted a few things around. We just 138 00:05:11,745 --> 00:05:13,104 felt like at the heart of the story 139 00:05:13,104 --> 00:05:14,164 had to be the students. 140 00:05:15,149 --> 00:05:16,750 You know, you've got the the the incredible 141 00:05:16,750 --> 00:05:18,990 story of the the symbiotic relationship that exists 142 00:05:18,990 --> 00:05:21,889 between the Polynesian Cultural Center and DOE Hawaii. 143 00:05:22,589 --> 00:05:23,970 You know, kids go there, 144 00:05:24,350 --> 00:05:26,529 or the PCC exists just to 145 00:05:27,735 --> 00:05:29,735 offer provide an opportunity for these kids to 146 00:05:29,735 --> 00:05:30,475 be employed. 147 00:05:31,014 --> 00:05:32,774 So they graduate debt free. So it's a 148 00:05:32,774 --> 00:05:35,435 it's a great symbiotic relationship that exists, but 149 00:05:35,495 --> 00:05:37,274 then there's a backstory behind that. 150 00:05:37,654 --> 00:05:40,134 Yeah. So just we we both mutually agreed 151 00:05:40,134 --> 00:05:41,995 that that's really the story we should explore. 152 00:05:42,629 --> 00:05:43,370 Yeah. And, 153 00:05:44,230 --> 00:05:45,830 the again, it must it's one of those 154 00:05:45,830 --> 00:05:47,750 projects probably, you know, that you didn't have 155 00:05:47,750 --> 00:05:50,150 to think too too hard as far as 156 00:05:50,150 --> 00:05:51,670 to find the stories or what angle this. 157 00:05:51,670 --> 00:05:53,030 I mean, the stories are just there, and 158 00:05:53,030 --> 00:05:54,824 it's just a matter of of recording them. 159 00:05:54,985 --> 00:05:57,465 It's true. It's there's no shortage of stories. 160 00:05:57,705 --> 00:06:00,285 The the difficult part was deciding which stories 161 00:06:00,345 --> 00:06:02,345 not to tell. You know? Because these kids 162 00:06:02,345 --> 00:06:03,404 all have different 163 00:06:04,185 --> 00:06:06,105 situations that they come in from. You know? 164 00:06:06,105 --> 00:06:08,904 Most of them have that common commonality of 165 00:06:08,904 --> 00:06:09,805 being from, 166 00:06:11,039 --> 00:06:13,279 you know, less than desirable circumstances from an 167 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:14,180 economic standpoint, 168 00:06:14,639 --> 00:06:16,500 and they need help financially. 169 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,279 They've got great heart. These are these are 170 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:21,199 valiant kids. So they've got that going for 171 00:06:21,199 --> 00:06:22,959 them. And many of them are return missionaries, 172 00:06:22,959 --> 00:06:23,939 you know, as well. 173 00:06:24,754 --> 00:06:26,355 But they just don't have the means to 174 00:06:26,355 --> 00:06:27,654 to go to a four year 175 00:06:27,955 --> 00:06:28,455 university. 176 00:06:29,074 --> 00:06:29,814 And so 177 00:06:30,115 --> 00:06:32,754 that's where these guys fill that need, especially 178 00:06:32,754 --> 00:06:34,595 for kids who live all throughout the Pacific 179 00:06:34,595 --> 00:06:35,814 Rim, you know. 180 00:06:36,274 --> 00:06:38,035 So that's that's it's a great it's a 181 00:06:38,035 --> 00:06:38,774 great opportunity. 182 00:06:39,610 --> 00:06:41,850 Now, this audience is probably familiar with many 183 00:06:41,850 --> 00:06:43,529 of your projects you've done in the past. 184 00:06:43,529 --> 00:06:45,689 Maybe rattle off some of those and help 185 00:06:45,689 --> 00:06:48,009 you put you further into the context. Well, 186 00:06:48,009 --> 00:06:49,629 in the in kind of the 187 00:06:50,329 --> 00:06:50,910 the religious 188 00:06:51,689 --> 00:06:52,189 sector, 189 00:06:52,569 --> 00:06:54,089 you know, I've been fortunate throughout my career 190 00:06:54,089 --> 00:06:55,185 to be able to work 191 00:06:55,665 --> 00:06:58,245 with Disney and a lot of different, entities 192 00:06:58,384 --> 00:06:59,605 down in out in Hollywood. 193 00:07:00,064 --> 00:07:02,384 But in between those, I had a chance 194 00:07:02,384 --> 00:07:04,704 and and wanted to stay close with those 195 00:07:04,704 --> 00:07:07,264 who were producing the church media throughout the 196 00:07:07,264 --> 00:07:07,764 years. 197 00:07:08,064 --> 00:07:10,629 And so I've been involved with on the 198 00:07:10,629 --> 00:07:12,709 church front from the early days, at least 199 00:07:12,709 --> 00:07:15,930 my early days, back starting about mid nineties. 200 00:07:16,069 --> 00:07:16,889 No. I'm sorry. 201 00:07:17,189 --> 00:07:18,009 Mid eighties. 202 00:07:19,189 --> 00:07:22,470 Early seminary films and, Call to Serve was 203 00:07:22,470 --> 00:07:24,470 one of my first documentaries for the church 204 00:07:24,470 --> 00:07:25,769 many, many years ago. 205 00:07:27,144 --> 00:07:30,185 And, then there were probably there were dozens 206 00:07:30,185 --> 00:07:31,245 and dozens of 207 00:07:31,785 --> 00:07:34,024 of films that, you know, if if you 208 00:07:34,024 --> 00:07:36,185 might have suffered through in seminary. I don't 209 00:07:36,185 --> 00:07:37,785 know. I only made the good ones, though, 210 00:07:37,785 --> 00:07:39,644 just so you know. That's right. That's right. 211 00:07:40,629 --> 00:07:42,569 So we we did those. And then, 212 00:07:43,189 --> 00:07:45,209 I think the ones that are more noteworthy 213 00:07:45,350 --> 00:07:46,550 or the little bit have a little bit 214 00:07:46,550 --> 00:07:47,050 more, 215 00:07:49,750 --> 00:07:52,149 following would be probably Meet the Mormons about 216 00:07:52,149 --> 00:07:53,129 ten years ago. 217 00:07:53,509 --> 00:07:55,430 Had a chance to produce and and direct 218 00:07:55,430 --> 00:07:55,725 that. 219 00:07:56,444 --> 00:07:58,545 My producing partner on that was Jeff Roberts, 220 00:07:58,764 --> 00:07:59,504 great guy. 221 00:07:59,884 --> 00:08:00,625 And we, 222 00:08:01,324 --> 00:08:02,764 and that, you know so some of your 223 00:08:02,764 --> 00:08:04,865 viewers may be familiar with that film. 224 00:08:05,805 --> 00:08:06,785 It was initially, 225 00:08:07,485 --> 00:08:08,944 designed for Legacy Theatre, 226 00:08:09,769 --> 00:08:12,009 and then it it tested solo audiences. They 227 00:08:12,009 --> 00:08:14,089 decided to take it out theatrically. And so 228 00:08:14,089 --> 00:08:15,069 it went from 229 00:08:15,449 --> 00:08:18,269 a projected audience of maybe a few 100,000 230 00:08:18,410 --> 00:08:20,810 to many, many millions. And because it had 231 00:08:20,810 --> 00:08:22,889 a successful theatrical run, it then went through 232 00:08:22,889 --> 00:08:23,529 Netflix and, 233 00:08:25,074 --> 00:08:26,055 Hulu and, 234 00:08:26,675 --> 00:08:28,514 you know, went through all the streamers. And 235 00:08:28,514 --> 00:08:30,595 and so that's one that's that's, 236 00:08:30,995 --> 00:08:32,615 of note that people might remember. 237 00:08:33,634 --> 00:08:35,394 And for for your, I don't know, in 238 00:08:35,394 --> 00:08:37,154 your audience, for those who were recently returned 239 00:08:37,154 --> 00:08:37,654 missionaries, 240 00:08:38,570 --> 00:08:39,929 there's a little project I did that I'm 241 00:08:39,929 --> 00:08:41,870 really proud of. It's called the safety zone. 242 00:08:42,330 --> 00:08:45,290 We took a very dry topic of missionary 243 00:08:45,290 --> 00:08:45,790 safety, 244 00:08:46,490 --> 00:08:48,330 and we turned it into a a kind 245 00:08:48,330 --> 00:08:49,950 of an ESPN style 246 00:08:50,585 --> 00:08:53,785 talk show format, you know, sports where they 247 00:08:53,945 --> 00:08:55,625 the the host banner back and forth, and 248 00:08:55,625 --> 00:08:57,785 they show replays, and they argue about what's 249 00:08:57,785 --> 00:08:58,605 what's right, 250 00:08:59,304 --> 00:09:01,465 and they replay stuff. And we thought this 251 00:09:01,465 --> 00:09:02,845 would be a way to, 252 00:09:04,350 --> 00:09:05,649 talk about missionary safety. 253 00:09:05,950 --> 00:09:08,429 Yeah. And it sounds really boring, but it 254 00:09:08,429 --> 00:09:11,309 stuck with the missionaries, and and they've seemed 255 00:09:11,309 --> 00:09:13,549 to I've seen parodies made on it. And 256 00:09:13,549 --> 00:09:15,789 that means that it's sticky that they're remembering 257 00:09:15,789 --> 00:09:17,415 it. Yeah. And I'm proud of it just 258 00:09:17,415 --> 00:09:19,195 because we've seen some significant 259 00:09:19,575 --> 00:09:21,995 reduction of accidents, you know, bicycle and pedestrian 260 00:09:22,054 --> 00:09:22,795 and car 261 00:09:23,335 --> 00:09:25,254 and dysentery and all the things, you know, 262 00:09:25,254 --> 00:09:26,855 and and deaths as well. So it's it's 263 00:09:26,855 --> 00:09:29,014 been a so the safety zone is one 264 00:09:29,014 --> 00:09:31,195 that is still out playing for missionaries. 265 00:09:32,610 --> 00:09:34,529 And then on the non religion on, there's 266 00:09:34,529 --> 00:09:36,289 there's secular and non secular. The stuff I 267 00:09:36,289 --> 00:09:37,889 did for Disney back in the day was 268 00:09:37,889 --> 00:09:39,509 there were some Disney Channel movies. 269 00:09:40,449 --> 00:09:42,289 Your audience, you know, probably have to be 270 00:09:42,289 --> 00:09:45,250 in their thirties, late twenties, thirties to remember 271 00:09:45,250 --> 00:09:45,855 these, but 272 00:09:46,254 --> 00:09:48,754 Paper Brigade or Wish Upon a Star, 273 00:09:50,014 --> 00:09:51,154 Phantom of the Megaplex 274 00:09:51,534 --> 00:09:52,514 was another one. 275 00:09:55,454 --> 00:09:57,054 There was a whole host of there was 276 00:09:57,054 --> 00:09:58,894 five or six others, but and then on 277 00:09:58,894 --> 00:10:00,834 the television front, for those who 278 00:10:01,139 --> 00:10:03,540 have kids that watch Power Rangers or Ninja 279 00:10:03,540 --> 00:10:05,300 Turtles, the live action stuff, I even did 280 00:10:05,300 --> 00:10:06,980 that. So it's kind of a contrast. You 281 00:10:06,980 --> 00:10:07,940 know, you work with 282 00:10:08,420 --> 00:10:10,180 one week, you're working with a brother and 283 00:10:10,180 --> 00:10:12,740 who I really respect and admire, and then 284 00:10:12,740 --> 00:10:15,504 I'm over in the television side doing Power 285 00:10:15,504 --> 00:10:17,264 Rangers. You know? This is many, many years 286 00:10:17,264 --> 00:10:17,764 ago. 287 00:10:18,144 --> 00:10:19,824 I needed to rent money. Okay. I was 288 00:10:19,824 --> 00:10:22,164 just starting. So, you know Sure. So 289 00:10:22,945 --> 00:10:24,164 don't judge me. 290 00:10:24,544 --> 00:10:25,745 No. I don't blame you at all. I 291 00:10:25,745 --> 00:10:27,824 mean, I remember as a, you know, a 292 00:10:27,824 --> 00:10:29,824 young kid, the Power Rangers were were quite 293 00:10:29,824 --> 00:10:32,200 the focus for me. So that's awesome. And 294 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,440 you turned out okay. Yeah. I did. Yeah. 295 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,680 I'm I'm a contributing member of society. So 296 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:37,420 Yeah. 297 00:10:38,759 --> 00:10:41,100 That's awesome. And so as you, 298 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:44,200 with this project with the you know, basically, 299 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,794 it's based around the telling the stories of 300 00:10:46,794 --> 00:10:49,194 the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is a I 301 00:10:49,194 --> 00:10:50,554 don't know the best way to to frame 302 00:10:50,554 --> 00:10:52,394 it, but it's a church owned, almost theme 303 00:10:52,394 --> 00:10:54,235 park type of experience. I've never been there 304 00:10:54,235 --> 00:10:56,174 personally yet. I look forward to the opportunity 305 00:10:56,235 --> 00:10:57,595 to to go, and I did. It was 306 00:10:57,595 --> 00:10:59,834 fun to see your film from that angle 307 00:10:59,834 --> 00:11:01,350 where I didn't necessarily have 308 00:11:01,970 --> 00:11:03,570 a a prior context to to put it 309 00:11:03,570 --> 00:11:05,009 all in, but but I was like, you 310 00:11:05,009 --> 00:11:07,570 made me even more excited to to attend, 311 00:11:08,210 --> 00:11:10,610 the the, you know, attend there. Because there's 312 00:11:10,610 --> 00:11:12,769 so many stories to tell. Did you feel 313 00:11:12,769 --> 00:11:15,165 a responsibility to go into the deep history 314 00:11:15,165 --> 00:11:17,404 of the Polynesian Cultural Center as well, or 315 00:11:17,404 --> 00:11:19,245 you just wanna get to the stories? At 316 00:11:19,245 --> 00:11:20,144 first, I did 317 00:11:20,684 --> 00:11:23,105 because it has an amazing history. Yeah. 318 00:11:24,125 --> 00:11:24,625 However, 319 00:11:26,285 --> 00:11:28,649 that's really a different film. And that story 320 00:11:28,649 --> 00:11:30,490 may be told at some point. You know, 321 00:11:30,490 --> 00:11:32,330 it's kind of been told loosely in in 322 00:11:32,330 --> 00:11:33,230 various forms, 323 00:11:34,250 --> 00:11:35,629 short and long, but 324 00:11:36,330 --> 00:11:38,490 the history is so rich. We just decided 325 00:11:38,490 --> 00:11:40,274 it either has to be a historical piece 326 00:11:40,274 --> 00:11:42,035 or it really has to be something that's 327 00:11:42,035 --> 00:11:44,615 contemporary contemporary right in the here and now. 328 00:11:44,915 --> 00:11:46,675 Mhmm. That and so we decided to focus 329 00:11:46,675 --> 00:11:48,274 on that. And we we don't really get 330 00:11:48,274 --> 00:11:50,295 too much into the history of the PCC. 331 00:11:51,315 --> 00:11:52,274 You know, it was a it was a 332 00:11:52,274 --> 00:11:54,195 swampland, and they had to drain it. And 333 00:11:54,195 --> 00:11:55,634 and, I mean, where have we seen that 334 00:11:55,634 --> 00:11:58,480 theme occur before in church history? Right? Yeah. 335 00:11:58,639 --> 00:11:59,839 They used to have you know, it's a 336 00:11:59,839 --> 00:12:01,379 dirt road that ran all the way out 337 00:12:01,519 --> 00:12:03,279 around that side of the North Shore in 338 00:12:03,279 --> 00:12:04,639 Laieux, and they had to, you know, they 339 00:12:04,639 --> 00:12:06,240 had to wave guests in, and they'd have 340 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:08,399 to they used to have these big where 341 00:12:08,399 --> 00:12:09,759 they would throw the big nets out, and 342 00:12:09,759 --> 00:12:11,534 they'd have the the tourists come in and 343 00:12:11,534 --> 00:12:12,654 throw in a couple of bucks. And they 344 00:12:12,654 --> 00:12:13,714 could go out and stand 345 00:12:14,334 --> 00:12:16,095 with the locals and pull in the nets, 346 00:12:16,095 --> 00:12:17,534 you know, the, you know, the Hooki, you 347 00:12:17,534 --> 00:12:19,855 know, the Hooki Laos song that they maybe 348 00:12:19,855 --> 00:12:22,654 you haven't heard that. But anyway, the, the, 349 00:12:22,815 --> 00:12:24,095 they throw out these nets and bring in 350 00:12:24,095 --> 00:12:25,954 these fish, and that was the way they 351 00:12:26,500 --> 00:12:28,019 got tourists out to that side of the 352 00:12:28,019 --> 00:12:29,299 island and made a little bit of money, 353 00:12:29,299 --> 00:12:30,819 but they used to have to wave people 354 00:12:30,819 --> 00:12:32,360 in off the highway. 355 00:12:32,899 --> 00:12:34,279 So it's gone from that 356 00:12:34,980 --> 00:12:36,500 to be what to, 357 00:12:37,059 --> 00:12:39,399 Hawaii's most popular paid attraction. 358 00:12:40,184 --> 00:12:41,945 You know, you have a million million visitors 359 00:12:41,945 --> 00:12:43,884 a year. They employ about 800 students, 360 00:12:44,904 --> 00:12:45,725 every semester, 361 00:12:46,105 --> 00:12:47,865 and there have been tens of thousands that 362 00:12:47,865 --> 00:12:50,105 have gone through that program in the last, 363 00:12:50,504 --> 00:12:52,764 60. You know, they turned 60 last year. 364 00:12:53,519 --> 00:12:55,679 So, it it has quite an amazing history. 365 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:57,059 We decided to focus on 366 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:58,959 really make the focus of this film on 367 00:12:58,959 --> 00:12:59,940 the students themselves. 368 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,820 Yeah. Yeah. For sure. So I'm just curious, 369 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:04,959 what what comes to mind as far as 370 00:13:04,959 --> 00:13:06,820 what what did you learn about that demographic? 371 00:13:06,879 --> 00:13:09,024 You know, that typically you refer to it 372 00:13:09,024 --> 00:13:10,404 as a YSA demographic. 373 00:13:10,784 --> 00:13:11,764 And I think 374 00:13:12,464 --> 00:13:14,784 the vast majority of these stories were YSA. 375 00:13:14,784 --> 00:13:16,784 I mean, these are students at BYU Hawaii 376 00:13:16,784 --> 00:13:19,424 that Yes. They can, if correct me if 377 00:13:19,424 --> 00:13:21,184 I'm wrong, audition to be a part of 378 00:13:21,184 --> 00:13:22,884 the cast or part of the just the 379 00:13:23,090 --> 00:13:25,490 the the function of the Polynesian Cultural Center, 380 00:13:25,490 --> 00:13:26,950 and that helps them, 381 00:13:27,570 --> 00:13:30,389 you know, get through college and and, graduate 382 00:13:30,450 --> 00:13:31,110 debt free. 383 00:13:31,730 --> 00:13:33,809 What comes to mind as you were learning 384 00:13:33,809 --> 00:13:34,870 about this demographic 385 00:13:35,649 --> 00:13:37,485 that, you're telling these stories about? 386 00:13:37,884 --> 00:13:39,485 There's a whole host of things. The the 387 00:13:39,485 --> 00:13:41,004 first thing on a personal level that I 388 00:13:41,004 --> 00:13:42,225 had to get used to is, 389 00:13:43,404 --> 00:13:46,524 coming from a production background in feature film 390 00:13:46,524 --> 00:13:48,625 and television as well as documentary, 391 00:13:49,325 --> 00:13:50,464 you know, you have 392 00:13:50,799 --> 00:13:53,279 you have only so much resource and so 393 00:13:53,279 --> 00:13:53,940 much time. 394 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:56,000 Yeah. So it's all about, you know, hey, 395 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,179 let's let's keep this thing moving along. 396 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,700 To make matters worse, I'm German. Okay? So 397 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:03,600 I'm a very, you know, you have to 398 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:04,660 get things done. 399 00:14:05,394 --> 00:14:06,215 That goes 400 00:14:07,475 --> 00:14:07,975 contrary 401 00:14:08,274 --> 00:14:10,455 to the vibe in the islands. You know, 402 00:14:10,595 --> 00:14:12,215 there's island time is very real. 403 00:14:12,674 --> 00:14:14,355 Mhmm. And so on a personal level, I 404 00:14:14,355 --> 00:14:15,975 had to learn to just kinda like 405 00:14:17,009 --> 00:14:18,450 and I I don't know that I actually 406 00:14:18,450 --> 00:14:20,450 got there, but I I I towards the 407 00:14:20,450 --> 00:14:22,769 end, I I realized, look, you can't force 408 00:14:22,769 --> 00:14:24,450 things. You have to let things just kinda 409 00:14:24,450 --> 00:14:24,950 happen. 410 00:14:25,570 --> 00:14:27,090 And I learned that if I was gonna 411 00:14:27,090 --> 00:14:28,470 be authentic to these stories, 412 00:14:29,014 --> 00:14:30,774 I had to just be able to go 413 00:14:30,774 --> 00:14:32,455 with it if the kids showed up for 414 00:14:32,455 --> 00:14:34,615 their interviews or their allotted you know, that 415 00:14:34,615 --> 00:14:35,674 their allotted time 416 00:14:36,215 --> 00:14:37,654 or they didn't. I just had to go 417 00:14:37,654 --> 00:14:39,174 with it, and we sometimes I had to 418 00:14:39,174 --> 00:14:40,934 go to their dorms to run them down 419 00:14:40,934 --> 00:14:42,615 and say, hey. Remember, we got this interview 420 00:14:42,615 --> 00:14:44,134 schedule with you, and we wanna follow you 421 00:14:44,134 --> 00:14:46,100 around in class and whatnot. So from a 422 00:14:46,100 --> 00:14:48,519 personal standpoint, that was an adjustment for me. 423 00:14:48,899 --> 00:14:50,899 But I really came to love these kids 424 00:14:50,899 --> 00:14:51,399 because, 425 00:14:52,179 --> 00:14:53,960 they're just they're so genuine. 426 00:14:54,500 --> 00:14:55,860 They're so earnest, and they're so 427 00:14:58,085 --> 00:15:00,904 they come from deeply rooted family backgrounds. 428 00:15:01,445 --> 00:15:03,445 Not to say that the the the kids 429 00:15:03,445 --> 00:15:05,044 on the Wasatch Front or the kids in 430 00:15:05,044 --> 00:15:07,705 Southern California don't, but in the Polynesian 431 00:15:08,245 --> 00:15:11,125 culture, family is everything. And family you know, 432 00:15:11,125 --> 00:15:12,664 everybody's related to everybody. 433 00:15:13,490 --> 00:15:15,570 And so it doesn't take long to to 434 00:15:15,570 --> 00:15:18,049 see how that everybody's connected in one way 435 00:15:18,049 --> 00:15:18,710 or another 436 00:15:19,169 --> 00:15:20,309 to somebody else. 437 00:15:20,850 --> 00:15:22,690 And, and so it was just it was 438 00:15:22,690 --> 00:15:25,009 really great to see for me kind of 439 00:15:25,009 --> 00:15:25,509 that, 440 00:15:26,414 --> 00:15:28,334 kind of a throwback or revival to what 441 00:15:28,334 --> 00:15:29,875 family really can mean 442 00:15:30,254 --> 00:15:30,914 to community. 443 00:15:31,615 --> 00:15:33,054 Yeah. And so that was that was a 444 00:15:33,054 --> 00:15:34,495 real and we had a chance, you know, 445 00:15:34,495 --> 00:15:36,174 in the film. You remember if you saw 446 00:15:36,174 --> 00:15:37,455 it, we we had a chance. I I 447 00:15:37,455 --> 00:15:39,774 don't wanna spoil it for people who haven't 448 00:15:39,774 --> 00:15:41,840 seen it. But I I will say this 449 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:43,519 much. We had a chance to go back 450 00:15:43,519 --> 00:15:45,620 to the communities where some of these kids 451 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:46,899 come from. 452 00:15:47,279 --> 00:15:49,120 Yeah. And, we even had to cut a 453 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:50,980 bunch out because there just wasn't time. 454 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:52,960 And so I won't say much more than 455 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:54,320 that, but it was really great to go 456 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:55,919 back and see where they come from, to 457 00:15:55,919 --> 00:15:56,419 see 458 00:15:56,855 --> 00:15:58,774 their upbringing, you know, that they worked on 459 00:15:58,774 --> 00:16:01,595 these family plantations and farms. And 460 00:16:02,615 --> 00:16:03,194 and they 461 00:16:03,654 --> 00:16:05,894 if one hurts, they all hurt. If one 462 00:16:05,894 --> 00:16:08,214 succeeds, they all succeed. And so there it's 463 00:16:08,214 --> 00:16:09,834 it's very selfless 464 00:16:10,615 --> 00:16:11,914 as opposed to selfish 465 00:16:12,750 --> 00:16:13,250 lifestyle. 466 00:16:13,710 --> 00:16:14,830 Yeah. So it was great to see that. 467 00:16:14,830 --> 00:16:16,110 It was great to just be reminded of 468 00:16:16,110 --> 00:16:17,549 that. And in many ways, it reminded me 469 00:16:17,549 --> 00:16:18,370 of my own family, 470 00:16:18,910 --> 00:16:21,649 but it's kinda my own family on steroids. 471 00:16:22,509 --> 00:16:24,750 Okay? Because it just goes out into the 472 00:16:24,750 --> 00:16:25,250 community. 473 00:16:25,795 --> 00:16:27,235 Yeah. That was something that struck me. I 474 00:16:27,235 --> 00:16:28,595 don't know if that answered your question, but 475 00:16:28,595 --> 00:16:30,835 that's that's something that really and I think 476 00:16:30,835 --> 00:16:32,915 everybody who's been to the the Polynesian Cultural 477 00:16:32,915 --> 00:16:35,795 Center, who spent any time in Polynesia knows 478 00:16:35,795 --> 00:16:36,535 that family 479 00:16:37,394 --> 00:16:38,375 is everything. 480 00:16:38,995 --> 00:16:41,095 Yes. You know? That is everything. 481 00:16:41,980 --> 00:16:44,700 Yeah. And I think just in our, in 482 00:16:44,700 --> 00:16:47,500 our, you know, Latter day Saint culture, the 483 00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:48,240 the Polynesian, 484 00:16:49,019 --> 00:16:50,080 you know, demographic 485 00:16:50,779 --> 00:16:52,000 has been such 486 00:16:52,620 --> 00:16:53,654 a such a highlight 487 00:16:54,455 --> 00:16:56,615 of our tradition and our our culture. I 488 00:16:56,615 --> 00:16:58,455 mean, anywhere you go. I remember I served 489 00:16:58,455 --> 00:17:00,855 in Sacramento, California on my mission. And even 490 00:17:00,855 --> 00:17:03,435 there, you know, we had Tongan speaking missionaries 491 00:17:03,575 --> 00:17:05,195 or, you know, there were Polynesian 492 00:17:05,575 --> 00:17:08,320 various Polynesian wards or or branches. And and, 493 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:09,920 you know, obviously in Utah, I grew up 494 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:11,599 in West Valley City. We had a huge 495 00:17:11,599 --> 00:17:14,799 contingent of Polynesians there. And so it seems 496 00:17:14,799 --> 00:17:16,400 like anywhere you go in the church, you 497 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,400 just get to experience a little flavor of 498 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,400 their culture. And it is so endearing and 499 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,785 really inspiring that these are our, our fellow 500 00:17:22,785 --> 00:17:25,105 Latter day Saints. And, this is really a 501 00:17:25,105 --> 00:17:26,244 place to go to 502 00:17:26,545 --> 00:17:27,924 experience that on so many, 503 00:17:28,305 --> 00:17:31,025 different levels. Right? Yeah. There were many times 504 00:17:31,025 --> 00:17:33,985 where I would jokingly walk up to a 505 00:17:33,985 --> 00:17:34,805 cast member, 506 00:17:35,940 --> 00:17:38,259 a student. You know? I I I'm reluctant 507 00:17:38,259 --> 00:17:39,700 to say I shouldn't say cast member because 508 00:17:39,700 --> 00:17:41,299 it's not like that. I'm speaking part that 509 00:17:41,299 --> 00:17:43,619 they were following him. And I just and 510 00:17:43,619 --> 00:17:44,980 I always hold up my arm next to 511 00:17:44,980 --> 00:17:46,500 them, and they always look so tan and 512 00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:47,940 so, you know, I have this beautiful skin, 513 00:17:47,940 --> 00:17:49,139 and I have and I said, I have 514 00:17:49,139 --> 00:17:50,924 brown envy. I wanna be like you guys. 515 00:17:52,924 --> 00:17:54,525 And, and and that's the way I felt. 516 00:17:54,525 --> 00:17:56,545 I just felt like I could be, 517 00:17:57,244 --> 00:17:58,525 I would love to be part of this 518 00:17:58,525 --> 00:18:00,445 community. And so Yeah. You know, that that's 519 00:18:00,445 --> 00:18:01,725 the way I I had a little bit 520 00:18:01,725 --> 00:18:03,485 of envy, you know, through the whole process 521 00:18:03,485 --> 00:18:05,404 that I I wanted to be Polynesian, you 522 00:18:05,404 --> 00:18:08,070 know? Yeah. And would you say this is 523 00:18:08,070 --> 00:18:09,910 the closest thing as far as the format 524 00:18:09,910 --> 00:18:11,930 and approach, the closest thing you've done since, 525 00:18:12,549 --> 00:18:14,789 Meet the Mormons? I mean, it's you're where 526 00:18:14,789 --> 00:18:17,029 you're telling different stories and just definitely has 527 00:18:17,029 --> 00:18:17,984 that kind of feel? 528 00:18:18,704 --> 00:18:19,904 I think so. Yeah. 529 00:18:20,464 --> 00:18:22,224 You know, Meet the Mormons, I guess yeah. 530 00:18:22,224 --> 00:18:23,585 It's true in many ways. You know, Meet 531 00:18:23,585 --> 00:18:25,125 the Mormons is a collection of, 532 00:18:26,785 --> 00:18:29,265 six there are six stories from around the 533 00:18:29,265 --> 00:18:31,679 world. This is a collection of about a 534 00:18:31,679 --> 00:18:33,759 hand same about the handful of stories from 535 00:18:33,759 --> 00:18:35,139 kids who come from, 536 00:18:35,679 --> 00:18:37,599 you know, one's from Las Vegas, one's from 537 00:18:37,599 --> 00:18:40,500 Tonga, one's from Samoa, one's from Fiji, 538 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:42,259 one's from Australia. 539 00:18:44,079 --> 00:18:45,940 And I probably missed one in there. 540 00:18:46,964 --> 00:18:48,505 So we've got a good representation 541 00:18:48,964 --> 00:18:50,744 of a good cross section 542 00:18:51,525 --> 00:18:53,125 just like we did in Meet the Mormons 543 00:18:53,125 --> 00:18:56,825 where we were ethnically diverse and geographically diverse. 544 00:18:57,204 --> 00:18:58,964 In this case, we're not so much ethn 545 00:18:59,125 --> 00:19:00,184 ethnically diverse, 546 00:19:00,565 --> 00:19:02,345 but we're geographically diverse. 547 00:19:02,859 --> 00:19:04,380 Yeah. And, you know, you brought up an 548 00:19:04,380 --> 00:19:06,319 interesting point. You know, do they actually audition 549 00:19:06,460 --> 00:19:07,119 and whatnot? 550 00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:08,319 We focus 551 00:19:09,019 --> 00:19:10,859 you know, on the film, we're focusing a 552 00:19:10,859 --> 00:19:12,799 lot on the night show and the performance 553 00:19:12,859 --> 00:19:13,919 related jobs. 554 00:19:14,954 --> 00:19:15,454 But 555 00:19:15,835 --> 00:19:18,174 the night show really is just a fraction 556 00:19:18,234 --> 00:19:21,275 of what is there. So from from other 557 00:19:21,275 --> 00:19:21,994 areas, like, 558 00:19:23,034 --> 00:19:23,534 throughout, 559 00:19:24,394 --> 00:19:27,294 the Pacific Rim, you have Japanese students, 560 00:19:27,994 --> 00:19:28,494 Filipinos, 561 00:19:30,230 --> 00:19:30,970 some Chinese. 562 00:19:31,670 --> 00:19:33,110 They tend to work more in the food 563 00:19:33,110 --> 00:19:33,610 services 564 00:19:34,230 --> 00:19:37,590 sector within the Polynesian Cultural Center. So and 565 00:19:37,590 --> 00:19:40,070 you also have, you know, white kids, you 566 00:19:40,070 --> 00:19:42,170 know, howlies like me who also work, 567 00:19:43,315 --> 00:19:45,815 and the tour guides take all kinds. So 568 00:19:46,275 --> 00:19:47,575 they do try to 569 00:19:48,195 --> 00:19:50,275 in in the villages, you know, there's six 570 00:19:50,275 --> 00:19:50,775 villages. 571 00:19:51,394 --> 00:19:53,234 Like in the Samoa Village, they try to 572 00:19:53,234 --> 00:19:54,775 have kids where they can, 573 00:19:55,990 --> 00:19:58,390 from Samoa work in the Samoa Village. Same 574 00:19:58,390 --> 00:20:00,789 thing with Fiji and Tahiti and so on 575 00:20:00,789 --> 00:20:02,009 and so forth in Hawaii. 576 00:20:02,950 --> 00:20:03,690 And so 577 00:20:04,470 --> 00:20:06,150 they they really do try to be very 578 00:20:06,150 --> 00:20:07,670 specific there. But when it comes to all 579 00:20:07,670 --> 00:20:09,829 the other jobs, you know, whether they're grounds 580 00:20:09,829 --> 00:20:10,329 crew 581 00:20:11,785 --> 00:20:14,744 or food services or meal preparation or cleanup 582 00:20:14,744 --> 00:20:15,404 or whatever, 583 00:20:16,424 --> 00:20:17,164 they take 584 00:20:17,625 --> 00:20:19,164 kids from all over the place. 585 00:20:19,465 --> 00:20:21,945 So so there is within that little culture 586 00:20:21,945 --> 00:20:23,785 of the Polynesian Cultural Center, you've got kind 587 00:20:23,785 --> 00:20:24,445 of a, 588 00:20:24,984 --> 00:20:26,285 a real melting pot. 589 00:20:26,730 --> 00:20:27,230 Yeah. 590 00:20:27,929 --> 00:20:30,170 Yeah. And so is this people may wonder, 591 00:20:30,170 --> 00:20:32,890 is the is BYU and Polynesian Cultural Center 592 00:20:32,890 --> 00:20:34,750 behind this, or this was an independently 593 00:20:35,130 --> 00:20:36,569 funded film and, 594 00:20:37,450 --> 00:20:40,442 to tell the story? Yeah. So, as I 595 00:20:40,442 --> 00:20:43,005 understand it, it was funded through 596 00:20:43,625 --> 00:20:46,105 it was supported by the PCC, funded through 597 00:20:46,105 --> 00:20:47,244 private donations, 598 00:20:47,785 --> 00:20:49,085 through private funds. 599 00:20:49,384 --> 00:20:51,224 Mhmm. And the the PCC, you know, I 600 00:20:51,224 --> 00:20:53,065 don't know a lot of the details about 601 00:20:53,065 --> 00:20:55,190 how how that came to be. 602 00:20:56,630 --> 00:20:59,610 And for me, the important thing was that, 603 00:20:59,750 --> 00:21:02,330 you know, typically, just from a financial standpoint, 604 00:21:02,950 --> 00:21:04,410 the movies that I make, 605 00:21:05,029 --> 00:21:05,830 I make my 606 00:21:06,335 --> 00:21:08,174 the lion's share of my money on the 607 00:21:08,174 --> 00:21:09,775 back end when the movie sells, when it 608 00:21:09,775 --> 00:21:11,555 goes out, when people buy tickets. 609 00:21:12,335 --> 00:21:14,654 Yeah. But I'll just say this because and 610 00:21:14,654 --> 00:21:16,255 another reason. I'm not saying this for my 611 00:21:16,255 --> 00:21:16,994 own personal 612 00:21:18,654 --> 00:21:19,154 aggrandizement, 613 00:21:19,535 --> 00:21:21,134 but I didn't wanna do that on this 614 00:21:21,134 --> 00:21:21,599 film. 615 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:23,839 I wanted to to donate that back to 616 00:21:23,839 --> 00:21:25,299 the PCC because 617 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:27,279 I didn't I felt like it would be 618 00:21:27,279 --> 00:21:29,440 hypocritical for me to go say needs to 619 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:31,039 say to people, hey. Go see this movie 620 00:21:31,039 --> 00:21:33,140 because all the proceeds go back to PCC 621 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:35,779 if I wasn't donating my part. 622 00:21:36,085 --> 00:21:36,585 Yeah. 623 00:21:37,125 --> 00:21:37,625 So, 624 00:21:38,565 --> 00:21:40,244 I was I was paid to make the 625 00:21:40,244 --> 00:21:42,005 movie for sure. And all of everybody who 626 00:21:42,005 --> 00:21:44,085 who worked on the film were paid an 627 00:21:44,085 --> 00:21:46,164 adequate amount, you know, to work on it. 628 00:21:46,164 --> 00:21:48,045 Sure. Nobody got rich on it. But so 629 00:21:48,045 --> 00:21:50,349 it was labor of love. But I make 630 00:21:50,349 --> 00:21:52,829 that point because for those that are gonna 631 00:21:52,829 --> 00:21:54,769 see it on on, in the theaters, 632 00:21:57,950 --> 00:22:00,130 every dime goes back to the PCC, 633 00:22:01,069 --> 00:22:03,089 and it funds the iWORKS scholarship 634 00:22:03,565 --> 00:22:05,105 program, which helps these kids. 635 00:22:05,484 --> 00:22:06,384 And it also 636 00:22:07,244 --> 00:22:09,005 is going to encourage people, like you said 637 00:22:09,005 --> 00:22:10,765 at the beginning of the podcast, you had 638 00:22:10,765 --> 00:22:12,205 not been there, but it makes you kinda 639 00:22:12,205 --> 00:22:14,445 wanna go there. Yeah. We want that to 640 00:22:14,445 --> 00:22:16,684 occur as well. We hope it increases the 641 00:22:16,684 --> 00:22:17,184 attendance. 642 00:22:17,700 --> 00:22:19,460 Their attendance has really been pretty good throughout 643 00:22:19,460 --> 00:22:21,539 the years, but but we wanna keep that 644 00:22:21,539 --> 00:22:23,619 strong so that it continue it can can 645 00:22:23,619 --> 00:22:25,480 continue to support these kids, 646 00:22:26,740 --> 00:22:28,839 from a financial standpoint through scholarships. 647 00:22:29,539 --> 00:22:30,279 And so, 648 00:22:31,140 --> 00:22:32,625 we're really excited about that. 649 00:22:33,664 --> 00:22:35,825 Beyond that, you know, it's just it's just 650 00:22:35,825 --> 00:22:38,404 raising awareness for the public at large. 651 00:22:39,025 --> 00:22:41,025 And that was one inspiring thing about these 652 00:22:41,025 --> 00:22:42,625 different stories you've you've touched on a little 653 00:22:42,625 --> 00:22:45,345 bit, but just the opportunity it gives to 654 00:22:45,345 --> 00:22:47,289 so many. And and and I love you 655 00:22:47,289 --> 00:22:49,369 know, was it the I remember I forget 656 00:22:49,369 --> 00:22:51,450 the girl's name, but, was she from Tonga? 657 00:22:51,450 --> 00:22:52,990 She went back to the Leilani. 658 00:22:53,850 --> 00:22:54,350 Yeah. 659 00:22:54,809 --> 00:22:56,910 And and, you know, she got this 660 00:22:57,289 --> 00:22:59,230 once, you know, this trip home, 661 00:23:00,090 --> 00:23:01,630 that, that was scholarship. 662 00:23:01,930 --> 00:23:03,365 And she you gotta go see your family. 663 00:23:03,424 --> 00:23:05,765 And and, like, just to see how impoverished 664 00:23:06,705 --> 00:23:08,785 these, you know, these humble farmers are and 665 00:23:08,785 --> 00:23:10,484 to think, wow, like, their daughter 666 00:23:10,785 --> 00:23:13,105 gets to go to a phenomenal university, participate 667 00:23:13,105 --> 00:23:15,664 in a phenomenal, you know, Polynesian cultural center. 668 00:23:15,664 --> 00:23:17,585 And even her story of serving a mission 669 00:23:17,585 --> 00:23:19,910 and going to another mission during COVID and 670 00:23:19,910 --> 00:23:21,869 serving even longer. I mean, it's just Yeah. 671 00:23:21,990 --> 00:23:24,230 I think you it's just so inspiring and 672 00:23:24,230 --> 00:23:26,250 just brought tears to my eyes to see 673 00:23:26,869 --> 00:23:28,009 how this impacts 674 00:23:28,390 --> 00:23:30,950 so many lives for good, especially those students 675 00:23:30,950 --> 00:23:33,275 who and now the the world is her 676 00:23:33,275 --> 00:23:35,035 oyster. You know? She there's so much that 677 00:23:35,035 --> 00:23:36,654 she'll be able to to do. 678 00:23:37,115 --> 00:23:38,575 Yeah. It's really her choice. 679 00:23:39,515 --> 00:23:41,994 You know, back in Tonga, they it's an 680 00:23:41,994 --> 00:23:42,494 agrarian 681 00:23:43,035 --> 00:23:44,894 society. There's they don't have 682 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:47,599 currency the way they don't use currency the 683 00:23:47,599 --> 00:23:48,500 way we do. 684 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:51,279 It's barter and trade. And, I mean, they 685 00:23:51,279 --> 00:23:52,980 still use currency, but it's mostly 686 00:23:53,279 --> 00:23:54,880 as I understand it I mean, I'm no 687 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:56,880 expert here, but as I understand it, you 688 00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:58,319 know, if there's something you need from a 689 00:23:58,319 --> 00:23:59,894 neighbor and there's something that you have that 690 00:23:59,894 --> 00:24:01,414 they need, you just kinda trade and you 691 00:24:01,414 --> 00:24:03,495 barter and you work together and you help 692 00:24:03,495 --> 00:24:04,235 one another. 693 00:24:04,615 --> 00:24:07,174 And Yeah. So it really is, I I 694 00:24:07,174 --> 00:24:09,255 think if the world were were to come 695 00:24:09,255 --> 00:24:09,995 to an end, 696 00:24:10,855 --> 00:24:11,995 some big catastrophe, 697 00:24:12,535 --> 00:24:14,154 I think I'd wanna be in Tonga 698 00:24:14,559 --> 00:24:17,200 because they life would just go on, you 699 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,599 know, while the world around them, you know, 700 00:24:19,599 --> 00:24:20,500 completely collapses. 701 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:23,119 Life would just go on and and at 702 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:25,119 least, you know, in its in its simplest 703 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:27,460 form. And they grow their own food, 704 00:24:28,755 --> 00:24:30,835 And it's it it it's just it's great 705 00:24:30,835 --> 00:24:33,315 to see somebody living that type of a 706 00:24:33,315 --> 00:24:35,174 lifestyle in the here and now. 707 00:24:35,955 --> 00:24:37,475 Yeah. And I appreciate in the film you 708 00:24:37,475 --> 00:24:39,095 touch on this sort of the criticism, 709 00:24:40,009 --> 00:24:42,970 the unfounded criticism that the Polynesian culture centers 710 00:24:42,970 --> 00:24:45,609 received that they, you know, some perceive that 711 00:24:45,609 --> 00:24:48,089 students are being exploited to, you know, work 712 00:24:48,089 --> 00:24:48,490 in this, 713 00:24:48,970 --> 00:24:51,369 this theme park and, you know, give hours 714 00:24:51,369 --> 00:24:53,595 and, and just to see the, just how 715 00:24:53,595 --> 00:24:56,634 much of scholarship funds and, and again, that 716 00:24:56,634 --> 00:24:59,454 new next level of opportunity they receive by, 717 00:24:59,515 --> 00:25:01,115 you know, by working at the culture center, 718 00:25:01,115 --> 00:25:02,315 just like, I think all of us had 719 00:25:02,315 --> 00:25:04,634 all sorts of strange jobs during college just 720 00:25:04,634 --> 00:25:06,059 to make it through. And this is, 721 00:25:06,539 --> 00:25:08,539 a great opportunity where I would I would 722 00:25:08,539 --> 00:25:11,100 guess in Hawaii, there's not a ton of, 723 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:13,420 you know, college type jobs. I just in 724 00:25:13,420 --> 00:25:15,820 general, I think their economy is, tricky. And 725 00:25:15,820 --> 00:25:17,980 so just to have this opportunity, I've really 726 00:25:17,980 --> 00:25:20,539 appreciated that you unpack that controversy and put 727 00:25:20,539 --> 00:25:21,615 it put it to rest. 728 00:25:22,095 --> 00:25:23,934 Yeah. It is a it's not a widely 729 00:25:23,934 --> 00:25:25,875 held belief, but there are people. 730 00:25:26,335 --> 00:25:28,095 And in my experience because I I had 731 00:25:28,095 --> 00:25:30,335 to dig. I actually went around, and this 732 00:25:30,335 --> 00:25:32,335 little sequence didn't did not end up in 733 00:25:32,335 --> 00:25:32,994 the film. 734 00:25:33,295 --> 00:25:35,054 So this is an exclusive to your podcast. 735 00:25:35,054 --> 00:25:36,700 I love it. It. We'll take it. We 736 00:25:36,700 --> 00:25:38,380 we went around with a hidden camera and 737 00:25:38,380 --> 00:25:40,700 asked people all over the island, the North 738 00:25:40,700 --> 00:25:42,880 Shore in went into Waikiki, 739 00:25:43,419 --> 00:25:45,019 spent a lot of time in Waikiki and 740 00:25:45,019 --> 00:25:45,519 Honolulu 741 00:25:46,220 --> 00:25:47,279 at different places 742 00:25:47,659 --> 00:25:49,579 right on the beachfront and in the malls 743 00:25:49,579 --> 00:25:51,784 and in the, you know, the international center. 744 00:25:52,085 --> 00:25:53,224 And we asked them 745 00:25:54,244 --> 00:25:55,784 we posed as tourists 746 00:25:57,365 --> 00:25:59,044 wanting to know, have you guys been to 747 00:25:59,044 --> 00:26:00,484 the Polynesian culture center? What do you think 748 00:26:00,484 --> 00:26:02,244 of it? What you heard? And we were 749 00:26:02,244 --> 00:26:03,365 really trying to 750 00:26:04,410 --> 00:26:06,570 because we had heard these rumors about, oh, 751 00:26:06,570 --> 00:26:07,230 they they 752 00:26:07,609 --> 00:26:10,250 they, exploit these students. And, oh, you don't 753 00:26:10,250 --> 00:26:11,609 wanna go out there because it's, you know, 754 00:26:11,609 --> 00:26:13,049 it's dry. You know? You can't get any 755 00:26:13,049 --> 00:26:14,910 alcohol out there, and it's boring. And 756 00:26:15,210 --> 00:26:17,609 and they enslave these students, and and there's 757 00:26:17,609 --> 00:26:20,835 there's this kind of this anti Mormon rhetoric 758 00:26:20,894 --> 00:26:21,714 that goes on. 759 00:26:22,095 --> 00:26:23,775 I'd heard about that. And so I thought, 760 00:26:23,775 --> 00:26:25,055 okay. Well, I'm gonna go see if I 761 00:26:25,055 --> 00:26:27,055 can exploit that a little bit, see if 762 00:26:27,055 --> 00:26:28,835 I can get people to talk about it. 763 00:26:28,894 --> 00:26:30,734 And then I will blur their faces and 764 00:26:30,734 --> 00:26:32,835 alter their voices so we can use it 765 00:26:33,099 --> 00:26:34,079 without their permission. 766 00:26:35,099 --> 00:26:36,539 And it was and there were only a 767 00:26:36,539 --> 00:26:38,000 few that said anything 768 00:26:38,539 --> 00:26:41,099 even remotely bad about it. Mostly mostly what 769 00:26:41,099 --> 00:26:41,839 you find 770 00:26:42,379 --> 00:26:44,079 are people who've never been there, 771 00:26:44,460 --> 00:26:46,464 who've never spent any time there, who have 772 00:26:46,464 --> 00:26:49,444 heard something, and then they regurgitate that online. 773 00:26:50,065 --> 00:26:52,065 And so you hear these wild comments about 774 00:26:52,065 --> 00:26:52,724 the exploitation, 775 00:26:53,105 --> 00:26:54,004 and it just 776 00:26:54,464 --> 00:26:55,984 so it's not widely held, but we thought 777 00:26:55,984 --> 00:26:57,585 we had to at least address it because 778 00:26:57,585 --> 00:26:59,125 people are curious about it. 779 00:27:00,210 --> 00:27:02,450 You know, the exploitation of students, and so 780 00:27:02,450 --> 00:27:04,049 that's why we addressed it in the film. 781 00:27:04,049 --> 00:27:05,970 But it's but, you know, you think about 782 00:27:05,970 --> 00:27:09,089 it. These kids, president, Coway mentions this in 783 00:27:09,089 --> 00:27:09,750 his interview. 784 00:27:10,289 --> 00:27:12,609 These kids get a chance to work there, 785 00:27:12,609 --> 00:27:13,109 and 786 00:27:13,615 --> 00:27:16,515 they get not only the the the equivalent 787 00:27:16,575 --> 00:27:18,815 of a d one scholarship, what well, before 788 00:27:18,815 --> 00:27:20,515 the NIL money kicked in. 789 00:27:21,054 --> 00:27:22,335 It was the equivalent of a d one 790 00:27:22,335 --> 00:27:24,255 scholarship for a full ride. You know, tuition, 791 00:27:24,255 --> 00:27:25,794 books, housing, everything. 792 00:27:26,335 --> 00:27:27,634 They also get health care. 793 00:27:28,559 --> 00:27:29,759 And they also get a little bit of 794 00:27:29,759 --> 00:27:32,079 extra cash. I mean, they're not getting rich 795 00:27:32,079 --> 00:27:33,380 because it's going to their education. 796 00:27:33,839 --> 00:27:35,839 But they've done they've done an internal study, 797 00:27:35,839 --> 00:27:38,339 and it's the equivalent of $50 an hour. 798 00:27:38,559 --> 00:27:40,399 Wow. And so where are you gonna find 799 00:27:40,399 --> 00:27:41,759 that? You're not gonna find that working at 800 00:27:41,759 --> 00:27:42,419 the subway, 801 00:27:43,075 --> 00:27:44,434 you know, or you're not gonna find that 802 00:27:44,434 --> 00:27:47,075 at McDonald's flipping burgers. You know, nothing against 803 00:27:47,075 --> 00:27:49,654 those guys, but it it's just no comparison. 804 00:27:49,795 --> 00:27:51,494 You get a chance to share your culture. 805 00:27:52,115 --> 00:27:53,894 You get a chance to to be 806 00:27:54,195 --> 00:27:54,775 a missionary 807 00:27:55,669 --> 00:27:58,309 and to be out front and to to 808 00:27:58,309 --> 00:27:59,369 just share your 809 00:27:59,829 --> 00:28:01,910 your whole belief system with tourists that come 810 00:28:01,910 --> 00:28:04,169 through in a non pushy, non preachy way. 811 00:28:04,549 --> 00:28:07,269 And when compared to the alternative of flipping 812 00:28:07,269 --> 00:28:08,970 burgers, there there's just no comparison. 813 00:28:09,474 --> 00:28:10,835 You know, I don't know what minimum wage 814 00:28:10,835 --> 00:28:12,514 is in Hawaii right now. I'm I'm guessing 815 00:28:12,514 --> 00:28:14,534 it's probably 16, 17, 816 00:28:15,315 --> 00:28:17,554 maybe $18 an hour. I I don't know, 817 00:28:17,554 --> 00:28:19,734 but it's certainly not anywhere close to 50 818 00:28:19,954 --> 00:28:21,660 in terms of the benefit that they get. 819 00:28:22,059 --> 00:28:23,580 Yeah. That's really cool. Really cool. 820 00:28:25,340 --> 00:28:27,660 Another part I I really appreciate you include 821 00:28:27,660 --> 00:28:28,960 is just all of the, 822 00:28:29,580 --> 00:28:32,640 you know, the directors, the the production crew, 823 00:28:33,420 --> 00:28:35,285 all the, you know, people who've been there 824 00:28:35,285 --> 00:28:36,585 for years and years that 825 00:28:36,884 --> 00:28:37,704 get a new, 826 00:28:38,244 --> 00:28:40,964 group of students coming in and and, you 827 00:28:40,964 --> 00:28:42,805 know, get them up to par with their 828 00:28:42,805 --> 00:28:45,204 dancing and their production and all that and, 829 00:28:45,204 --> 00:28:47,285 you know, just move so many, 830 00:28:47,990 --> 00:28:49,609 so many students through 831 00:28:49,910 --> 00:28:51,609 to create really high production 832 00:28:52,150 --> 00:28:52,650 performance. 833 00:28:53,349 --> 00:28:54,950 What what did you notice just about that 834 00:28:54,950 --> 00:28:56,630 group as far as how they lead or 835 00:28:56,630 --> 00:28:58,230 how they do it so quickly? I'm I'm 836 00:28:58,230 --> 00:29:00,630 just thinking of the the primary presidents that 837 00:29:00,630 --> 00:29:02,710 are listening that do primary programs or the 838 00:29:02,710 --> 00:29:04,625 youth leaders doing tracks or, you know, 839 00:29:05,325 --> 00:29:06,945 individuals striving to create an experience. 840 00:29:07,325 --> 00:29:08,785 What did you learn from that group? 841 00:29:09,644 --> 00:29:11,505 I'll tell you, it it is literally 842 00:29:12,204 --> 00:29:12,865 a miracle 843 00:29:13,964 --> 00:29:14,464 that 844 00:29:15,005 --> 00:29:16,305 they can pull this off. 845 00:29:16,684 --> 00:29:18,625 Because every semester, you have 846 00:29:18,940 --> 00:29:20,720 a pretty significant turnover 847 00:29:21,500 --> 00:29:22,320 in the villages 848 00:29:22,859 --> 00:29:24,240 and at the night show. 849 00:29:24,700 --> 00:29:26,779 And, you know, most students work there, you 850 00:29:26,779 --> 00:29:28,059 know, and they might work in a village 851 00:29:28,059 --> 00:29:29,980 for a year or two. So they're they're 852 00:29:29,980 --> 00:29:30,960 multi semester, 853 00:29:31,420 --> 00:29:32,779 or they might work in the night show, 854 00:29:32,779 --> 00:29:34,875 or they might jump back and forth. Mhmm. 855 00:29:34,875 --> 00:29:36,955 Not only that, but within the context of 856 00:29:36,955 --> 00:29:39,115 a typical semester, you have a whole bunch 857 00:29:39,115 --> 00:29:41,275 of students who might have to miss one 858 00:29:41,275 --> 00:29:42,875 particular show because they all have the same 859 00:29:42,875 --> 00:29:44,394 class, and they've got a final in that 860 00:29:44,394 --> 00:29:46,734 class, or they've got some special thing. 861 00:29:47,559 --> 00:29:49,960 And so every night, it's a struggle to 862 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:51,660 fill those spots on stage. 863 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,359 That means that when you audition for the 864 00:29:54,359 --> 00:29:55,880 night show, you have to be ready to 865 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:56,380 play 866 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:58,460 as many different parts as possible. 867 00:29:59,345 --> 00:30:00,865 And and that that is brought out in 868 00:30:00,865 --> 00:30:01,525 the film, 869 00:30:01,825 --> 00:30:04,244 but it's it really is a it's a 870 00:30:04,625 --> 00:30:07,345 it's quite a a it's kinda like human 871 00:30:07,345 --> 00:30:09,105 Tetris. You have to fit things in and 872 00:30:09,105 --> 00:30:11,265 fit see where you can. And so to 873 00:30:11,265 --> 00:30:12,005 your question, 874 00:30:12,704 --> 00:30:13,365 the managers, 875 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:15,559 you know, I spent a lot of time 876 00:30:15,559 --> 00:30:17,960 with David Tiabe, who's who's who's right there 877 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:19,480 in the front line, and he's dealing on 878 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:21,400 a nightly basis with, okay, who's gonna show 879 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:21,980 up tonight 880 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:24,759 and who's not gonna be here tonight. And 881 00:30:24,759 --> 00:30:26,039 and so he has to be able to 882 00:30:26,039 --> 00:30:28,220 take somebody who typically works in the Samoan 883 00:30:28,279 --> 00:30:30,015 section of the show, and he has to 884 00:30:30,015 --> 00:30:32,355 put them over in the Fijian section, maybe. 885 00:30:32,894 --> 00:30:35,134 Or and so there's always subbing, and there's 886 00:30:35,134 --> 00:30:37,855 always substitutes. And so the fact that, you 887 00:30:37,855 --> 00:30:39,775 know, in a in a typical Las Vegas 888 00:30:39,775 --> 00:30:41,455 show or in a New York, in a 889 00:30:41,455 --> 00:30:43,615 Broadway show, you've got the lead, and you've 890 00:30:43,615 --> 00:30:45,329 got an understudy. And you might have two 891 00:30:45,329 --> 00:30:47,269 understudies if it's a long running show. 892 00:30:47,650 --> 00:30:48,710 Not in this show. 893 00:30:49,410 --> 00:30:51,410 You have the leads and they might have 894 00:30:51,410 --> 00:30:52,549 three or four understudies. 895 00:30:52,929 --> 00:30:54,630 And so there's constant change out. 896 00:30:55,170 --> 00:30:57,009 And so but I don't know if I 897 00:30:57,009 --> 00:30:58,690 answered your question, but I guess these leaders 898 00:30:58,690 --> 00:30:59,990 possess they just possess, 899 00:31:00,384 --> 00:31:01,984 I think what it is is it's personal 900 00:31:01,984 --> 00:31:04,384 testimony and faith that it's gonna work out. 901 00:31:04,384 --> 00:31:06,005 And they they know why they're there, 902 00:31:06,384 --> 00:31:08,964 and they do they're really serious about 903 00:31:09,664 --> 00:31:12,565 wanting this show to be of high quality. 904 00:31:13,059 --> 00:31:15,539 Yeah. Their goal is always in the ninety 905 00:31:15,539 --> 00:31:17,240 ninety three, 94 percentile, 906 00:31:18,180 --> 00:31:21,140 and they take nightly surveys. And they're they 907 00:31:21,140 --> 00:31:23,140 really I mean, they expect those kids to 908 00:31:23,140 --> 00:31:24,599 step up and do their part. 909 00:31:24,980 --> 00:31:27,700 But there's also a certain compassion that you 910 00:31:27,700 --> 00:31:28,019 don't get 911 00:31:29,035 --> 00:31:30,875 you know, if if you were in a 912 00:31:30,875 --> 00:31:33,615 Hollywood show or a Las Vegas type show, 913 00:31:33,914 --> 00:31:36,234 it's just a completely different vibe. You know, 914 00:31:36,234 --> 00:31:37,914 they do know that these kids, they can't 915 00:31:37,914 --> 00:31:39,855 work more than nineteen hours a week, 916 00:31:40,555 --> 00:31:42,795 and they cannot even if they wanted to 917 00:31:42,795 --> 00:31:44,174 exploit them, they couldn't 918 00:31:44,500 --> 00:31:45,940 because they know why the kids are there. 919 00:31:45,940 --> 00:31:47,460 They're there first and foremost to get an 920 00:31:47,460 --> 00:31:47,960 education. 921 00:31:49,059 --> 00:31:49,559 And 922 00:31:49,859 --> 00:31:51,700 and then secondary to that is, hey. Let's 923 00:31:51,700 --> 00:31:52,740 see if we can put on a really 924 00:31:52,740 --> 00:31:53,400 nice show. 925 00:31:54,659 --> 00:31:56,339 And so they they, you know, they really 926 00:31:56,339 --> 00:31:58,555 are careful with these kids, and they it's 927 00:31:58,555 --> 00:32:00,474 gotta be exasperating. It's gotta be a lot 928 00:32:00,474 --> 00:32:01,994 like being a mission president. You know, you 929 00:32:01,994 --> 00:32:03,275 get these kids that come in the mission 930 00:32:03,275 --> 00:32:04,875 field that are do their best, but they 931 00:32:04,875 --> 00:32:06,494 come at varying levels of maturity. 932 00:32:07,035 --> 00:32:08,815 And you just have to love them all 933 00:32:09,195 --> 00:32:11,215 and do your best, and I'm sure that 934 00:32:11,355 --> 00:32:13,035 that's what they deal with on a daily 935 00:32:13,035 --> 00:32:13,535 basis. 936 00:32:14,339 --> 00:32:16,980 Yeah. That's fantastic. That's really good. Anything else? 937 00:32:16,980 --> 00:32:18,440 I've got a few more kind of 938 00:32:18,980 --> 00:32:21,619 semi related questions to the film. But, anything 939 00:32:21,619 --> 00:32:23,220 else about the film that that you wanna 940 00:32:23,220 --> 00:32:25,640 make sure you you highlight or touch on? 941 00:32:26,099 --> 00:32:29,154 Well, because the the proceeds are going back 942 00:32:29,154 --> 00:32:30,054 to the PCC, 943 00:32:30,835 --> 00:32:32,054 I would just want your 944 00:32:32,355 --> 00:32:34,115 audience to understand that when they go to 945 00:32:34,115 --> 00:32:36,275 the theater to see it, August 29 is 946 00:32:36,275 --> 00:32:37,414 when it comes out of theaters. 947 00:32:37,714 --> 00:32:39,794 It's gonna be playing it's kind of in 948 00:32:39,954 --> 00:32:42,194 it's a little bit in, influx right now. 949 00:32:42,194 --> 00:32:45,130 But because we're adding theaters and we we 950 00:32:45,130 --> 00:32:47,609 believe it's gonna be released, it's gonna be 951 00:32:47,609 --> 00:32:49,549 all up and down the Wasatch Front from 952 00:32:50,569 --> 00:32:52,409 from up north, all the way down at 953 00:32:52,409 --> 00:32:54,429 Saint George and all through the Wasatch Front. 954 00:32:54,569 --> 00:32:56,750 It'll be Northern Southern California, Arizona, 955 00:32:58,134 --> 00:32:59,515 Nevada, and Las Vegas, 956 00:32:59,815 --> 00:33:01,434 Hawaii. It'll be all over the islands. 957 00:33:01,815 --> 00:33:04,154 It'll be in Anchorage, Alaska, of all places. 958 00:33:05,015 --> 00:33:06,075 American Samoa, 959 00:33:06,535 --> 00:33:09,414 Guam, I believe. And other territories might be 960 00:33:09,414 --> 00:33:10,875 added like Florida, Texas 961 00:33:11,609 --> 00:33:13,609 if it does well that first weekend. And 962 00:33:13,609 --> 00:33:15,609 the re and the reason it's important there's 963 00:33:15,609 --> 00:33:16,349 two reasons. 964 00:33:17,289 --> 00:33:18,569 We want people to see it in the 965 00:33:18,569 --> 00:33:19,069 theater. 966 00:33:20,009 --> 00:33:21,849 Because once you see it in the theater 967 00:33:21,849 --> 00:33:23,369 and if it does well at the box 968 00:33:23,369 --> 00:33:23,869 office, 969 00:33:24,464 --> 00:33:26,164 that triggers the algorithm 970 00:33:26,545 --> 00:33:28,545 at once it gets to streaming, and we 971 00:33:28,545 --> 00:33:29,605 get a higher placement. 972 00:33:30,304 --> 00:33:32,384 And if with a higher placement, more people 973 00:33:32,384 --> 00:33:33,825 see it. When more people see it, more 974 00:33:33,825 --> 00:33:34,884 people wanna go. 975 00:33:35,424 --> 00:33:37,630 And it also makes more money just for 976 00:33:37,630 --> 00:33:39,150 the perp you know, more people see it, 977 00:33:39,150 --> 00:33:40,829 that makes more money for the Polynesian Cultural 978 00:33:40,829 --> 00:33:41,650 Center. So 979 00:33:42,109 --> 00:33:44,029 it it's, kind of a way to double 980 00:33:44,029 --> 00:33:45,789 dip, and it just it's gonna so when 981 00:33:45,789 --> 00:33:47,230 you go see it at the theaters on 982 00:33:47,230 --> 00:33:49,390 opening weekend or that open maybe the following 983 00:33:49,390 --> 00:33:51,069 week, it's only gonna be out for probably 984 00:33:51,069 --> 00:33:51,704 a few weeks. 985 00:33:52,744 --> 00:33:54,744 You're actually doing more than just going to 986 00:33:54,744 --> 00:33:56,825 see a movie. You're you're benefiting these kids 987 00:33:56,825 --> 00:33:58,204 in a very direct way. 988 00:33:58,585 --> 00:34:00,424 You're laying down your hard earned money to 989 00:34:00,424 --> 00:34:01,784 go see a movie that I hope is 990 00:34:01,784 --> 00:34:03,065 gonna be worth your while. It's gonna be 991 00:34:03,065 --> 00:34:04,825 entertaining, but you're also gonna be supporting these 992 00:34:04,825 --> 00:34:06,180 kids who come from these 993 00:34:06,740 --> 00:34:07,720 tiny islands 994 00:34:08,420 --> 00:34:10,680 who don't have a lot of financial resource. 995 00:34:10,739 --> 00:34:11,480 And so, 996 00:34:12,420 --> 00:34:13,780 if you have that mindset when you go 997 00:34:13,780 --> 00:34:15,539 see the movie, that's a good that that 998 00:34:15,780 --> 00:34:17,940 go see it because it's entertaining first. You 999 00:34:17,940 --> 00:34:20,054 know? But it's also a great cause. So 1000 00:34:20,214 --> 00:34:21,454 that's what I would stress. And then when 1001 00:34:21,454 --> 00:34:22,714 it does come out on streaming, 1002 00:34:23,335 --> 00:34:25,014 watch it. Share it with your friends, and 1003 00:34:25,014 --> 00:34:27,255 and that'll just help keep people going to 1004 00:34:27,255 --> 00:34:29,434 the PCC so that it can continue 1005 00:34:30,135 --> 00:34:31,734 year in and year out to help fund 1006 00:34:31,734 --> 00:34:34,214 the educations of these wonderful students who come 1007 00:34:34,214 --> 00:34:35,835 from all over the Pacific Rim. 1008 00:34:36,339 --> 00:34:38,500 Love it. Love it. Well, we'll definitely, 1009 00:34:38,980 --> 00:34:40,579 include all those links in the show notes 1010 00:34:40,579 --> 00:34:41,960 and and make sure people, 1011 00:34:42,339 --> 00:34:44,099 know where to learn more and, to get 1012 00:34:44,099 --> 00:34:46,019 tickets. So and and, again, it's that opening 1013 00:34:46,019 --> 00:34:47,239 weekend that's so crucial. 1014 00:34:49,125 --> 00:34:50,724 Blair, I wanna ask you just from the 1015 00:34:50,965 --> 00:34:52,724 from your own leadership as far as, I 1016 00:34:52,724 --> 00:34:53,465 mean, running, 1017 00:34:53,844 --> 00:34:56,005 directing a movie and the production and I 1018 00:34:56,005 --> 00:34:56,744 mean, it's 1019 00:34:57,125 --> 00:34:59,304 it's it's no small feat for sure. 1020 00:34:59,925 --> 00:35:02,420 What what advice do you do you have 1021 00:35:02,420 --> 00:35:05,539 just from, that may may translate to church 1022 00:35:05,539 --> 00:35:08,180 leadership or, you know, inspiring group of people 1023 00:35:08,180 --> 00:35:10,820 or motivating people or uniting people around a 1024 00:35:10,820 --> 00:35:12,039 a project or a cause? 1025 00:35:12,740 --> 00:35:15,059 Where where do you draw upon to to 1026 00:35:15,059 --> 00:35:17,559 make that happen? I'll tell you. That's easy. 1027 00:35:18,125 --> 00:35:19,585 When I did Meet the Mormons, 1028 00:35:20,925 --> 00:35:22,605 the you know, I I had the the 1029 00:35:22,605 --> 00:35:25,264 wonderful opportunity to kinda rub shoulders with, 1030 00:35:26,125 --> 00:35:27,585 number of the brethren. But 1031 00:35:28,204 --> 00:35:30,065 Elder Holland was so supportive 1032 00:35:31,299 --> 00:35:33,880 and so loving and so it just 1033 00:35:35,059 --> 00:35:36,659 you know, I I I wanna be careful. 1034 00:35:36,659 --> 00:35:38,179 I'm not I'm not, like, exactly on a 1035 00:35:38,179 --> 00:35:40,339 first name basis with any of these brethren. 1036 00:35:40,339 --> 00:35:42,179 Okay? And I don't hang out with them. 1037 00:35:42,179 --> 00:35:44,019 I don't but there was a period of 1038 00:35:44,019 --> 00:35:45,219 time where I I would see them on 1039 00:35:45,219 --> 00:35:46,440 a fairly regular basis. 1040 00:35:46,994 --> 00:35:49,154 But Elder Holland always made me feel like 1041 00:35:49,154 --> 00:35:50,674 I was on a first name basis, you 1042 00:35:50,674 --> 00:35:52,674 know, and I would never say Jeff. I 1043 00:35:52,674 --> 00:35:54,514 would always call him Elder Holland. But in 1044 00:35:54,514 --> 00:35:56,194 his responses to me, he always signed it 1045 00:35:56,194 --> 00:35:58,355 Jeff. And he always so I'm kind of 1046 00:35:58,355 --> 00:36:00,670 taking a page out of his book. He 1047 00:36:00,670 --> 00:36:02,610 always made me feel important, 1048 00:36:03,630 --> 00:36:05,869 and he always made everybody on our crew 1049 00:36:05,869 --> 00:36:06,769 feel important. 1050 00:36:07,550 --> 00:36:08,690 And he really, 1051 00:36:09,230 --> 00:36:11,309 always behaved in a way that I I 1052 00:36:11,309 --> 00:36:13,390 felt like, gosh, that's the way the savior 1053 00:36:13,390 --> 00:36:15,385 would be. If he were here, that's the 1054 00:36:15,385 --> 00:36:16,605 way he would run things. 1055 00:36:17,224 --> 00:36:19,304 And so I've tried, and I probably failed 1056 00:36:19,304 --> 00:36:21,545 miserably, but I've tried to to, you know, 1057 00:36:21,545 --> 00:36:22,924 help have people around, 1058 00:36:23,864 --> 00:36:26,744 on crews that that know that I appreciate 1059 00:36:26,744 --> 00:36:27,244 them, 1060 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:29,599 that know that I value the jobs that 1061 00:36:29,599 --> 00:36:30,260 they do. 1062 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:31,300 Because, 1063 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:34,239 I I get to be out front here 1064 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:36,320 and and really kinda take the credit, but 1065 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:38,640 the credit doesn't belong to me. First of 1066 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:39,140 all, 1067 00:36:41,214 --> 00:36:43,135 any talents that I may have are on 1068 00:36:43,135 --> 00:36:44,514 loan. They're not mine. 1069 00:36:44,974 --> 00:36:46,815 Heavenly father loans those to me, and and 1070 00:36:46,815 --> 00:36:48,974 if I develop them, he he helps me 1071 00:36:48,974 --> 00:36:50,034 to develop those. 1072 00:36:50,574 --> 00:36:52,255 If I bury it, we knows knows what 1073 00:36:52,255 --> 00:36:54,755 happens if if we bury those talents. But 1074 00:36:55,054 --> 00:36:56,434 you can never make a film 1075 00:36:56,789 --> 00:36:58,390 in a vacuum. You can never make it 1076 00:36:58,390 --> 00:36:59,050 by yourself. 1077 00:37:00,070 --> 00:37:02,070 I had a whole staff of people on 1078 00:37:02,070 --> 00:37:04,489 Meet the Mormons as as on this one, 1079 00:37:05,030 --> 00:37:08,410 from editors and and camera people and sound 1080 00:37:08,469 --> 00:37:09,690 technicians and, 1081 00:37:10,710 --> 00:37:11,530 and composers 1082 00:37:12,775 --> 00:37:16,074 and musicians who did the soundtrack, who all 1083 00:37:16,614 --> 00:37:18,394 kind of dedicated their own 1084 00:37:18,855 --> 00:37:20,934 their own testimony to the whole experience. And 1085 00:37:20,934 --> 00:37:22,474 so I think from a leadership standpoint, 1086 00:37:23,094 --> 00:37:25,655 we have to recognize that people bring to 1087 00:37:25,655 --> 00:37:27,675 the table their own unique gifts, 1088 00:37:28,500 --> 00:37:29,559 strengths, and weaknesses. 1089 00:37:30,420 --> 00:37:30,920 And 1090 00:37:31,380 --> 00:37:33,380 and you have to be if you're not 1091 00:37:33,380 --> 00:37:35,219 appreciative of that, you don't get the full 1092 00:37:35,219 --> 00:37:36,840 benefit of what they have to offer. 1093 00:37:37,460 --> 00:37:40,099 You know? So just like I would bend 1094 00:37:40,099 --> 00:37:42,315 over backwards, I would I would charge that 1095 00:37:42,315 --> 00:37:43,594 hill, and I would be the first one 1096 00:37:43,594 --> 00:37:45,594 over the hill if president Holland asked me 1097 00:37:45,594 --> 00:37:47,994 to go because of president Holland. You know? 1098 00:37:47,994 --> 00:37:48,494 Yeah. 1099 00:37:49,994 --> 00:37:51,434 And I would do the same for the 1100 00:37:51,434 --> 00:37:53,514 others. But with with Elder Holland, it was 1101 00:37:53,514 --> 00:37:55,460 it was just he made it so uniquely 1102 00:37:55,460 --> 00:37:57,219 personal, and he'd look you in the eye, 1103 00:37:57,219 --> 00:37:58,739 and he would he would really make you 1104 00:37:58,739 --> 00:37:59,559 feel appreciated. 1105 00:38:00,500 --> 00:38:01,239 And so 1106 00:38:01,859 --> 00:38:02,679 I try 1107 00:38:02,980 --> 00:38:05,780 to do that with my crew and with 1108 00:38:05,780 --> 00:38:08,154 these students who are in the film. I 1109 00:38:08,154 --> 00:38:09,914 try the best I can. I am I'm 1110 00:38:09,914 --> 00:38:11,054 nowhere close to 1111 00:38:11,434 --> 00:38:14,074 the Elder Holland's level, but people talk about 1112 00:38:14,074 --> 00:38:15,514 that all the time back when he was 1113 00:38:15,514 --> 00:38:17,914 president of BYU, and they just loved working 1114 00:38:17,914 --> 00:38:19,994 with him because his leadership style was one 1115 00:38:19,994 --> 00:38:20,340 of, 1116 00:38:20,820 --> 00:38:23,000 I appreciate you. I love you. 1117 00:38:23,460 --> 00:38:26,099 And so I think that carries over. And, 1118 00:38:26,099 --> 00:38:27,239 you know, you think about, 1119 00:38:27,860 --> 00:38:29,700 you know, a great bishop or a state 1120 00:38:29,700 --> 00:38:32,280 president or a leader or primary president or 1121 00:38:32,755 --> 00:38:33,255 elders, 1122 00:38:33,795 --> 00:38:35,795 if they if they are warm to you 1123 00:38:35,795 --> 00:38:37,635 and they care about you, you you'll do 1124 00:38:37,635 --> 00:38:39,234 anything they ask, you know, 1125 00:38:39,635 --> 00:38:42,215 because you wanna you know, you're being appreciated. 1126 00:38:42,275 --> 00:38:44,195 So that jumps out at me. Cool. For 1127 00:38:44,195 --> 00:38:45,255 sure. That's really helpful. 1128 00:38:46,519 --> 00:38:49,239 Well, any other story, concept, principle you wanna 1129 00:38:49,239 --> 00:38:51,159 make sure we we squeeze in here before 1130 00:38:51,159 --> 00:38:52,519 we wrap up, or do we get it 1131 00:38:52,519 --> 00:38:53,019 all? 1132 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:54,300 You know, I think, 1133 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:57,500 it's really easy for 1134 00:38:57,880 --> 00:39:00,039 people in the film community to to kinda 1135 00:39:00,039 --> 00:39:00,940 fall into this 1136 00:39:02,065 --> 00:39:02,885 self importance 1137 00:39:03,744 --> 00:39:04,244 mentality. 1138 00:39:04,864 --> 00:39:05,364 Uh-huh. 1139 00:39:06,065 --> 00:39:07,505 You know, we've been lucky at a few 1140 00:39:07,505 --> 00:39:09,344 festivals that's done that's done well, and you 1141 00:39:09,344 --> 00:39:11,265 see that because you you get so involved 1142 00:39:11,265 --> 00:39:13,204 with trying to promote the film that 1143 00:39:13,585 --> 00:39:15,664 promoting the film also means you're kinda promoting 1144 00:39:15,664 --> 00:39:16,164 yourself. 1145 00:39:17,019 --> 00:39:18,380 And it's easy to get hung up on 1146 00:39:18,380 --> 00:39:18,880 that. 1147 00:39:20,859 --> 00:39:22,059 But I guess the thing that I would 1148 00:39:22,059 --> 00:39:23,519 go back to is that whatever, 1149 00:39:24,059 --> 00:39:26,699 you know, it it whatever talents we have, 1150 00:39:26,699 --> 00:39:27,599 they're on loan. 1151 00:39:27,980 --> 00:39:28,875 They're on loan. 1152 00:39:29,434 --> 00:39:31,934 And even the weaknesses that we have that 1153 00:39:31,994 --> 00:39:33,994 that are there to help make us humble, 1154 00:39:33,994 --> 00:39:36,074 to help us hopefully, we can make those 1155 00:39:36,074 --> 00:39:36,894 into strengths, 1156 00:39:37,755 --> 00:39:38,414 they exist, 1157 00:39:39,994 --> 00:39:41,519 to better to make us better. 1158 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:44,659 And so we should own those, but recognize 1159 00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:46,340 where they come from. 1160 00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:48,400 I guess that would be the the main 1161 00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:50,559 claim. You know, I feel very lucky for 1162 00:39:50,719 --> 00:39:52,239 very blessed to be able to work on 1163 00:39:52,239 --> 00:39:54,640 this project and so many others that have 1164 00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:56,820 strengthened my personal testimony of the church. 1165 00:39:57,184 --> 00:39:59,344 I'm just I feel really lucky, very fortunate, 1166 00:39:59,344 --> 00:40:00,085 very blessed, 1167 00:40:00,465 --> 00:40:02,784 to have had this opportunity. There's no question 1168 00:40:02,784 --> 00:40:04,864 I worked really hard. I've worked really hard. 1169 00:40:04,864 --> 00:40:06,224 I worked very, very hard at what I 1170 00:40:06,224 --> 00:40:07,684 do, but but, 1171 00:40:08,784 --> 00:40:10,409 it doesn't come close to the 1172 00:40:11,210 --> 00:40:13,530 it in no way reflects the the amount 1173 00:40:13,530 --> 00:40:14,909 of blessings that I've received. 1174 00:40:15,449 --> 00:40:17,049 I still have I I would owe a 1175 00:40:17,049 --> 00:40:17,549 lifetime 1176 00:40:18,489 --> 00:40:20,409 for those blessings of of hard work, and 1177 00:40:20,409 --> 00:40:22,010 I feel like I've done a small amount 1178 00:40:22,010 --> 00:40:23,789 and have gotten this much in return. 1179 00:40:24,355 --> 00:40:27,075 Love it. August 29 is the release date, 1180 00:40:27,474 --> 00:40:29,555 in in select theaters, but mainly, you know, 1181 00:40:29,555 --> 00:40:31,635 across the Wasatch Front for sure. And it 1182 00:40:31,635 --> 00:40:33,394 sounds like in many of the the islands, 1183 00:40:33,394 --> 00:40:35,255 it'll it'll be available as well. 1184 00:40:36,035 --> 00:40:38,639 And, again, that that opening weekend is with 1185 00:40:38,639 --> 00:40:40,799 any movie, that's that's huge, and it will 1186 00:40:40,799 --> 00:40:41,299 help 1187 00:40:41,599 --> 00:40:43,920 with distribution and getting this in in more 1188 00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:46,099 theaters, maybe in the less typical, 1189 00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:49,599 places that, you wanna anticipate. And I'd encourage 1190 00:40:49,599 --> 00:40:51,199 people, you know, if you're listening to this 1191 00:40:51,199 --> 00:40:52,500 and you're excited about 1192 00:40:52,880 --> 00:40:53,380 the 1193 00:40:53,694 --> 00:40:55,054 the the movie as far as how it 1194 00:40:55,054 --> 00:40:57,135 contributes to the Polynesian Cultural Center and the 1195 00:40:57,135 --> 00:40:57,954 students there, 1196 00:40:58,335 --> 00:41:00,014 and maybe you're in the middle of Ohio 1197 00:41:00,014 --> 00:41:01,454 or something where it's not gonna be in 1198 00:41:01,454 --> 00:41:03,534 theaters, you can go online and order a 1199 00:41:03,534 --> 00:41:05,534 few tickets for your your family and friends 1200 00:41:05,534 --> 00:41:06,974 along the Wasatch Front and say, hey. I 1201 00:41:06,974 --> 00:41:09,809 got six tickets to go see, this this 1202 00:41:09,809 --> 00:41:12,130 movie this weekend, and that that'll get people 1203 00:41:12,130 --> 00:41:13,489 to the theater and and really help out 1204 00:41:13,489 --> 00:41:15,409 a lot. So And you can actually request 1205 00:41:15,409 --> 00:41:16,690 it. I should say that if you go 1206 00:41:16,690 --> 00:41:17,190 to, 1207 00:41:17,730 --> 00:41:19,170 I think you should not say w W 1208 00:41:19,170 --> 00:41:20,690 W anymore. Right? But I'm I'm an old 1209 00:41:20,690 --> 00:41:24,925 fashioned guy. So go to sharingalohathemovie.com. 1210 00:41:25,785 --> 00:41:28,105 And then from there, from that platform, you 1211 00:41:28,105 --> 00:41:30,025 can see the trailer. You can actually request 1212 00:41:30,025 --> 00:41:31,785 it in your city. Oh, cool. If you're 1213 00:41:31,785 --> 00:41:32,364 gonna request, 1214 00:41:32,664 --> 00:41:33,644 even in Ohio, 1215 00:41:34,119 --> 00:41:35,800 if you're gonna request, we'll make sure that 1216 00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:38,199 the theaters there see those requests, and we'll 1217 00:41:38,199 --> 00:41:40,599 send it out there. So it is possible 1218 00:41:40,599 --> 00:41:42,039 to get it. So you can request it 1219 00:41:42,039 --> 00:41:42,780 in your theater, 1220 00:41:43,320 --> 00:41:45,320 and you can pay it forward and and 1221 00:41:45,320 --> 00:41:47,659 actually buy tickets and encourage people to go. 1222 00:41:48,045 --> 00:41:50,125 And the website will also have it also 1223 00:41:50,125 --> 00:41:51,984 has even right now, it has 1224 00:41:52,364 --> 00:41:54,844 it's maybe a couple of days behind, but 1225 00:41:54,844 --> 00:41:56,525 it'll show you all the theaters that it's 1226 00:41:56,525 --> 00:41:58,204 playing in. And then you can go on 1227 00:41:58,204 --> 00:41:59,824 Cinemark or or or, 1228 00:42:00,339 --> 00:42:01,639 let's see the, Megaplex 1229 00:42:01,940 --> 00:42:03,059 website. You can go on any of those 1230 00:42:03,059 --> 00:42:04,500 and see where they're just like anybody else, 1231 00:42:04,500 --> 00:42:06,739 you can go on, Fandango and see it. 1232 00:42:06,739 --> 00:42:08,819 It's now starting to show up as part 1233 00:42:08,819 --> 00:42:10,039 of the Showtime schedule. 1234 00:42:10,659 --> 00:42:12,420 So yeah. Yeah. Go opening weekend if you 1235 00:42:12,420 --> 00:42:14,179 can. If you can't go, you know, the 1236 00:42:14,179 --> 00:42:16,494 week, weeknight, that opening week. 1237 00:42:16,875 --> 00:42:19,275 And that the second weekend might be the 1238 00:42:19,275 --> 00:42:21,035 last weekend it plays because it's, again, it's 1239 00:42:21,035 --> 00:42:23,355 a small film and Yeah. These big tentpole 1240 00:42:23,355 --> 00:42:25,195 movies, you know, these big Spider Mans and 1241 00:42:25,195 --> 00:42:27,035 whatnot, they they tend to push these out, 1242 00:42:27,035 --> 00:42:28,829 so they don't last long. So go when 1243 00:42:28,829 --> 00:42:30,289 you can. Perfect. 1244 00:42:30,910 --> 00:42:32,829 Well, Blair, last question I have for you, 1245 00:42:32,829 --> 00:42:35,309 as you reflect on this project specifically, how 1246 00:42:35,309 --> 00:42:37,789 has, leading this project helped you become a 1247 00:42:37,789 --> 00:42:39,570 better follower of Jesus Christ? 1248 00:42:41,070 --> 00:42:42,050 I think seeing 1249 00:42:44,494 --> 00:42:47,135 the faith and the spirit of these young 1250 00:42:47,135 --> 00:42:47,635 Polynesian 1251 00:42:48,574 --> 00:42:50,755 performers and students at the PCC, 1252 00:42:51,695 --> 00:42:53,135 they come in with such, 1253 00:42:54,974 --> 00:42:56,515 you can just see it in their countenance. 1254 00:42:56,815 --> 00:42:58,574 And so they were an example to me 1255 00:42:58,574 --> 00:42:59,309 for sure. 1256 00:43:01,869 --> 00:43:03,890 We even had a we even had a 1257 00:43:04,910 --> 00:43:06,769 a scholarship recipient who 1258 00:43:07,309 --> 00:43:09,390 was supposed to come and get her scholarship 1259 00:43:09,390 --> 00:43:11,809 to go home on the homeward bound scholarship, 1260 00:43:12,764 --> 00:43:14,684 And she declined because she did not want 1261 00:43:14,684 --> 00:43:15,984 to miss her temple session. 1262 00:43:16,525 --> 00:43:17,264 Oh, wow. 1263 00:43:17,644 --> 00:43:18,144 And, 1264 00:43:18,684 --> 00:43:19,984 she still got the scholarship, 1265 00:43:20,364 --> 00:43:20,864 but 1266 00:43:21,404 --> 00:43:24,364 she didn't feel it was necessary to, to 1267 00:43:24,364 --> 00:43:26,204 go through all the pomp and circumstances of 1268 00:43:26,204 --> 00:43:28,400 going up and receiving it. She just humbly 1269 00:43:28,400 --> 00:43:29,539 accepted it. And so 1270 00:43:29,920 --> 00:43:31,519 I think what, what I've learned from that 1271 00:43:31,519 --> 00:43:33,280 is I've just learned from these kids. They're 1272 00:43:33,280 --> 00:43:36,019 amazing kids. They really are. They have faith 1273 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:38,640 and they demonstrated in their behavior, in their 1274 00:43:38,640 --> 00:43:40,800 language, in their department, in their, in every 1275 00:43:40,800 --> 00:43:42,019 part of their life. And, 1276 00:43:42,704 --> 00:43:45,025 they're not perfect. They struggle like anybody else, 1277 00:43:45,025 --> 00:43:46,864 but they are really faithful. And so that, 1278 00:43:46,864 --> 00:43:48,864 that was just a faith built faith promoting 1279 00:43:48,864 --> 00:43:49,684 and faith building 1280 00:43:50,065 --> 00:43:52,065 for me personally, to, to rub shoulders with 1281 00:43:52,065 --> 00:43:53,905 them and to be able to spend the 1282 00:43:53,905 --> 00:43:56,005 better part of a year capturing their stories. 1283 00:44:04,780 --> 00:44:07,179 The end. That's it for this Leading Saints 1284 00:44:07,179 --> 00:44:09,114 episode. I encourage you to check out some 1285 00:44:09,114 --> 00:44:11,275 of the most popular episodes of the podcast 1286 00:44:11,275 --> 00:44:12,875 that we list at the bottom of the 1287 00:44:12,875 --> 00:44:13,614 show notes. 1288 00:44:13,914 --> 00:44:15,535 If you haven't listened to all of those, 1289 00:44:15,594 --> 00:44:16,575 do so now. 1290 00:44:28,300 --> 00:44:30,860 It came as a result of the position 1291 00:44:30,860 --> 00:44:33,920 of leadership which was imposed upon us 1292 00:44:34,460 --> 00:44:36,945 by the God of heaven who brought forth 1293 00:44:36,945 --> 00:44:37,925 a restoration 1294 00:44:38,224 --> 00:44:40,565 of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1295 00:44:41,025 --> 00:44:42,164 And when the declaration 1296 00:44:42,465 --> 00:44:45,744 was made concerning the own and only true 1297 00:44:45,744 --> 00:44:48,144 and living Church upon the face of the 1298 00:44:48,144 --> 00:44:48,644 earth, 1299 00:44:49,089 --> 00:44:51,750 We were immediately put in a position of 1300 00:44:51,889 --> 00:44:52,389 loneliness, 1301 00:44:52,769 --> 00:44:54,389 the loneliness of leadership 1302 00:44:55,250 --> 00:44:58,309 from which we cannot shrink nor run away, 1303 00:44:59,250 --> 00:45:01,730 and to which we must face up with 1304 00:45:01,730 --> 00:45:03,190 boldness and courage 1305 00:45:04,033 --> 00:45:04,773 and ability.