Partnering with the University of Hawaii Academy of Creative Media

"In early March of this year, I had the honor and pleasure of participating in professor Joel Moffett’s ACM screenwriting class as a Screen Actors Guild actor for table readings.

"I come from a theater/film/fine arts/law education and experience background. I also was taught in my early years at UH and Mid-Pacific Institute soon after first arriving here from NYC in 1966. After my years studying at Carnegie Tech and with Sandy Meisner and working at La Mama E.T.C. and other venues, I became drawn to teaching studio art and art history, for it seemed to offer a wonderful vehicle to truly educate by doing. Joel fulfills that calling in ways to which I could only aspire, but never achieved.

"As a result of my teaching experiences in the 1970s, I appreciate the unique challenges of working with local students, challenges that Joel meets and totally disarms. Joel’s awesome talents and huge appetite and aptitude for teaching are already well known. His insight into the elements of a successful screenplay is incredible, and he imparts it in an extremely individualized way to his students, whom he obviously knows well and for whom he genuinely and deeply cares. He is that rare film person who understands what an actor needs to make the actor’s craft in film truly succeed — what is the behavior, what does the character want, what are the obstacles? He imparts these tools organically and effectively, both one-on-one and to the larger class simultaneously.

"He is also that rare teacher who instructs and EDUCATES by bringing forth and eliciting the thinking and creativity of his students. His praise for student work is generous and sincere; his criticism is clear, insightful and never demeaning. He demands much of his students, but obviously no more than he demands of himself. His energy and enthusiasm fill the room and ignite within his students eyes.

"My energy and enthusiasm for my craft were reignited as well, and I wholeheartedly recommend that my fellow SAG-AFTRA member actors also participate in this project that gives far more than it takes in time and energy. It’s yet another way to keep one’s craft sharply honed and ready for action."

This item was originally featured in the July 2012 local newsletter.