THE LAND OF EB - MOVIE TRAILER 2010

KONA FILM GROUP

"Set in a neglected corner of the Hawaiian islands, "The Land of Eb" is a feature film about a Marshallese family struggling to create a new home for themselves on the periphery of society."

Principle photography was completed in March of 2010. The film is currently in post production.

SYNOPSIS:

Jacob Jackson is a remarkable man, an illiterate, self-taught electronics expert,an immigrant, a leader and a father. After being displaced from his home in the Marshall Islands because of nuclear weapons testing, Jacob has spent the last fifteen years of his life building a new home for his family on the southernmost tip of the Big Island of Hawaii. When he learns that he's dying of cancer, Jacob becomes determined to earn enough money to ensure his family's future after he's gone.


DIRECTORS STATEMENT:

"When My co-writer/producer John Hill and I met Jonithen for the first time in September 2009, we were struck by two things. The first was how eager he was to make movies. He showed us a working camera boom and some other pretty ingenious equipment that he had made from old bike parts and other garage sale items. He kept telling us that making movies and telling stories of the Marshallese was something he wanted to do more than anything else.

The second thing was his attitude towards life and the future. After all the hardship he and the Marshallese people had endured, specifically at the hands of our government, you couldn't detect even a shred of bitterness. He said he had already forgiven them (or rather us) and was now focused on creating a better life for his family and community by providing his kids and grandkids with a better education than he ever had. His resilience was moving and in this we saw a story worth telling. We partnered with Jonithen and began writing the script.

To tell the story, we cast from within the local Hawaii and Marshallese communities and shot a majority of the scenes in the Marshallese language. We wanted to convey a strong sense of realism through the characters in their environment and sort of let the story breath on its own. We Shot everything on location in Kailua Kona and Ocean View on the Big Island. Hawaii is a beautiful and diverse place and I think at the very least this film will reveal an aspect of Hawaii most people have never seen.

Although the subject of the Marshallese in America raises some very important global issues concerning the effects of nuclear proliferation, I wanted the film to be about something greater than just an issue. I've always been moved on a deeper level by stories that focus on an individual's struggle rather than one that solely exists to bring awareness to an issue. There is definitely a need for awareness though and my hope is that through the simple story of one man, the important issues will reveal themselves and thus impact the viewer more profoundly."


MARSHALLESE

In 1946, due to the rapidly escalating cold war, the fate of the Marshall Islands was dramatically altered forever when the United States began using their islands for nuclear testing. 
The islanders most affected by the bombs have spent decades moving their families from one island to another, often starving and dying from disease. Eventually, many of them decided to embark on a journey that took them thousands of miles across the ocean to the same America that destroyed their home in hope of a better life and future.
Today, thousands of Marshall Islanders have immigrated to the United States and formed small communities all over the country, including Hawaii.

Although they still receive minimal financial aid from the US government, many of these communities within the US still struggle to assimilate into American society due to poverty and lack of education.

Though the film does not dwell on it, the history of the Marshall Islands' relationship with the United States is very connected to The Land of Eb.

The following are external resources put here to introduce curious parties to the history of the Marshall Islands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvj7MscvSrg&feature=player_embedded

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bomb/maps/index.html


FOLLOW:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=223601299024&v=wall&ref=ts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/thelandofeb


CONTACT:

Email: thelandofeb@gmail.com

Kona Film Group
75-5873 Walua Rd. 108C
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• marshallislands
• RMI
• remjol
• marshallese
• iakwe
• auckland
• wellington
• sydney
• pagopago
• apia
• nuku'alofa
• suva
• love
• honolulu
• seattle
• tacoma
• tama
• teine
• Samoa
• music
• video
• Samoan
• Fa'a
• Samoana
• Alofa
• Polynesia
• Tahiti
• Tonga
• Hawai'i
• Fiji
• Oceania
• Pasefika
• Saute
• South
• Seas
• Artists
• Music
• Polynesian
• Pacific
• Sounds
• of
• Tama
• Tutuila
• USA
• New
• Zealand
• Australia
• Japan
• Canada
• Musika
• Tagata
• Alofa'aga
• videoclip
• song
• islands
• continents
• family
• ohana
• kainga
• aiga
• famili
• spasifik
• trailer
• movie trailer

[TAiFANESiNA]

This looks very interesting and eye catching!

What is the name of the music playing in the background?

I would love to see this movie!

[NESIANSON]

@TAiFANESiNA

If I'm not mistaken( please correct me if I'm wrong), the song in the background is called "Latuma", meaning "elder" or to a certain extent ones "ancestor" or "predecesor"... I hope that answers your question.

[hilo0421]

nice. i think its ova hea at big island. is it?

[NESIANSON]

@hilo0421 Yes indeed!

[thezigzagman87]

"An American Story" lol. Well at least my people make movies now, cant wait to see this =]

[jenmajol]

Very ironic. The ancient Marshallese god his name was Lowa or Loa the supreme being of all the old gods, well the first island he created was Aelon in Bikini. He was so pleased with his creation that he uttered these words "Ia Kwe" meaning the island was so beautiful it was like looking at a rainbow with its many beautiful colors, thus the Marshallese greeting came to be "Yokwe or Ia'kwe"

[pbien16]

JUST LIVE THE WAY GOD HAS MADE LIFE!!! who are we to change that?

[gloNgreg1]

i am a fellow marshallese living in kona, and i have seen that man. born a marshallese and raised in the CNMI..i was sadden when i was first brought to ocean view and saw the marshallese communities.they are living in poverty and hardship!!!thumbs up to Kona Film Group for a job well done!!!for telling Mr.joniten's story:DGod Bless

[3b0nChicka06]

woror,jej bed big island ak jej kab kio loe mejen armej ie elap enaan kake.god bless u nd ur big family.

[KayyLene20]

is this a true story ?

[loyalboi05]

when it is coming out? very interesting story!