Eric Nemoto

Eric dispels the myth that everyone is either left or right brain dominant. In his previous career in higher education he was the person to see for analytical reasoning; whether it was understanding federal regulations as a Financial Aid Administrator (University of Hawaii at Manoa and private consultant, 1985-1994), devising recruitment strategies as an Associate Dean of Enrollment Management (Chaminade University, 1994-2010), or as an Executive Director of a vocational school (Med-Assist School of Hawaii, 2010-2013). At the same time he amassed an impressive creative resume. He founded, and is the president of, TAG - The Actors' Group, a community theatre that has developed into Honolulu's go-to place for compelling drama. As a stage actor he is a two-time Po'okela recipient (Hawaii's annual theatre awards) for excellence in acting (Oleanna, 2001, Miso, 2010). In film, he played visionary Shigeo Yoshida in Tom Coffman's acclaimed documentary The First Battle (Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) 2004 and Hawaii public TV), portrayed the dying father in Tim Savage's short film Cutback (HIFF 2007, and a holiday staple for the New Hope Christian Fellowship Church), was in Bob Bates' Hotel Street as a crooked cop (HIFF 2011, one of a series of short films in The Short List), and was among the family dealing with an impending tsunami in Jay Hanamura's segment of 6B: An Anthology Of Hawaii Films (HIFF 2011). He is also scheduled to appear as the violent Tamotsu in Ed Sakamoto's thriller Obake Neko (Ghost Cat) (Director Denny Hironaga). He has a bachelors degree (Political Science) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a masters degree from Oregon State University (College Student Services Administration), and a screenwriting certificate from the UCLA Extension Writers' Program (the largest writer training center of its kind in the U.S.). He has written over 100 feature length scripts. Eight of his scripts have been produced as feature length movies; including Serenergy Productions' feature length movie Parts Of The Same Circle (which was screened at HIFF 2012 and the 2013 Big Island Film Festival (BIFF), and in which he was also co-director and acted in a lead role), and Jeff Katts' science fiction drama, The Hidden Battle, 2006. He has also written 12 produced plays; including Merry Christmas, Roberta (Best Play Po'okela award, 2008, co-written with Michael Wurth and Jon Brekke), and eight half-hour TV programs that documented the careers of local artists entitled Artists Of Hawaii. He even wrote a children's book, Getting Ready For Kindergarten, with his wife, Mary Ann, which has been distributed to local preschools. He has also directed eight stage plays, directed four movies, produced six movies, and served as an associate producer of One Team (the documentary of Father Kenneth Bray, Iolani School's legendary football coach, voted Best Short Film, HIFF 2012). He has been in numerous TV commercials, voiced over many a radio ad, and appeared in featured roles on both Lost and Hawaii Five-O. He has also taught acting; conducting his weekly "Just Act" acting classes through the Hawaii talent agency, ADR for years. In 2014 he started Yellow Brick Studio with a business partner, a production company focusing on developing the movies its investors have dreamed of making. His collective experiences have transformed his destiny. For his life now is being driven by four creative forces - a passion to act, an obsession to write, an enthusiasm for directing, and an almost manic organizational need to produce movies that are completed on schedule and on budget. But of everything he has been involved in, Eric considers his family his greatest achievement. He and his wife, Mary Ann, have been married since 1980. Their daughter, Kristen Lee (Iwi), and son, Cory (Malia), round out their beautiful family. Show less «