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 go-to person to see for analytical reasoning; whether it would be 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 over the past 25 years 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 (photo right) 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, expected release 2019). 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 program of its kind in the U.S.). As a writer, he has written 141 Feature Length Movie Scripts (including Serenergy Productions’ 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), 12 produced plays (including Merry Christmas, Roberta, Best Play Po`okela award, 2008, co-written with Michael Wurth and Jon Brekke, and four that were written for, and produced with, filmmaker Jeff Katts revolving around his Soul Saviour universe), eight TV programs documenting the work of local artists (Artists Of Hawaii), training videos for the State Department of Education, and a children’s book (Getting Ready For Kindergarten) with his wife, Mary Ann, which has been distributed to local preschools. He has directed nine independent movies, directed eight stage plays, 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), has been in numerous TV commercials, voiced over many a radio ad, and appeared in principal roles on both Lost and Hawaii Five-O (in the recurring role of prosecuting attorney, James Chen). He has also taught acting for years, conducting his weekly Just Act acting gym classes. He is also the owner and producer of All Hawaii TV, a Roku TV public channel. Eric and Mary Ann have been married since 1980. Their daughter, Kristen Lee (Iwi), and son, Cory, round out their beautiful family. See also ericnemoto.com and IMDB.