The History Of The Actors’ Group (TAG)

1993-1994

Compiling the history of any organization can be a great challenge, particularly when the core group is small and rather than chronicle events, had spent their energy towards merely keeping alive. So is the case with TAG. As it evolved from a creative curmudgeon to become one of Hawaii's finest community theaters, all TAG could do was focus on its next production, for it had little time for anything else. Hence, this history has been cobbled together utilizing the recollection of participants at the time, dog-eared old files containing memorabilia and other forms of information, photos, newspaper articles, and recovered video footage that is often way past its prime if not damaged. Nonetheless, these have been the sources to create the history of TAG - The Actors' Group, told in a series of posts chronicling time periods unique to its development.

The End Of The Honolulu Film Actors Workshop (1993-1994)

In the fall of 1993 one of Hawaii’s best acting teachers, Dick Kindelon, the former casting director for the original “Hawaii 5-0,” retires after teaching his acting course, “The Honolulu Film Actors Workshop,” for well over 10 years. One of Kindelon’s most ardent students, Eric Nemoto (see inset photo), organizes members of the class to continue meeting for scene study sessions, and Kindelon gives Nemoto his three boxes of movie scripts to use. The very first meeting is held in the study room of the Special Student Services building at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is attended by two people, with Nemoto being one of them (the other being Jerry Hile, who would provide the group a great service by chronicling Kindelon’s scripts into overview sheets for easy review). Regardless, the two participate in scene study sessions (“To keep the faith,” Nemoto says), but the concept of continuing classes admittedly does not look good. Nemoto tells himself he’ll give it one more week. The following week over a dozen people show and Nemoto realizes that the idea of actors meeting for weekly sessions has a chance. During one of its first meetings of the group, Nemoto, with the consent of all present, tells everyone that they will be called the “The Actors Group” or “TAG.” When asked why, Nemoto responds, “Because the acronym “TAG” could be “catchy” and eventually it will be known by all. It is decided that everyone will contribute monthly dues to pay for the room rental and to also use as a stipend for invited acting teachers to hold monthly workshops for the group. Dues are set at $30 for four weekly sessions. Scene study ensues utilizing a video camera supplied by Hile for playback and actors critique each other (basically the same format used by Kindelon).

What’s In A Name – Eric Nemoto’s Choice Of The Moment Will Come To Last A Lifetime

TAG as a scene study group continues at the university and draws a consistent following with the usual attendees numbering 10 to 12. TAG sessions are held on Wednesday nights beginning at 7:00 pm and often extend to well past 10:00 pm. Some of the monthly workshops conducted by invited acting coaches include Dick Kindelon (who gives the first ever workshop), Garrison True (multiple times), and Dave Winston Barge, who would later go on to play a significant role in the evolution of TAG as a performance group. As it is the nature of most evolving organizations, members eventually decide that the group should become more organized. They decide that Leigh Ann Kinghorn will serve as TAG’s first president, and Leilani Langhoff will serve as its first vice president.

 

Old Archival Footage Of An Acting Scene Of Eric Nemoto & Leigh Ann Kinghorn In The SSS Room