Filming the Story of the Storyteller: Filmmaker Keith Nealy and “Kindy Sproat: A Gift of the Heart”
By Hadley Calatano
Keith Nealy will start any conversation off with a good story. With more than 30 years of experience in the art of filmmaking and production, Nealy has become a living library of narratives. Gathering personal anecdotes, tales and legends, the local documentary film-maker has turned his focus toward using his cinematic skills to help, guide and change the way people view Hawai‘i and the world.
“I’ve been in this business since I was 13 years old,” said Nealy, who at one time was creative director for one of the largest multimedia corporations in the world and now operates Keith Nealy Productions LLC (KNP), based in Kohala. “Now, with my own projects, I can generate ideas that resonate with me because I have a desire to make a difference and use the power of filmmaking to create change.”
So it happened one day, about five years ago, during a routine visit with long-time friend Clyde “Kindy” Halema‘uma‘u Sproat that Nealy found his chance to tell the story of arguably one of the greatest Hawaiian storytellers of all time.
The local director/producer struck up a kindred relationship with the late Kindy Sproat, known internationally as the “Ambassador of Aloha,” roughly 12 years ago when Nealy, his wife and children returned to settle in Hawai‘i. (He had lived on O’ahu for a time 30 years ago.) Sproat, renowned for his mastery of the art of song and story, had touched the lives of many with his infectious spirit and graceful presence as he transported listeners to ancient Hawai’i through his repertoire of more than 600 songs.
“I was over at his house one day and we were talking story and I started hearing stories I hadn’t heard before,” said Nealy in relating how his current documentary film, Kindy Sproat: A Gift to the Heart got its start. “I had my equipment in the car and I asked would he mind if I shot some footage. Due to the level of respect and trust we had already established and my reputation of working with the Hawaiian community, he said yes. I didn’t know how long I’d get but he was having so much fun that we talked story for about three to four hours.”
Nealy felt he was in the presence of a living encyclopedia, a man whose memory held a vast knowledge of life in Old Hawai‘i—information that was quickly vanishing.
What started as a lengthy monologue planted the seed for a documentary inspiration—the Kindy Sproat story and the collective narration of ancient Hawaiian life.
Passing down descriptions heard from his grandparents, Sproat told of the history of Kohala more than 100 years ago, when his grandparents were cape makers and canoe builders for the ali‘i. He spoke of the plantation era, when sugar replaced royalty, bringing with it an influx of immigrants from across the globe, enriching the diverse makeup of Hawai‘i’s ethnic tapestry.
Slipping between song and tale, Sproat’s shared ballads painted a picture of the developing mountain region of the north during the paniolo days, describing Hawaiian cowboy heritage. The tales continued with recollections of the musician’s own childhood growing up in Honokane ‘Iki, the remote third valley beyond Pololu—accessible only by mule train—and his Hawaiian mother and father, a descendant of an original Mexican paniolo.
Nealy realized he had captured living proof of a true Hawaiian legend and the heritage he held.
“It is the mission of this film to capture the heart of the legacy carried by Kindy Sproat and carry it forward for the benefit of generations to come and to honor a very humble man in his twilight years, whose infectious aloha, touching stories, colorful music and gentle humor express the best of another era,” Nealy explained. “Kindy is one of Hawai‘i’s Living Treasures and is revered by all who knew him, but most have never experienced the intimate side—on his front porch, spinning tales of days gone by, laughing and singing about waterfalls jumping off the cliffs. I know they will resonate, instilling a sense of continuity and oneness. He also inspires newcomers to connect with the land and culture of a people who lived in harmony and balance with the land and each other, a template of how life can be.”
Creating a bond between cultures and celebrating the human spirit drive the premise of the movie, but worked into the fabric of the film’s sub-themes is the focus on the unity of the Kohala ‘ohana and establishing a sustainable model for existence.
“When a kupuna dies [it’s as if an] entire library is lost,” Nealy said, explaining that in his sunset years Sproat understood the significance of this legacy and agreed to let Nealy share his story in the form of a documentary. “He understood the wisdom he held and we are deeply honored to have his and his wife Cheri’s blessing to carry his story to the people of Hawai’i.”
Since Sproat’s passing in December of 2008, Nealy has taken his documentary process to the community to gather what he refers to as Kohala’s mana. He is interviewing numerous kupuna, friends, musicians and those touched by Sproat’s life. He plans to interweave all the stories together to create a film that tells the story of a man and the impact he had locally and globally.
“The way I work on this type of film is I let all the recorded material speak to me. I sit with it and listen… and it tells me what it wants to be… where it wants to go. I learned many years ago to trust the process and stay out of the way,” he said.
As with his previous culturally sensitive films, Nealy is working with two friends, Kaniela “Danny” Akaka and Kumu Raylene Kawaiae‘a. On A Gift to the Heart, the pair share their mana‘o and making sure that everything in the film is pono.
The documentary film, under the financial umbrella of the North Kohala Community Resource Center, is currently in the production stage. When completed, the film will be self-distributed to film festivals and will be shown on public television stations and cable channels. The film is being shot on a state-of-the-art RED Digital Cinema camera that produces movies with the same look as 35 mm film at a third-less the cost.
Keith Nealy has worked extensively worldwide writing, directing and producing films, television and theatrical productions. His work includes projects for entertainers such as Tony Bennett, The Pointer Sisters, Ellen DeGeneres, the Boston Pops and many others.
While the award-winning director/producer is proud of his international résumé, since moving to Hawai‘i he has focused on seeking out projects that make a difference and his work on-island has been equally impressive. He has completed projects for diverse organizations including The Earl and Doris Bakken Foundation, Na Kalai wa‘a Moku Hawai‘i, the Makali‘i Voyaging Project, North Hawai‘i Community Hospital, Five Mountains Hawai‘i, The Kohala Center and the Kokua ‘Ohana, among others.
In addition to his widespread connections professionally, Nealy, a student of Hawaiian history, has numerous affiliations within the island community. His closest connection formed during filming was when he shaped a friendship with then captain of the Makali‘i, Clayton “Cap” Bertelmann and his younger brother Shorty Bertelmann. The friendship has led to opportunities for Nealy to collaborate with respected community members such as Herb Kane, Chadd Paishon, Pomai Bertelmann and Ku Kahakalau on various culturally informative and educational projects.
Aside from Nealy’s extensive resume of professional experience as a director, producer and cinematographer, it is his kind spirit, genuine interest and ability to make his interviewees feel at ease that has contributed to his success as a filmmaker. As an active member of the Mankind Project, an international organization dedicated to supporting men’s work and creating missions of service, Nealy lives and works by his personal mission: “to create a sustainable future with insight, courage and leadership, inspiring others by blending light, shadow with love.”
Due to the economic hard times, many grants and sources of funding have diminished. If you are interested in giving a donation to Kindy Sproat: A Gift to the Heart, please visit www.keithnealy.com or www.northkohala.org/donate. ❖
Email Hadley Catalano at hadleycatalano@hotmail.com.
Photos courtesy of Keith Nealy
