Going Viral at the Reed Space HNL Shoot

by Loraine Ho, Creative Director


On July 3rd, tourists lounging near the Ilikai Hotel lagoon were treated to a surreal sight. The crew and talent behind the upcoming Reed Space HNL stop-motion video rushed across the sand, meticulously placing objects around the beach, pausing, shifting, and holding still for the each new frame. These long hours in the sun would culminate in a July 14th online video release to promote the designer book and clothing store, Reed Space.

The Reed Space NYC store is known for its idiosyncratic use of white chairs. Rows of these chairs are nailed to the walls of the store, serving at the shelving for artwork and literature. This emblematic chair became the focus of the Honolulu promotion video, directed by UH graduate student Henry Mochida.

Mochida is the mastermind behind the new Reed Space NYC stop-motion video, which he hopes will go viral after its online release July 14th. “I focus on using media for social change,” said Mochida about his work as a Media Planner for Interisland Terminal, curating multimedia creative work from Hawai‘i, Los Angeles, and New York. Mochida is also working on his PhD in urban planning through the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Henry Mochida

Model Fernando Moctezuma struck a pose in front of the postcard-perfect ocean view in a constraining white Speedo. “It’s my pleasure to serve the people,” he joked, as tourists gawked on. Moctezuma is a sophomore, taking liberal arts courses at Honolulu Community College. He found out about the Reed Space HNL informally through a friend. This was his first shoot.

Micah Mizumoto photographs Fernando Moctezuma

This type of organic, word-of-mouth organization seemed to be a trend at the shoot. Extra Virginia Luka, who is researching Palauan history at Southern Oregon University, learned about the shoot through a chance encounter with screenplay writer Felicita Garrido at a tattoo shop in Guam. Garrido, who has worked with director Mochida before, centers her creative efforts on films and scripts that deal with Hawaiian issues.

“I focus on real life experiences that touch people,” explained Garrido. “The indigenous voice needs to become louder. What is at stake is planet Earth.” Like her creative work, her own lifestyle is steeped in Hawaiian culture—Garrido lives on a 6-acre taro patch called Nā Mea Kūpono. She led the crew and talent in a Hawaiian blessing prayer before she provided everyone with refreshments.

Other colleagues of Mochida played integral roles. Director of Photography Micah Mizumoto knelt along the beach for hours, strategically placing the stop-motion elements. Mizumoto took a UHM Pacific New Media workshop from Mochida over a year ago. Academy for Creative Media graduate Charli Toratani also assisted, and was in charge of an emergency prop mission, to buy Moctezuma’s white speedo.

Robbie Omura aided Mochida in taping down each photograph seen in the video. “I like to work with Henry. I trust him with my life,” said Omura. Omura graduated about a year ago from UH Mānoa, and is now working as a freelance editor.

The Reed Space HNL “pop up bookstore” exhibition will premiere at Waikiki Parc Hotel on July 28th at 7pm. The display will be a little slice of the original store, featuring designer clothing and publications. The products will be arranged on Reed Space’s stark white chairs.

You can take a look at their wares at http://thereedspace.com and learn about upcoming Interisland Terminal events at http://www.interislandterminal.com/