Blair Treu is an award-winning director whose work includes a variety of feature films, television shows, documentaries, and commercials for over 30 years—from The Power Rangers to Chicken Soup for the Soul. The writer and director of Sharing Aloha and Meet the Mormons, he graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre and began his career at the Walt Disney Company. More recently, Blair worked with BYUtv to create the series Real Families, Real Answers, and was a co-director of Granite Flats.

Links

Get movie tickets and details at sharingalohathemovie.com

Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community

Highlights

The film Sharing Aloha, directed by Blair Treu, highlights the inspiring stories of students at the Polynesian Cultural Center and their transformative experiences. Blair shares how he became involved with the project, and discusses the unique challenges of capturing the students’ stories, emphasizing their resilience and strong family ties. The film aims to showcase the students’ journeys, illustrating how the PCC provides them with opportunities for education and personal growth.

Throughout the conversation, Blair reflects on leadership principles learned from working with the students and the PCC staff. He highlights the importance of appreciation and compassion in leadership, drawing parallels to church leadership.

00:01:52 – Introducing Sharing Aloha

Introduction to the film “Sharing Aloha” and its connection to the Polynesian Cultural Center.

00:03:44 – The Genesis of Sharing Aloha

Blair Treu discusses how the project came to be and the inspiration behind it.

00:04:55 – The Abundance of Stories

The challenge of selecting which stories to tell from the many available.

00:06:47 – Blair Treu’s Background

Blair shares his experience and previous projects in film and media.

00:08:44 – The Polynesian Cultural Center

Discussion about the PCC and its significance in the film.

00:10:43 – Focus on Student Stories

The decision to center the film on the students’ experiences rather than the PCC’s history.

00:12:14 – Insights on the YSA Demographic

What Blair learned about the Young Single Adult demographic through the film.

00:13:37 – Cultural Connections

The importance of family and community in Polynesian culture.

00:16:42 – The Film’s Format

Comparison of “Sharing Aloha” to “Meet the Mormons” in terms of storytelling.

00:18:18 – Funding and Support

Details on how the film was funded and its relationship with the PCC.

00:20:38 – Addressing Criticism

Discussion on the misconceptions and criticisms surrounding the PCC.

00:22:39 – The Value of Work

The benefits students receive from working at the PCC compared to other jobs.

00:24:36 – Leadership in Performance

Insights into how the PCC manages its performances and trains students.

00:30:14 – Leadership Lessons from Film Production

Blair shares leadership principles learned from directing the film.

00:35:16 – The Importance of Appreciation

The significance of recognizing and valuing team members in leadership.

00:38:53 – Final Thoughts on the Film

Encouragement to support the film and its impact on the PCC.

00:40:41 – Personal Growth Through the Project

How working on “Sharing Aloha” has strengthened Blair’s faith and understanding of community.

The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes.

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