Edgy Lee (born 1957) is an independent

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

-born

filmmaker Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, castin ...

. She has also produced

Shanachie Records Shanachie Records is an American, New Jersey-based record label, founded in 1975 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. The label is named for the Gaelic word ''seanchaí'' (anglicised as shanachie), an Irish storyteller. It was previously distribu ...

artists as varied as

Joe Higgs Joseph Benjamin Higgs (3 June 1940 – 18 December 1999) was a reggae musician from Jamaica. In the late 1950s and 1960s he was part of the duo Higgs and Wilson together with Roy Wilson. He was a popular artist in Jamaica for four decades and is ...

The Wailers ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

, and

the 14th Dalai Lama The 14th Dalai Lama (spiritual name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, known as Tenzin Gyatso (Tibetan: བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་, Wylie: ''bsTan-'dzin rgya-mtsho''); né Lhamo Thondup), known as ...

. Her early career included on-camera work as a model, in TV commercials, series, and films including ''

The Last Married Couple in America ''The Last Married Couple in America'' is a 1980 comedy film released in the US. It was directed by Gilbert Cates, whose most successful film ''Oh, God! Book II'', was released in the same year. The film starred George Segal and Natalie Wood a ...

'' and ''

Magnum Force ''Magnum Force'' is a 1973 American neo-noir vigilante action thriller film and the second to feature Clint Eastwood as maverick cop Harry Callahan after the 1971 film ''Dirty Harry''. Ted Post, who had previously worked with Eastwood on '' Ra ...

'', as co-host of the popular children's series ''Bill Cosby's Picture Pages'', and more. Lee's music credits include co-compositions with

Wayne Shorter Wayne Shorter (born August 25, 1933) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of, and eventually primary composer for, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In the 1960s, he joined Miles Davi ...

(CBS Records, "Atlantis"), film composer Joseph Vitarelli (Fox Network, other); and with composer Robert Wehrman. In 1999, Lee produced a CD for the Office of

Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa people, ...

– a compilation of the Dalai Lama's symposia in Hawaii, with rare traditional Tibetan music performed by artists living in exile around the world, Hawaiian chants, and remarks by the late Reverend Abraham Akaka and

kumu hula Hula () is a Hawaiian dance form accompanied by chant (oli) or song (mele). It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Native Hawaiians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual ...

John Lake. Lee's films include ''Papakolea – Story of Hawaiian Land'' (Academy Award winning cinematographer, Haskell Wexler; Emmy winning writer/producer, Saul Landau); ''Paniolo O Hawai'i – Cowboys of the Far West''; ''Waikiki – In the Wake of Dreams''; and ''The Hawaiians – Reflecting Spirit'', among others. These documentary films were made in the hope of bringing a deeper awareness of the Hawaiian culture to a national public whose image of Native Hawaiians may have been shaped by

stereotype In social psychology, a stereotype is a generalized belief about a particular category of people. It is an expectation that people might have about every person of a particular group. The type of expectation can vary; it can be, for example ...

s. ''Waikiki – In the Wake of Dreams'' contains an original production of the Hawaiian classic "Waikiki", performed and arranged by Grammy winners

Take 6 Take 6 is an American a cappella gospel music, gospel sextet formed in 1980 on the campus of Oakwood University, Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. The group integrates jazz with spiritual and inspirational lyrics. Take 6 has received seve ...

. Warner Bros. Records released a companion soundtrack CD to the film ''Paniolo O Hawaii'', produced by former Warner Bros. Records President

Jim Ed Norman Jim Ed Norman is an American musician, multi-platinum record producer, arranger and label-head. As an arranger and producer, he was one of the principal architects of the distinctive sound of West Coast 1970s pop and country rock. He was Preside ...

with Hawaiian kumu and performer, Nani Lim, and a

Public Radio International Public Radio International (PRI) was an American public radio organization. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, PRI provided programming to over 850 public radio stations in the United States. PRI was one of the main providers of programm ...

one-hour program incorporated excerpts and music from the film. ''Waikiki'' premiered at the

National Geographic Society The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world. Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and ...

and received the 2002 New York International Independent Film Festival awards for Best Cinematography and Best Editing. Its Hawaii premiere was held on Kuhio Beach, the first open air public screening of a film in Waikiki, which initiated the City and County of Honolulu's successful tourism event that now attracts thousands to Waikiki every month to the "Sunset on the Beach" film screening event. At the

Chicago International Film Festival The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964 by Michael Kutza, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. Its logo is a stark, black and white close up of the comp ...

it received an Intercom Gold Plaque. Other Lee films have premiered at the Smithsonian Institution, City Museum and

Hirshhorn Museum The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is an art museum beside the National Mall, in Washington, D.C., the United States. The museum was initially endowed during the 1960s with the permanent art collection of Joseph H. Hirshhorn. It was des ...

Washington DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, the

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco – Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture"About"
Asian Art Museum website. ...

, the

Heard Museum The Heard Museum is a private, not-for-profit museum in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, dedicated to the advancement of American Indian art. It presents the stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective, as well as exhibitio ...

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

, the

Autry National Center The Autry Museum of the American West is a museum in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to exploring an inclusive history of the American West. Founded in 1988, the museum presents a wide range of exhibitions and public programs, including le ...

and the Museum of Natural History in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, at other U.S. museums and small theatres, and at special film screenings and events held on

Waikiki Beach Waikiki (; haw, Waikīkī; ; also known as Waikiki Beach) is a neighborhood of Honolulu on the south shore of the island of Oahu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Waikiki is most famous for Waikiki Beach, which is one of six beaches in the district ...

and New York's waterfront. In 2005 Lee's film, ''The Hawaiians – Reflecting Spirit'' (title sponsor,

Office of Hawaiian Affairs The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is a self-governing corporate body of the State of Hawaii created by the 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention. Background In 1893, pro-American elements in Hawaii overthrew the monarchy and formed the ...

) opened festivities at the Smithsonian's

Museum of the American Indian The National Museum of the American Indian–New York, the George Gustav Heye Center, is a branch of the National Museum of the American Indian at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House in Manhattan, New York City. The museum is part of the Smi ...

in Washington, D.C. Lee also co-produced and directed '' Life or Meth'' and '' ICE: Hawaii's Crystal Meth Epidemic'', two independently produced films on the

methamphetamine Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. Methamph ...

epidemic An epidemic (from Ancient Greek, Greek ἐπί ''epi'' "upon or above" and δῆμος ''demos'' "people") is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of patients among a given population within an area in a short period of time. Epidemics ...

in Hawaii. Both films were simulcast across the state of Hawaii on eleven TV stations and continue to garner national acclaim. Utilized by several Native American communities where meth addiction is on the rise, these films were the first in-depth documentaries on the subject. In 2005, Lee produced "Unprescribed - Prescription for Addiction", an overview of America's prescription drug epidemic and turn toward heroin use across the U.S. The film intro by former US Attorney General Eric Holder; ONDCP Director Michael Bottecelli, SAMHSA Dir. Dr Nora Volkow, other national experts appear. In 2008 Lee founded PacificNetwork.tv, an Internet network streaming high quality HD video, original films, cultural news, a "Hawaiian - Pacific portal to the world". Pacific Network aka Pure Pacific, is known as an early example of "new media" aligning with traditional media and bridging the gap between competitive media platforms. Pacific Network studios are located in Honolulu and Papeete, Tahiti. Edgy Lee was also the U.S. representative of the Honotua Project, the submarine cable connecting French Polynesia to the U.S. via Hawaii.

Awards and presentations

*2015 Telly Award (Bronze, documentary film, Social issues category) *2014 Waimea Ocean Film Festival *2013 Hawaii State Senate Special Artist’s Recognition Oct 2013 *2013 Paniolo Preservation Society – First Honorary Director for Life, Oct 2013 *2011 TEDx Honolulu, Featured Speaker *2010 Cinema Italiano Hawaii, Judge *2010 National Science Foundation EPSCOR Conference, University of Hawaii - Hilo, Keynote Speaker *2009 Cinema Italiano Hawaii, Judge *2008 Molokai Film Festival, Filmmaker of the Year *2005 Ten Who Made a Difference, Honolulu Star Bulletin *2004 Pacific Business News Leadership Award, Non profit category *2003 Honolulu City Council Award for Outstanding Community Service *2002 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival – Best Cinematography (Jiri Dvorsky) *2002 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival – Best Editing, Documentary Film (Edgy Lee) *2001 Chicago International Film Festival – INTERCOM Gold Plaque *2001 Kahili Award, Literary Category (Edgy Lee / Paul Berry) *2000 Kahili Best of Show Award and Kahili Award for Media Broadcasting *1998 Chicago International Film Festival – INTERCOM Silver Plaque *1998 Chicago International Film Festival – Individual Achievement Award, Writing (Edgy Lee) *1995 National Educational Media Network Silver Award *1994 Corporation for Public Broadcasting – Silver Award (Excellence In TV Programming, Independent) *1993 CINE Golden Eagle Award (''Papakolea – Story of Hawaiian Land''; Edgy Lee, Producer/Director/Writer; Haskell Wexler, Cinematography; Saul Landau, Co-writer)

External links

* http://www.pacificnetwork.tv
Filmworks Pacific websiteNative Hawaiian Channel ''PacificNetwork.TV''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Edgy Punahou School alumni American documentary filmmakers People from Hawaii Living people 1957 births Date of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people)