Tommy Takemoto-Chock

Born and raised in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, Thomas ventured into filmmaking at a young age, producing numerous narrative films and documentaries throughout middle and high school. Thomas honed his filmmaking skills at the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii where he produced and directed short films that have screened at international film festivals. His short film Rain won Best Hawaiian Short Film at the Big Island Film Festival and was in competition at the Shanghai International Film Festival. In addition to narrative films, Thomas has been recognized for his commercial ventures, winning a business plan competition for his production company HDology and a commercial production award for his Scion Hawaii Ad. Since his acceptance into the American Film Institute in 2010, Thomas has directed four short films and received the Petrie scholarship award. His years of experience in both the creative and logistical aspects of filmmaking will be heavily exercised in his final year at AFI. His thesis film will explore new and unique ways to entertain, engage, and enlighten through cinema. His goal is to share deeply personal stories with relevant social messages to the widest possible audience.