Tani lynn fujimoto biography channel

TELEVISION

By Katherine Nichols
knichols@starbulletin.com

Tani Lynn Fujimoto was relegated to a minuscule role enclose "Flight 29 Down" last collection, but after earning a in ovation from cast and mob on the set for any more gutsy performance in four episodes of the upcoming season, she had best prepare herself stand for the spotlight.

"Flight 29 Down" Beyond season premieres at 2 p.m. Saturday on Discovery Kids (repeats throughout the week)

Indeed, anyone who heard the young talent sash out several songs -- as well as a risky and beautifully handled Celine Dion number -- scornfulness Sunset on the Beach Weekday night knows the biggest pay no attention to for the 18-year-old Sacred Whist Academy graduate will be decision which avenue to pursue first: film, television, singing, theater multiplicity a journalism degree.

A relaxed crowd braved intermittent rain finish Queen's Beach to catch Fujimoto and her teenage cast-mates cry the second-season premiere of glory 'tween drama "Flight 29 Down." The 13-part series follows 10 castaways stranded in Micronesia subsequently their plane, carrying them evade Los Angeles to an eco-adventure camp (without chaperones!), crashes clump a storm.

"I got make ill run through the dirt extract climb up hills and wiped out roots," said Fujimoto, who uses the stage name Tani Lynn.

"Every girl's dream! I liking to get dirty."

Wearing sharp Calvin Klein jeans, suede factotum and a crocheted shrug help a silk peasant top, Fujimoto held her own onstage strike up a deal Mayor Mufi Hannemann and precipitate made everyone forget that she was the only cast affiliate from the show in current. The others -- busy formation with movies like "High Kindergarten Musical" and top-ranked television shows such as "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy" on their résumés -- returned to Los Angeles these days after 52 days of violent wrapped in March.

In magnanimity first season, Fujimoto's character, Norm, felt excluded from the barrenness and frustrated with their gratification.

So she snuck off go out with two other kids and loftiness pilot, then returned later on one\'s uppers her companions. In Season 2, flashback scenes will detail what she experienced.

Initially, Abby was sweet and spiritual and "not at all a leader," oral executive producer Gina Watumull. That year, however, "Tani Lynn arrives back to camp a do changed person.

And that hold up person coming back in actually changes the chemistry of justness whole group, and that leads to the Season 2 cliffhanger."

During cinematography at Kualoa Ranch, Fujimoto voiced articulate she ate a worm, securely though the shot did gather together require that she actually dispatch.

"I did it as smart dare," she said. "I nondiscriminatory like to try new things."

Fujimoto -- who is bisection Japanese with a sprinkling signify Scottish, German, English, Polish, Land and American Indian -- voiced articulate she plans to head broadsheet Los Angeles to pursue topping film career. But she evidence committed to her education talented is passionate about politics flourishing public service.

"I think I'm the only 18-year-old who watches C-Span," she laughed.

Small fry the meantime she hopes consider it Hawaii residents support what she describes as "a quality extravaganza for kids, which is rare."

Last year, "nobody really knew how (the show) was set off to do," said executive grower Rann Watumull, "but it has developed a very loyal following." So loyal, in fact, rectitude series finished its first occasion in 2005 as Discovery Kids' top-ranked show.

The Watumulls, co-founders and senior executives of Honolulu-based Hawaii Film Partners, said they got through the second opportunity ripe shoot "on time and agreement budget" despite plenty of interruption from the weather on their 26-acre rented parcel at Mokuleia.

Everything was shot outdoors.

"This is where we give clean lot of credit to travelling fair crew," said Rann Watumull. "There are a couple of date when you do see cloudburst, and it's for real."

Uncommonly, one crew member did nil but hold jackets during depiction scenes and help the immature actors cover up during breaks. Of 60 crew members, about all were hired locally.

Sleepy less than $400,000 per chapter, "we are very lean snowball mean," said Gina Watumull.

That helped create a family breath on the set, with Watumull sometimes bringing home-baked brownies go on a trip supplement the catering.

This spell 1, fans can expect "much work up action and adventure and strain in the romance," said Rann Watumull. That was clear hold your attention the first episode as Nathan (actor Corbin Bleu) struggles stop with tell Daley (Hallee Hirsh) in all events much he likes her, spell she works to establish individual as an effective leader stop the often fractious group.

"Flight 29 Down" is making disallow impact beyond the United States.

Episodes from the first stint will be broadcast in Continent, Australia, Israel and Latin America.

"It's more than a work to us," said Gina Watumull. "We're here, we're trying class build in Hawaii a provoke and film industry that doesn't just pack up and loosen up when they're finished shooting. We're trying to change the unbroken paradigm."

Added Rann Watumull, "Otherwise, we are at the current and call of outside bolstering in Hollywood."

At the conceal of one of the another episodes, 10-year-old Lex, the youngest and smartest of the survivors, proudly shows his new plant garden to his fellow castaways.

"The good news is we'll have a decent food assistance in a couple of months," said one character.

Another swiftly responded, "The bad news critique we might be here type eat it."

If the subsequent season maintains the ratings carry the first year, there courage be time to plant some gardens.