Music, Style & Culture

Interview: The Descendants Author Kaui Hart Hemmings

The writer reveals how involved she was on the George Clooney-starring adaptation.

The Descendants hits UK cinemas 27th January, after wowing us at last year's London Film Festival.

Sideways and About Schmidt director Alexander Payne returns with his beautiful adaptation of Kaui Hart Hemmings' touching novel. A touching and funny family drama, it features a never-better George Clooney as Matt King, a jaded lawyer living on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. When his wife ends up in a coma following a boating accident, he is forced to reconnect with his two daughters, teenager Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) and Scottie (Amara Miller), facing some uncomfortable home truths. Meanwhile, as the sole trustee of 25,000 acres of untouched Hawaiian land, he must decide the fate of his ancestors' legacy.

With The Descendants garnering plenty of awards, it's set to bag both Payne and Clooney Oscar nominations this month. We got Hawaiian author Hemmings on the phone for a chat about her involvement on the production.

Her first novel, Hemmings had the joy of producer Jim Burke optioning The Descendants just before it was published. During our chat, Hemmings reveals how she worked closely with Payne, suggested Clooney for the lead, and even got a cameo as his character's secretary.

As an author, did you have any worries when the book got optioned?
I had absolutely no worries. I honestly don't understand the worry - the book is always going to be there, it can't be destroyed in any way. An adaptation is only going to add a different layer to it. In my case, I was fortunately paired up with Alexander Payne, so that was the best pairing I could hope for.

What was your reaction when Alex told you he wanted to direct?
My reaction was purely positive. I was so thrilled - if I could've picked one director in the world, it would've been him, and I got him! And if I could pick one actor to play Matt King it would've been George Clooney, and we got him! Everything has just been lined up fantastically.

I believe Alexander spent a lot of time in Hawaii preparing the film?
Yeah, he spent a lot of time soaking up life here, and he did a good job of keeping his eyes and ears and mind open. You can see the results on the screen. Especially for people who are from here, who continue to praise his and the producers' attention to detail.


[Hemmings pictured with Payne at the Hawaii International Film Festival]

Apart from being a moving drama, the film is very much about what it means to be Hawaiian. Was important to you that that aspect remain in the film?
It was important to me in the book. The land we're from is inextricable from our lives. I wasn't concerned that he would overlook that, as setting is pretty big to him as well. That was part of the draw of the story to him. I think he managed that - both the plot and the family, and the land, and what it means to be Hawaiian and a descendant. He managed it wonderfully.

Did you get approval on Alexander's script before shooting started?
I got together with Alexander on many occasions and looked over his draft and added notes when I could, just to service his version. I've always liked it from the very start - when he got his hands on it, he was gracious enough to take my advice. It was mainly telling him, 'oh, people wouldn't say things like that'. More about terminology, and I added some lines of dialogue I thought were funny. Just helping him get Hawaii right, but I have to say, he didn't need my help that much! I always see him as a great director, and I forget what a wonderful writer he is too. I was a fan, and now I'm a bigger fan!

Were you in the loop with casting?
I knew about George Clooney right away as Alexander asked me who I envisioned as Matt King - I said George, and lo and behold, there he was! Alexander let me watch audition tapes, so all these roles played by Matthew Lillard, Judy Greer, Shailene Woodley - I got to see all their auditions, which was a blast! Then I got to see auditions from other actors who are quite famous who didn't make it. That was entertaining - my husband and I would have dinner and a glass of wine, then watch these auditions, which was great!

It must be quite unusual for an author to be so involved.
It's so unusual. I think I've been incredibly spoiled, and I'll probably find myself in the future thinking, 'Hey! Where are my audition tapes? Why aren't I on set?' They let me do so much, even suggesting people for background roles - I handpicked the cousins. Even location scouting, and being in the movie! I play George's secretary, and I have one line. I want to do it more!

What is George like on set?
He's terrific fun, makes everybody laugh, and just brings a great energy into a room. When it's time for him to perform and work, he's on it; he's the last person to leave the party and he's the first person to show up for work. He's very dedicated and good at what he does, but there's a joy about it.

What do you think about the young cast?
I hope Shailene gets a lot of credit for this role, she did so well. This is all knew to them, which is probably why I felt so at ease as well. Everyone was sort of new - it was Shai's first film, it was Nick's first film [Krause, who plays Sid], it was Amara's first acting job ever. They worked really well together, and they really embraced Hawaii. That was important, as they were playing characters that were born and raised here, and I think because they really enjoyed this place, that was really credible on screen. It was about a three month shoot, and they worked really hard, but when it was time to play, they played hard. They surfed, went hiking, had parties, did karaoke. It was a special time for everybody, and I think they found a home here in Hawaii. It's something they'll return to.



The book and film opens with Matt saying how everyone thinks you live in paradise because you live in Hawaii. Did you want to dispel misconceptions with that?
Hawaii is different to every person. For this book I just wanted to create a character that was disenchanted by beauty and paradise. Hawaii is beautiful! It is paradise! But I don't think it's news to anybody that we have pain and problems. I definitely wanted to showcase the beauty in the book, but also showcase real life.

The message about land issues and heritage is very poignant in the book. Can you tell me about your own heritage?
I'm fifth generation - my ancestors were missionaries, my dad is part native Hawaiian. So I have a similar lineage to Matt King, except that I'm not a land baron and I'm not a descendant of Hawaiian royalty! I have witnessed land being held through generations, and heavy decisions about how to use the land, and whether or not to sell it. It's a unique situation to Hawaii that I wanted to put into the book, so I could talk about these issues. But to incorporate them into the plot as well.

Why did you decide to write a story from a father's point of view?
It was fun for me, and it was a challenge. I don't like to write about myself. I like to write about worlds I'm familiar with, but not from my point of view. It was easiest for me to write from his point of view, because I could step outside myself. Even though we share certain sensibilities, and tones, and I relate to Matt King.

Do you ever think about the possibility of a film adaptation when you're writing?
Not when I'm actually writing. I see things visually, and I sort of write in a way that I guess you could say is cinematic, which a lot of dialogue and a direct plot that could be translated into screen. I don't think about it until afterwards. I very much saw it as being capable of being a story that could work well on film.

What's next for you?
I'm working on a novel and a script, both set in Colorado. I'm slogging away. I hadn't [considered scriptwriting before the film] I took a stab at it, and I'm really enjoying it, and I didn't think I would. It's such a different form, and I really like it. It's set in a ski resort town.

Watch the trailer for The Descendants below.