WHO IS MAYOR DEREK KAWAKAMI
BRADLEY PRATT Director, Editor, and Videographer
“Who is Mayor Derek Kawakami” was the capstone project of my internship with the County of Kauaʻi Mayor’s Office, bringing together years of filming into one cohesive story. Edited in just one week during my final days home over winter break of 2024, the feature wove together footage spanning daily mayoral activities, community events, and even emergency response moments such as the Kaumakani fires of 2023. The project featured Mayor Kawakami, the Lieutenant Governor, the Mayor’s Office staff, and members of his family, offering a deeper look not only into his career but also his lineage, upbringing in the grocery business, and personal philosophy. I pitched the idea to the communications team, conducted the interview with the mayor, and completed the production from start to finish. For me, the video was both a professional milestone and a personal closing chapter with the incredible team I had worked alongside for years.
CLIent:
COUNTY OF KAUAʻI
TIMELINE:
MULTIPLE YEARS
PURPOSE
The video was created to tell the story of Mayor Kawakami in a way that connected his leadership, vision, and personality to the community he serves. It also served as a reflection of my journey with the Mayor’s Office team, bringing together the skills I had developed through years of collaboration.
PRODUCT
A 7-minute feature video introducing Mayor Derek Kawakami, combining interview storytelling, archival footage I had captured over the years, and a polished narrative edit.
PROCESS
During my winter break from the University of Colorado Boulder, I returned to the County of Kauaʻi Mayor’s Office to take on a culminating project. I storyboarded and pitched the concept to the Mayor’s communications team, then conducted a full interview with Mayor Derek Kawakami to serve as the narrative anchor. Filming took place across multiple years of my time with the office, while editing was completed in one week during my final days home for break. The entire project was written, shot, and edited by me.
