"Jason Momoa"

What It Covers

Jason Momoa discusses creating Chief of War, a Hawaiian historical drama in native language, his near-drowning experience that ended his smoking addiction, directing multi-unit productions, and his son landing a role in Dune alongside him.

Key Questions Answered

• •Career transition strategy: Momoa shifted from pure acting to writing, directing, and producing over twelve years to gain creative control and be judged on his complete choices rather than just performance, building Pride of Gypsies production company with actor friends who all learned to shoot, edit, and produce collaboratively.
• •Language preservation through media: Chief of War presents seventeen-nineties Hawaiian unification entirely in Olelo Hawaii with subtitles, representing the first major production showcasing Hawaiian ancestors and culture at this scale, uniting Polynesian communities including Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Tahitian, and Maori contributors to tell authentic indigenous stories.
• •Multi-unit directing technique: During the Chief of War finale battle sequence on lava fields, Momoa simultaneously directed four to five units, shooting the entire fight in reverse chronological order starting at 4AM to capture consistent lighting across sunset into blue hour, coordinating 300-plus extras on treacherous terrain.
• •Addiction breaking through trauma: After nearly drowning while paddle-boarding seven miles offshore in ten-foot waves at a spot called Shitfucks, Momoa immediately quit his two-to-three pack daily cigarette habit without ability to stop previously for family, using the life-death experience as permanent motivation.
• •Building production infrastructure: Momoa establishes studio facilities between New Zealand and Hawaii to control shooting locations, prioritize quality of life, and leverage tax incentives while keeping productions in places he wants to live, shooting Minecraft, Chief of War, and Wrecking Crew in these locations with plans for continued franchise work.