Casting is underway for a student-made film inspired by the Island birth of Barack Obama.

Students in the University of Hawaii-Manoa's Academy for Creative Media program are making the Advanced Production film, "Born In Hawaii." They are currently casting and soliciting donations from the community.

"Born In Hawaii" is a fictional story based loosely on the nurses who worked at Kapiolani Medical Center when Barack Obama was born.

The protagonist is a middle-aged and over-worked Japanese nurse named Iolana. Iolana is grappling with the upcoming anniversary of Pearl Harbor — an event for which she still feels the subtle tinge of prejudice against people of her ethnicity. When she finds out that she is being passed over for a promotion as head nurse of the medical staff, she contemplates quitting, until she decides to help a fellow nurse with one more pregnancy – that of Barack Obama.

The film asks: Can Iolana believe that this young African-American baby will have a flourishing life in Hawaii?

Casting is underway for the following roles:

Barack Obama - African-American baby (newborn).

Iolana – Japanese female (40s)

Donna Cummings – Caucasian female, blonde (late 20s–early 30s)

Dr. White - Caucasian male (50s–60s)

Mary Ann – African American female (40s–50s)

Ann Dunham – Caucasian female, brunette (late teens – early 20s)

Young pregnant female - any ethnicity (20s)

Radio jockey – Local male (50s)

Radio Guest – Local male (40s)

Casting will be conducted at Crawford Hall, Room 105 at the UH-Manoa campus, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday March 7 and Sunday, March 8.

For appointments, contact BorninHawaiiMovie@gmail.com. Resume and headshot recommended.

The film's producer is Pablo Paz. Director is Paulo Kobayashi. Co-Producer: Wayde Toyama.