From DIY Movies to the Big Screen: Max McManus Comes Home to Be Reel

Some kids grow up dreaming about becoming astronauts. Others dream about becoming rock stars, athletes, or actors. For Maui filmmaker Max McManus, the dream started with a borrowed iPad, homemade stop-motion videos, and an imagination too big to sit still.

Long before film school, movie sets, or festival screenings, Max was just a local kid from Upcountry Maui trying to figure out how stories worked. He filmed skits with friends, created fake movie trailers, experimented endlessly in iMovie, and slowly discovered that filmmaking wasn’t just something he enjoyed — it was something that made him feel alive.

Now, only a few years after graduating from Seabury Hall, Max is returning home with Moon Marooned, an ambitious sci-fi short film selected for this year’s Be Reel Child & Youth Film Festival.

Raised between Pukalani and Olinda, Max’s childhood was deeply rooted in Maui’s creative community. He participated in Maui OnStage productions, immersed himself in Seabury Hall’s performing arts department, attended punk shows at Request Music, took classes through MAPA, and spent summers sailing through programs at Lahaina Yacht Club and the Maui Community Sailing Foundation.

That blend of creativity, performance, and community would eventually shape the way he approached storytelling.

“At the time I was just having fun and trying to be funny,” Max said while reflecting on those early films. “I didn’t know any terminology or theory behind what I was doing, but because I had grown up watching films, I had an understanding of how they were put together.”

What began as childhood experimentation eventually turned into serious pursuit. After graduating from Seabury Hall in 2024 with the Paul Wood Performing Arts Award, Max enrolled in the Vancouver Film School’s intensive Film Production program, graduating in 2025.

The experience pushed him quickly into the professional film world. Shortly after graduation, he landed work on the reboot of Fear Factor filming in Canada. But even while working on larger productions, Max never lost sight of the kind of storytelling that first inspired him.

That passion is woven throughout Moon Marooned.

The film follows a young astronaut stranded on the moon after discovering his oxygen supply is dangerously low. But underneath the science fiction adventure is a much more personal story about isolation, fear, and learning how to reach out for help.

Max served as both producer and post-production supervisor for the project, balancing the artistic vision of the film with the logistical realities of bringing it to life.

And bringing it to life was no small task.

When production plans suddenly changed, the crew lost the ability to build the massive lunar backdrop they originally envisioned. Instead of scaling back the project, the team adapted. They stitched together giant sections of fabric, painted them by hand, and transformed them into the moonlit world audiences will see on screen.

Even more impressive, nearly everything in the film was created practically — without relying on CGI.

“We went as far as creating miniatures to ensure that everything you see on screen looks coherent with the rest of the film,” Max explained.

For Max, being part of the Be Reel Film Festival means more than simply screening a movie. It represents the future of filmmaking on Maui and the importance of creating opportunities for young storytellers to feel seen, supported, and inspired.

“I want Hawaii to have a vibrant film scene one day,” Max shared. “Being part of this festival makes me incredibly hopeful for the future.”

That spirit is exactly what makes Be Reel so special.

Taking place Memorial Day weekend from May 22–25, the festival celebrates films about kids, for kids, and by kids — showcasing creativity, imagination, resilience, and storytelling from emerging filmmakers across Hawaii and beyond. From powerful documentaries and heartfelt shorts to animation and experimental films, Be Reel is quickly becoming one of Maui’s most exciting new creative events.

Tickets are now on sale, and community members are encouraged to purchase early as several screenings are expected to fill quickly. To view the full festival schedule and purchase tickets, visit the Be Reel Film Festival Home page.