Entertainment

Hawai’i most likely has more talented unarguably great musician/singers than anyplace on Earth – - – some magical confluence of the Planets, the water, the power of the  ancient Gods who brought these Islands forth from the Sea – - – any number of theories can be advanced, any number of scientific dissertations discussed the final result remains the same this is one Heck of a place for music.

There is a true tower of talented singers/musicians and when they combine their talents the voltage goes off the scale.  There are many Hawai’i’an artists scaling the heights of greatness and then there are those that are simply stratospheric such a pairing is known by two letters: C & K.

Way back in February 1973 friends introduced Native-American-Hispanic Cecilio Rodriguez to truly local Hawai’i’an Harry Kapono and the result has been decades of incredible music.  Each has had a stellar solo career, both men are among the hardest working musician/singers on Earth, neither of them content to kick back and coast on their past laurels, each eagerly embracing the future continuing to generate vital music well into the end of the decade of the double zeros of a new century.  When they get back together it is a time to rejoice.  Now into its third year the C & K Back in the Day Concert on the Great Lawn of the Hilton Hawai’i’an Village has become a Labor Day Weekend treat, a tradition one hopes will continue for decades to be.

This is a two day event and truly an event not merely a concert, a perfect Pau Hanna Friday event repeated on Saturday: September 3^rd, 4^th 2010.  Here is the complete schedule courtesy of the C & K website: “Doors & VIP Pre-Party 6:00PM.  Opening Music 6:30PM.  Show Starts 7:00PM.  Fans doing C&K 7:30p.  Cecilio & Kapono 8:00p.

Fantastic Fire Works Show each night!” And ticket Info “$35 Reserved Seating. $45 Preferred Seating.  VIP & Super VIP Packages Available while they last!  Honolulu Box Office Log on: www.HonoluluBoxOffice.com ; Call: 808 550-8457 (11AM-6PM Tues thru Sat) In Person: 680 Iwilei Road Suite 100 Dole Cannery * Service Fees may apply”

Get Labor Day Weekend off to a terrific start with what will be one of the best concerts on O’ahu – - – soar to the heights with C & K.

One of the most acclaimed shows in history failed to make much of an impression with the Emmy voters this year. Even though it was nominated in a dozen categories, the show could only secure 1 prize by the time all was said and done. Losts’ sole win was for outstanding single-camera picture editing for a drama series, and that was announced last week.

Many of the show’s most recognizable faces were nominated in acting categories, and the show was also nominated for best drama. It was shut-out in all of those categories. While the Emmy’s usually tend to give the award to the same people every year, you would be hard pressed to find a performance from an actor better than what Terry O’Quinn and Mathew Fox put forth this past year. Be that as it may, the voters though otherwise.

Michael Emerson was also nominated, as was Elizabeth Mitchell. Don’t feel too bad for Lost though, as it did manage to win 10 Emmys during its six-season run, including Best Drama Series in 2005.

With Pirates of the Caribbean now gone, Hawaii has already locked in its next big budget Hollywood movie. The new film “Battleship” will begin filming on Oahu August 31st.

The movie is an adaptation of the classic Hasbro board game and is being helmed by Peter Berg. Don’t know that name off the top of your head? You will very soon. Peter Berg directed the movie “Hancock” starring Will Smith. While Berg does not have much more experience in the action adventure genre, Universal apparently trusts him enough to allow him to film this big budget adventure. Starting numbers put the production cost of the movie at $200 million, but insiders say the number is closer to $250 million and counting.

Many insiders are questioning this move by Universal, as the movie does not carry any big-name stars in it, and it is not a sequel of any kind. Universal is counting on the fact that audiences will want to see a big-budget popcorn movie based on one of the most beloved board games of all time.

Battleship will star Taylor Kitsch – who is best known for Friday Night Lights, as well as playing Gambit in X-Men Wolverine, along with Rihanna – who will be making her motion picture debut.

While many skeptics are saying this is going to fail, I believe differently. The two main reasons critics are citing failure is the movie has no big names, and it is being filmed in water. The latter usually being an automatic death sentence for a movie. Even the new Pirates movies is filmed almost entirely on land, save for a few scenes.

I keep three things in mind.

1. Battleship will spend millions of dollars in Hawaii, all which will stay in our economy.
2. The last time Hollywood said an over-budgeted movie on the water would fail miserably they were dead wrong. See Titanic.
3. Movies today don’t rely on star power quite as much. If I remember correct there was a little movie called Transformers filmed that at the time had no star power behind it.

Whatever happens it should be fun. Filming begins on August 31^st off the coast of Maui. The movie will film throughout Oahu. I will be bringing updates on set location, star location and casting opportunities. Stay tuned.

If you are interested in being an extra on the new remake of Hawaii Five-O your opportunity is right around the corner. On August 28^th (next Saturday) CBS will hold an open casting call for extras to be on the show and fill the streets.

The casting call will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Don’t worry about your sex, age or race. The show is looking to cast people of all ages, races and backgrounds for upcoming shoots. Many of these roles will also be speaking parts.

If possible, bring a headshot photograph and a resume but plan to be photographed. If you don’t have any of these things just go down there with some sort of id. Remember, you will be photographed either way. You don’t need a film or TV background to get cast. If they like your look, you will be cast.

“We need them to keep the show authentic,” said Rachel Sutton (Hawaii Five-O casting director. “We definitely want to present Hawaii in the most realistic way and the reality of Hawaii is all of these different looks of people.”

Now is your chance to have some fun on a television set, as well as maybe meet some of the actors. Good luck!

Hawaii Five-O premieres with a sneak preview Sept. 13 at Sunset on the Beach at Waikiki. The network premiere will be Sept. 20.

Souvenirs and props from one of the most imaginative shows ever created will be auctioned off to the highest bidder this Saturday and Sunday – August 21^st and 22^nd, starting at 10AM Hawaii Time.

There will be almost everything imaginable from LOST that was used in the show’s six seasons on the air. From little trinkets like Dharma labeled memorabilia, to big items like the baby-blue VW Dharma vans, Locke’s coffin, wreckage of the Oceanic Flight 815, weathered costumes, battered luggage and much more. If you want a piece of LOST history, then this is definitely the place to be.  Check out this official LOST Auction PDF for everything that will be there.
The LOST collection – which is currently stored in a Kalihi Warehouse and a California hangar, is expected to make more than $1 million. These are the numbers estimated by Joseph Maddalena, president of Profiles in History, which is handling the auction. Bidders from 32 countries have registered to participate.

If you think you won’t have a chance at anything, think again. There’s a mountain of memorabilia for sale, and the Kalihi warehouse is packed with great items of every size and from every season. There are nearly 200 boxes, including 66 cardboard containers of costumes. The man hired to oversee the collection for the auction house was quoted as saying “the whole collection is a bit overwhelming.”

Although the auction will take place in Santa Monica, it will be broadcast in a live feed to a room at the Sheraton Waikiki where Hawaii fans can make their bids, Maddalena said. The event is free to attend. If you are a LOST fan, or want to try your hand at grabbing some memorabilia, then don’t miss your one opportunity to do so.

HOW TO BID

A live broadcast of a “Lost” prop auction from Santa Monica, Calif., will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and next Sunday at the Sheraton Waikiki. To register as a bidder, visit www.profilesinhistory.com.

GOOD LUCK!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides wraps its location filming on Oahu this Friday the 13^th.  With filming throughout the week taking place in a large warehouse near Honolulu International Airport where some mega sets have been built, this is what will be the last scenes filmed in the islands. It is also your last chance to try and meet the movie’s star, Johnny Depp.

The production spent about two weeks shooting off Windward Oahu primarily Heeia Pier and in Kaneohe Bay. This followed the month that they spent filing on Kauai. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is even here to oversee the last few days of filming in the islands.

From here the production will head to Europe – presumably London, to finish filming and be wrapped by the end of August. Disney and Jerry Bruckheimers‘ production companies will have spent about $100 million in Hawaii including the four-week shoot on Kauai. This is the main reason I am a huge advocate for Hollywood productions in the islands. All of that money stays with the Hawaii economy. It is a total win for the islands.

Hundreds of you fans have been out to Kaneohe Bay to meet Depp, your best shot now is to go to the airport warehouse area – if you can find it. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will be in theaters next summer. May 20^th, 2011 to be exact.

When you have a really nice sandbox all the kids in the neighborhood want to play in it hence the on going stream of World class Jazz artists dropping in to lend their talents to the already talented artists who regularly play at The Dragon Upstairs in the Arts District Honolulu.

Sharmila Guha (http://www.sharmilaguha.com/) possesses one of the most beautiful and versatile voices in Jazz, singing in English, Latin, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Bengali, and Hindi moving easily from classical to pop to Jazz., her 2008 release If Music Be the Food of Love, featuring guitarist Larry Koonse, and bassist Kevin Axt, provides proof of her incredible talent.

On Saturday August 14^th 2010 Sharmila Guha joins the equally impressive trio of pianist Satomi Yarizmo, bassist Jon Hawes and drummer Shinya Yarizmo, performing from 9PM to Midnight in the delightful confines of The Dragon Upstairs.  $10 gets you in the door.

Word around town is that local funnyman Augie T. has been cast for an episode or two of the upcoming Hawaii Five-O remake for CBS. Augie T is one of Hawaii’s most loved personalities and adds even more local push to a show in which most of Hawaii is fully aware of.

Augie T. was on the radio saying the show’s producers contacted him and that they had a great part that they thought he would be perfect for. He was not automatically cast, Augie T. did have to go in and read for the part, but apparently the producers loved what they saw because they cast him for the part on the spot.

The part Augie T. landed is still a mystery, but it is rumored that he will be playing a “friend” of one of the main characters in the show. Filming on the show resumes in a couple of days, and that is when Augie T. will be filming his part.

The number of episodes he will appear in is still up in the air, but you can look for him beginning with the third episode of the new season. Hawaii Five-O debuts in early September on CBS.

The powers that be behind the new Hawaii Five-O show on CBS promise a series with deep characters, subplots wrapped in mysteries and a mythology that builds on the show’s origins. At least this is what they said when they sat down to a question and answer panel at this years wildly popular Comic Con expo.

The show-creating trio were part of a panel discussion before 2,000 people at last weekend’s Comic-Con 2010 that CBS posted online. Actors Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park also were on the panel. “We’ll have these great case stories every week, but we also will have these great character stories, which are ‘B’ stories,” Lenkov said in the video. “And the ‘C’ story is a runner that will unfold this great mystery that really comes to this great end. So if you are watching this show week to week, there is going to be a great payoff. If you are tuning in every now and then, it is just going to be a great show, a great hour of television.”

The new version of Hawaii Five-O is a much-anticipated remake of the original. The fans of the original are starting to hit a fever pitch waiting for the premiere of the CBS remake. Expectations are high, and they should be because the original was a huge success, and there are many people who think this will be a big success as well.

Gregory House Programs provide housing and support services for those persons living with HIV/AIDS and though their compassion & understanding has earned them respect & admiration neither will pay the daily expenses thus they hold several fundraisers throughout the year each of them offering fun & fellowship for a wonderfully diverse group of people.

Gather at Pipeline Café Sunday August 8^th 2010 from 5PM to 11;30 PM for an evening of live entertainment, a Polynesian revue, a silent auction, light raffles and heavy pupu.  A truly stellar array of entertainers will be part of the fun: the always electrifying Amy Hanaiali’i, Kimie A Mner, Halau Na Momo O Pu’Uanahulu, Tiare Ura O Tahiti, and other surprises throughout the event.

Glamsquad Hawai’i and The Imperial Court of Hawai’i present Grateful Hearts Give Hope for a modest $20 in advance or $25 at the door: tickets available via their facebook page or call Marc via 486-GLAM, or Savannah 375-5098, or Kaleo 937- 4009.

Do not pass up this opportunity for a night of art, fashion, dance, music & fun while helping to raise funds for Gregory House Programs on Sunday August 8^th 2010.