Coinciding with the 100th year of filmmaking in Hawaii, authors Ed Rampell and Luis I. Reyes will release "The Hawaii Movie and Television Book" (Mutual Publishing) on Nov. 25.
The 198-page softcover volume is packed with facts and photos from films and TV projects that have aimed their cameras here. It’s a companion book to the authors’ "Made in Paradise: Hollywood’s Films of Hawaii and the South Pacific," which documented island filmmaking through 1995.
Simply, it’s a trusty resource for movie buffs, with repolished vintage photos and an array of movie posters assembled in a gallery of easy-to-read recaps of each project.
Chapters include "Island Crimefighters": Charlie Chan, the original "Hawaii Five-0" with Jack Lord and the Alex O’Loughlin reboot. The Hollywood biggies are represented, too: George Clooney‘s "The Descendants," and "Hunger Games: Catching Fire," due to be released next month. "Jurassic Park," "Tropic Thunder," "Pirates of the Caribbean" — they’re all here.
I had a peek at the book; its trove of early images from "Waikiki Wedding," "Bird of Paradise" and "The Shark God" are particularly precious and nostalgic, in color or black and white. Of course, Elvis Presley in "Blue Hawaii" is a notable entry.
Mutual is offering a pre-publication price of $20 ($25.95 retail); go to www. mutualpublishing.com. …
SHE’S EVERYWHERE: Under the radar for a few months, singer-actress Loretta Ables Sayre now is visible and showing her versatility in a range of community events, TV, film and live on stage.
You might have seen her as Jorge Garcia‘s mother in Friday’s "Hawaii Five-0" on CBS. She joins the motherhood boon on the island-filmed show, in what could evolve as a recurring role. Garcia played a conspiracy expert investigating issues linked to a secret Hawaiian society. Ables Sayre figured in his story since the character lives with his mom. Prominent mothers on "Five-0"already include Christine Lahti as Doris McGarrett, and Melanie Griffith soon will be seen as the mom of Danno Williams (Scott Caan).
Ables Sayre earlier filmed "Dress," a project of Henry Ian Cusick (a "Five-0" guest star this season and a "Lost" actor along with Garcia and Daniel Dae Kim). The 19-minute film, part of this year’s Hawaii International Film Festival, screens at 12:30 p.m. today at Dole Cannery and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Koko Marina.
She’ll be busy in a dress rehearsal tonight at Diamond Head Theatre for Monday’s ‘Ilima Awards hoopla that includes a minishow and food fare from winning restaurants. …
SHUTDOWN DILEMMA: Trust Frank De Lima and his parody-writing lyricist Patrick Downes to come up with a musical lament of the government shutdown. De Lima always is the weather vane when there’s a crisis that affects us all.
This one pokes fun at Congress’ inability to resolve the shutdown, sung to the Mexican classic "Cielito Lindo," complete with mariachi effects and trademark pidgin tirade:
"Congress no can come up with da plan to keep da government open," De Lima sings. "Ai ai yai yai!" You can hear it in its entirety and download it with a donation to De Lima’s Student Enrichment Fund at his website, www.frankdelima. com. …
GAME TIME: That was Russ Francis, the all-world tight end formerly of the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers, taking on a new role: honorary ringmaster for the Modern American Circus Show last weekend in Kakaako. Francis took in the circus with his son and has been here to work on the launch of the AFL China (arena football league) all-star game Nov. 2 at Blaisdell Arena before heading to Beijing. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
