‘Lost’ fans have plenty of options

Fans gearing up for next week's release of the "Lost: The Complete Third Season" DVD set can get a quick fix online at ABC.com with "Lost: Missing Pieces." Two new shorts have appeared since I last mentioned this feature, and they are both worth watching. In the first, there's an interesting scene between Harold Perrineau (Michael ... still around despite having disappeared from the island) and Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliet), where we learn why she agreed to stay on the island with Ben. In another, titled "King of the Castle," Matthew Fox (Jack) and Michael Emerson (Ben) play a literal and metaphorical chess game. Jack questions whether Ben will honor his promise to allow Jack to leave the island on the submarine.

"If the island doesn't want you to leave, it won't let you," Ben says before adding quietly, "If you do leave this place, the day may come when you want to return." Jack shakes his head confidently: "Never." Given the flash-forward we saw in the season finale, we know better. And in the end, guess who wins the chess game?

If you don't want to watch the DVDs, surf the shorts on the Net or gaze at your collection of action figures, there's always the new "Lost" game for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in which you play a castaway from Oceanic Flight 815. "Rather than go the usual route of playing the characters of the show, we introduced a new character with his own mysterious past," according to a Wizard Magazine interview with Ubisoft script writer Kevin Shortt. Creators received show scripts in advance, so they were able to structure the game according to the story arc into season four (well, what's already been written, of course).

Emme Tomimbang has a new Christmas special which will air at 9 p.m. next Thursday and at 4 p.m. on Dec. 23, on KHON2. "Emme's Christmas Island Moments at the Halekulani" is an hour-long show shot on the beach and in the swank Lewers Lounge. Guests include Lewers Lounge regulars Bruce Hamada and Jim Howard. Azure McCall will sing her trademark R&B with accompaniment from Tennyson Stephens. "American Idol" star Jasmine Trias also will appear with several Society of Seven vocalists. Additional holiday musical selections come from Jimmy Borges, Melveen Leed, Pauline Wilson and the City of Refuge Choir.

Pacific Islanders in Communications recently awarded more than $60,000 to Pacific island filmmakers. Recipients were selected from those who submitted proposals -- including a sample video, compelling story line and a reasonable budget -- to PIC's Media Fund Open Call. Independent producers, cultural experts and academics judged each one. T Lulani Arquette, who is making "Pa Kui A Holo -- Kauai's Warriors," about an ancient Hawaiian martial art, received a $10,000 grant for research and development. Producer Karin Williams won $50,000 for the completion of her documentary, "Women on Waves," about a group of native Hawaiian surfers. For information about future funding opportunities, visit www.piccom.org or call 591-0059.

"Screen Time" is an occasional feature in the Today section. E-mail knichols@starbulletin.com.