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Reel News Tim Ryan |
Tight security
encases ‘Rings’The advance screening last week of "The Return of the King" at the Dole multiplex had the most security of any film ever shown in Hawaii. Six uniformed guards greeted visitors, who were required to empty pockets, open cell phones, have purses searched, and then get the once-over with a metal-detecting wand. During the screening, some guards wore night-vision goggles to check the packed house for anyone using a digital video camera or recording device to copy the film. ...
Sean Astin, as the hobbit Sam Gamgee in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, engages in one of the screen's all-time struggles with the spider Shelob when "The Return of the King" hits theaters today. Astin will also be in Honolulu next month for the Hawaii premiere of "50 First Dates," in which he co-stars with Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. ...
Jerry Seinfeld, who performs at the Waikiki Shell on Saturday night, will write, produce and star in an animated comedy for DreamWorks Pictures called "Bee Movie," set in an anthropomorphized world of bees. ...
The recent two-hour finale of "Average Joe" on NBC, which saw contestant Melana Scantlia eventually choose a hunk over a regular guy, averaged an 8.8 rating/21 share with adults 18 to 49 and 17.44 million viewers overall, according to Nielsen. NBC looks to strike while the iron is hot with its "Average Joe: Hawaii" show debuting Jan. 5. Several episodes have already been taped on the Big Island. ...
Variety's VLife section this week features a multipage spread on Maui as one of the four prime areas where filmmakers and celebs prefer to spend the holidays, calling Wailea "Waileawood," where "half the faces by (hotel) pools are buried in manuscripts." It lists a number of activities including the Rivers to the Sea surf school run by Kiva and Tide Rivers, sons of Maui Film Festival Director Barry Rivers. The pair took Adrien Brody for lessons. ...
The New Zealand film "Whale Rider," which made its Hawaii debut at June's Maui Film Festival, took top honors in nine categories at the recent New Zealand Film Awards, including best film, director and screenwriter, while the young lead Keisha Castle-Hughes won top actress honors. "Whale Rider" cost about $4 million and has grossed more than $40 million worldwide. It's the kind of film the producers and writers of the "George Helm Story" hope to emulate.
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Contact Tim Ryan at tryan@starbulletin.com.