Screen Time Katherine Nichols

Pitchford stays true to his school

OSCAR, Grammy and Golden Globe winner Dean Pitchford ("Footloose," "Fame") left Hawaii yesterday after spending a week signing his new book for young readers, teaching a well-attended seminar at UH's Academy for Creative Media and catching up with old friends.

On Tuesday, "The Big One-Oh" sold out during his meet-greet-sign session at Bestsellers downtown. "I got to leave early!" he said.

Though he enjoyed almost no free time while in his hometown, the Los Angeles-based Pitchford said, "I've been having a ball." He managed to squeeze in meals at Saint Louis School classmate Russell Siu's two restaurants -- 3660 On the Rise and Kakaako Kitchen -- and even sign a few old yearbooks.

Interestingly, when Pitchford graduated from Saint Louis, a printers strike was in effect. So members of the class of 1968 did not get their yearbooks before graduation. About a dozen people who attended Pitchford's book signings brought their Saint Louis yearbooks for him to autograph. "I signed them just like we were leaving for summer vacation," said Pitchford, "as if 38 years had not happened!"

AS "Maui Fever" winds up its first season, MTV will kick off a new reality series beginning in April. Once again, it has ties to Hawaii. "Taquita and Kaui" features two girls who met on the MTV series "Making the Band 3," as they move to Las Vegas to pursue a career in music (after not making the band on MTV). Taquita, from Detroit, and Kaui, from Hawaii, move through the requisite parade of humbling jobs as they clamor for stardom, including clown school, magician assistants and background dancers. Let's hope local critics don't go crazy if Kaui doesn't represent Hawaii perfectly. Remember, it's entertainment. And it's MTV.

FEMALE FILMMAKERS take note: Hawaii Student Television will award $500 to the top female student video in the Hawaii Student Film Festival. The new addition -- courtesy of Big Island independent filmmaker Carmen Stevens -- brings the total cash awards up to $2,500. The Honolulu Rotary Club is sponsoring $1,000 for the best video on a "peace" theme, and another $1,000 from Hawaii Student Television will go to the overall winner. Students from all schools and grade levels, including college, are eligible. After-school programs and other youth organizations also can participate. The deadline is April 1. Visit hawaiistudentfilmfestival. org.

KAMEHAMEHA Schools will partner with KGMB television for a live broadcast of the 87th annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest at the Neal Blaisdell Arena on March 23. The television show is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. Live simulcasts can be heard on KUMU 94.7 and KMKK 102.3.

The contest will honor the music of Mary Kawena Pukui. For the first time, Kamehameha Schools will offer a DVD and digital downloads of the competition, with proceeds going to Ke Alii Pauahi Foundation. Visit www.ksbe.edu for details.