Donalyn Dela Cruz will host an in-studio discussion with five Hawaii filmmakers on PBS at 8:30 p.m. today. “;PBS Hawaii Presents: Filmmakers' Forum”; allows each director to present a project completed through the Pacific Islanders in Communications Short Film Initiative.

Dorothy Mane screens “;A Legacy,”; about a Samoan woman struggling with her family's history of abuse; Daniel Boulos's “;Ipo Lei Manu”; is an animated rendition of Queen Kapiolani's song; Lopaka Kapanui presents “;Dreams of a Pagan Tattooed Savage,”; which focuses on Hawaiian self-identity; Vincent Lucero's “;Holomua”; explores the conflict between Hawaiian land rights and development; and Leah Kihara screens “;i scream, floats & Sundays,”; described as a “;visual meditation inspired by Hawaiian women.”;

“;'Filmmakers' Forum' will give Hawaii audiences the chance to see important works of art about our island culture, and at the same time learn about the artists behind the films,”; Robert Pennybacker, vice president of creative services for PBS Hawaii, said in a statement.

PIC executive director Ruth Bolan noted how few venues exist for short films and independent projects, and commended PBS for providing a platform through this series ...

It seems that veteran television, movie and stage actor Don Stroud's most recent charitable efforts in the community have included St. Francis School. At the school's prom earlier this month—themed “;The Golden Age of Hollywood”;—he handed faux Oscars to the king and queen; later in the month, the Kaimuki graduate spoke with a St. Francis humanities class about his long and varied career. Stroud has enjoyed some impressive company on the big screen, including Robert DeNiro, Henry Fonda, Shelley Winters, Doris Day, Tony Curtis and Clint Eastwood. He's also appeared in 175 network television shows and many stage productions.

No doubt the students were attentive. When they asked about his most challenging scene, he described (sort of) his love scene with Miss Brazil on “;Two To Tango.”; The director suggested she drink a glass of wine to help her overcome her nervousness. She drank the bottle, and “;this fantastic-looking woman came out ready to go,”; said Stroud, who admitted that her newfound enthusiasm unsettled him.

A former paddler and pro surfer who was ranked fourth in the world in 1960, Stroud began his film career doubling for Troy Donahue in the water around 1962. “;I brought that to Hollywood and had no fear,”; he said. From that point on, he worked steadily for 35 years before retiring, calling himself “;extremely fortunate ...”;

A letter from producer and Academy of Creative Media president Chris Lee notes that Kevyn Fong's “;Beauty Brawl”; was accepted into the 20th annual Hawaii Gay and Lesbian Film Festival over Memorial Day weekend. The comedic short about a beauty salon rivalry is the result of a grant from ACM, and features all local actors.

In addition, films from ACM graduate Tommy Chock and Mililani High School graduate Andrew Kerekes were selected for the Los Angeles Visual Communications Asian Pacific Film and Video Festival, also in May. Kerekes made “;Leon”; for a mere $200, and has won some awards on the mainland with the project completed on a bare bones budget, a topic he's lecturing about at ACM.