SHOW BIZ
The Rock gives 'Rundown' on monkey scene
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
ROCK 'N' ROLE: Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, called back after our interview last week and proceeded to share more anecdotes about his latest movie. He's on a high, now that "The Rundown" is off and running in theaters. Playing the role of Beck in the comedy-adventure, a monkey climbs on him (you read that right). In the face. While hanging upside down. And speaking with a paralyzed tongue. "I got along very well with the monkey," he said of that scene. "But I think the monkey liked it more than I did. Finding myself in the vulnerable position — with monkey in my face — is why they pay me beaucoup bucks," he said, laughing. "I did it in one take; the monkey, I think, needed three."
The Rock was in New York and had planned to sneak into a theater showing "The Rundown," as he often does when his flicks are shown. "The (official sneak previews) are great, but it's more fun when you watch your movie with real people. You sit back, you watch the audience watching you, and it's surreal; a lot of times, the jokes you think are going to hit strong — the home runs — aren't funny. You learn." ...
So, what does he like to be called, Dwayne or The Rock? "A lot of people call me Rock; my family calls me Dwayne."...
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STAR WATCH: George Lucas and his family raved about the food and service when they dined last week at Sergio's at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Rainbow Bazaar, much to the delight of g.m. Risa Apeles, who had guaranteed their privacy with a great table overlooking the Hilton Lagoon. ...
Over at Nick's Fishmarket, v.p. and man-working-the-floor Ben Dowling was at the bar when he glimpsed a familiar movie face, but had difficulty placing. He had just seen Robert DeNiro's "City by the Sea," and recalled this guy's presence there, but it finally came to him that it was William Forsythe, who carved a lasting image as Flattop in one of Dowling's favorite films, "Dick Tracy." Forsythe, here on vacation, loved Nick's so much, he came back a second night. ...
And that was crooner Wayne Newton shuttling from Kona to Honolulu on a Hawaiian Airlines flight the other day. ...
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ITEMIZATIONS: Frannie Kirk, Outrigger Hotels' entertainment director, is just back from a Las Vegas trek, and it was like old home week there. Ran into Brickwood Galuteria and Frank B. Shaner, KINE cut-ups, who were there for a ho'olaule'a show, and they shared their limo ride with Kirk to her downtown hotel. Kirk also bumped into Danny Kaleikini, Melveen Leed, The Makaha Sons; visited with Tony and Karen Ruivivar, who've bought a place in Sin City since the Society of Seven have been extended at the Aladdin Hotel; and managed a round of golf with SOSers Gary Bautista and Bert Sagum. "I also ran into Johnson Enos," Kirk said of the Maui-based singer and composer. "He just wrote a song with Danny Gans, which Danny will use in a show" ...
By the way, the aforementioned Society of Seven will do two shows, at 4 and 7 p.m. Oct. 12, at The Grove of Anaheim. Gerald Ishibashi and Stonebridge LLC are promoting the gigs; call (714) 639-1007. ...
Ed Cassidy, former editor and publisher of Honolulu Magazine and now marketing chief of the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, was in town briefly to retrieve family heirlooms after his stepmother Edith's death. In addition to packing furniture, he squeezed in dinners at Ruth's Chris Steak House and 3660 on the Rise, and trekked to Waikiki to check out the new Honu Center. Even played tourist, with a drive to the Polynesian Cultural Center. ...
And that's Show Biz. ...
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
