Honolulu is proving to be as versatile an actor as any of its stars of ABC's "Lost."

On Wednesday, Nu'uanu Avenue near Merchant Street played Buffalo, N.Y., in the winter, aided by a snow machine and some convincingly shivering extras. The scene will air laster this season.

In its first two seasons, the show has done much to highlight the diversity and versatility of O'ahu locations, from lush North Shore forests to seedy downtown bars to Aloha Stadium and the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Keep an eye out for venerable Murphy's Bar & Grill and O'Toole's Irish Pub in the background of an episode later this season.

DOG VS. VIOLENCE

Duane "Dog" Chapman, star of A&E's "Dog the Bounty Hunter," and his soon-to-be wife Beth Smith are taking time off from press tours and wedding planning to lend a hand at next week's Race Against Violence.

Chapman and Smith will present awards to the top finishers of the 5K race in Manoa. Kirk Matthews of KHON will emcee the event; Hawai'i circuit judge and marathon runner Steve Alm also will be on hand.

Now in its 10th year, the race, which is sponsored by the Faerber's Flyers running group, raises funds for the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse.

The race is on April 2, starting at 7 a.m. at the Manoa Valley Recreation Center.

Entry forms are available at most running outlets. Cost is $20 until race day ($17 per runner in a group of six or more, $16 with no finisher's shirt) or $25 on race day.

THREE PENNYBACKER OPERA

Local filmmaker Robert Pennybacker has been a busy, busy guy lately, and the fruits of his labor were on display Wednesday night at a private screening of his three new films, "Dreams of a Pagan Tattooed Savage," "Jazz & the Creative Act" and "Suite for 2." A public screening is scheduled for April 5, at 8 p.m., in the Punahou School chapel. Admission is free.

"Dreams of a Pagan Tattooed Savage," written and co-directed by Lopaka Kapanui, is billed as a surreal take on racial stereotyping and Native Hawaiian self-identity. Pennybacker produced and co-directed the piece.

The Honolulu Jazz Quartet (Adam Baron, Dan Del Negro, John Kolivas and Tim Tsukiyama), painter Lauren Okano and dancer/choreographer Pam Sandridge are featured in "Jazz & the Creative Act," which celebrates improvisation in jazz, free-form painting and dance.

Pennybacker wrote, produced and directed "Suite for 2," a "visual poem" about the ins and outs of intimacy. The film stars Kapanui and Donalyn Dela Cruz.

CALL FOR SHORT FILMS

The 2006 'Ohina Short Film Showcase is accepting entries through June 2. The festival will be held Aug. 4 and 5 at the Doris Duke Theatre.

Entries must be 30 minutes or less; film shorts of under 10 minutes are strongly encouraged. Entry fee is $10.

For more information, call the 'Ohina Hotline at 428-0100.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.