RENT DUE: Kevin McCollum, the successful Broadway theater producer with Island origins, is an executive producer of the forthcoming "Rent" film, which reunites most of the stars of the still-running stage hit. The film, premiering Nov. 23, has a great Web site —www.sonypictures.com — where you can see and hear a terrific "Seasons of Love" clip that has been playing in theaters. ...

SHORTS OF SORTS: Paul Ogata, the stand-up comic, has been away from his morning drive mike at 102.7 Da Bomb, but was scheduled to return to the airwaves this morning. He was off to Hong Kong to visit Disneyland there, and he wonders out loud about some of the on-site characters: Winnie-the-Pooh Manchu? Peter Pan-da? He noticed that The Eagles' concerts in Hong Kong were commanding hefty prices (like here) — up to $2,750 in Hong Kong dollars, which is about $350 U.S. ...

At his Hyatt Regency Waikiki gig recently, singer Alfredo Romero had a nice surprise — visits from his oldtime rock 'n' roll buddies Joe Barile of Shango and The Ventures, plus Tony Valentino of The Standells. They sat in with him and the group ventured to join the Shirley Walker Trio at Coconut Willy's ... Comedian Kaleo Pilanca really has been picking up steam. Brother Noland has invited him on a series of "Lessons of Aloha" engagements; Pilanca also has emerged as Da Ada Braddah on Da Braddahs' OC 16 TV show, and he's aligned to be part of the Krack Up Kanaks, a comedy combine that includes Elroy, Mo Dixon, Big Steve, Jode B, and the Hawaiian Guy From Moloka'i. Further, he'll be among the stand-ups on Andy Bumatai's upcoming DVD. ...

personalities: Bill Wynne, who's from New Jersey, is a self-taught falsetto singer who learned the technique by listening to Hula Records artists. He topped the entrants in the recent 11th annual Aloha Festivals Falsetto Contest, rendering Bill Lincoln's "Kawaihae Hula." Besides the grand prize, he earns a recording contract with — ta da! — Hula Records. ...

And Ni'ihau native Ronnie Ka'ohelauli'i won the Kaua'i Aloha Festivals Falsetto Competition, performing "Ua Piha Mau 'Oe Me Kealoha." ...

Charles Recaido, Grammy-winning ki ho'alu artist, has been offering songwriting and recording sessions for the Waimea community on the Big Island, using the Waimea Middle School's state-of-the-art recording studios. Sessions already have started, but for details, call Waimea school site coordinator Patti Cook at (808) 887-7636. Recaido recently taught a "School of Rock" series for area students and wound up autographing one student's 'ukulele.

Hawai'i-reared chef Rodelio Aglibot (formerly of E&O Trading Co. and Koi, now with Yi Cuisine in Los Angeles) was invited by the University of Hawai'i College of Tropical Agriculture for a culinary event recently at Waikoloa on the Big Island. With him: Brooke Lee, former Miss Universe. ...

FINALLY: Aaron Loo, a one-time Palama resident, launched a song he wrote, "Sunday Morning in Palama," to pay homage to the former community of his 'ohana. His late uncle was politician Frank Loo; his grandparents used to run a grocery store (long gone) on Palama Street near Tamashiro Market. Loo debuted the song at a St. Elizabeth Church service recently and also visited his former school, Pearl City Highlands Elementary School, and also attended a Waipahu High Class of 1973 reunion picnic at Magic Island. ...

Jodi Leong, Johnson Enos and Allan Lau were spotted at Manoa Valley Theatre's "Footloose." ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.