Hawai'i-based Circle Three Productions kicks off production of a new reality TV pilot next week.

The yet-unnamed show is being described as "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" meets "Survivor." It will feature eight contestants from around the Islands competing for a prize that will dramatically improve their lives.

In additional to producing original locally based programming, the company aims to support the local industry with a full range of pre- to post-production services. Circle Three, headed by president Cynthia Lockhart, maintains a 7,000-square-foot facility in Halawa, the second-largest production facility in Hawai'i after the state-run studio at Diamond Head.

The new pilot's production team includes field producers Rebecca Taylor and Shannon Vandermark, art director Peggy Jordan and photography director Bill Paris.

Circle Three recently hired Cherie Marquez as a producer. Marquez, who is from Hawai'i, has a wealth of reality TV experience, including work on "Boarding House," "Nanny 911," and MTV's "The Real World" and "Road Rules."

SLUSH FLOAT REVEALED!

The folks at the Food Network have been to Hawai'i enough to know that any discussion of drive-ins has to include Honolulu's venerable Rainbow Drive-In.

A crew from the foodie series "The Secret Life of ..." is scheduled to film a segment at Rainbow's this weekend for an episode on drive-ins.

HOW MUCH FOR THE BEER-CAN HAT?

"Antiques Roadshow" will pass through the Hawai'i Convention Center in August.

PBS' most-watched primetime offering has been going strong for a decade, finding success with a simple premise: Ordinary people bring in what they believe might be valuable antiques for expert evaluation. Some are disappointed, some find they've been letting dust settle on the equivalent of a winning lottery ticket.

Experts from auction houses such as Christie's and Sotheby's will hold court at the convention center on Aug. 26. The event is free to the public, but tickets are required. Each ticket is good for a free verbal evaluation of two items.

The Honolulu segment will air sometime next year.

TAKE THAT, BUDDY HOLLY

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa has never been one to take it easy, not even after a major project like "Memoirs of a Geisha."

Tagawa, who has been drumming up interest from Japanese filmmakers recently, just completed filming a new action film with Gary Busey in Canada. The project reportedly was financed by investors in Kazakhstan.

Closer to home, Tagawa was to address an assembly at Damien Memorial High School yesterday. Damien's middle-school students were amply impressed when the former "Mortal Kombat" and "Johnny Tsunami" star visited the campus last year.

By the way, plans for a second "Johnny Tsunami" film reportedly are in the works.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.