‘Soul surfer’ preview

Hawaii audiences will get a special preview of the new movie about Kauai surfer Bethany Hamilton’s inspirational story, "Soul Surfer," at the Hawaii International Film Festival’s Spring Film Showcase. The movie, starring Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt, will be shown at the showcase April 3, ahead of its April 8 national release. The time has not been set, but the film will be shown at Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Cinemas.

STYLE FILE

RSVP by today for ‘Sacs’ fundraiser show

Today is the last day to RSVP for the "Sacs in the City" event taking place in the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tapa Ballroom, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The event, themed "Rodeo Drive in Paradise," is highlighted by a silent auction of luxury handbags and a fashion show featuring the Tory Burch Spring 2011 collection.

The event is presented by the Junior League of Honolulu in support of the organization’s community service projects.

Tickets for the luncheon and fashion show are $85. Call 946-6466, e-mail info@juniorleagueofhonolulu.org or visit www.JuniorLeagueofHonolulu.org for more information.

Butik anniversary brings local designers together

The Butik is celebrating its fourth anniversary from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday by bringing in a bunch of designer friends to stage a locals-only designer shop in the courtyard.

Featured will be collections from Matt Bruening, Lovelessizm, Ki’ele, Tiare Hawaii, Florencia Arias, Organik, Mi Cielo, and Maui’s Haute Rock Couture. There will be pupu and cocktails, and the Butik will offer a 20 percent discount throughout the event.

The Butik is across from the McKinley High School field at 1067 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite A-3. Call 593-4484.

Anteprima/Wirebag debuts new collection

Anteprima/Wirebag has launched its Spring/Summer 2011 collection of muted color PVC-wireknit bags at its Ala Moana (983-3886) and Royal Hawaiian Center (924-0808) stores.

In addition to the bags in hues of cream, pale pink, light orange and gray, new sequined bag charm designs, at $114 each, include a U.S. exclusive Hula Girl, plus bear, rabbit and alpaca.

Macy’s offers video content via QR codes in star logos

Macy’s has embraced mobile, introducing its latest Macy’s Backstage Pass campaign via QR codes that deliver video content featuring its celebrity designers and fashion authorities, embedded within Macy’s red-star logo designs.

Tech-savvy shoppers can download a QR code reader to their mobile phones, then simply scan the red star codes wherever they appear in the store to access the videos.

The videos offer tips, trend information and behind-the-scenes looks at collections to help customers learn more about the brands and designs while they shop.

Participating designers include makeup maven Bobbi Brown, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, Greg Norman for Tasso Elba, Rachel Roy and Irena Shabayeva for I.N.C. Videos by Martha Stewart and Madonna for Material Girl are in the works.

Those without mobile phones can find the videos online at www.macys.com/findyourmagic.

PEOPLE

Black Eyed Peas rapper helps Manila

MANILA, Philippines » Black Eyed Peas band member apl.de.ap has launched school projects in his Philippine hometown that aim to increase literacy and develop the musical talents of young Filipinos.

Organizers say the singer opened a library, a computer room and a music room in Sapang Bato National High School and a music library and studio in Holy Angel University yesterday. The rapper, whose real name is Allan Pineda Lindo Jr., attended both schools in northern Angeles city before he was adopted at 14 and moved to the United States.

The singer has been appointed special ambassador to education by the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation, named after two of the Philippines’ democracy icons. The school projects are funded by various charities and business groups.

Franklin sheds weight after health issues

DETROIT, Michigan » Aretha Franklin says she’s lost 85 pounds as part of an ongoing effort to drop weight.

The legendary singer said in a taped interview that aired yesterday on "The Wendy Williams Show" that she’s been trying to shed pounds ever since looking at pictures of herself and deciding she was "entirely too fat."

Williams interviewed Franklin on Friday at a Detroit-area hotel.

The 68-year-old Franklin underwent surgery for an undisclosed ailment in December and didn’t detail it during the interview.

The "Queen of Soul" did say a recurring pain in her side last year was her "first inkling that something was not what it should be."

The second part of the interview is to air today.

Spielberg buys rights to WikiLeaks story

LONDON, England » Hollywood film mogul Steven Spielberg bought the rights to the story of the WikiLeaks saga, the Guardian reported yesterday.

The Guardian was one of the five original media outlets used by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to publicize the tranche of thousands of classified U.S. documents relating to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and diplomatic cables.

A book based on the story of the leaks, and controversial figurehead Assange, has been published by The Guardian, and the rights to the book have now been purchased by Spielberg, the paper reported.

The future movie of the book will be made by DreamWorks, the studio founded by Spielberg and others.

Posthumous props for King in Hungary

BUDAPEST, Hungary » Budapest’s mayor says Elvis Presley will be declared a posthumous honorary citizen of Hungary’s capital and a city landmark will be named after him.

Mayor Istvan Tarlos said yesterday that Elvis will be commemorated because of his support for Hungary in the wake of the anti-Soviet revolution of October 1956.

On the city’s website, visitors can pick one of 12 locations to be renamed after Elvis, including street crossings, a small square and a site at the foot of Margaret Bridge, which spans the Danube River.

On Jan. 6, 1957, during his last appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Elvis sang a gospel standard, "Peace in Valley," which Sullivan said reflected the singer’s preoccupation with Hungarians’ plight after the uprising.