A round of light entertainment news, all upbeat.

• Seventeen young filmmakers from Maui's Hisako Film Lab saw their short films play on the big screen at the Regal Maui Mall, right before showings of the new Spider-Man movie.
• The students had just eight weeks to make the films, which premiered alongside "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" at sold-out theaters.
• The film lab was started by Maui native Daniel Cretton, who directed the new Spider-Man, to teach movie-industry skills to local kids.
• The Backstreet Boys are returning to the Sphere in Las Vegas for New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and January 2nd, with pre-sale on August 18th and general sale August 21st.
• Mattel is releasing a Whitney Houston Barbie in a purple tank dress with heels and beaded earrings, a nod to her "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" video.

Outlook: Backstreet Boys tickets go on sale later this month, and the Whitney Houston doll will hit stores soon.