Loaded Gun

The week in quotes from Hollywood in the Hub

2009-07-16T00:01:00.007-04:00

"There are probably things that come through differently now that I'm older and hopefully wiser. I'm just trying to tell the story and be open to the moment."

--Anthony Rapp, returning to the role of Mark during the two-week run of "Rent" at the Colonial Theatre, says he's looking forward to reprise his part as the penniless filmmaker-turned-community builder in the touring show.

“It was one of the most intense experiences of my life. The interesting thing is that you’re working on a team, but nobody on your team wants you there and everybody is out to get everybody else.”

--Andy Husbands, chef/owner of Tremont 647 and Sister Sorel in the South End, says there was a lot of backstabbing while taping the reality show "Hell's Kitchen" slotted to air Fox at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 21. The chef plans to host viewing-party dinners at his restaurant for $49 a pop until his stint on the show is over.

"Matt wanted to do something that focused on his charity, One By One, which helps kids all over the world.”

--Doug Ellin, the executive producer of "Entourage," tells TV Guide Magazine that Matt Damon pokes fun of his do-good reputation during his cameo scheduled to air during the season finale of the HBO show.

"Congratulations, Brendan Fraser! Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?"

--A snarky blogger makes fun of actor Brendan Fraser's on-set beer gut during filming of the made-in-Topsfield family comedy "Furry Vengeance."

“You’ll definitely have a sense of the airport in the film."

--Scott Levine, the publicist for the made-in-Massachusetts flick "Furry Vengeance" starring Brendan Fraser and Brooke Shields, says the scenes shot this week and continuing until Thursday, July 16 at the Beverly Municipal Airport will showcase the location including the Delta taxiway near Bradford Street.

Wahlberg, Bale are main event on 'The Fighter' set

2009-07-15T00:01:00.011-04:00

So, what was the behind-the-scenes buzz today on the set of "The Fighter" during the big boxing scene in Lowell?

According to a Loaded Gun Boston spy who participated in the Be In A Movie crowd shot at the Paul Tsongas Arena located at 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, chatter centered around actors Christian Bale and Dorchester homeboy Mark Wahlberg.

When asked about Bale's stunning weight loss to get in character as Dickie Eklund, "Irish" Micky Ward's then drug-addicted brother and trainer, the source says the photos seen here are no exaggeration. "Everyone on set today was noticing how thin he is," the spy confirms. "I guess that's why actors get the big bucks."

The source adds that Wahlberg, in contrast, also made a dramatic transformation to get into character. "Wahlberg is stacked," he says. "He doesn't have a six-pack ... it's more like an eight-pack."

"The Fighter" tells the story of Boston fighter Ward (Wahlberg) and how he was helped to the world lightweight championship by half-brother Eklund (Bale). Amy Adams is set to step in the ring as a gritty bartender from Massachusetts who ends up dating Wahlberg's character. Adams joins veteran actress Melissa Leo (spotted wearing retro '80s garb today) who is slotted to play Bale and Wahlberg's mother.

Production for the made-in-Massachusetts flick, indicated by yellow "GIX" signs, is slotted for two more days at the Lowell arena until Thursday, July 16.

Click here for the latest on "The Fighter."

--Sign photo by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Screening of documentary behind 'The Fighter' film

2009-07-14T00:01:00.008-04:00

With the first day of production slotted for the Westford Regency hotel on Monday, July 13 and then heading to the Paul Tsongas Arena located at 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Lowell beginning on Tuesday, July 14, Dorchester's Mark Wahlberg is back home to shoot "The Fighter."

Want the story behind the made-in-Massachusetts flick starring the Boston-bred actor as well as Christian Bale and Amy Adams?

Check out Keith Dorrington's 2001 documentary on Lowell boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his half-brother and trainer Dick Ecklund at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16 at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport's Market Square.

"Not Over Till The Count of 10," which was eventually turned into a short film, explores the legacy of the boxing brothers and serves as inspiration for "The Fighter" currently filming in Lowell.

The award-winning "Elegy for the Elswick Envoy" will also be shown. The "one-two punch" screening is a fundraiser for the 2009 Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. Tickets are $15.

Filmmaker Dorrington and partner Leslie Varrelman will participate in a Q&A session following the screening. The night will end with a private reception with complimentary pizza at Not Your Average Joe's at the Firehouse.

Click here for details.

Production heats up on Sandler's 'Grown Ups' set

2009-07-13T00:01:00.006-04:00

Expect some fireworks this week on the set of Adam Sandler's "Grown Ups" flick at Centennial Grove located at 30 Martin St. in Essex.

In fact, a Loaded Gun Boston source says there will be a couple of night's worth of "oohs" and "aahs" in the works for the flick's Fourth of July scene slotted to film at the Chebacco Lake location this week.

As previously reported, crews gave a heads up last month warning of some post-holiday fireworks. The flyer indicates, "Please don't be alarmed if you see them at some point after the actual Fourth of July holiday is over, and be aware that fireworks may continue until late on some nights."

The film "Grown Ups" is a comedy about five high school friends who reunite with their families during the summer at a lake house after 30 years apart and stars Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Tim Meadows, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello and Maya Rudolph.

Also, "Grown Ups" crews are building an elaborate set on the "neck" in Marblehead located at a private residence located at 100 Harbor Avenue. For the next few weeks, set designers will be busy constructing a facade outside of the French-Spanish colonial-style house for a scene scheduled to film on Thursday, Aug. 6 and Friday, Aug. 7. Tents will be set up at Riverhead Beach as well as the parking lot at Marblehead High School.

As previously reported in Loaded Gun, a source says "Grown Ups" will splish-splash its way the second week in August to Water Wizz of Cape Cod, a family-themed fun park located at 3031 Cranberry Hwy. in East Wareham.

Click here for the latest on "Grown Ups."

--Photo by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

Latest on 'The Zookeeper' set at Franklin Park Zoo

2009-07-11T00:01:00.014-04:00

While set designers have spent weeks constructing an elaborate set within the Franklin Park Zoo for the upcoming Kevin James flick "The Zookeeper," popular video blogger Steve Garfield asks here: What's going to happen to all the movie set construction?

According to a Loaded Gun Boston source, filmmakers aren't sure exactly what will stay from the set which is, in essence, a mini zoo within the zoo. But for the most part, the structures are built for filming purposes only.

In other words, all of the cables and movie-set facades will be torn down after filming.

However, the source says that there are still many improvements being made. It will be the restoration that will mainly show the gentrification. Once all the filming is done and the equipment is gone, the zoo will look quite nice.

As previously reported in Loaded Gun, the upcoming made-in-Massachusetts flick "The Zookeeper," starring Kevin James and Rosario Dawson, will film the majority of its scenes at Franklin Park Zoo located at 1 Franklin Park Rd. and the Stone Zoo in Stoneham.

In "The Zookeeper," James plays a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams.

Production crews plan to shell out major money to spruce up the Franklin Park Zoo, with renovations and landscaping slotted to benefit the non-profit zoo for extended period even after the production is done.

James was spotted on Saturday, June 27 at Franklin Park Zoo with a crowd of people surveying the set. Filming is scheduled to kick off on Monday, July 20. Also, RPM Casting is still on the hunt for background extras.

Click here for the latest on "The Zookeeper."

UPDATE: The Globe reports here that the zoo may be in jeopardy as a result of the budget cuts imposed by Gov. Deval Patrick. The article suggests if the funding (cut from $6.5 million to $2.5 million) isn't restored, they'll run out of money by October and have to close their gates, which could be disastrous for the workers and animals at the park.

Casting bikini-clad ring card girls for 'The Fighter'

2009-07-10T00:01:00.005-04:00

Have a killer bikini bod and want to step in the ring with Dorchester homeboy Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale? Boston Casting is on the hunt for women between 20 and 30 years old for the upcoming made-in-Lowell flick "The Fighter."

According to the casting call, actresses wanting to be ring card girls for the boxing scenes "must be comfortable wearing skimpy outfits" and be flexible ... they're talking schedule ... beginning Monday, July 13 for the week-long fight scene shoot. If interested, e-mail photos of yourself in a bathing suit to thefightercasting@gmail.com. Make sure to include your phone number and full name for consideration.

Also, organizers over at Be In A Movie are still looking to fill ring-side seats during a big fight scene scheduled for 10 a.m.-5 p.m. from Tuesday, July 14 until Thursday, July 16. Production is slotted for three days at the Paul Tsongas Arena located at 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

According to the Web site here, anyone 16+ can sign up to throw their hat in the ring and score free grub, entertainment and a chance to win prizes during the day's activities.

"The Fighter," which is scheduled to film in Lowell beginning in next week, tells the story of Boston fighter "Irish" Micky Ward (Wahlberg) and how he was helped to the world lightweight championship by half-brother Dickie Eklund, played by Bale.

Click here for the latest on "The Fighter."

Brooke Shields joins 'Furry Vengeance' in Topsfield

2009-07-09T00:02:00.005-04:00

In her first big-screen role after a 10 year hiatus, actress Brooke Shields has reportedly joined the cast of Brendan Fraser's "Furry Vengeance," a live-action movie about a real estate developer who faces an unlikely group of protesters: a crew of local woodland creatures who don't want their homes disturbed.

In the made-in-Topsfield comedy "Furry Vengeance," Shields is playing Tami Sanders, the wife of Fraser's character. It's her first movie role since the 1999 hip-hop drama "Black and White."

Dick Van Dyke, "The Hangover’s" Ken Jeong and Samantha Bee are all on board as co-stars.

Matt Prokop, an up-and-coming actor from "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," will play a city kid forced to move to rural Oregon with his father, whose efforts to build a housing development there are complicated by the feisty local wildlife. Newcomer Skyler Samuels has joined the cast as Amber, Prokop's romantic interest.

Filming is slotted this weekend at the Beverly Municipal Airport located at 46 L.P. Henderson Rd.

The flick is tentatively slated for a July 2010 release. Click here for the latest on "Furry Vengeance."

The week in quotes from Hollywood in the Hub

2009-07-09T00:01:00.001-04:00

"There are so may layers to these guys, and they're so interesting. So many people can relate to them. There are so many family dynamics."

--Keith Dorrington, filmmaker on the documentary "Not Over Till The Count of 10," says the real-life drama surrounding Lowell boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's career will translate into a powerful feature film. "The Fighter," starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams, is slotted to begin filming next week.

“We are essentially becoming co-producers with the Hollywood moguls."

--Peter D. Enrich, a Northeastern University law professor and former top official in the Dukakis administration, says Massachusetts may need to rethink its tax-incentive program for filmmakers.

“I just wanted a contemporary city that you could imagine Ben and Sarah living in. You’ll like the way you look.’’

--Susie Brooks-Smith, producer of the locally shot thriller "Valediction" with Ben Barnes, Eliza Dushku and Sarah Roemer, spills why she opted to film in Boston over Hungary.

"People respond to people from Boston. (They have) big personalities that are immediately recognizable as Northeasterners. Straight talkers are great; they don't hide what is on their mind. They are great to have in the cast because you don't have to wonder what they are thinking."

--"Real World" casting head Sasha Albert weighs in on why so many Boston-area personalities end up on reality shows.

Ben Affleck casting 'The Town' in Dorchester

2009-07-08T00:01:00.001-04:00

Have a wicked good Boston accent? You're in luck. C.P. Casting is holding an open casting call for Ben Affleck's "The Town" from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday, July 10 at Boston's Teacher's Union Hall located at 180 Mount Vernon St. in Dorchester.

Casting directors are looking for adults of all types--bad guys, neighborhood folks, cops, detectives, wives, girlfriends and mothers. But scouts are specifically looking for locals with Boston accents.

Affleck, who recently wrapped filming the John Wells downsizing drama "The Company Men," is already scouting locations for the Charlestown-based flick "The Town," an adaptation of the blue-collar heist novel "Prince of Thieves" by Chuck Hogan which was written for the big screen by Peter Craig.

As previously reported, Affleck was "walking around the streets in the North End (Hanover, Salem, Cooper, etc), scouting possible shooting sites for his film."

The homegrown talent will write, star and direct in the film following a bizarre love triangle involving a crook, a female bankteller and a FBI agent. The latest is that "Frost/Nixon" actress Rebecca Hall will play the female lead.

Graham King, producer of recently shot "Edge of Darkness" starring Mel Gibson, plans to make a return trip to the Hub with Affleck's "The Town."

Click here the latest on Ben Affleck's "The Town."

Tim Meadows joins Sandler's 'Grown Ups' cast

2009-07-07T00:01:00.002-04:00

Adam Sandler's "Grown Ups," currently filming at Chebacco Lake and Centennial Grove located 30 Martin St. in Essex, has reportedly signed on "Saturday Night Live" alum Tim Meadows as a last-minute addition to the movie's growing party list.

Meadows joins the ultimate made-in-Massachusetts buddy flick and a rogue's gallery of former "SNL" players including Maya Rudolph, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Chris Rock, Norm Macdonald, Tim Herlihy and Colin Quinn.

As previously noted in Loaded Gun, "Grown Ups" is being poised as next summer's first blockbuster comedic flick--with the film's release date moved from March 12 to the more promising Friday, June 25 for its theatrical debut.

"Grown Ups," set in Connecticut during a Fourth of July weekend, is a comedy about five high school friends who reunite with their families during the summer at a lake house after 30 years apart.

Also, RPM Casting is still on the hunt for background extras for "Grown Ups" and the soon-to-be-shot Kevin James flick "The Zookeeper." Click here for the casting details.

And, click here for the latest on "Grown Ups."

Cruise's spy flick 'Wichita' planning Charles chase?

2009-07-06T00:01:00.012-04:00

As production moves forward with "Wichita," the upcoming spy flick starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz set to film in Boston this September, the latest rumor is that crews are currently hashing out an elaborate water-based chase scene slotted to be shot on the Charles River and will involve closing down several landmarks along the way including a bridge or two.

If the rumor is true and the scene is approved, the chase sequence would top some of the more sophisticated scenes from Boston's film past.

For example, the opening sequence of the Kevin Spacey flick "21" follows young prodigy Ben Campbell (played by Jim Sturgess) making the trek across the Mass. Ave. Bridge to Cambridge and features breathtaking scenes of the Charles and a birds-eye view of the MIT campus and the quintessential overhead shot of several rowing crews on the Cambridge side of the river.

Helicopters filmed the bike scene which caused a traffic snarl after closing the entire Mass. Ave. Bridge on April 22, 2007.

In "Wichita," Cruise is reportedly teaming up with Diaz in the flick directed by James Mangold. The actor will play a secret agent who pops in and out of the life of single woman, presumably played by Diaz.

Both Cruise and Diaz, teaming up together for the first time since "Vanilla Sky," reportedly have given a thumbs up to the final script, which recently underwent a rewrite by Scott Frank known for his work on "Minority Report."

"Wichita" will be the second made-in-Boston film for Diaz. The beauty stars as Norma Lewis in "The Box," slotted for release on Friday, Oct. 30. Directed by "Donnie Darko" filmmaker Richard Kelly, the thriller centers around a suburban couple with a young child who receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences.

Click here for the latest on "Wichita."

Leather District's South Street Diner in jeopardy

2009-07-04T00:01:00.010-04:00

Boston's South Street Diner, a throwback to '50s-style eateries and a Leather District landmark, is rallying for support to combat an attempt from neighbors wanting to roll back the restaurant's hours and force them to close at 2 a.m.

On Tuesday, July 7 at 10 a.m., the owners of the South Street Diner will face a hearing at Boston City Hall's room 809a. Organizers are asking for supporters to sign a petition here.

If late-night dining isn't your thing, support South Street Diner for its Hollywood in the Hub street cred.

Originally built in the 1940s to accommodate workers in the Leather District, the South Street Diner, located at 178 Kneeland St. was featured in an earlier scene of "21." The classic diner set the stage for Kevin Spacey and his students as they discuss their gambling strategy before heading to Vegas.

Formerly known as the Blue Diner, other big-screen appearances include "HouseSitter" with Steve Martin in 1992, "Second Sight" in 1989 with John Larroquette and "Hiding Out" in 1987 with Jon Cryer.

While the diner hasn't had a lot of screen time since "21," it was a pivotal hot spot during the recent barrage of flicks that were shot on South Street in Boston, including "Ghost of Girlfriends Past" with Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner.

In the film, the Leather District was transformed to look like a Christmas wonderland in SoHo. In fact, set designers spent days putting up holiday decorations on lampposts, adding Christmas wreaths to shop doors and dropping fake snow on ground to simulate the season. There was even a larger-than-life Santa propped up near the South Street corner overlooking the makeshift set.

South Street Diner also served as a gathering spot during the week-long shoot for "The Surrogates," an upcoming sci-fi flick starring Bruce Willis. In the scene, offices were transformed into a futuristic salon called "Artiface" where the futuristic robots lined up for a makeover ... or better yet, a tune up. "The Surrogates" is scheduled to hit theaters on Friday, Sept. 25.

UPDATE: South Street Diner was given the green light as a 24-7 restaurant after supporters successfully convinced the city licensing board to keep the Leather District mainstay open.

--Scene from "21" shot at South Street Diner

Adam Sandler's 'Grown Ups' pushed to summer

2009-07-03T00:01:00.001-04:00

Is Adam Sandler's made-in-Massachusetts movie "Grown Ups" being poised as next summer's first blockbuster comedic film?

The ultimate buddy flick, currently filming at Chebacco Lake and Centennial Grove located 30 Martin St. in Essex, has reportedly been moved from a March 12 release date to the more promising Friday, June 25 theatrical debut.

According to Variety here, the flick has the luxury of being the only film set for release the Friday before Fourth of July weekend in 2010. Other big-name releases like "Twilight: The Eclipse" and M. Night Shyamalan's "The Last Airbender" are scheduled to open on Wednesday, June 30.

"Grown Ups," set in Connecticut during a Fourth of July weekend, is a comedy about five high school friends who reunite with their families during the summer at a lake house after 30 years apart and stars Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello and Maya Rudolph.

As previously reported in Loaded Gun, a source says "Grown Ups" will splish-splash its way in August to Water Wizz of Cape Cod, a family-themed fun park located at 3031 Cranberry Hwy. in East Wareham.

Click here for the latest on "Grown Ups."

--Photo by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo

The week in quotes from Hollywood in the Hub

2009-07-02T00:01:00.002-04:00

“I lost my nerd virginity to Joss, for sure."

--Eliza Dushku, co-star in the made-in-Boston drama "Valediction," jokes that "Dollhouse" creator Joss Whedon first plucked her off a street corner in Watertown to play Faith in the “Buffy” series.

"The film tax credit has worked here in Massachusetts. It would be really foolish of us to put anything into the legislation that would hurt that effort."

--After fear that the spy flick "Wichita" starring Tom Cruise would move production to Georgia, Rep. Ronald Mariano of Quincy says it's a good thing that Beacon Hill lawmakers and Gov. Deval Patrick decided not to move forward to reduce the cost of the state's film tax credit by $20 million.

"Given how enthusiastic Boston-area fans are for sports and just their energy, I think they're going to make a great crowd for this film."

--Mary McNally, a spokesperson for BeInAMovie.com, says the group's efforts to recruit extras for the made-in-Lowell flick "The Fighter" should be a knockout.

“I think it’s cool that they’re doing Topsfield casting. It’s a community thing.”

--Patricia Jamison, a resident of Topsfield who escorted her daughter, Parker, to the casting call for Brendan Fraser's upcoming "Furry Vengeance," says she appreciates that filmmakers are scouting locally for talent.

Brendan Fraser's 'Furry Vengeance' filming in town

2009-07-01T18:23:00.009-04:00

Brendan Fraser, known for his work in "The Mummy" series, is heading to the Boston area this month to film the family comedy called "Furry Vengeance,"a movie about a real estate developer who faces an unlikely group of protesters: a crew of local woodland creatures who don't want their homes disturbed.

Boston Casting held an open casting call on Wednesday, July 1 at Proctor Elementary located at 60 Main Street in Topsfield. Also, scouts are on the hunt for a body double for Fraser. If you're a dead ringer for "The Mummy" star, send an e-mail and headshot to ashley@bostoncasting.com.

Matt Prokop, an up-and-coming actor from "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," will play a city kid forced to move to rural Oregon with his father, whose efforts to build a housing development there are complicated by the feisty local wildlife. Newcomer Skyler Samuels has joined the cast as Amber, Prokop's romantic interest.

Brooke Shields, Dick Van Dyke, "The Hangover’s" Ken Jeong and Samantha Bee are all on board as co-stars.

The flick is tentatively slated for a July 2010 release. Click here for the latest on "Furry Vengeance."

Trailer for Ricky Gervais's 'The Invention of Lying'

2009-07-01T00:01:00.004-04:00

With a string of less-than-stellar Boston-crafted flicks hitting the big screen lately like "Bride Wars" and "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," the trailer for the made-in-Massachusetts film "The Invention of Lying" by "The Office" creator Ricky Gervais looks like it may raise the bar a few notches for locally shot comedic films.

Formerly titled "This Side of Truth,"the shot-in-Lowell comedy starring Tina Fey, Rob Lowe and Jennifer Garner is set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.

Slotted to hit theaters on Sept. 25, "The Invention of Lying" also had location shoots in Quincy, North Andover and Boston.

Amy Adams is a contender for 'The Fighter' movie

2009-06-30T16:58:00.009-04:00

Actress Amy Adams is reportedly in negotiations to star alongside Christian Bale and Dorchester native Mark Wahlberg in the made-in-Massachusetts flick "The Fighter."

According to Variety, Adams is set to step in the ring as a gritty bartender from Massachusetts who ends up dating Wahlberg's character, "Irish" Micky Ward. Adams joins veteran actress Melissa Leo who is slotted to play Bale and Wahlberg's mother.

"The Fighter," which is scheduled to film in Lowell starting Tuesday, July 14, tells the story of Boston fighter "Irish" Micky Ward (Wahlberg) and how he was helped to the world lightweight championship by half-brother Dickie Eklund.

Bale, slotted to play fallen fighter Eklund who ends up in the slammer after a drug-fueled robbery spree, reportedly got into character on Tuesday, May 12 by shadow boxing Eklund on the streets of the Highlands section of Lowell.

On Monday, May 11, Wahlberg met with Eklund at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Lowell to discuss locations to film scenes for the Ward biopic. Relativity Media has stepped up to finance the film and Paramount Pictures plans to distribute domestically.

Adams will next be seen in Sony's "Julie and Julia" alongside Meryl Streep.

Click here for the latest on "The Fighter."

TV's 'America's Biggest A**hole' casting in Boston

2009-06-30T00:03:00.000-04:00

A just-for-men version of Oxygen's "Bad Girls Club" hitting reality TV? Yep. Casting scouts for the new Spike-TV reality show, "America's Biggest A**hole," are on the hunt for those who "have the charm of Vince Vaughn, Denis Leary and Stiffler rolled into one."

Ouch.

The crew over at Boston Casting is holding an open casting call 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, July 13 at Boston Casting located 129 Braintree Street in Allston. They're also hosting auditions 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, July 15 at Red Sky located at 16 North Street in Faneuil Hall. Bring a photo and bio to the open calls.

According to the posting here, contestants will "win cash, fame and respect for their ability to say what mere mortals could only dream of saying."

Not sure if you qualify for reality TV's so-called "A" list? Ask yourself this: Even though some people think you're hysterical, do you happen to piss a lot of people off?

Click here for the lowdown from Boston Casting.

Just another face in the crowd on 'The Fighter' set

2009-06-30T00:02:00.004-04:00

Organizers over at Be In A Movie are rallying the masses for a three-day shoot on the set of "The Fighter," the upcoming made-in-Lowell flick starring Dorchester homeboy Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale.

Producers are looking to fill ring-side seats during a big fight scene scheduled for 10 a.m.-5 p.m. from Tuesday, July 14 until Thursday, July 16.

According to the Web site here, anyone 16+ can sign up to throw their hat in the ring and score free grub, entertainment and a chance to win prizes during the day's activities.

The only caveat? These aren't paid extra positions, but it sounds like a great way to experience a day on a movie set while getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the industry as well as a bird's-eye view of the stars.

"The Fighter," which is scheduled to film in Lowell beginning in July, tells the story of Boston fighter "Irish" Micky Ward (Wahlberg) and how he was helped to the world lightweight championship by half-brother Dickie Eklund, played by Bale.

Click here for the latest on "The Fighter."

First signs of 'The Zookeeper' filming in Boston?

2009-06-29T00:01:00.004-04:00

Loaded Gun spotted a "ZK" sign on Sunday, June 28 around the Symphony Hall area leading crews down Massachusetts Avenue toward Dudley Square.

Could it be preliminary filming for the upcoming made-in-Massachusetts flick "The Zookeeper," starring Kevin James and Rosario Dawson?

As previously reported, a majority of the scenes for "The Zookeeper" are slotted to be shot at Franklin Park Zoo located at 1 Franklin Park Rd. and the Stone Zoo in Stoneham.

Production is scheduled to kick off on July 20. And a source confirms that there will be specific areas of the zoo that will be renovated, paid for by a donation made by the production company.

James, finishing up scenes at Woodman's of Essex with Sandler and crew for the ultimate buddy flick "Grown Ups," will play the title role in the film produced by Sandler's Happy Madison Productions. In "The Zookeeper," he plays a zoo caretaker who consults with the animals in an attempt to learn their methods of dating and mating to help him win back the woman of his dreams.

Adam Sandler, Cher, Jon Favreau, Sylvester Stallone and Judd Apatow have signed on as animal voices. The five reportedly will voice animals at the zoo where keeper James longs for his female love interest played by Dawson. Sandler will be the voice of a capuchin monkey while Cher is slotted to be a giraffe. Favreau has been cast as a bear, Stallone as a lion and Apatow as an elephant.

Click here for the latest on "The Zookeeper."

UPDATE: According to a Loaded Gun source, "Kevin James was sighted at Franklin Park Zoo Saturday morning with a crowd of people surveying the set."

--Photo by Sam Baltrusis

Trailer for 'The Box' film starring Cameron Diaz

2009-06-29T00:00:00.003-04:00

Based on the short story by Richard Matheson, "The Box" stars Cameron Diaz as Norma Lewis and James Marsden as Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child who receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. "The Box" is directed by "Donnie Darko" filmmaker Richard Kelly.

A mysterious stranger, played by Frank Langella, delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. But, pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world ... someone they don't know.

Also shot in Virginia, filming locations for "The Box" include the Boston Public Library, Castle Hill in Ipswich and South Boston. The release date has been moved to Friday, Oct. 30 to coincide with Halloween.

Click here for the latest on "The Box."

NKOTB gives props to Michael Jackson's legacy

2009-06-28T00:01:00.002-04:00

Homegrown talent the New Kids on the Block paid homage to the legacy of Michael Jackson during their performance Thursday night in Detroit.

In a moving statement posted by NKOTB's Donnie Wahlberg here, he fondly remembers the icon. "Michael Jackson was, without a doubt, the single most amazing performer that I’ve ever seen," he writes. "As a young teenage boy with a dream, he was beyond inspirational."

Wahlberg continues, "The fact that his public/private life became a soap opera and a sideshow is more of a reflection of our societies misplaced priorities than it is a reflection of the type of person that he may have been. Yet despite all of that--the fact that his performances, even of even 25 years ago, still resonate today."

'Wheel of Forturne' auditions at Marlborough mall

2009-06-27T00:01:00.003-04:00

Want to spin the wheel? Casting scouts for "Wheel of Fortune" plan to park their 32-foot Wheelmobile next to Sears at the Solomon Pond Mall located at 601 Donald Lynch Blvd. in Marlborough on Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 from 1-5 p.m.

On both days, on-site registration will be open to the public and a select few registered applicants will be selected to play in front of a panel of casting judges. All registered names will be kept for a possible callback in the future.

As previously reported, letter-turner Vanna White was spotted shooting a commercial on the brownstone-lined West Cedar Street in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood in the early evening on Tuesday, May 12. White also shot some footage on Acorn Street in Charlestown.

The TV game show icon was in town shooting promos for three weeks worth of Boston-set episodes of "Wheel of Fortune" slotted to be shot at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center located at 348 D St. in South Boston. Taping at the Convention Center is slotted to begin Thursday, Sept. 3 until Saturday, Sept. 5.

Click here for the lowdown.

Dane Cook's sister-in-law accused of stealing

2009-06-26T00:01:00.000-04:00

Erika McCauley, the 37-year-old sister-in-law of Boston-bred comedian Dane Cook, has reportedly been charged with aiding her husband, Darryl McCauley, with stealing millions of dollars from the "national entertainer with local ties" over a year and a half period since July 2007.

McCauley, 43, who has been in charge of his half-brother's finances since the 1990s at Cook's company Great Dane Enterprises, allegedly forged a $3 million check at the Bank of America branch located at 100 Federal Street in the Financial District and transferred money from Cook's account to his account without permission.

The Attorney General's office launched an investigation two weeks before his arrest on Dec. 30.

Cook’s half brother and McCauley’s husband, Darryl McCauley, pleaded not guilty in March to eight counts of larceny and forgery.

Click here for the initial reports on this story.

Chef Andy Husbands featured on 'Hell's Kitchen'

2009-06-25T00:02:00.007-04:00

Andy Husbands, the executive chef over at Tremont 647, reportedly made the cut in the upcoming season of "Hell's Kitchen" premiering on FOX at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21.

According to an inside source, Husbands kept his participation on the down-low while filming season six with hellraiser Gordon Ramsay. Apparently, he spilled to his friends that he was in Mexico while taping.

Born and raised in Seattle, the restaurateur moved to Massachusetts with his father in 1984 when he was 14. After serving years as a sous chef at the East Coast Grill in Cambridge, he decided to open his own restaurant, Tremont 647, in December of 1996.

The 39-year-old, along with two other Boston-area chefs including David "Louie" Cordio from Fitchburg and Jim McGloin from Nashua, NH, was plucked from an open casting call held on Sunday, Oct. 12 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers located at 50 Park Plaza.

Husbands, the acclaimed author of "The Fearless Chef," is rumored to have had a tumultuous time while filming the reality show. But, we'll save the bloody details for later.

Follow Husbands on Twitter here.