Deb Belanger, executive director of the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the Ricky Gervais romantic comedy, The Invention of Lying, due out in September, alone generated $2 million worth of economic impact in the region last summer. This time around, the major motion picture The Fighter is set in the Mill City, bringing not only the stars but also a crew of hundreds to Lowell, working on the day-to-day operations. “I was talking to the producers and they expect to spend at least $3 million,” Belanger said of the Ward and Eklund biopic. “That’s including location fees, security, meals, hotel rooms — all that kind of stuff. It’s huge spending.”

Keith Dorrington, who runs the production company Edgartown Ventures with his partner and girlfriend, Leslie Varrelman, out of her Newburyport home, crafted a documentary about the boxing brothers Micky Ward and Dick Ecklund, “Not Over Till The Count of 10.”

The movie’s trailer was officially released Friday. It is only two minutes and sixteen seconds long, but it is all there: La Boniche, The Dubliner, Market Street, Central Street, the Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank, the unmistakable sign of the Athenian Corner restaurant. Lowell on film.

THE PROPOSAL (made in Massachusetts in 2008) is the number one movie in America for the week ending June 21, 2009.

Word from the Left Coast is that Adam Sandler, Cher, Sly Stallone, Jon Favreau and Judd Apatow will voice animals in Kevin James’ “The Zookeeper,” which will shoot at the Franklin Park Zoo in October.

Cindy Lentol represents the new era in filmmaking. The goal isn’t always to become a star. Sometimes it’s simply to enjoy what you’re doing. “I love making movies,” she says.

David Kirkpatrick, cofounder of Plymouth Rock Studios, said the two projects in close proximity could create a critical mass that would help both. “There are a lot of good Italian restaurants in the North End, and together they make a great dining destination,’’ he added. “We’re still hopeful that together we can create an ecosystem. . . . We’re staying positive moving forward.’’

A slew of screen idols are about to descend on Boston to shoot new movies, including, we’re told, Tom Cruise. That’s right, the world’s most famous movie star is in serious talks to shoot his latest flick here starting in September.

Would Paul Giamatti consider replacing Sean Penn as Larry Fine in the Farrelly Brothers upcoming “Three Stooges” flick? Soitenly!

A California studio developer yesterday launched plans to build a $147 million motion-picture complex on 30 acres at the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station.

“The statistics are pretty astounding,” said Bob Coviello, owner of Main Street Antiques and member of the Essex Merchants Group. “The numbers are far more impressive than just the $150,000 paid to the town.” Coviello estimates the movie will bring in close to $1 million locally by the time it’s finished, and Town Administrator Brendhan Zubricki said that he has already seen a wide variety of benefits stemming from the movie.

International Studio Group is moving ahead with plans to build a 12-stage motion picture studio at SouthField at the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station.

The developers of a proposed movie studio complex in South Weymouth are ready for the spotlight.

Big screen funnymen Ben Stiller, Harold Ramis, Peter Farrelly and Paul Giamatti are bound for the 14th annual Nantucket Film Festival, which kicks off tonight at the ’Sconset Casino.

Sandra Bullock is good for tourism. The actress gave a national TV shout-out this morning to Rockport, which is where she filmed her new movie “The Proposal”.

The Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce aims to accelerate the growth of the film industry in all South Shore towns, not just the nine communities the organization serves, according to Executive Director Denis Hanks.

Brickyard VFX–up a flight of creaky stairs in an old brick building near the intersection of Newbury Street and Massachusetts Avenue–handled most of the effects work on “The Proposal.” That great opportunity is the result of an ongoing boom in local filmmaking that followed the 2006 implementation of tax incentives for in-state film productions.