Closing in on Mass. film bureau boss

The search for a new head of the state's film bureau is down to three candidates and a final decision could be made within the next 10 days, says Rich Krezwick , managing director of the Massachusetts Sports & Entertainment Commission . Two names that have surfaced are former state representative and two-time Tony Award-winning producer Nick Paleologos and Steven Feinberg , director of Rhode Island's film and TV office. Reached yesterday, Feinberg had no comment. The state's film bureau has been in flux since 2002, when then-acting Republican governor Jane Swift eliminated the department's funding and let go film chief Robin Dawson . Last fall, the commission stripped her successor, Mark Drago , of his duties. For the new post, Krezwick said they'd received 110 resumes and interviewed 12 candidates. Krezwick and movie director Sam Weisman , a Newton resident who serves on the commission's board, recently interviewed four candidates on the West Coast. "It's been a hard process, but we're making sure we get the right person," said Krezwick. Though the interviewing process started before Mitt Romney left the governor's office, Krezwick said the commission expects the new film honcho to be an acceptable choice to serve under Governor Deval Patrick. "I would hope that when we're given the opportunity that we can convince those making these decisions that our plan for the next couple of years is a good one," said Krezwick.

Nothing can Trump his good fortune

Don't cross The Donald. That's the word from Bill Rancic, season one winner of "The Apprentice." Appearing yesterday in East Longmeadow, Rancic said Rosie O'Donnell should have known better than to trash talk about Donald Trump. "Everyone has their own way of dealing with things, and Donald is a fighter," Rancic told us. "It's how he's wired. Anyway, what started all this was Rosie attacking Trump's credibility." (Actually, she accused the billionaire of being Miss USA Tara Conner's "pimp.") Rancic is currently touring the country in a luxury, 45-foot bus provided by Ace Hardware, which is about to give away a store -- valued at $1 million -- to one lucky wannabe entrepreneur. Said Rancic: "Working with Donald Trump has been the opportunity of a lifetime for me." You can say that again. If he hadn't won "The Apprentice," it's unlikely Rancic would have met enchanting E! New s anchor Giuliana DePandi, to whom he's engaged. "She never would have met me, either," he said, laughing. "You have to give me a little credit."

Ex-Miss Mass. shakin’ for Lakers

The Laker Girls are to the NBA what the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are to the NFL: the gold standard. "They're the most prestigious dance team because they're the original," says Miss Massachusetts 2005 Kristin Gauvin , who's leaping for the Laker Girls this season. "They are what everyone else bases their dance team on." (Paula Abdul is a former Laker Girl.) An Assumption College grad who was a Pats cheerleader in '03 and '04 , Gauvin bested 500 other beauties for the right to rhumba for Laker lovers such as Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio. She likes basketball, of course, but remains a big football fan. "I was at the Pats game in San Diego," she said. "They didn't play their best, but they'll pick it up next week."

Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan was eager to give Godsmack singer Sully Erna the keys to the city last night. "Mr. Erna always comes back and hangs out with his buddies when he's in the area," Sullivan told us in all seriousness. Not coincidentally, the heavily inked Erna has a memoir due out next month called "The Paths We Choose," in which he writes honestly about his life on the mean streets of Lawrence. . . . The Handel and Haydn Society has a new executive director and CEO. Marie-Hélène Bernard will succeed Mary Deissler, who has led the organization for 25 years.

Veteran TV journalist Carole Simpson, former weekend anchor of "World News Tonight" on ABC, will be at Emerson College this term as Leader-in-Residence, a position that will allow her to teach, mentor, and lecture. Simpson's daughter, Dr. Mallika Marshall, does medical reports for CBS and local network affiliate WBZ-TV. . . . Actress and musical artist Queen Latifah will keynote and CNN's Christiane Amanpour, entrepreneur and author Yue-Sai Kan, and Marta Sahagún de Fox, the former first lady of Mexico , will speak at the 2007 Simmons Schools of Management Leadership Conference planned for May at the Seaport World Trade Center.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.