Hollywood will be makin' it in Massachusetts

If supporters of the state's new film tax-credit law can be believed, Hollywood's about to flood the Hub. No sooner had Governor Deval Patrick signed the bill at the AMC Boston Common yesterday than chatter burst forth of Tinseltown projects headed this way. "We're definitely going to be tested," said Nick Paleologos (above, at podium), head of the Mass achusetts Film Office. "There's never been two or three studios shooting here at the same time, and that's going to happen now." The new law, a more generous version of a bill approved a year ago, removes a $7 million ceiling on incentives to filmmakers. Already, it seems, the law's having the intended effect. No fewer than three films are expected to shoot here soon, including "Bachelor No. 2" with Dane Cook and Kate Hudson, "The Women" with Meg Ryan, and Steve Martin's "Pink Panther II," which will be the biggest-budget movie ever made in Massachusetts. As a result of filmmakers' newfound interest, Chris O'Donnell, business manager for Local 481 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees , said he's added 175 members in just the past 18 months. Likewise, Angela Peri of Boston Casting said her business is booming. "There goes my life as I knew it," she said after Patrick put down his pen. In praising the new law, House Speaker Sal DiMasi seemed to diss former Massachusetts Film Bureau boss Robin Dawson, who operated without the benefit of giant tax breaks. "We had a very poor reputation across the country," DiMasi said. "People in the industry told me they didn't even have a category to rate Massachusetts." That was then, this is now. Asked about his favorite Boston-based film, the Speaker smiled. "The next one," he said.

Patrick, Washington catch up

Just moments after signing the tax-credit bill into law yesterday, Governor Deval Patrick (right) beat feet to the Citi Performing Arts Center, which has been turned into a vintage train station by the producers of "The Great Debaters." In the film, directed by Oscar-winner Denzel Washington (left), the lobby of the arts center will stand in for a 1930s South Station . While he hasn't spent much time in Boston, Washington does know the city slightly from his time on the TV show "St. Elsewhere." Because his character was a runner, he once hoofed a bit of the Boston Marathon course. "He wanted to know if the marathon still goes through Newton," said arts center board member Candy Gold, who talked briefly to the actor. "He didn't think he could still pull off being a runner."

She's been gone from Boston for four years, but Lynn Hoffman (above) certainly isn't forgotten. The Newton native has a new show called "Private Screenings," which premieres tomorrow night on A&E. On the debut episode, the former Mix 98.5 minx chats up rock chick Avril Lavigne. "It's been just incredible to sit down and talk to these performers in a setting where people can see them and hear them perform," said Hoffman, who's also taped shows with the Goo Goo Dolls, Toby Keith, Blues Traveler, and Meat Loaf. Though she's a New Yorker now, Hoffman hasn't completely cut her ties to the Bay State. "All of my family and friends are in Boston," she said. That's convenient because on Aug. 19 Hoffman will emcee the star-studded tribute to the late Boston singer Brad Delp.

As expected, Larry David's wife has filed for divorce, calling her marriage to the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" funnyman quits after 14 years . In court documents, Laurie David cites "irreconcilable differences" and seeks joint custody of the couple's two daughters, ages 13 and 11. An ardent environmentalist, Laurie David was a producer of the Oscar-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." A summer resident of Martha's Vineyard, she's recently been seen around town with a prominent island contractor.

Along with her "Two and a Half Men" co stars Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer, Boston native Marin Hinkle is basking in the afterglow of the show's Emmy nomination. (The CBS sitcom was nominated for best comedy series, and Cryer, Sheen, and co stars Conchata Ferrell and Holland Taylor all received acting nods.) Hinkle said her mantra is "don't think about it, don't even talk about it." She told us she was especially pleased for Sheen and Cryer, whose lives are looking up after difficult divorces. (Cryer wed last month while Sheen just announced his engagement to Brooke Mueller.) "There's something in the water on our set, there's a lot of good love going on." While on hiatus from the show, Hinkle shot three films -- a horror flick, an indie drama, and a Hollywood satire directed by Barry Levinson -- and also did a play with the Cape Cod Theatre Project. You go, girl.

Sarah Rodman of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.