Film gets support from a Legend

Ladykiller John Legend was at Mantra the other night in support of "The Souls of Black Girls," a provocative new documentary by Daphne Valerius. (Legend swung by the restaurant after his show at the Roxy.) "I've known John since before he won a Grammy," Valerius told us. "He's been a constant supporter of ours, and we are of him." The film, which Valerius made while at Emerson, deconstructs the media and includes interviews with rapper Chuck D, journalist Gwen Ifill, actresses Regina King and Jada Pinkett Smith, and cultural critic Michaela Angela Davis.

The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge handed a $33 million check to the Jimmy Fund yesterday, and to celebrate the occasion Stoughton's Lori McKenna strapped on her guitar. The singer suspects she was picked for the gig at Harvard Medical School because her brother Richard had Hodgkin's disease. (Happily, he's in remission.) "I'm glad to be playing because I know I would never survive that ride," said McKenna, referring to the annual 192-mile bike trek known as the PMC. Back now from her ballyhooed tour with country icons Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, McKenna said she's focusing on being a mom for a while. (Believe it or not, her five kids range in age from pre-K to college.) Then it's back to writing, recording, and the road. (She'll be lending her writing talents to Jessica Harp and Tyler Hilton, among others.) "Being out with Faith and Tim was good to experience because there was no drama," she said. "It wasn't about partying or whatever. . . . They're cool people who are wise enough to know it's about the music."

Steven Tyler's daughter Mia is getting married again. The plus-size model and sister of Liv is engaged to guitarist Brian Harrah. "We went over to my dad's hotel to show off the ring," Mia gushed to People magazine. "He grabbed Brian and hugged him, and was like, 'Good job, son.' My dad absolutely loves him." (Of course, Mia first announced her engagement on her MySpace page.) The bride-to-be, who appeared a few years back on "Celebrity Fit Club," was previously married to Papa Roach drummer Dave Buckner.

Turning out for Dylan

Does Bob Dylan idolatry ever take a day off? Contributors to the soundtrack of "I'm Not There" - director Todd Haynes's biopic about the artist formerly known as Robert Zimmerman - gathered for a star-studded celebration show in New York the other night. The cast of thousands included Calexico, My Morning Jacket's Jim James, Mark Lanegan, Joe Henry, Amherst's own J Mascis, and Somerville sideman extraordinaire Al Kooper (above, center). We e-mailed Al yesterday, but he's still in the Big Apple mixing his new CD.

Something to sing about

Looking a little scruffier than when we last saw him on "American Idol," Elliott Yamin (above) entertained the capacity crowd after Wednesday's Celtics game at the TD Banknorth Garden. Sitting front and center was Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, the teen singing sensation from Foxborough.

It's a gift

Walden Media president Micheal Flaherty was in a giving mood at the Regal Fenway Theatre yesterday. The movie mogul donated a little something to the Toys-for-Tots campaign that's a tie-in with Walden's new film "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium." Boston is one of 10 cities in the United States trying to set a world record by collecting 12,000 pounds of toys. The drive concludes Monday.

'Real Men' shoot here

Brian Goodman's excited, and who can blame him. Not only is he about to make his directing debut, but he's shooting his own script. "It's a true story, a crime-redemption drama," says Goodman of "Real Men Cry," which begins filming soon in South Boston with Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke, Amanda Peet, and Donnie Wahlberg. "Basically, it's about two boyhood friends going through the minefields of crime, addiction, and violence." Goodman grew up on the mean streets of Southie and spent nearly five years in prison. (Asked how he ended up there, the filmmaker will only say he used to lead with his fists.) He got his first acting gig in the movie "Southie" in 1998 and has worked steadily ever since. While he liked "Mystic River" and "Gone Baby Gone," Goodman didn't buy "The Departed." "Jack Nicholson was just brutal, so overdone," he said. "Knowing that world and coming from that place, it seemed so fake. I couldn't watch it." Goodman said there was pressure to make the movie elsewhere, but he insisted on Boston. "I want it to smell like Boston," said Goodman, whose buddy, state Representative Brian Wallace, helped make it happen. "I'm telling a story here, and I want it to be authentic."

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

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