Special effects

By Mark Shanahan and Paysha Rhone  |  July 14, 2008

Eleven Boston-area teens simulated a hurricane at Camp Edwards in Bourne last week as part of a short action flick they plan to enter in the Samsung Mobile Fresh Films competition. Their film, "The Long Way Out," will go head-to-head with the creations of nine other nationwide teams in an online voter challenge starting Aug. 7. (A Hollywood jury, including "Lord of the Rings" star Sean Astin and "Brothers & Sisters" star Tom Skerritt, will weigh in.) If the locals win, they'll get laptops, phones, and the red carpet-Hollywood treatment at the American Film Institute's AFI FEST in the fall. We caught up with wannabe moviemakers Kati McKinney, 18, of Ipswich, and 17-year-old Ben Tepfer, of Newburyport, during a break in the action. McKinney, who hopes to become a filmmaker after studying at Boston University, said she loved making it rain using water from an Army National Guard fire truck. Even under sunny skies, "We're making it work," she reported. Tepfer, who's headed for Syracuse University, was the guy standing in that rain, keeping the camera dry with coats and a towel. "There was 600 gallons of water coming down on me," he said. "It was great."

Hazel Mae bid adieu to Boston over the weekend, hosting a party for friends at Game On! (The former NESN anchor did not invite the media.) We're told Mae moved to the music as she mixed and mingled with Bruins Shawn Thornton, Mark Stuart, and Jeremy Reich. Guests also included new NESN reporter Heidi Watney and former Sox play-by-play man Sean McDonough. . . . While in town to hype his new film "Swing Vote," Kevin Costner went to the Sox game Saturday. Also spied in the crowd were ESPN's Dick Vitale and UConn basketball coach Jim Calhoun.

Aside from the many forums and speeches, one of the highlights of this weekend's National Down Syndrome Congress National Conference was the party DJ'd by Chris Burke. Best known as the actor who played "Corky" Thatcher on the ABC show "Life Goes On," Burke is a big music fan whose group, the Chris Burke Band, also performed at the conference at the Seaport World Trade Center. "I'm just trying to inspire other people," said Burke, who spun the best of the 1970s and '80s. "It's all about disability awareness." A goodwill ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society, Burke also serves as the editor in chief of the organization's quarterly magazine, Straight Talk. But all work and no play makes Burke a dull boy, so he took some time to visit the Adams National Historical Park in Quincy, birthplace of presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. "When I went to school, I loved history," said Burke. "I have [the HBO miniseries] 'John Adams' on DVD. It's great."

Things are finally looking up for Danielle Hargraves. The down-on-her-luck Dorchester mom wrote an emotional letter to XM Satellite Radio's Suite 62, explaining why she deserves an all-expenses-paid trip to the Bermuda Music Festival - and she won. "We had over 1,000 responses, and hers was the best we got," said Rock Newman, the festival promoter and former manager of heavyweight champ Riddick Bowe. "Danielle's had a rough go of it." The festival, which takes place in October, features a stellar lineup, including Beyonce, Alicia Keys, and UB40. "The last time I was on vacation was 21 years ago after I graduated from high school," Hargraves told us. "I'm very excited. I've told the kids, 'Mother's going away for a few days.' "

David Letterman and his son, Harry, were eating ice cream at Vineyard Scoops in Edgartown Saturday and seated at the next table was legendary newsman Walter Cronkite. . . . Sonsie was shaking over the weekend. Jennifer Aniston's new man, John Mayer, brought his entire band in for dinner Friday night, and Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd dropped by for lunch during the day. Old friend Kevin Millar of the Orioles paid a visit to Patrick Lyons's Newbury Street nightspot Saturday.

Word is John Mellencamp and Farm Aid executive director Carolyn Mugar will make a major announcement tomorrow at the Copley Square farmers market. A longtime Farm Aid advocate, Mellencamp is playing tonight and tomorrow at the Bank of America Pavilion. Governor Deval Patrick is also expected to attend the afternoon press conference.

Sam Cassell is staying busy this offseason. Yesterday, the Celtics's backup point guard was a celebrity judge at the Pole Star Invitational 2008, the first pole dancing competition. Assisting Cassell in assessing contestants's pole proficiency were actor Faizon Love, comedian Chris Spencer, and porn star Amber Rayne. The event was sponsored by X-Polesitions, which describes itself as a strip tease and pole-dancing exercise studio.

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