Junger takes on the Boston Strangler
Journalist and Belmont native Sebastian Junger, whose bestseller ''The Perfect Storm" became a box office hit starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, is sparking Hollywood's interest with his next book, ''A Death in Belmont." Due in bookstores in May, the book is about Albert DeSalvo, who was believed to be the Boston Strangler after he confessed to killing 13 women in the Boston area, including one in Belmont in 1964. When Junger was a child, he lived in a house where DeSalvo had done construction work at the time the murder was committed in the neighborhood. According to Publishers Weekly, Junger uses the crime and DeSalvo's confession as a way to ''explore racism, the criminal justice system, and a violent chapter in US history." Although no film deals have been reached, the trade publications have been buzzing with speculation about a deal and what it might fetch. The film rights for ''The Perfect Storm" were secured by Warner Bros. long before the book reached bestseller status.
A holiday feast in Shanghai
Aaron Shershow traded his Brookline High School reunion and a Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends for a holiday feast with glamour couple Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in Shanghai, where Cruise is filming ''Mission: Impossible lll." Since turkey is not a regular part of Chinese cuisine, Cruise had his chef fly in and prepare enough of the holiday bird (and all the trimmings) for the 165-person cast and crew on the set. Shershow, who has worked as a production manager and producer on several films, now lives in Shanghai and is working on the film crew for ''Mission: Impossible III," which is slated to be released in May.They have a date with ‘The Nutcracker’
We're told they won't be in tights, but some Boston notables will be part of the Boston Ballet's production of ''The Nutcracker" at the Opera House. In several performances throughout the run, the celebs will appear in the walk-on role as a chestnut seller. They include Legal Sea Foods skipper Roger Berkowitz; author Robert Parker and his philanthropist wife, Joan; Pigalle chef-owner Marc Orfaly with his wife and partner, Kerri Foley; and chef Ming Tsai.Thanksgiving traditions going strong
Daniel Bruce, executive chef of the Boston Harbor Hotel, continued his 13-year Thanksgiving tradition of preparing dinner for the Boston firefighters from Engine 10. . . .Oscar-nominated director-screenwriter Terry George was at Emerson College the other night for a special showing of ''Some Mother's Son" and a Q&A with students. George, whose son is a freshman at the college, was recently honored in New York City for his screenplay for ''Hotel Rwanda" and for raising awareness of the situation in Africa. . . .
Boston Volvo owner Ray Ciccolo didn't just sponsor the eighth annual Boston Volvo Thanksgiving Day Charity Road Race to benefit Best Buddies Massachusetts -- he ran in the event, which raised some $30,000 for the charity.
PBS on board for Simon show
Carly Simon's comeback continues apace with a PBS program featuring the the singer on board the Queen Mary 2. Taped in the QM2's giant ballroom, the 90-minute show airing next month includes not only a concert but also behind-the-scenes footage of the singer exploring the elegant interior of the luxury cruise liner. Can't wait to watch it? The full concert DVD is available.
Jewish Film Fest receives grant
The Boston Jewish Film Festival just wrapped, and organizers are already thinking about 2006. The BJFF is receiving an $8,000 grant from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science and will use it next year to put on workshops focused on documentary filmmaking. After all, the festival was founded by documentarian Michal Goldman, and Frederick Wiseman (''Titicut Follies" and ''The Garden") is on the festival's honorary committee. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253. 
