A new toy for local film production firm

A camera and wardrobe test for Ben Affleck's directorial debut, "Gone, Baby, Gone," and the recent purchase of a $40,000 piece of equipment, has scored National Boston a nice jackpot. The film and TV production company is in the midst of several weeks of work on the untitled blackjack flick based on Ben Mezrich's book "Bringing Down the House." The movie, directed by Robert Luketic, is being shot digitally (no more reels of film) and sent to National Boston where the images are synchronized with sound on the new machine. The high-end, high-tech addition is called an Adrenaline DNx and is made by Avid Technology, a Tewksbury-based company that has won Oscars for its technical achievements. "They are shooting the equivalent of about four reels a day, which is a pretty good pace," said Dan Cronin, National Boston's managing director. "We're transferring the select takes and synching the sound together . . . [then] it's taken by courier to the Back Bay where they are editing it," said Cronin. The Adrenaline DNx was installed just three days before work started in Boston on the Columbia Pictures film, which stars Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, and Laurence Fishburne. Doing the test shots for "Gone, Baby, Gone " last summer using traditional methods was the impetus for Cronin's company to get the new gear. "It's now possible for a lot of the work to be done in close proximity to the crews," he said.

Forbes names McHale top GM

The helpful folks at Forbes.com have ranked the best general managers in professional sports and, as you might expect, the Celtics's Danny Ainge is among the worst . Forbes grades 98 GMs in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, and concludes that Kevin McHale, the Minnesota Timberwolves' go-to guy, is No. 1. (The rankings are based on the performance and payroll of one GM versus that of his predecessor.) Ainge, whose C's have the second-worst record in the NBA, finishes 92d, six spots ahead of the worst GM, Oakland's Mike Lombardi. The Patriots' Scott Pioli ranks 20th and Sox GM Theo Epstein is 30th, behind the A's Billy Beane and Mets GM Omar Minaya. Bruins boss Peter Chiarelli is too new to make the list.

O’Shea’s goal is aid, not politics

Black-tie galas are not the place one looks for jaw-dropping candor. But then, GOAL, the Irish aid organization had its first ball the other night at the Seaport Hotel, introducing Bostonians to John O'Shea, the CEO of the group that works in 13 poor countries. After Mary Richardson, the host of WCVB's "Chronicle" and the evening's MC, listed O'Shea's many accomplishments since founding GOAL in 1977, including spending more than $500 million in humanitarian efforts, O'Shea said, "Mary, you were meant to slag me, not praise me." He then went on to slag the United Nations and politicians everywhere, accusing them of complicity in the genocide in Darfur. O'Shea spoke with passion, a few curse words, and without notes, for nearly a half hour, recalling how he and the late Mother Teresa rode around Calcutta, arguing about abortion and contraception, as they tended children . O'Shea acknowledged he sometimes angers the same politicians he needs. "I'm not a good listener," he said. "I'm not patient."

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner was given the Robert Brustein Award by the American Repertory Theatre at its annual fund-raiser last night in Brighton. . . . Film legend Patricia Neal, in town to receive an award from Brandeis's SunDeis Film Festival on Sunday, had lunch the other day at UpStairs on the Square with daughter Ophelia Dahl, who heads up Paul Farmer's Partners In Health. Across the room, Handel and Haydn Society conductor laureate Christopher Hogwood was grabbing a bite with the outgoing H&H CEO Mary Deissler and the society's new executive director, Marie-Hélène Bernard. . . .

Prior to her gig opening for Josh Groban the other night at the Garden, Angelique Kidjo stopped by Oxfam America's Boston headquarters to chat with president Ray Offenheiser. . . . If you're waiting to see Bridget Moynahan's new movie, don't hold your breath. "Gray Matters," in which Tom Brady's now-pregnant ex plays a lesbian, won't be opening in Boston. The movie co starring Heather Graham stiffed so badly in the Big Apple that it isn't playing here at all. . . . Newton filmmaker Sam Weisman's back in town after directing an episode of "Law & Order" in New York. The episode, which will air this month, stars Amesbury-bred actor Jeffrey Donovan. The dapper Donovan, who played the Prince of Denmark in Commonwealth Shakespeare's 2005 production of "Hamlet," is in demand. The USA Network just picked up his pilot "Burn Notice," co-starring the enchanting Gabrielle Anwar.

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