Dan Gross | M. Night likes to keep things secret

DIRECTOR

M. Night Shyamalan

parodied his notoriously secretive nature over scripts in a guest turn on last week's "Entourage."

One actor who recently auditioned for a role in "The Happening" tells us Shyamalan was not exaggerating how protective he is of his screenplays.

During casting calls at Heery Casting, actors are given one page of the script just minutes before their readings. They have to sign a document that they won't divulge the plot of the movie, starring Mark Wahlberg (an executive producer of "Entourage") and Zooey Deschanel, and scheduled to start shooting in the area next month. Actors are also stopped at the door to make sure they don't walk out with their pages. They must then be signed-out by a receptionist who verifies they have returned their script pages before they are able to leave.

Diane Heery confirms these security measures to guard the script and says such methods are at the request of the filmmakers and vary depending on the project. Heery says it's common for scripts that have surprises crucial to their plots to be guarded quite closely.

The film reportedly involves a family forced on the run from a natural crisis which presents a serious threat to humanity. You know, a slice-of-life-type picture.

Papa poised to persevere

Best wishes to 6ABC's Gary Papa, who announced during Friday's 6 p.m. Action News that he is undergoing a second round of chemotherapy. Papa first revealed he was battling prostate cancer on Action News in April 2004. On Friday, an emotional Papa thanked his family, friends at the station and loyal viewers for their support. Anchor Jim Gardner lightened the mood for his colleague by gently teasing him that he thought he'd forgotten to take his Rogaine, and reassuring him that there were a lot of people at Action News who loved Papa, adding with a smile, "I don't happen to be one of them." Gardner kissed Papa on the forehead and the sports anchor teared up, and meteorologist Dave Roberts offered his hand to his colleague.

State salutes Italian Market

The Italian Market has finally won approval for a historical marker from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Author/historian Celeste Morello spearheaded efforts to honor the market with one of the tall blue-and-gold signs.

The marker, to be placed at the Northeast corner of 9th and Christian streets, will refer to the South Ninth Street Curb Market, not as the Italian Market.

That's fine with Morello, who says that when the market started in the early 1900s it was a mix of Italians, Asians and Eastern European merchants.

Morello says a dedication ceremony is planned for Oct. 12, Columbus Day.

Special delivery from Spelling

New mom and "90210" alum Tori Spelling is also a recently ordained minister. She'll bestow one of her first blessings - via tape - on the film "Kiss the Bride," which closes the 13th Annual Gay & Lesbian Film Festival July 24. For tix and more info, phillyfests.com.

* Despite 6ABC's Jim Gardner saying he thought he saw Ben Kingsley among the crowd at the Prince Music Theater while anchoring a piece about the festival on Thursday's 11 p.m. Action News, it was not Sir Ben.

It was Philadelphia Film Society development director Thom Cardwell. A flattered Cardwell asked festival staffers to address him as Sir Thom on Friday.

Shister shifted out of features

Former Inqwaster television columnist Gail Shister has been reassigned to the paper's Metro section and will no longer be covering television for the paper. We reported March 22 that the paper had yanked Shister off her nationally-read column as it was too focused on television news, according to her former editor. Shister told us Friday she may possibly do freelance television writing now that it won't be a conflict with her duties at the Inqwaster and that "for the first time I'm trying to see the glass as half-full."

Caseyboy welcomes baby boy

93.3 WMMR's Caseyboy Foster and his wife Diane are the proud parents of Seamus John, born Friday at 9 pounds, 2 ounces. When the couple entered the operating room where Diane had a cesarean section, the "Preston & Steve" show was playing inside. Seamus has a 19-month old sister, Casey. Family's doing well. *

If you have something you'd like to share with Dan, call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. To read Dan's recent columns, visit http://go.philly.com/dangross.