Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 67. Number of people pictured whom we recognize: 11 (including two pictures of Gavin, one of Jennifer Siebel, and director Chris Columbus.) Minority count: 4 (6%) Getty v. Traina: 2-2. Percentage of featured parties with decor designed by Stanlee Gatti: 66% (2/3). The last time Paul Discoe wore shoes: 1967. "I'm a builder. When I pour concrete, I wear zoris. And when I wear......

Everyone say hi to our newest correspondent, SFist Grace. Hi, SFist Grace! Sunday night, the SF International screened the world premiere of the film Fog City Mavericks at the Castro Theater. There were shades of Sundance as many of the films featured filmmakers and actors, including George Lucas and Robin Williams, casually red carpeted-their way to the theater, complete with flashbulbs and film cameras documenting the night. Mavericks, a new documentary by Gary Leva......

It's been an exciting week so far in the sleepy, overpriced oasis that is South Park: local resident and Hollywood bigshot Chris Columbus has moved in a crew to shoot a few exterior scenes for "Rent." Some minor tweaks were necessary to complete the illusion that we were back east: extra graffiti was installed, as well as some broken fences, dinged-up taxis, an oddly cinematic hobo encampment, a non-functional hot dog cart, and a......

[Ed. Note: Okay, we'll retire that joke now.] So our friends at Beau Bonneau Casting are at it again. This time they're not looking for skinny hipsters, but for 'drag queens.' There are few casting calls that SFist would really want to go to, and that sure as hell would be one of them. The thought of a mass of fame-w**ring, star-f**king San Fran super-divas in size thirteen heels cat-fighting over roles as extras......

The ongoing landlord-tenant dispute known as the Rent movie negotiations flared up once again, with Chris Columbus's production team claiming they were promised free use of the facilities on Treasure Island, and the City claiming they needed to fork over a security deposit and other niceties. Please do note the irony of squatting in a film studio to film Rent -- okay, thanks. Please also note the irony of Tony Hall claiming that Rent is misusing city funds when he's having the city pay for a new SUV and his Christmas party. (obligatory libel CYA: those may actually be legitimate city expenditures.) Thanks again. So after tears, recriminations, and threats to move back to New York, Rent will be coughing up $12,500/month for studio space, plus utilities, and the rent goes up in July to $20,000. And you thought $1800 for a one-bedroom was too high. Local filming is scheduled to start soon, though it's unclear whether star Idina Menzel's Wicked injury will affect the schedule. ...

First we had to deal with the drama of New Yorkers whining over Rent interiors being filmed on Treasure Island, prompting Revolution Studios to assure Gothamist that exteriors would be shot in NYC. Now we have to deal with former Supervisor and current Treasure Island Development Association director Tony Hall whining over Rent interiors being filmed on Treasure Island. No, Tony isn't nostalgic for the East Village of the early nineties -- he's more......

We're just blamelessly living our idyllic lives out here: blue skies, a Democratic mayor, a modern art museum that doesn't cost $20 to get into, a panda bear coming to Oakland..... when suddenly, out of the blue -- this! A fresh cuppa New York hate because they're filming part of Rent out here! ...

Filming has started for the upcoming Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo romantic comedy "If Only It Were True," based on an adaptation of local novelist Marc Levy's 2000 novel of the same name. If you don't recognize the location, it's 16th and Valencia - photoblogger Bill of Mermaniac tells us the bookstore location has been renamed is "Abandoned Planet". It seems there's already been a sighting of Ms. Witherspoon at Dolores Park over the......