.THE FIGHTER' COMES HOME

By Rita Savard, rsavard@lowellsun.com

Updated: 12/10/2010 09:53:07 AM EST

LOWELL -- Lights. Camera. Action.

Lowellians got a taste of Hollywood last night asThe Fighter landed its first public screening inLowell.

Shot almost exclusively in the Mill City, the storyabout boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's epic rise throughthe ranks hit home with two hours of familiarbackdrops -- and faces.

From cameos to prominent roles, several residentsearned their 15 seconds of fame, and then some.

It's been more than a year since Vanessa Bryan wason East Merrimack Street, being filmed in a scenewith Mark Wahlberg, who plays Ward, .and ChristianBale, who plays Ward's half brother, Dicky Eklund.

"It was me and four other girls," she says. "We had tokind of hoot and holler, you know, yell out

things like 'hey baby' at Micky and Dicky."

Bryan said the film crew put the girls' names in ahat. The name that came out of the hat was going toget to make out with Bale in the scene, she said.

"We were all crossing our fingers but it turned outto be one of my friends that got to do that scene,"she says.

Turns out, that girl wasn't so excited.

"This wasn't Batman Christian Bale," Bryan laughs.

"He looked really grimy and he had disgustingteeth."

Bryan, a manager at Humanity clothing boutique inLowell, had no idea if the scene would appear in themovie. But last night, in a sold-out theater atShowcase Cinema, she saw the camera sweep by her.

Bale had more than one kissing scene, including a

pretty steamy makeout session with Lowell residentC~anty Sok, who plays a prominent role as Karen,Dicky's crackhead girlfriend.

The film opened a door for the 26-year-old modeland aspiring actress, giving Sok her first significantpart in a Hollywood movie.

The packed movie theater -- seating about 340 -­erupted in applause whenever a local graced thescreen.

Before the movie began, Arthur Ramalho, owner ofRamalho's West End Gym where Micky and Dickylearned to box, .

received a standing ovation. Ramalho also hasseveral scenes in the movie.

Chanty Sok of Lowell appears in TheFighter. Photo by Joe Sinthavong &Darion (Mao/Kojo Studio)

Brenda Maille, a lawyer who practices family law inLowell, never set out to be an actress. But acting,she says, was on her "bucket list."

In a scene filmed inside the Olympia Restaurant,Maille is sitting at the bar, drinking a martini.

"They said to show up and bring muted-coloredclothes, things that would have been in style in the'90s," she says.

When she arrived, the wardrobe person handed hera "leopard print, shiny big shoulder-padded shirt."

"I enjoyed every minute of it," Maille says. "Justwatching what happens while they're filming isreally interesting. So much work goes into a singlescene, it's amazing."

The biggest

breakthrough role was for Lowell Police Sgt. MickeyO'Keefe, who plays himself in the movie.

Lowell City Councillor Rita Mercier, left,and Deb Belanger, executive director ofthe Merrimack Valley Convention andVisitors Bureau, attend thepre-screening party for The Fighter, inwhich both had cameo appearances.(SUN/Julia Malakie )

Having trained Ward for the comeback of his boxingcareer, Wahlberg insisted O'Keefe play the part tocapture the realness and intensity of someone whoknew fighting and who knew Micky and Dicky.

O'Keefe, who never acted, was hesitant at first, butWahlberg told him he could do it because as apolice officer, he has to act and think fast on hisfeet.

When O'Keefe first walked on camera, last night'sLowell-centric crowd went wild.

Lowell itself plays a starring role, with its five­corner intersections, clapboard flat-iron buildingsand a blue-collar spirit that helped drive Dicky, andthen Micky, to fame in the ring.

Micky Ward, right, greets his adoringfans at a special premiere-night partyat the Courtyard-By-Marriott Hotel inLowell last night. About 300 fansbought tickets for Lowell's debutscreening of "The Fighter" at ShowcaseCinema. sun/julia Malakie

Sun staff photos can be ordered byvisiting our MyCapture site.

Before last night's screening, Ward told a largecrowd attending a pre-party at the CourtyardMarriott that the movie might show parts of Lowellpeople may not like.

"But that's any city," Ward says. "I love Lowell and Ialways come back to it."

The crowd at Showcase seemed to agree, as cheersand applause rolled with the film credits. Lastnight's screening had sold out within the first hourof ticket sales about two weeks ago, even at $75 apop.

Proceeds from ticket sales will go to Team MickyWard Charities, which Ward established seven years ago to help needy children and families in Lowell.

The Fighter opened to the general public at Lowell'sShowcase Cinema shortly after midnight today. Ward's home city was chosen to receive the filmearly. The Fighter will land in theaters nationwideon Dec. 17.