While it can be quite neat to stumble upon a movie set when walking down the street, scouring all the type and posters to try and figure out what film it is, I imagine it has to be a big pain in the ass when long shoots film for weeks on end in people's neighborhoods. It certainly seems to be the case for 65-year-old retiree Dresden Graham. The Hollywood Reporter posts that she has become incensed over production of Will Smith's Seven Pounds, which is filming in her 'hood.

Now you might just think that it's an old woman getting crotchety. But imagine this: for two weeks, a film production moves into your neighborhood taking up the parking places (some people in the area have had to take shuttles to get to their apartments because there is no parking), using "bright lights, rain machines, and Great Danes" until 3 AM, and the kicker: parking the portable toilets right in front of your house. No wonder she's ticked. I wouldn't be happy to be bathed in sewer smells for two weeks so that a movie could shoot in a neighbor's house.

Graham is so unhappy that she's put up huge posters telling the production to hit the road (which seems to have gotten her some cash, according to the report). Reuters adds that this has made the production have to "construct a false flowered wall to hide them from the camera's view." So, if you hit theaters for Seven Pounds, and you spot that flowered wall, now you know who was behind it.

Just when you thought you've seen it all ... okay, I'm not even gonna go there. Scientology! But anyway, Connor Cruise, Tom Cruise's 13-year-old adopted son, has landed a role in Will Smith's new flick Seven Pounds, where he'll be playing a younger version of Smith in a minor, non-speaking part. For those who aren't up to speed on Cruise and all his kids, you might be kinda looking sideways at your computer right now. "Did he say Cruise's kid is going to play a younger version of Will Smith?" Fear not, my illinformed friends, they're not taking a page from the Tropic Thunder playbook; oh no, see, Cruise's son Connor is adopted and he is of the same color as Mr. Smith. Phew. (Sit down Al, I didn't say anything wrong or offensive.)

The film, which also stars Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson and Barry Pepper, and is directed by Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness), follows the story of a man (Smith) who affects the lives of seven strangers. It's a drama. There are no crazy special effects. And, yes, it comes out this December -- which, cross your shiny, manicured little fingers, means Smith will be listening for a knock on his door from Mr. Oscar come February. Seriously, though, I love Will Smith. I cannot think of a performance from him that I did not enjoy (performance, not movie -- stop smiling I, Robot, you're not off the hook yet), which is something I rarely say about an actor or an actress. Will Smith is like a warm cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day, no matter which film he's starring in. Guy always finds a way to leave you feeling all warm and toasty inside. Mmmm ...

With the latest casting announcement for Seven Pounds, there might not be a lot of fat added, but definitely a lot of weight. Variety reports that Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson are in final negotiations to co-star in the film with Will Smith. You might remember from the news of Smith's involvement that this project is once again teaming the actor with Pursuit of Happyness director Gabriele Muccino. Or, you might remember that this isn't about Weight Watchers meetings, but rather a man who finds love while trying to end his life.

Written by Grant Nieporte , the film focuses on Smith, a "guilt-ridden man who inadvertently falls in love while attempting to kill himself." Usually suicide is a private endeavor, so I don't see how he could fall in love during the process, unless he keeps someone prisoner to watch, or calls a hotline. Things get more interesting when you figure Dawson and Harrelson into the equation. She's playing "a love interest who suffers from a serious heart condition." Due to the use of "a," I guess she's not the suicide-laden interest. Harrelson, meanwhile, will be "a motel attendent who becomes intrigued by his suicidal new tenant."

It would be great if Woody could be the love interest, since he's supposed to be intrigued by Smith, but I imagine they'll find someone famous, beautiful, and female to cast in the role. If, of course, it isn't Dawson. But that would just be a million-hanky mess -- Smith is about to kill himself, but falls for this great women -- only to find out that she has a serious health condition and dies or something. That sounds beyond depressing. Production begins in January, so we'll find out who's lucky enough to get a suicidal love soon enough. As an aside: assuming they got married and had a family, what do they say when their kids asked them how they met?

Say what you want about The Pursuit of Happyness, but it wasn't a bad movie. Gabriele Muccino's direction was pedestrian at best, yet the movie worked because of Will Smith's Oscar-nominated performance. And little Jaden Smith (real-life son of Will) is possibly the most adorable child actor in years. The movie wasn't quite as good as its promise of being Frank Capra's Kramer vs. Kramer, but it was entertaining -- and for a serious drama it really killed at the box office. Smith may be hoping for his third Academy Award nomination in 2009, as well as his billionth hit, because he's re-teaming with Muccino for a new pic titled Seven Pounds. It will star Smith as a man who finds love while attempting suicide, so it will probably be another BYOK (bring your own Kleenex) film. Aside from Muccino, Happyness' producers, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, James Lassiter and Steve Tisch, are also on board (Smith is also a producer). However, the script is from somebody not associated with the previous film; it was written by sitcom writer Grant Nieporte (8 Simple Rules ... for Dating My Daughter).

Hopefully they can find a role for Jaden, but if not this should be about as good as Happyness. And like I said, it may be Smith's next chance for Oscar. It seems that lately he's becoming the Spielberg of actors, doing an action blockbuster here and a serious, well-acted drama there. Of course, he does the occasional comedy, too, even though his action pics are funny enough on their own. The pattern is working out well for the guy. His follow-up to last winter's Happyness is the apocalyptic action-horror pic I Am Legend, which arrives this December, and then he's got a super-hero movie called Hancock, which bows next year in Smith's typical 4th of July weekend slot. Hancock, which was originally going to be helmed by Muccino, also deals with a guy who is down on his luck, but for a summertime pic, it couldn't possibly be as heart-wrenching as Seven Pounds will likely be. Right? Seven Pounds is set to begin filming in February and is expected for a late 2008 release.