Buzz is going around town about the upcoming filming of the blockbuster-in-waiting, Thor. It will be filming come spring, and casting calls are scheduled from 2-7 p.m. Feb. 19 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 20 at the first floor of Marion Hall at 224 E. Palace Ave. Anyone over 18 may attend and people also are invited to bring photos of children who are interested in being extras. Or, submit information to Thor Casting, 1698 Galisteo St. Thor is filming right now in Manhattan Beach, Calif., and shifts to New Mexico in March.

Thor promises to be a thinking-man's superhero film. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, it stars Natalie Portman (Jane Foster), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Anthony Hopkins (Odin) and Tom Hiddleston (Loki), just to name a few. It is based on the Marvel comic story, which, of course, is fueled by ancient Norse legends. An arrogant Thor is punished by having to live among humans, only to have to rescue the world when the darkest forces of Asgard invade.

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The Passion Play's shooting is all over town these days. First there was a secret location in a home high above Santa Fe off Hyde Park Road (not such a secret when you see the security trucks at the subdivision entrance). Then, more filming in the theater at the Santa Fe Opera last week, and finally, on Thursday, a crew was spotted on the steps of the Scottish Rite Temple downtown. Can't wait to see Santa Fe's many faces on screen when the movie, starring Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox, is released.

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At the Santa Fe Bar and Grill a week ago Friday: former New Mexico Gov. Jerry Apodaca and documentary filmmaker David Ellis, enjoying a long lunch together.

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First-time director Tom Ford has to be proud that Colin Firth — as expected — has garnered a coveted Oscar nomination for the film, A Single Man. Perhaps part of directing Firth to such a solid performance was this requirement, related by Ford at the Toronto Film Festival last year: "I made everyone (in the cast) have a manicure and pedicure almost every day on set. You never know when you'll see a character's hands or feet in shots and it's so expensive to retouch."

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More Oscar nominations with New Mexico connections: as expected, Jeff Bridges for filmed-in-Santa-Fe Crazy Heart for Best Actor. Not so expected, supporting actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, also for Crazy Heart. The film's theme song, "The Weary Kind," also garnered a nomination for its writer, Ryan Bingham (Hobbs boy!) and co-writer T Bone Burnett. Best picture nominee Avatar sports a performance by Santa Fe's Wes Studi. Finally, there's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, also  filmed in New Mexico, which won an Oscar nod in the sound mixing category.

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That same Wes Studi was on the catwalk last month at Buffalo Thunder's Native fashion show, featuring designs by Michelle Tapia Browning, Patricia Michaels, Penny Singer, Pilar Agoyo, Cody Sanderson and Jerry Ingram. Augusta Meyers, former longtime anchor for KOAT-TV and now spokeswoman for the Rail Runner, emceed the event in a Patricia Michaels dress. Those attending included Pojoaque Gov. George Rivera and Sandy Green of Glenn Green Galleries. Proceeds benefited various Boys & Girls Clubs of New Mexico and Northern New Mexico.

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The behind-the-scenes guy at the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, Gabe Gomez, had his own day in the spotlight on his birthday, Jan. 28, which was proclaimed Official Gabriel "Gabe" Gomez Day in Santa Fe. He was honored for his contributions to Santa Fe as a "poet, playwright, radio host and freelance music journalist."

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