By Scott Zoback

• SCORSESE WON'T DINE AT MAC'S: It's been sudden movie madness in Worcester over the past couple of weeks. But not everyone is excited with how it's going. Word is that several city councilors were pissed off at the Telegram's article on Sunday that the Martin Scorsese film, which had been looking to shoot at the old Worcester State Hospital grounds, had fallen through. Apparently, not all the councilors were told by the city manager that any film meetings were happening. At this week's City Council meeting, Phil Palmieri bitingly questioned Assistant City Manager Julie Jacobson on the issue. "We have had a number of dealings with the Mass. Film office, yes," responded Julie Jacobson. In fact, multiple City Hall sources say that there have been a host of movie-related tours and meetings (studios, producers) that have occurred since the Legislature passed the tax breaks for filming in Massachusetts. State Rep. Vincent Pedone says that while people are getting worked up over this movie, "The fact is the film companies wanted control of the property for from six to nine months — if we delay the start of the hospital, it's around $7.5 million to $10 million in delays." Further, adds Pedone, the city is the wrong target. "The city had no control over the decision. This was a state decision, based solely on the cost/benefit ratio — the project is getting going, and we cannot put a stop to it just because people want to see Martin Scorsese having lunch at Mac's Diner."

• HOLY CITYSQUARE: It's no secret that Berkeley Investments is having trouble lining up enough tenants to proceed with CitySquare-related demolition. But for a long time the rhetoric from city officials was that the general development agreement shouldn't change; that the standards set during negotiations shouldn't be changed. But with political and public pressure to see some physical progress, that's all changed. City Manager Michael O'Brien announced on Tuesday night that he is working to change aspects of the CitySquare agreement, "to make it more realistic" with the goal of starting demolition on the old Galleria. And soon. O'Brien says he expects to bring something on the project before the Council in the next 60 days and, under questioning from Phil Palmieri, said that to expect to see the wrecking ball within six months "is ambitious — but in the realm of possibility."

• MASSAGING THE TRIGGER POINTS: So what would change? Michael O'Brien talked about "redefining" some of the triggers — and that could be any of several factors. But one big sticking point has been the lack of lined-up tenants. If the number required for demolition was lowered to an attainable goal, the demolition could theoretically proceed.

• ANNA MARIA TO THE SQUARE: Perhaps coincidentally, Michael O'Brien has been pushing Anna Maria to open their announced but un-sited Worcester satellite campus at CitySquare (he was overheard at a Monday press conference telling Anna Maria President Jack Calareso as much). And Calareso said on Monday that he planned on having an announcement in the next 60 days, the same approximate time period O'Brien gave the Council for a CitySquare update.

• YELLOW BOX SUPPORTERS TURN RED: Several Yellow Box supporters (a few of them UMass Medical students) who showed up for Tuesday night's expected Council vote on the needle disposal boxes left angered by Barbara Haller's tabling of the item under personal privilege. The tabling was under the auspices of needing more time for information, but a few of the supporters suggested that Haller was trying to restrict their ability to speak on the item by delaying it. Mayor Konnie Lukes refused to recognize the supporters under Council rules, adding to the frustration. There were a few extended pow-wows in the hallway between the UMass students, Commissioner of Public Health Leonard Morse, ACLU head Ronal Madnick, Graham, Putnam and Mahoney Funeral Director Peter Stefan and others; the group is expected to bring out a big crowd next week in support of Yellow Boxes. Of course, the item could be tabled once again with enough votes.

• SPECIAL MURRAY: It didn't take that long, but Lt. Gov. Tim Murray has received one of his first major hit pieces in the Boston Globe. The article on Tuesday highlighted Murray and Gov. Deval Patrick's money success; they've taken in a combined $1.4 million in campaign contributions, $650,000 of that for Murray. "Part of being effective is to be politically strong and to be ready for any challenges that may come," Murray told the Globe. "The lion's share of our effort has been focused on moving the agenda ahead on a whole of range of initiatives. But you also have to pay attention to the political end. It is all part of the electoral process." The article also highlighted complaints that Murray has hired a Republican lobbyist to help with fundraising.

• WORCESTER LOVERS, REJOICE: DVDs of the first season of the Web series "Worcester Love" are available today. The fast-paced "best things Worcester" show, produced by and starring Kaz Gamble and Andrea Ajemian, was a big hit this year, with the duo inimitably profiling 10 area businesses, sites and events. The DVDs will be available on worcesterlove.com, and at several of the businesses profiled by the show. Gamble says that they are working on next season's episodes already. o