Wahlberg, Bale are main event on 'The Fighter' set

So, what was the behind-the-scenes buzz today on the set of "The Fighter" during the big boxing scene in Lowell?

According to a Loaded Gun Boston spy who participated in the Be In A Movie crowd shot at the Paul Tsongas Arena located at 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, chatter centered around actors Christian Bale and Dorchester homeboy Mark Wahlberg.

When asked about Bale's stunning weight loss to get in character as Dickie Eklund, "Irish" Micky Ward's then drug-addicted brother and trainer, the source says the photos seen here are no exaggeration. "Everyone on set today was noticing how thin he is," the spy confirms. "I guess that's why actors get the big bucks."

The source adds that Wahlberg, in contrast, also made a dramatic transformation to get into character. "Wahlberg is stacked," he says. "He doesn't have a six-pack ... it's more like an eight-pack."

"The Fighter" tells the story of Boston fighter Ward (Wahlberg) and how he was helped to the world lightweight championship by half-brother Eklund (Bale). Amy Adams is set to step in the ring as a gritty bartender from Massachusetts who ends up dating Wahlberg's character. Adams joins veteran actress Melissa Leo (spotted wearing retro '80s garb today) who is slotted to play Bale and Wahlberg's mother.

Production for the made-in-Massachusetts flick, indicated by yellow "GIX" signs, is slotted for two more days at the Lowell arena until Thursday, July 16.

Click here for the latest on "The Fighter."

--Sign photo by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo