Monday, March 10, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

File updated 3/10/03

SHOOTING STARS: Lance Burton to participate in two television projects

Magic's in the air this week, with two international TV projects concentrating on conjurers.

The first puts hometown hero Lance Burton in the spotlight.

The Monte Carlo's resident master magician will be interviewed Saturday for Telemundo's top-rated infotainment show, "Al Rojo Vivo con Maria Celeste."

Jokes the Kentucky-born Burton, "I've got to learn to speak Spanish between now and then." Fortunately for him, "magic's the international language."

Spanish-born Karin Arp, who serves as Burton's assistant company manager and a swing dancer in his show, also will be interviewed for the Telemundo show, according to Burton publicist Wayne Bernath.

Burton also will participate in the week's second magic project: "The Virtual Magician," which materializes here Friday for a four-day shoot.

The title character, alias illusionist Marco Tempest, will appear around town to perform sleight-of-hand for bystanders, according to John Bertholon, executive producer of the Newmagic Communications show.

Location scout Kim Houser-Amaral was still rounding up shooting sites at deadline, but the Fremont Street Experience, the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign and desert views -- via helicopter -- were among the possibilities, she said.

As for the Las Vegas locale, "You don't do magic and not do Las Vegas," Bertholon said of Neon Nirvana's status as a magic magnet.

Burton's not sure what his role on the show will be, but describes Tempest, a friend, as "a fascinating guy" who's "a really innovative performance artist" and computer-animation expert as well as a magician.

Burton saw "The Virtual Magician's" pilot episode, which was shot last year, and calls it "a very neat concept."

The reality series will air this fall around the world. Newmagic is still shopping for a U.S. cable deal.

Elsewhere on location this week, MTV rolls into town Monday through Wednesday to shoot promotional clips featuring six spring break contest winners. The Strip, the Fremont Street Experience and other Glitter Gulch locations will be featured.

Speaking of downtown, that's a likely location for a Lincoln-Mercury commercial that may film here this week.

Southern California-based Film Realité was still scouting shooting sites for the spot, to feature the Mercury Mountaineer and Lincoln Aviator and Navigator SUVs, according to producer Tonya Spicer.

Also scheduled downtown: a still shoot for a fashion catalogue at the Fremont Street Experience, expected today.

Banyan Productions, meanwhile, continues work on its reality series "A Dating Story" through Thursday, with Strip locations among the stops on the itinerary. And E! Entertainment Television's "Nearly Famous 2: Las Vegas Showgirls" continues at Harrah's, focusing on the cast and crew of "Skintight."

Turning to future projects, NBC's hourlong pilot about a casino security team remains on track to begin its three-week shoot March 17.

Downtown's Hotel Fremont joins Mandalay Bay as a primary location, according to location manager Ron Carr -- a Vegas veteran who previously handled locations for the short-lived UPN series "The Strip."

And, with shooting a week away, Wild Streak Talent still needs more extras for the pilot -- about 1,500 total, according to Wild Streak's Frankie Mason, including gamblers (high- to low-end), blackjack dealers and male and female model types for pool and cocktail scenes.

Open calls will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 3355 W. Spring Mountain Road, Suite 264. Bring two snapshots or Polaroid photos; call 252-8382 for more information or additional audition times.

Speaking of NBC and auditions, tryouts also will be held Friday for a new reality series titled "Second Chance: America's Most Talented Senior."

The show won't be shooting in Las Vegas, but officials hope to find local singers, dancers, musicians and other performers who will be 50 or over by May 1, according to casting director Rebecca Shumsky.

Auditions will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday in the Luxor's Ra nightclub.

If you're interested, call Shumsky at (818) 526-6124 to schedule an appointment or be put on the RSVP list. Performers who show up without an appointment still will be able to strut their stuff, she adds. All hopefuls should bring a pen -- and a driver's license or passport.

"Dress to impress," Shumsky advises. Costumes are encouraged, but trademark or logo clothing is prohibited. A CD and tape player will be provided; so will a piano, but there's no accompanist, so bring your own.

And while Las Vegas has welcomed numerous projects in recent weeks, there's always room for more.

That explains why Nevada Film Office staffers Veronica Quarles, Larry Rossi and Tina Baldassare are in Austin, Texas, through Wednesday, drumming up interest in the Silver State among attendees at the annual South by Southwest Film Festival and Conference.