SHOOTING STARS: Local production spotlights Vegas ‘Icon’

  The production calendar reflects the spirit of the season, with most projects taking a holiday break.
  But one hometown production, “Icon,” keeps on rolling — and rapping. At least through Wednesday.
  Written and directed by Las Vegas-based Dennis McKinley, the musical feature began shooting last week at nine different locations — residences, recording studios and streets — from Summerlin to Anthem to West Las Vegas.
  McKinley describes the project, his filmmaking debut, as “ ‘American Idol’ behind the scenes,” he notes, about nine different music hopefuls vying to become a top music executive’s next icon.
  Several Las Vegas-based rappers — including Tha Landlord (Philthy Rich Records), Young Rick (Gotta Have It Records), Ashley Joi (formerly of INC Records), Cal Newman (BET, MTV), Hogg Corps and Kev Change — play the aspiring performers.
  “This story is real for a lot of artists,” McKinley points out.
  He initially considered shooting the movie “nationwide, but the talent in Las Vegas got behind this project.” After all, he adds, ‘"we need a break as well.”
  Speaking of breaks, "Icon's" holiday break begins Christmas Day and continues through New Year’s Day; production resumes Jan. 2 and runs for three additional weeks.
  Countdown to ’09: Come New Year’s Eve, the Strip will be jumpin’ — literally.
  That’s because both Fox and ESPN plan TV extravaganzas spotlighting spectacular motorcycle jumps.
  Fox returns to the Strip with a show featuring daredevil Robbie Knievel taking off for a 200-foot jump over the bigger, fiery-er Mirage Volcano. And ESPN’s “Red Bull: New Year, No Limits” return for the second consecutive year, with motocross star Robbie “Maddo” Maddison attempting to land atop Paris Las Vegas’ Arc de Triomphe.
  New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas provides a live, larger-than-life alternative to “all the network shows,” which “have the same pre-programmed format” and musical performances “shot months in advance,” comments Jeff Androsky, executive producer of Fox’s “New Year’s Eve Live.”
  Unlike shows where “everyone’s at Times Square — it’s like a pool camera,” Androsky says, the Las Vegas alternative offers “a little more excitement and a little more fun.”
  For full details on all that televised excitement and fun, tune in to next week’s Shooting Stars. And in the meantime, happy holidays!