‘Witch Mountain’ coming to Vegas

The Rock's getting ready to roll into Las Vegas later this year in a new version of the 1975 Disney live-action hit "Escape to Witch Mountain."

The remake, titled "Witch Mountain," begins production in Southern California this March, with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and "Bridge to Terabithia's" AnnaSophia Robb leading the cast.

This week, however, local authorities and production officials are expected to discuss plans for June's Las Vegas shoot.

The movie marks a reunion for Johnson and his "Game Plan" director, Andy Fickman -- and an update for the tale (previously remade as a 1995 TV-movie), about two orphaned kids with paranormal powers fleeing diabolical forces hoping to exploit their abilities.

This time, Las Vegas serves as the setting for the action. Johnson reportedly plays an ex-con cabby who picks up the kids as passengers, then becomes embroiled in their adventures.

Sounds and visions: Las Vegas' neon boneyard was scheduled to provide the backdrop this weekend for singer-songwriter Tim Williams' latest music video, "Tape Your Head."

Director Josh Horowitz hopes to contrast the glitz of the Strip with the no-longer-sparkling boneyard signs, explains producer Barry Sonders of the New York-based production company Film Orange.

The made-in-Vegas video, which was expected to shoot Saturday and Sunday, should turn up on MTV2, mtvU and Fuse TV, Sonders adds.

On the town: Local Dan Sherbondy's "Dan Show," a blend of comedy and on-the-town romp, is back in action under a new title, "Dan Does Vegas."

The 30-minute show, which airs in more than a dozen countries on cable and satellite channels (including America Unleashed and Laugh USA) "is half comedy and hidden-camera pranks and half entertainment," explains Sherbondy, who produces and hosts the show.

"Our main focus will be segments that play well in both foreign and domestic markets," he explains.

To that end, Sherbondy's looking for suggestions from area residents about their favorite clubs, bars and shows. E-mail tips to Sherbondy at dan@danshow.com.

Casting calls: Auditions for local filmmaker Marko Sakren's political comedy "Running 4 President" will be held at the Audition Machine's next session, 6 p.m. Tuesday at It's A Grind Coffee House, 8470 W. Desert Inn Road. For more information: www.auditionmachine.com.

And if you've (literally) got a haunting story to tell, folks from the Sci-Fi Channel's "Ghost Hunters" TV show want to hear it at open auditions, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 15 and 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 16 at Las Vegas Town Square.

Click on www.scifi.com/ghosthunt for more details.

Carol Cling's Shooting Stars column appears Mondays. Contact her at (702) 383-0272 or e-mail her at ccling@reviewjournal.com.