SHOOTING STARS: ‘Saint’ Buscemi returns to Sin City

  All roads lead back to Las Vegas. Just ask Steve Buscemi.
  More than a decade ago, the award-winning character actor was (s)trapped in a prison plane that had plowed into the soon-to-be-imploded Sands (where The Venetian now stands) during “Con Air.” (His fellow “passengers” included Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich and Ving Rhames.)
This week, Buscemi's back as the title character in the quirky comedy-drama “St. John of Las Vegas,” a loose (make that very loose) adaptation of Dante’s “Inferno.”
  The movie, which recently completed a 23-day shoot in Albuquerque, N.M., features Buscemi as the title character, a washed-up gambler turned insurance investigator who returns to his Albuquerque hometown — but misses his high-rolling Vegas days. At least until he and his company’s lead adjuster (played by "Weeds' ” Romany Malco) hit the road to Vegas to investigate a fraud claim.
  Writer-director Hue Rhodes hopes to show Las Vegas in a new way (doesn't’ every director?), depicting it as “cold and industrial — far from the warmth of the Strip.”
  No wonder this week’s locations range from an auto wrecking yard to a Terrible Herbst gas station to a Tropicana Avenue motel — along with the scenic Las Vegas Beltway. Location manager Ron Carr definitely knows the territory, considering that his credits include “C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Las Vegas,” the short-lived series “The Strip” — and the aforementioned “Con Air.”
  “MIA” found: The award-winning ad campaign for Dos Equis beer, which spotlights the (fictional) Most Interesting Man in the World, has inspired a related reality TV series.
  “MIA: The Most Interesting Assistant” — which begins airing in September on the Mojo HD channel — will shoot its finale Wednesday through Friday with host Shanon Cook, testing contestants on various challenges before naming an overall winner.
  The week’s locations range from Mandalay Bay’s wave pool to the Sandu Circus School, explains producer Alex Solomons. Before hitting Las Vegas, the show globe-trotted from Oaxaca, Mexico, to Istanbul, San Diego and Boulder, Colo.
  For the Mandalay wave pool portion of the challenge, producer Solomons needs a costumed pirate — male or female — from 5 to 8 a.m. Thursday. If you’re interested, e-mail Solomons at alexsolomons@mac.com.
  Campaign trail: The political comedy “Running 4 President” goes into its final week of location work before shifting to a studio, with stops at a Charleston Boulevard coffee shop and private residences, along with a return to the Henderson International School.
Writer-director Marko Sakren needs additional extras for Sunday’s shoot; e-mail casting@R4Pmovie.com if you’re interested in participating — and check www.R4Pmovie.com for call times, directions to the location and other info.
  “Phil”ing in: The syndicated “Dr. Phil” talk show, featuring Dr. Phil McGraw, was expected to conclude shooting on the Strip Saturday for the show’s “Ultimate Weight Loss Race.” Among the casino exteriors on the show’s itinerary: Bellagio, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York-New York and Planet Hollywood.
  Catching up: A national McDonald’s ad shot at DreamVision Studios last week, featuring local actors.
  And the Palms’ recording studio and pool provided backdrops last week for the Scintas’ proposed reality/sitcom combo, titled “Scintas: Surviving the Strip.”
  The 10-minute presentation “will be sent to multiple networks,” Frankie Scinta reports. “There’s been a lot of interest” in the project, which features the Hilton cabaret headliners and their friends, from the late Robert Goulet to former “Sopranos” regular Steve Schirripa.
  “Even Mama Scinta has a role,” according to Frankie, who expects a decision on the show “in the next couple months.” As always, stay tuned to Shooting Stars for more details.