$44 million movie studio planned

Brian Seals

Friday, June 12, 1998 | 1:45 a.m.

Pahrump isn't exactly known for lights, cameras or action. But it may be soon.

A Las Vegas-area company, Silver Eagle Unlimited Inc., announced plans Thursday to build a 200-acre motion picture studio complex, something company officials say would make it the largest independent studio in the nation. Along with the studio, an adjacent resort is planned on a total of 520 acres near the Southern Nevada town.

Temma Pentecost-Keatan, a principal in the project, estimated it will cost about $44 million and said it will be funded by several private investors. She envisions the operation employing hundreds when completed.

Pentecost-Keatan is chief executive of Silver Eagle Entertainment Inc. Other executives are Lyle Noorlun, chief executive of Silver Eagle Unlimited, who the company said has been in real estate development and financial planning since 1971; and production company owner Phyllis Cesare-Taie.

Pentecost-Keatan said the wide expanse of land and view surrounding Pahrump made it ideal for shooting motion pictures while also allowing proximity to the amenities of Las Vegas and to film labs in Los Angeles.

"The land itself is just beautiful," she said. "It's just a wonderful, peaceful area."

The studio complex will house a recording studio, editing facilities, production offices as well as costume warehouses.

Pentecost-Keatan envisions a bit of old and a bit of new -- she wants to produce Disney-like family entertainment at the complex. At the same time, the facility will house a stage dedicated to CD-ROM live action production.

"We want to make ourselves available to independent and major studios," said the Hollywood-born Pentecost-Keatan.

In addition, a resort is planned complete with a hotel, casino, a nine-hole golf course and stores.

The plan is to build in phases with groundbreaking on the studio possibly coming this fall.

Pentecost-Keatan has been shooting the television pilot "Our Fate" around Las Vegas recently. She has a long background in the industry. Her family opened Los Angeles-area film studios during the 1920s, and her father worked as Charlie Chaplin's stand-in.

Pentecost-Keatan sees the proposed Pahrump production facilities as diversifying Nevada's gaming-based economy.

"To me, it's a second industry coming to Nevada," she said.

People in the field of economic development couldn't agree more. Somer Hollingsworth, president of the Nevada Development Authority, though unaware of this project, said business awaits projects such as these.

"Whoever builds a quality sound stage is going to get a lot of business," Hollingsworth said. "That's what California is saying to us."

He said attempts to recruit film business from California have brought assurances that production companies want to come here. Hollingsworth noted it's a 45-minute flight to Los Angeles and there are many commuters between Las Vegas and there already. He hopes projects such as Silver Eagle's and the Black Mountain Studio in Henderson entice more of the same.

"That industry pays so well and it's so high tech," Hollingsworth said.

Black Mountain Studio announced last November its six-phase project to build a studio in the Wagon Wheel Industrial Park in Henderson. That project was to be built in six phases and was to include a 3,200-square-foot studio that encompassed a 1,500-square-foot sound stage. Officials predicted it would employ up to 215 people at the time of the announcement.

Vicki Taylor of the city of Henderson said the Black Mountain project is scheduled to break ground in the spring of 1999. The company has fulfilled its financial obligation to secure the land, Taylor said. Black Mountain officials couldn't be reached for comment.