AC casino action includes work on “Ocean’s 11”

John Curran

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001 | 11:16 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- The baccarat pit at Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino became a movie set as Oscar-nominated director Steven Soderbergh, heartthrob George Clooney and dozens of behind-the-scenes workers began filming on "Ocean's 11," a big-budget remake of the 1960 Rat Pack movie of the same name.

Blackjack tables went quiet, giant lighting standards were erected and $75-a-day extras waited -- and waited -- for their moments of glory last week as Soderbergh filmed a scene in which Danny Ocean (Clooney) sat at a table, talking to dealer Frank (comedian Bernie Mac).

Curious fans, kept at bay behind black restraining rope, strained for a glimpse of Clooney, who wore a beige houndstooth blazer and maroon dress shirt, open at the collar.

"Oh, God, there he is! There he is, right there!" squealed Donna Culp, 44, of Mays Landing. "He's just as handsome as I thought. He's gorgeous."

"Control yourself," said Joe Strucich, 67, of Manasquan, who was standing behind her.

Clooney plays an ex-con who recruits 10 old friends to help him with a casino heist. It also stars Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle and Elliott Gould.

But Clooney is the only star who was in Atlantic City for two days of location shoots at Trump Plaza, Caesars Atlantic City Hotel Casino and the White House Sub Shop.

The crew was earlier at East Jersey State Prison in Rahway to film scenes.

Soderbergh, who was nominated as best director for "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic," hardly had time to celebrate his Oscar nominations.

He got word last Tuesday about 8:40 a.m. about the best director nominations he received for "Traffic" and "Erin Brockovich."

An impromptu cheer went up from Clooney and the crew of "Ocean's 11" as they prepared to film a blackjack table scene at Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino.

But Soderbergh wasn't in the mood for interviews.

"Sorry, I can't. I've got to eat," he said later, rushing from the closed set during a lunch break.

Don't want to talk about your Oscar nominations? "I've gotta eat!" he said.

The fans and extras, meanwhile, learned quickly that movies are, in a way, like laws and sausages: The end product is one thing, but you don't want to watch them being made.

"It's boring. It's long. It's tedious," said extra Greg Stamm, 37, of Ventnor.

Casino officials didn't mind surrendering nearly half the casino.

"It's mid-week, and those games wouldn't be open anyway," said Trump Plaza President Mark Brown.

A couple of blocks down Mississippi Avenue, at the White House Sub Shop, the waitresses and customers were all abuzz about the filming, which was to close the sub shop to the public for one day.

The movie makers are compensating the sub shop for the lost business. The shop typically sells 6,000 subs a day, at about $5 per sub.

"We're very excited," said Phil LaRocca, a 46-year employee who is the White House's unofficial spokesman. "We haven't had a movie filmed here since 1979."

That was "Atlantic City," starring Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon.