VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Las Vegas set on studio venture

Friday, June 20, 2003 | 10:54 a.m.

Film festivals such as CineVegas are created to spur new business, sell movies, seal deals, and give a platform to films and filmmakers.

Perhaps the legacy of this year's festival will end up being Thursday's announcement of Studio Vegas.

The intriguing new entity aims to provide financing, production, creative and distribution services and a "multi-platform future" for Vegas tourism.

"We have a set of the Vegas Strip -- actual size. Who else can say that?" Studio Vegas President Howard Lefkowitz beamed.

Also, Lefkowitz said, Studio Vegas will offer unique cross-promotional opportunities through its media partners; Lefkowitz is also president of VEGAS.com, which, along with this newspaper, is under the corporate umbrella of the Greenspun Media Group.

Lefkowitz says that the "integration of platforms" is the wave of the media future.

Studio Vegas has already signed up producer Rick Garson in what in the industry is called a "housekeeping deal" -- where they will partner in all aspects of a production, from securing locales to housing tech staff.

Garson is the creative mind behind the "Billboard Music Awards," several Amnesty International concerts, the first pay-per-view Rolling Stones concert and the Fox network's New Year's Eve telecast.

Last year's midnight countdown was nationally broadcast live from the Strip and will be again this year -- with Studio Vegas as a partner in the project.

"Vegas has an energy that cannot be matched," Garson said. "It could be the lights, the amazing shows, the hot clubs -- whatever 'it' is, our culture is fascinated with the Entertainment Capital of the World and wants to see more."

Big ears

Most good reporters specialize in eavesdropping. So when a woman working in the portable CineVegas office at the Palms hung up the phone Wednesday and shrieked, "We've got Justin!" VegasBeat's ears naturally perked up.

Yes, it turns out she was referring to Justin Timberlake, and yes, organizers expect him to attend the CineVegas poolside bash Saturday night at the Palms, after his concert at MGM Grand Garden Arena with Christina Aguilera.

Big loss

Several Bellagio executives had a sit-down with Light partner Andrew Sasson this week, sources tell VegasBeat.

The property is said to be angry at the British-born club impresario for denying admittance two weekends ago to Shaquille O'Neal and eight of his friends for wearing shorts and sneakers.

Seems Shaq is a large gambler -- both in stature and what he drops at the tables -- and the hotel was angry that the fabulously wealthy NBA star didn't spend any money there.

Shaq and his posse were later spotted in a private booth at Rain in the Desert at the Palms and at the tables at that hotel.

Big numbers

As VegasBeat reported earlier in the week, "Mystere" just celebrated its 4,500th performance at Treasure Island.

Impressive by anyone's definition.

But what about 30,000 performances?

That's what "Chippendales" is approaching. Of course, there are several productions of the male revue besides the show that has been packing 'em in at The Rio for more than a year now.

Producers say the July 18 performance, performed simultaneously in Vegas, Laughlin, Reno, Boston and Baltimore, is the milestone show.

"Mamma Mia!" is also celebrating a significant milestone.

Producers of that show estimate that on July 2 at the Prince Edward Theatre in London, the show will celebrate its 10 millionth audience member worldwide.

That same day the cast of the show will join ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus at London's Waterloo train station to sing -- what else? -- "Waterloo."

Good food

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman issued a proclamation Wednesday, declaring it Las Vegas Food Service Magazine Day.

Among the gourmets celebrating the mag's one-year anniversary at Jillian's that evening: media types Robin Leach, Ron Futrell, Adeana Shendal, Rick Becker, Darren Emory, Sasha Jackowich and Les Kincaid, Simon Kitchen and Bar Chef Josh Thomsen, bon vivant Monti Rock III, Gaylord restaurant president Satpal Kohli, Steven Brooks, the president of the Art Institute of Las Vegas and Aureole general manager and July issue cover boy Christophe Chatron-Michaud.

The magazine's Amberlyn Storey also had local band Pam Nickels and Spare Change entertain along with a Tom Jones impersonator.

VegasBits

Rock: Several friends of former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page toasted him at Charlie Palmer Steak at the Four Seasons the other night, celebrating the release of the new three-CD live Zeppelin set, "How The West Was Won." Page humbly accepted the accolades ...

Film fan: Bad boy actor Colin Farrell was spotted at the Hard Rock Hotel on Thursday. He is expected to attend the closing night CineVegas party at the Skin Pool Lounge at the Palms on Saturday ...

Film fan, 2: Jilly and Tony Curtis attended the CineVegas party Wednesday night at OPM, the hot new club above Wolfgang Puck's Forum Shops restaurant ...

Congrats: George Maloof is again an uncle. His sister, Adrian, had a baby boy Thursday. She is married to Dr. Paul Nassif, one of the world's most skilled and highly regarded plastic and reconstructive surgeons ...

Cajun good: The Neville Brothers -- Art, Charles, Cyril and Aaron -- the New Orleans-based family band whose pop music relevance extends from the dawn of rock 'n' roll straight through to today, plays at the Stardust July 3 to July 5 ...

Day two: The nightclub at Prana was such a success last Saturday night that Nico Santucci and Marklen Kennedy are expanding the evening fun to both Fridays and Saturdays, starting tonight.

Fom Sun wires

"Almost Famous" actress Kate Hudson, 24, and her musician husband, Chris Robinson, 36, said they are expecting their first child early next year.

It will also be the first grandchild for Hudson's mother, actress Goldie Hawn, and stepfather, Kurt Russell ...

Star attraction: Britney Spears, Kevin Costner and Halle Berry are getting stars on Hollywood's celebrated Walk of Fame next year.

Glenn Close, Anthony Hopkins, John Singleton, Ted Turner, Journey and 17-year-old twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen will also get the sidewalk honor.