Nevada is a wonderful place to film movies thanks to the arid climate, glitzy cities, and variety of landscapes throughout the state. More than 600 projects every year are filmed in Nevada, including commercials, feature films, and television series. The most popular place to film by far is Las Vegas, but other cities around the state have had their fair share of movies shot locally, including Reno and Carson City.
Las Vegas
Despite what may seem like a restrictive environment, Las Vegas is a prime location for filming all sorts of movies. One contributing factor is the numerous hotels and casinos available for story lines. Some of the most well-known movies filmed in Las Vegas include Viva Las Vegas, starring Elvis Presley and Ann Margret. Another classic that has recently been revived in the city is Ocean's Eleven. It was remade in 2001, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The movie features scenes from inside and outside the Bellagio, and it includes shots of other casinos and hotels. The two sequels to that movie, Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen, also have scenes filmed in Las Vegas.
There are many other blockbusters made here. 3000 Miles to Graceland was released in 2001 and starred Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner. The movie's storyline, which involved dressing up like Elvis, inspired numerous Elvis impersonators to show up at the set while the movie was being filmed. Casino, which starred Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, and Sharon Stone, was an almost historical movie that depicted how the world of Las Vegas gambling was seized by the Mafia and then fell from power. It also includes a cameo role by Oscar Goodman, mayor of Las Vegas.
The film Bugsy, starring Warren Beatty and Annette Benning, tells the story of Ben "Bugsy" Siegel being involved with the mob to build the Flamingo as the first real resort on the Strip. Indecent Proposal was filmed in many locations in Las Vegas and featured scenes in the Las Vegas Hilton. It stars Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, and Robert Redford. The 1971 release Diamonds Are Forever, with Sean Connery, also had many scenes that were filmed at the Las Vegas Hilton, along with Circus Circus, the Mint, and the Tropicana Hotels and Casinos. The movie Con Air was mostly filmed outside of Nevada, but the end of the film features the Sands Hotel when the airplane in the movie crashes into it. The hotel was about to be demolished anyway for the Venetian to be built. There are numerous other movies filmed in Las Vegas, far too many to name. The bright lights, glitz, famous casinos, and long history make it a prime place to make films.
Television shows that have been filmed in Las Vegas range from reality shows like MTV's The Real World: Las Vegas and the show Celebrity Poker to NBC's Las Vegas, which is filmed in different hotels in each season.
For those interested in the more artistic side of film, many film festivals are held in Las Vegas. Some of them include CineVegas Film Festival (held each June), Las Vegas International Film Festival (early February), and Las Vegas Jewish Film Festival (every January).
Reno/Tahoe
Although Reno and Tahoe are not nearly as popular as Las Vegas for filming movies, the beautiful area still boasts plenty of movies and television shows. Some of the more recognized movies filmed in this area are Sister Act, which starred Whoopie Goldberg, Kingpin, starring Woody Harrelson and Randy Quaid, and Pink Cadillac, starring Clint Eastwood, Bernadette Peters, and a small role by Jim Carrey.
The area has also produced several local performers that have gone on to become famous. Celebrities in film that are from Reno include Curtis Hanson, who produced 8 Mile, LA Confidential, and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle; Dawn Wells, who was in the series Gilligan's Island; Madchen Amick, who acted in the TV series Joey; and Shannon Sossamon, who was in the films A Knight's Tale and 40 Days and 40 Nights.
Reno offers a film festival for independent film makers. The Reno Film Festival was held this year in four different locations around the city in May and featured many short and independent films. CINEMARENO is another film festival held in Reno, as well as the Reno Jazz and Film Festival, which has events going on in Reno year round.
Carson City
It is believed by historians that the first movie filmed in Carson City was footage of the prizefight between Jim Corbett and George Fitzsimmons in 1897. Since then, about a dozen or so other movies have been filmed in the city. Some of these include Pink Cadillac and Honkeytonk Man, both starring Clint Eastwood; Showgirls, starring Elizabeth Berkley and Kyle McLaughlin; Misery, starring Kathy Bates and James Caan, and The Shootist, which was John Wayne's last movie. There are also several documentaries that were filmed there, including a few silent movies made early in the history of film.
It seems that there is no slowing down the momentum by which filmmakers are recognizing the potential of this dynamic state. Already boasting many big blockbusters, more are sure to come. Nevada is known as "The Silver State," and there is much to enjoy on its silver screen.
