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More wacky tales of Vegas

July 30, 2007 - 9:00 pm
 

Growing up in Las Vegas can be a surreal experience.

Just ask Mercy Malick, the writer, actress and filmmaker behind “Tales From the Catholic Church of Elvis,” based on her award-winning Los Angeles stage show.

Describing the project as “a cross between Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’ and ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse,’ ” Malick and producer Eric Mofford plan to wrap production this week — with scenes at such very Vegas landmarks as the Tod Motor Motel and the Bonanza Gifts Shop.

“If you’ve ever been to Catholic school — or if you’ve ever visited Las Vegas — there’s something that will make you feel at home,” says Malick, who based the wacky tales on her Sin City girlhood.

“Tales From the Catholic Church of Elvis” shot primarily in Southern California last December, Malick notes. After seeing the edited footage, however, she decided “it really needs Las Vegas elements.”

Desert passage: You’ve heard of Lawrence of Arabia. Now meet “Lawrence of America,” a wandering Brit starring in a Travel Channel pilot.

This week’s four-day shoot features the host exploring “unique and delightful” local attractions as viewers (and interviewees) in turn discover the host’s “unique personality,” explains the Travel Channel’s James Ashurst.

In addition to on-the-Strip encounters with visitors and a stop at Graceland Wedding Chapel, “Lawrence of America” plans to visit with a variety of performers, from the magicians Burton — Lance and Nathan — to the men of Thunder From Down Under and the ladies of Club Paradise.

Wilkommen in Vegas: Norbert and Petra Doerr have been in Las Vegas for a decade, operating a tour and wedding service that caters to clients from their native Germany.

And this week, a German TV crew will focus on the couple’s “Mein Neues Leben” — which translates as “My New Life.”

The couple “traveled many times to the U.S. and just fell in love with the country,” Petra says. Cameras will follow Norbert guiding city and Hoover Dam tours — and Petra organizing a wedding.

Final countdown: The 2007 edition of the 48 Hour Film Festival — in which competing teams write, cast, film, edit and score short films — kicks off Friday, with at least 33 local teams in the running.

But there’s still room for more (about six more teams), reports local coordinator Angela Abshier, who invites interested filmmakers, actors, crews, even musicians, to the Downtown Cocktail Room, 111 Las Vegas Blvd. South, at 7 tonight for a last round of questions.

The competition will also kick off (from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday) and conclude (by 7:30 p.m. Sunday) at the Downtown Cocktail Room. Click on www.48hourfilm.com for more details.

Carol Cling’s Shooting Stars column appears Mondays. Contact her at 383-0272 or e-mail her at ccling@reviewjournal.com.

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