It's work, not play, for producers in Sin City

Scout & About: Nevada

"It's a very film-friendly place," he says. "Getting locations and film permits is easy and the film commission is great. Of course, it helps that I know everyone in town."

On Aug. 1, Weintraub, along with stars Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, is to start shooting the Las Vegas portion of his latest production, Liberace biopic "Behind the Candelabra" for HBO Films, with Steven Soderbergh directing. "We're not shooting on the Strip this time, but we'll be at all the original locations, such as the Vegas Hilton where Liberace played," he says, "and it's great because you can still find all those fabulous locations there."

"Nevada's a great place to shoot," agrees Richard Hansil, executive producer of "Bridezillas," the popular reality skein on WE. Now in its ninth season, the show recently shot on the Strip and all around the Las Vegas metropolitan area. "Getting permits is quick and efficient, and we also filmed at a wedding chapel, 702 Weddings," he says. "Every time I've shot in Nevada I've had a great experience, and the film commission has expedited any permits we needed."

Hansil also shot Animal Planet's "Venom in Vegas" in Sin City. The show features highly poisonous snakes so the film commission went out and enlisted the cooperation of the police and fire departments, and well as several local hospitals, in case of a mishap.

In a bit of added drama, the office also helped "coordinate air traffic control in case we had to organize an emer-gency flight."

Also in Nevada, New Line recently wrapped scenes from "Burt Wonderstone," starring Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Olivia Wilde and Steve Buscemi, which is slated for release next year.