Las Vegas: Lights, Camera, Action

BY CAPUCINE HOLMES

Las Vegas is full of excitement. People from all over the world are awed by the city’s inimitable glamour, and the entertainment industry — from movie and television productions to awards shows — is taking notice.

The gospel music industry took over Las Vegas recently when about 30,000 people descended on the city for the Stellar Awards, hosted over three days at the Orleans Hotel and Casino. Opening night was highlighted by Las Vegas’ own Aaron Arrington. The founder of Facebook Chorale — a choir made up of more than 100 of his Facebook friends, who come together to fellowship while performing gospel music — Arrington is also the creator of the Midnight Gospel Bowling concert held in the Orleans Bowling Alley. Attendees bowled, then enjoyed a concert with Church Girls Rock Live — featuring Stellar Award winner Beverly Crawford, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Melonie Daniels-Walker, and Chrystal Rucker. Other performers included internet sensation James Wright, Kirk Franklin’s DJ DEX of Sirius Radio, the Tennessee Mass Choir, Las Vegas’ own Velma Harris and many more.

The showstopper for the Stellar Awards weekend was on Saturday — as a crowd clad in in couture gowns and tuxedos poured into the Orleans Arena for the biggest gospel awards show of the year. They enjoyed a night highlighted by stars like Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin, Tamela Mann, Fred Hammond, and Jackalyn Carr.

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Talented young people from Nevada are poised to make a tremendous impact on the film industry — and don’t be surprised if Studio 11’s “11 Eleven 11” project one produces an Oscar-winning filmmaker.

The program, which is owned and operated by Sharon Tomlinson, is focused on making socially-conscious films about young people. Participants are given the opportunity to work with stars like hit recording artists Mindless Behavior, Towanda Braxton (“The Braxtons”), Carl Payne known as (“Martin”), Khalil Kain (“Girlfriends”), Doris Morgado (“Logan”). They were able to record a score with award-winning producer and songwriter Damon Hasan Johnson — who has worked with Beyonce, Destiny Child, Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Lopez.

There wasn’t an empty seat in the house when a new Studio 11 film, “Misguided Behavior,” debuted at AMC in Town Square. A powerful story about bullying, it speaks to an important issue of our time — and heralds a new and promising era of cinematic talent coming out of the world’s entertainment capital.