ML - Vegas Magazine

2014 - Issue 4 - Summer

Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT KENNEDY (FILM SET); AARON GARCIA (ANDREA'S) Wit h t he st ate of Nevada of fer ing juicy t a x incent ives to lu re Hollywood productions, this movie represents the property's cinematic debut—and Christie, manag ing partner of the hot spots Surrender, Encore Beach Club, and Andrea's, is the main reason. He has been charged with finding films that can shoot at Wynn properties, a man- date t hat ca me direct ly f rom Steve Wy nn a nd Mau r ice Wooden, president of Wynn Las Vegas. "Mr. Wynn and Maurice came to me and told me that I'm in a unique position from dealing with the corporate culture of the hotel, the club crowd, and the Hollywood crowd," says Christie, a lifelong nightclub man who cut his teeth in Boston's after-hours scene. "During 14 years in Las Vegas and taking care of those people at my clubs, I've gotten to know them. I spent last summer meeting with studio heads and telling executives that we're interested in being involved, even though we had not been interested in the past." Indeed, Steve Wynn turned down the producers of The Hangover, a movie that did wonders for Caesars but might not have been up to Wynn standards. And while a Paul Blart offering might sound plenty déclassé for the ritziest casino resort in Las Vegas, certain aspects of the production made it particularly appealing. To beg in with, says Christ ie, "The script was rewritten to be Wynn-specific. It shows off lots of our outlets and public spaces and signature amenities around the resort. The hotel is a costar in the movie. That appealed to Mr. Wynn." It also surely didn't hurt that Wynn himself gets a cameo. This is actually not Steve Wynn's first time hosting a Hollywood production. Back when he owned the Golden Nugget, it was the location for Chevy Chase's 1997 film Vegas Vacation. More recently, just prior to his sale of Bellagio to MGM Resorts, the movie Ocean's Eleven was shot there. So he knows what he's doing in this arena, and he knows what he wants. You might assume that Wynn and Christie would insist that filming take place during the g raveya rd shift , when it would inconvenience as few hotel g uest s as possible, but quite t he opposite is true. "Coincidentally," says Christie, "when I shot my scene for the movie, that was t he g rand opening of Encore Beach Club at night. We were right in front of the club, and people walking by wondered why I was being f ilmed. Even t hough t here wa s a n inter r upt ion to t he hotel a nd casino, we wanted to intentionally shoot where people could see it. It's okay to be a little cumbersome. Part of the attraction is for people to see Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 being shot at Wynn. It's another takeaway for when they return to t heir hometowns." Wit h shoot ing now over, Christie has returned full-time to his real gig with three of the most popula r dest inat ions in tow n— where the performers this summer will include Macklemore, Avicii, a nd Dav id Guet t a —but a not her on-location production is already in t he of f ing. A nd sma r t money says it won't be the last time you see Wynn and Encore at the mov- ies. "When you're viewed as being opulent a nd t he best ," Ch r ist ie says, "pe ople want to be involved w it h you." V Skylar Grey, Andrea Wynn, and Sean Christie at the first anniversary party for Andrea's at Encore Las Vegas. Producer Todd Garner, director Andy Fickman, actor Kevin James, and Sean Christie on the set of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 at Wynn Las Vegas. *family weekend "I like to go bike riding with my daughter. Then maybe we go to Dom DeMarco's for pizza and hit Sweets Raku for dessert." *western workout "Hiking at Red Rock. I'm an East Coast guy, so the idea of hiking was new to me until five years ago. It's an incredible workout. Plus, if you think you're having cell phone conversations from up there, well, you won't be." *well-suited "I have a person who makes my suits. His name is Vu. He works out of a little shop near Whole Foods in Summerlin, but he comes to your house or office for fittings. In the club business, you need a lot of suits. Somebody dumps a glass of wine on your back and the suit is ruined." *charity of choice "Keep Memory Alive, which helps patients and their families deal with the challenges of various brain disorders. Through that organization and the Cleveland Clinic, Larry Ruvo shows what one man with good ideas and a lot of drive can accomplish." VIEW FROM THE TOP Sean Christie's inclinations and inspirations. continued from page 41 42 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM POWER STRIP 42 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM

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