Wednesday, May 26, 1999 | 9:13 a.m.
It's one of two and possibly three major motion pictures that soon will feature the Biggest Little City in the World.
"Reno has become one of the hot areas for filming," said Charles Geocaris, head of Nevada's Motion Picture Division, which works to lure movie productions to Nevada.
"Diamonds," a Kirk Douglas movie costarring Dan Aykroyd, was shot in the Reno area in November and December. It's set for release by Miramax later this year.
Geocaris told the Reno Gazette-Journal chances look good that a third unnamed project will happen, also involving Reno.
Matthew Kilburn, an EPYK Entertainment producer, said that after hearing positive buzz about the city, more filmmakers are considering the region. EPYK shot its first film in the Reno area late in the winter, and its next low-budget movie is scheduled for shooting this summer or fall.
In "Waking Up in Reno," Pitt and real-life girlfriend Aniston will play a couple from Arkansas who vacation in Reno, where they hope to attend a monster-truck rally. Miramax hasn't disclosed whether it will actually be filmed in Reno.
If Miramax keeps the Pitt movie's proposed title, Reno would join the ranks of U.S. cities with the distinction of having their names associated with a major motion picture. Other recent city-named movies are "Sleepless in Seattle," and "Leaving Las Vegas."
The value of such name recognition is priceless, Geocaris said. Almost daily, someone is watching "Sleepless" on video; this gives Seattle continual worldwide recognition.
That could happen to Reno if Pitt's movie is a hit. Benefits could be substantial because officials say potential tourists who see the movie might think of Reno as a vacation destination.
"Waking Up" is produced by Billy Bob Thornton and Dwight Yoakam. Geocaris and his staff haven't seen a "Waking Up" script, so they don't know what image of Reno the movie will convey, the Gazette-Journal said.
After "Diamonds" filming, word quickly spread through Hollywood that Reno is a great place for major films, said Marjorie Noble, a casting consultant on that project. Miramax involvement adds luster to Reno's allure because the company has a good reputation.
Numerous movies produced by other companies have been filmed in the Truckee Meadows in recent years. None had as much promise as the current batch, some industry insiders say.
Films shot partly in northwest Nevada in recent years, before achieving moderate or poor box office results, included "Father's Day" with Robin Williams and Billy Crystal, and "Kingpin" with Woody Harrelson. Those comedies didn't receive nearly as much publicity as "Diamonds" and "Waking Up" likely will get, Noble said.
Geocaris cautions that Reno's film boom will end eventually.
"A city's popularity tends to go up and down," Geocaris said. "That's the nature of the business."
Marjorie Noble, casting director at Nevada Casting in Reno, said producers consider Reno a hot spot for a number of reasons.
The city is perceived as unique to most movie-goers. Unlike Las Vegas, which has been the setting for dozens of movies, Reno and its environs are fresh, she said.
Reno also has a reputation for hospitality, she said. Aykroyd has said he and others in the movie were delighted with Reno and its neighboring communities. They vowed to encourage producers to film here.
The location helps too. Within 50 miles, producers are able to shoot most major types of outdoor settings - from deserts to forests.
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