Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003 | 10:43 a.m.
They just bought the Golden Nugget casino for about $215 million, but Tim Poster and Tom Breitling still had a dream -- and some spare change under the cushions of the office couch to help make it happen.
On Wednesday, Breitling announced that he, Poster, Station Casinos prez Lorenzo Fertitta and entertainment industry exec Trent Othick are starting INSOMNIA Entertainment, a Las Vegas-based independent development, production and financing company for film and television projects.
"We want to do projects in and about Las Vegas -- our beloved hometown," Breitling said.
Poster, Fertitta and Othick, who will run the company day-to-day, were all classmates at Bishop Gorman High School.
The company has already lined up some impressive projects. Their first effort is "Standing Still," which Othick described as a "Big Chill" for the Gen Y set. Starring James Van Der Beek, Mena Suvari and Estella Warren and directed by 24-year-old Hollywood hotshot Matthew Cole Weiss ("Mean People Suck"), the film revolves around a group of college friends who reconnect at a wedding a few years after graduation.
They are also developing projects based on poker legend Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the death of Las Vegas native and former Chicago Bulls player Brian Williams (aka Bison Dele).
INSOMNIAC is the second local production firm to go into business this year. The first was Studio Vegas, a subsidiary of VEGAS.com., which along with the Las Vegas Sun is part of the Greenspun Media Group.
Out of town
Jeffrey Henderson, the chef at AJ's Steakhouse at Hard Rock Hotel, is going away for the weekend. He's cooking at "Salute to Youth Leadership," a Saturday night benefit in Bel-Air, Calif., for the Tavis Smiley Foundation.
Diners expected at the home of record exec Larkin Arnold for the $1,500-per-plate meal include Eriq La Salle, Geraldo Rivera, Cedric the Entertainer and Magic Johnson. Also expected to attend: former New York Times Managing Editor Gerald Boyd (who left following the Jayson Blair scandal). Boyd is in talks to become executive producer of Smiley's National Public Radio show.
Pay up!
The rumor we reported two weeks ago about a $500,000 side bet between Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Shane Mosley about the outcome of their Sept. 13 bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena was good. On Carson Daly's NBC show, "Last Call With Carson Daly" Monday, Mosley said that De La Hoya owes him half a mil and that De La Hoya's failure to pony up might be the impetus for a third fight between the men.
Honoring Yuman
One of Las Vegas' ultimate power players, Bernie Yuman, is being feted as Congregation Ner Tamid's "Mensch of the Year" at a black-tie dinner at Caesars Palace on Nov. 22.
Among his professional colleagues and personal friends co-chairing the event are longtime client Muhammad Ali, Anthony Hopkins, Michael Milken, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Dan Marino, Jerry Weintraub and the duo he has managed for an astounding 28 years, Siegfried & Roy.
The one-time Miami Beach, Fla., music exec is busier than ever. His company, BOX Entertainment, is producing the big series of Gloria Estefan shows at The Colosseum at Caesars that start next week.
Film set
Who says they only make sequels to good movies?
According to celebrity journalist Baird Jones, all systems are go for "Weekend at Bernie's 3" -- and the next chapter of the drag-the-dead-boss around series will take place in Las Vegas.
In the flick, stars Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman visit Vegas for a bachelor party where they end up meeting Bernie's identical twin brother, Ernie, a Mafia boss ("The Sopranos"' Big Pussy, Vincent Pastore, is being wooed for the role).
Predictably, Ernie dies, and mayhem ensues. Filming is expected to take place in Vegas next spring and summer.
Now he's cooking
Famed roaster Dean Martin would have loved this one: Station Casinos is hosting an evening for charity, during which Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman will be skewered.
The (hopefully) good-natured ribbing is open to the public and benefits Learning for Life.
Among the roasters taking their shots at the Oct. 17 Texas Station event will be former Sen. Richard Bryan, entertainer Breck Wall, Carolyn Goodman (Mrs. Mayor) and several surprise guests.
VegasBits
Dan fans: Paul Simon -- who plays Vegas in November with partner Art Garfunkel -- was spotted at the Steely Dan show at Mandalay Bay Saturday night, as was KNPR 89.5-FM Programming Director Florence Rogers. Who said public radio folks only listen to classical music? ...
Stage: We reported last month that Latin crooner Ricky Martin was going to perform in Vegas with Celine Dion. He did so Wednesday, when he was part of a show she taped for Canadian television. Several French and Canadian stars also participated ...
Party people: The club OPM (Forum Shops at Caesars) was closed Tuesday night. Managing partner Michael Goodwin celebrated the arrival of new partner Branden Powers by taking Powers -- and all 60 club staffers -- out for an evening of club hopping. They spent quality time at Tabu (MGM) and ghostbar (Palms) ...
Dinner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson had dinner Saturday night at Aureole (Mandalay Bay). His team had a bye week. He was in town for the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at Mandalay Bay Events Center, along with Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Clarke Duncan, Fernando Vargas and Jerry Tarkanian ...
Learn from the best: Postrio Chef and Wolfgang Puck partner John LaGrone is teaching cooking classes Tuesday and Wednesday in his restaurant's kitchen. It is a great opportunity to interact with a real pro. Classes are $45; secure a place by calling 369-0360 ...
Add on: Tickets sold so fast for their Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 shows at the historic Boulder Theatre that Ricci, Desi & Billy (that's Dean's son Ricci Martin, Lucy's son Desi Arnaz Jr. and one-time Beach Boy Billy Hinsche) are likely adding a third show Oct. 26 ...
Call me: VegasBeat is back for its weekly radio call-in bit with "Las Vegas Today" host Andy Vierra on KNUU 970 AM (K-NEWS) today at 4 p.m. Call the studio line at (702) 735-6397 and we'll dish. It is also available online at Knews970.com. Also, we're back with Melanie & Tom on LITE FM, KMZQ 100.5-FM on Friday at 7:30 a.m.
From Sun wires
Actress Halle Berry announced Wednesday she has separated from her husband, R&B singer Eric Benet, after less than three years of marriage.
Girl for skater: It's a girl for Olympic champion figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and her husband, Bret Hedican, a defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes. The couple's first child, Keara Kiyomi Hedican, was born early Wednesday at a Raleigh, N.C., hospital.
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