Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese and Hollywood legend Robert De Niro, who, too, holds two of the shiny statuettes, re-united 20 years after the release of Casino to shoot yet another casino-related feature.
The Audition, as this new film is called, is actually a 16-minute extended version of an advertisement for Studio City, Macau’s latest and extremely luxurious integrated casino resort, which is to open doors anytime soon. Apart from De Niro, big Hollywood names like Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt also star in the feature.
The short film is to be screened at the 72nd edition of the Venice Film Festival but it will be out of competition due to the fact that its main purpose is to promote the upcoming opening of the gambling venue. This year, the world’s oldest film festival will be held on September 2-12.
The fact that an ad will be screened in Venice has created a bit of a controversy. Dr. Steve Fore, Associate Professor in the School of Creative Media at Hong Kong’s City University, commented that when a famed director like Scorsese makes a short film promoting a casino, this speaks volumes about “the power of the gaming industry.”
In addition, the circumstances under which three of the world’s most popular actors have teamed up for the very first time to star in a gambling-related ad were considered “bizarre” by media. Mr. Fore pointed out that this was not the first time when big Hollywood names did commercial work. However, in most cases ads like these are only intended for the Asian market and never get released in the US.
According to the media expert, Scorsese was allowed to have his feature screened in Venice due to his excellent reputation as well as to that of the production team he worked with on The Audition. It included Rush Hour director Brett Ratner. Mr. Fore also added that “some diehard ‘auteurists’” might be particularly scandalized by the fact that an ‘artist’ has created “an industrial film.”
Studio City is a joint venture between gambling operators Melco International Development and Crown. The 6-million-square-foot integrated resort will feature a large casino floor, a 5,000-seat event center, Macau’s first and only broadcast and television recording studio, etc. An interesting feature is the so-called Golden Reel, the world’s first figure-eight Ferris wheel.
Melco Crown will reveal tomorrow the official opening date of the $3.2-billion Hollywood-inspired mega resort. The official premiere of The Audition will coincide with the complex’s launch.
