EXPERIENCED PRODUCERS, MANAGERS and/or directors should all have a commonality of well executed project coordinating abilities. I have been fortunate to partake in one such project. “America at Home,” a deliciously beautiful photo-journal coffee table book, will be published in March of 2008. The NY Times #1 Bestselling Author Rick Smolan’s previous book entitled, America 24/7 captured extraordinary images of one American week. My good fortune has been working with the talents of Creative Director and photographer, Brad Zucroff.

Author, Rick Smolan explains, “The focus of the project is to depict in pictures and words the ‘emotion of home,’ something deeply ingrained into the human species. Assignments will focus on the distinctive rituals, traditions, ceremonies and intimate moments that transform our houses and apartments into homes. From Mc Mansions to mobile homes, from tree houses to tenement slums, from ranches to old age homes, we'd like you to help us document the harmonies and paradoxes of home life across America over a single seven-day period. Remember, the physical home is the background; the families and their rituals are the focus of this assignment.”

Mr. Zucroff approached me to help find, secure and create some very Las Vegas-style reality moments. Many rituals in Vegas are not traditional and many times unique with distinctive home surroundings. We confirmed this with a bit of research and homework and immediately went to work. One hundred top photographers across the country were selected to shoot this assignment from September 17 thru 23.

Brad wanted a “home in the sky” capturing he essence and boom of high-rise living. We found a lovely couple, the Perlman’s in their exclusive PH suite in Turnberry Place. How could a photo shoot in Las Vegas be complete without the glamorous, glittery, female impersonator Frank Marino? We’re not sure if he owns more clothes or stuffed animals!

A longtime LV juggler and legally blind, Nino Frediani, built a chapel in his back yard to allow him convenience, since he cannot drive. Rick Thomas walks his tigers as his daily ritual. His back yard containing a rock waterfall pool supplies a little fun in the sun for his 500 pound cats. Rich Little has a movie room in his home stocked with as many movies as he has voices.

How many people do you know with multiple, huge, one of a kind pipe organs and a 31, 1941 Cadillac among his other one hundred plus collector cars? We visited with Phil Maloof for those shots. He’s the uncle of the Palms Hotel owners and lives with his best friend and dog, Antoine the sixth.

Toni Hart, the founder of the Hartland Mansion, has performed over 70,000 weddings in her residence of 36,000 sq. ft. Her home boasts a pool built for Esther Williams and became Elvis’ home away from home when he worked here in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas headliner Bill Acosta’s and producer wife, Jeanne Bavaro’s (that’s me) home got into the action too. The colorful costume room is filled to the ceiling with showgirl finery. They’ll come in handy while daughter, 18-year-old Angela, is now competing in ballroom dancing and working as a magician’s assistant.

Costume bought from season one “Dancing with the Stars” Karina Smirnoff.
Getting ready for a one week booking at the Magic Castle in Hollywood with Illusionist, Mark Bennick.

Mike Jones, who plays piano six nights a week with the Penn & Teller show and comedienne/wife, Cathe’s home boast a 9-foot signed concert grand piano. Cathe trains rats for TV & movies so staging the rat running across the keys while the Oscar Peterson stylist plays us a favorite tune will be an incredible Kodak moment, to say the least.


Piano player, Mike Jones (with Penn & Teller nightly) and wife Cathe, Comedienne/rat trainer for TV & movies.
Caryn Gott’s residence has dozens of one of a kind harps placed alongside a half a dozen pianos. This is a musical house complete with a musical staff painted on the bottom of the pool instead of standard racing lanes. Marty Kreloff, a fine art painter has his studio in his home. We understand he’s just been commissioned by the City to do the art work for the banners along N. LV Blvd. near the cultural museum.

There were so many amazing photo opportunities unique to Las Vegas that we’d need to dedicate an entire book to Las Vegas style living and the traditions exclusive to our exceptional home life. They say a picture’s worth a 1000 words. This photo-journal book will speak on forever! Be sure and look for it early next year.

www.myamericaathome.com