Las Vegas Weekly

April 7, 2009 · 9:53 AM

Exclusive: Criss Angel filming E!’s True Hollywood Story here this week

By Robin Leach

Criss Angel with the lucky necklace given to him by Luxor President Felix Rappaport.

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

Film crews are in Las Vegas all week long shooting footage and interviews for an E! True Hollywood Story special on magician Criss Angel. Last week, the filmmakers were in New York conducting interviews with Criss’s family and childhood friends as they shot the Mindfreak magician’s stomping grounds.

I can reveal that Criss has been in his secret, highly private vault and has dug up never-before-seen footage and old videos, including his very early days as a performer out on Long Island when he was deciding between magic or rock music as a full-time entertainer.

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

Criss Angel (right) welcomes fellow illusionist Lance Burton and Burton's mother, Hilma.

This week, with the cameras in Las Vegas, the interviews will focus on fellow magician Lance Burton, a headliner at the Monte Carlo; Felix Rappaport, president of the Luxor, where Criss performs nightly in his Cirque du Soleil show Believe; and Luxor co-headliner Carrot Top. Additionally, Criss’s managers Dave Baram and Jason Verona, Criss’s brother Costa and I also will be interviewed for the E! program.

Next week, the cameras take off for Boston for interviews with Criss’s longtime friend Sully Erna of Godsmack, as the TV biography also will focus on Criss’s early days as a rock musician.

Photo: Pure Management Group

Criss Angel and Sully Erna displaying the angst at LAX.

Now fans get a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with Criss during the filming. I’ve learned that the producer’s film schedule 1 to 3 p.m. this Friday calls for location shots throughout the Luxor, at Believe and later at the Mindfreak and Believe retail stores. So go on down to see the cameras rolling, and I’m betting that they turn them around on you in the crowd!

No airdate has been scheduled, but be sure that Vegas DeLuxe will let you know the moment we do!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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