Rough Hustle

Fresh off the triumphant premiere of the movie “The Flyboys” which was partially filmed in Mesquite, the bright lights and cameras of Hollywood are again rolling in Nevada’s “Diamond in the Desert.”

Production crews and actors have taken over a portion of the CasaBlanca casino this week to film part of the movie “Rough Hustle.”

The movie could be called “Ocean’s Half Dozen,” a grittier flick about a group of friends who attempt to beat a downtown Las Vegas casino.

The film revolves around “Dean,” played by Matt Bushell, who is trying to get his life in order by coming to the one city where so many other lives come undone. Dean puts together a team of hard working guys in order to take on the casino. With this independent movie still in production, many of the plot details are still in flux. However, the project is coming together extremely well, according to Executive Producer Brendan Davis. “It’s been fantastic, better than we expected,” Davis said of the Mesquite shoot, in between takes on Tuesday. “Until you get to a place, you just don’t know. We’re really pinching ourselves at how well it’s going.” Davis explained that he and writer/director Delaney Dragon specifically chose Mesquite because the casinos have “much more of the old Vegas feel.”