RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – The film Dial it Back is known as a holiday romantic comedy with a crime caper twist.
“The interesting concept of putting a Christmas movie with a live action packed story was something that I really wanted to be a part of,” said Dan Morrison, who plays the lead role of Dan Reilly in the new film that was shot in Reno.
Andrew Arguello is the film’s cinematographer, editor, and co-producer, and says shoots here are a lot different from shoots in places like Los Angeles.
“Reno is basically what we call practical sets,” he says. “It’s not like LA where we’ll build a house or build a house on a soundstage.”
KOLO Special Edition 11/17
Arguello says the film was shot over about a two-week stretch in early 2025, with areas in Stead and Hood Ave. by UNR being some of the primary filming locations.
The film is about second marriage newlyweds who are taken aback when their college-aged kids reveal they are dating. That precedes the family being taken hostage due to a mix-up at the airport, and then they are left with no choice but to work out their differences.
Jazmeet Baduwalia has already starred in a power ranger series, but in this film plays Connor – one of the movie’s biggest roles.
“So we’re all trying to kind of figure it out,” he detailed when explaining the plot, “and next thing you know, to drop in, we get a couple of mobsters that come in and threaten us.”
Baduwalia still makes his home in Reno. Part of a local cast who have experienced working together.
“It makes it really easy because you already have a rapport with everybody,” said Ragen Locricchio who plays the role of Nancy Lisbon in the film. “As an actor, that’s half the battle of showing up on set because you show up a lot of times on bigger projects and you don’t know who you’re acting with.”
Shannon Holdridge plays Bonnie Reilly in Dial it Back, and compares this romantic comedy to another film most people have seen.
“It kind of reminded me of kind of national lampoon’s Christmas vacation, which is one of my favorites,” she remarked.
If you want to watch Dial it Back, it is now available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video.
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