THIS WEEK FEATURING: American Express The Members Project, Opening to the Infinite, CineVegas Part 2, A Father's Story, and more…

The Members Project. Please consider supporting my Members Project! My submission to the American Express "The Members Project," titled "POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION OF FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING" (Project ID# 4664) has been approved and posted to The Members Project (SM). Each project description is limited to 1000 words, so all projects are concise and not fully detailed. What is The Members Project? The Members Project is an innovative new initiative that gives American Express Cardmembers the chance to dream up, and ultimately unite behind, one idea that will have a positive impact in the world around us. American Express will fund the winning idea with up to $5 million. On July 3, an Advisory Panel will get together with American Express and announce the Top 50 projects. www.membersproject.com.

Opening To The Infinite. My dear friend Stephan A. Schwartz (www.stephanaschwartz.com) has just published a new book, Opening to the Infinite Stephan's life has been spent exploring extraordinary human functioning, and how individuals and small groups can, and have, affected social change.

Stephan has done this both as an experimentalist in parapsychology, and by being privileged to have been a part of several major social transformations: civil rights in the 1960s, the transformation of the military from an elitist conscription organization to an all-voluntary meritocracy in the '70s, and citizen diplomacy between the United States and the Soviet Union in the '80s and '90s. Both the experiences and the research have convinced Stephan that all life is inter-connected and interdependent. He has written extensively on Remote Viewing and Archaeology, Anthropology, Medicine and Healing, Creativity, and Social Policy. Stephan also runs a brilliant and informative daily news service Schwartzreport.

CineVegas Film Festival, Part 2. I spent the entire past week at CineVegas—with short off-property breaks to see "A Mighty Heart," "Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer," and "Evan Almighty."

Sin City's SinDance—the 9th Annual CineVegas Film Festival—opened with Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's Thirteen" Red Carpet and charity gala and concluded Saturday night with John Dahl's comedy "You Kill Me"—bestowed its filmmaking honors in an afternoon ceremony helmed by Artistic Director Trevor Groth, festival President Robin Greenspun and Chairman of the Creative Advisory Board Dennis Hopper.

Festival winners included, among others, Adam Rifkin's "Look" which received the Grand Jury Prize, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" which received a Special Jury Award for Best Director, as well as "All God's Children Can Dance" which was acknowledged with a Special Jury Award for Distinctive Visual Expression.

Additionally, the Jury Prize for the fest's new program block focused on Mexican cinema, La Próxima Ola, was awarded deservedly to "Bad Habits" (Malos Hábitos).

I loved "Bad Habits" and "La Vie En Rose" Mexican director and co-writer Simón Bross's (pictured) brilliant debut "Bad Habits" is a fascinating look at a group of women each struggling with food. Elena (Elena de Haro) is obsessed with losing weight to the horror of her husband, who is turned off by her anorexic body. Her sweet, young daughter Linda is fat and no matter how much encouragement Elena gives her, refuses to stop eating. I sympathized with Elena, knowing how cruel I am to fat people. When I see fat children, I blame the mother. Elena also knows how society treats fat people and she is looking out for Linda. However, no matter how many diets or programs Elena finds for her daughter, the child loves to eat. Elena cruelly freaks out on her daughter.

Elena's husband Gustavo starts an affair with a nubile student. All they do is eat desserts and have sex. He has abandoned his wife and daughter to his own lust. Linda's teacher, Matilde (Ximena Ayala, pictured), is a young nun who is also obsessed with food. All the nuns have food issues. She believes she can stop the deluge of rain hitting Mexico by self-mortification. She stops eating. There are rain-makers, why not rain-stoppers?

Every woman in "Bad Habits" is obsessed with food. This is a strong, important film with religious shading that offers several interpretations. And Bross and his co-writer Ernesto Anaya give Linda a very strange way out of her problem with her mother. I loved it! This is a very personal, revealing film and Bross will be recognized as an important director.

Since I spent a lot of time before, in-between, and after screenings at the Conde Nast Traveler Lounge at the Key West Ballroom at the Palms Casino Resort and in the adjoining Press Room annex, I can say that "Bad Habits" was everyone's outstanding favorite film and I'm happy it was chosen for a CineVegas award.

"La Vie En Rose" was the most-anticipated film of the Festival and it is truly breathtaking. Co-Writer/director Olivier Dahan's "La Vie En Rose" has a blazing performance by Marion Cotillard as the legendary French icon Edith Piaf (pictured). Sifting time periods, emphasizing Piaf's hardscrabble childhood of poverty and abuse, Dahan delivers a starling biopic without redemption or whitewashing the facts. Piaf's life was a tragedy waiting to happen: her childhood as the daughter of a circus acrobat and alcoholic prostitute, being brought up in a brothel, singing on the streets and her discovery by a nightclub owner, to her passionate affair with a married boxer. His death led to Piaf's years of drug addiction (and that is just her teen years!).

Cotillard (pictured) is a revelation delivering the performance of a lifetime, undergoing an astonishing physical transformation. There's not a pretty moment here, especially as Piaf pre-maturely ages. Dahan incorporates Piaf's legendary songs, and ends with her most famous one, "Non, je ne regrette rien," into the story. At the early age of forty-seven, in 1963, Piaf died of cancer on the French Riviera. "La Vie En Rose" is a must-see film and has my vote as Best Foreign Film of 2007!

When David Lynch was honored by CineVegas last year, he chose to screen his daring masterpiece "Eraserhead." With Dennis Hopper now an important part of CineVegas, it is terrific to see his iconic performance as Frank Booth in Lynch's classic masterpiece, and one of my favorite films, "Blue Velvet," which was a special CineVegas event screening.

Lynch was on hand for a Q&A before the film and it was a thrill for the audience to have a chance to ask the great director some questions. Yet, no one asked Lynch about his TM Foundation. Lynch is the founder and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace. The David Lynch Foundation aims to raise $20 million to help spearhead programs in meditation at inner-city schools—several of which have already begun—and to provide scholarships to university students for basic instruction in TM. The Washington Post reported that Lynch's foundation dispensed about $1.6 million in the first few months of its existence—$400,000 of it from his own pocket. Introduction | David Lynch Foundation.

Friday was a big day for film fans with a "Conversation & Clip Reel With Charlize Theron" and "Conversation With Anthony Hopkins and a Screening of "Slipstream."

I strongly agree with Roger Ebert that Charlize Theron's performance in "Monster" was the greatest performance in the history of film. I would have told her, but no questions from the audience were taken. I would have also liked to ask Theron if she intended to delve so deeply again into another role.

The French poet and musician Serge Gainsbourg said, "Ugliness is in a way superior to beauty because it lasts."

It's a sweet idea—if you are born ugly.

Theron's role as Aileen Wuornos in "Monster," the notorious female serial killer, not only required that she take on a fearless physical transformation (people didn't even realize it was her) but also inhabit the soul of a woman seeped in personal suffering and brutality.

It is truly a magnificent performance, but the moderator from Maxim's magazine barely mentioned Theron's triumph. Theron showed clips from her upcoming films, and praised one in particular, the film written and directed by her boyfriend Stuart Townsend called "Battle in Seattle." The 2007 CineVegas Half-Life Award was presented to Theron by Cadillac and a clip from Theron's new film "Sleepwalking" with Dennis Hopper was shown.

And Sir Anthony Hopkins? CineVegas honored Hopkins with its annual Marquee Award. The demand was so great that the event was over-sold. My husband, who had a ticket (I had a press pass & ticket), never made it.

Along with a "Conversation," there was a screening of Hopkins' "Slipstream." "Slipstream" is Hopkins' debut into independent filmmaking. The Academy Award-winning actor wrote, directed and stars in this surreal story of a screenwriter that turns strangely hallucinogenic.

The American Film Institute named Hopkins' iconic role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter the top movie villain of all time. My favorite Hopkins' movie is, of course, "Magic." Another favorite of mine is Hopkins' title role in Julie Taymor's brilliant Shakespeare adaptation "Titus."

In my imaginary tête-à-tête with Sir Hopkins, I would ask him about his numerous past threats to quit films (how come it was "Titus" that pushed him over the edge and not "Meet Joe Black"?) and his marriage to middle-aged Buddhist and antiquities dealer, Stella Arroyave, who now produces and acts in his films!

Everyone wants to act—even my deceased mother—who I told: "You've been dead for five years. I can't get you a Hollywood agent!"

I will admit my mother does have a terrific "Casket Head Shot."

Hopkins was a fabulous, engaging and a quite generous guest. He had so many wonderful antidotes! He was so honest and forthcoming! He did an impression of "Fats," the dummy he worked with in "Magic," and Sir Lawrence Olivier. When the moderator mentioned "Nixon," Hopkins said that James Woods reassured him not to worry and that his performance was working. Woods told him: "Great German accent." And as for Hannibal Lecter? He preferred the first one and didn't really like the two sequels he did. He said: "There is an erotic quality to villains," and Lecter was more terrifying locked in a cell than walking around Europe.

Hopkins refused to say what "Slipstream" was about since he really didn't know. I know exactly what it is about. It is Hopkins' rage against movies and how fake images and real, more important images collide in our everyday life. All his regret and anger about making movies is in here. And, being this is Sir Tony's first project, even the extras are movie stars!

Saturday was the final day for CineVegas and ended with a "Conversation with Mike Newell." CineVegas presented its Director's Vanguard Award to Mike Newell, best known for directing "Four Weddings and A Funeral." Newell also directed "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." We were treated to a clip reel of Newell's films, including my favorite, "Donnie Brasco."

We were also shown 15 minutes of Newell's newest film opening in November, "Love in the Time of Cholera." I have not read the novel—I only read non-fiction—and the film adaptation looks fantastic. What a love story! Newell spent seven months in Columbia making "Love." Newell told interesting stories about the reality of Hollywood filmmaking.

CineVegas Closing Night Film was John Dahl's comedy "You Kill Me" starring Sir Ben Kingsley. I was hoping to have a chance to talk to Sir Ben about our mutual friend, Ed Dames, who taught Sir Ben remote reviewing for his role in "The Zero Effect."

The lavishly produced VEGAS Magazine held its fourth year anniversary and private affair party with a live performance from American Idol runner-up and June cover model, Katharine McPhee, on CineVegas's Closing Night at Mandalay Bay Beach.

Among the celebrities in attendance for the VEGAS Magazine Anniversary Party were Katharine McPhee, Dennis Hopper, Bai Ling, Criss Angel, Kim Kardashian, Caroline D'Amore, Steven Jackson, and Sir Ben Kingsley—all safely ensconced in the roped-off VIP area.

The VEGAS Magazine party is always such a grand affair whether or not stars are in attendance.

The spectacular party was held at the glistening pool complex at Mandalay Bay Beach at Mandalay Bay. This extravagant VIP pool party—always the diamond of CineVegas events—put guests directly on the sand and just feet from crashing waves on 11 acres of tropical-inspired bliss. The Bay Beach recent $30 million-dollar expansion includes the city's only beachside casino, coupled with the purest of white sand, picture perfect waves and cool blue water. Mandalay Bay Beach is the epitome of waterside indulgence set in the Nevada desert! What decadence! www.cinevegas.com.

A Father's Story. Jeffrey Dahmer appeared on a two-hour program called "Confessions of a Serial Killer" that recently re-aired. Jeffrey's father, Lionel, had written a book, A Father's Story, and was there supporting the son he says he loves. I found Lionel's book at the library. Lionel blames himself and Jeffrey's mother, Joyce. He thinks he transferred a negative gene to his son. Joyce was a distant mother who took medications through her pregnancy. Did they know? Absolutely not!

It's strange that after Lionel and Joyce's bitter divorce, in the summer of 1978, Jeffrey committed his first murder in the house. In August of that year, Joyce and her other son Dave, disappeared leaving Jeffrey. It took Lionel years to find them. They went into hiding. What frightened Joyce?

Lionel and his girlfriend moved into the empty house and quickly shipped Jeffrey off to his grandmother's house! Lionel tried everything to get rid of Jeffrey. He insisted he go to college, then the military. Discharged for being repeatedly drunk, Jeffrey was once again dumped off on his grandmother. He managed to kill three people while staying at his grandmother's house. She found a mannequin in his closet and a gun under his bed. She also noticed odd smells coming from the basement. Jeffrey kept getting arrested. First, for exposing himself at a state fair and, four years later, for masturbating in public in front of two young boys. He served 10 months in prison.

His grandmother decided to kick him out for good in 1988 because of Dahmer's drunkenness and because of unpleasant orders in the basement. In 1988 he was arrested for sexually fondling a 13-year-old boy.

All this, and no one close to Jeffrey had a clue what he was doing.

Joyce Dahmer was briefly interviewed on the program. Briefly, since she was mulling over doing her own book. She was angry Lionel blamed her and mad people were calling her "Monster Maker."

Jeffrey Dahmer mutilated 17 young men and photographed them. The photos are on the internet.

A New Phrase Emerges. Dennis Quaid has confirmed he and young wife Kimberley will be parents to both a son and a daughter when their twins' "gestational carrier" gives birth later in the year. Speaking at a charity event in Austin on Saturday, Dennis said, "We finally know the sexes of these sweet little children coming into the world—we've seen pictures of them. One of them was a boy and one of them was a girl. We are both so thrilled and excited. This is something we've wanted for some time." Fametastic » Celebrating Celebrity Gossip. They also let the media know they are the biological parents that just rented a womb for nine months.

Who's My Daddy? In my first TDH column on July 18, 2005, I said: "No matter what Planet Earth is compelled to accept, I see the bald fact that Prince Harry looks just like Diana's lover James Hewitt. Sorry, but Prince Harry is not carrying any Windsor DNA." Well, now TMZ.com has a story: Prince Harry: Who's My Daddy?!

TMZ.com posted this: "For years, rumors have swirled questioning the paternity of Great Britain's Prince Harry. Red hair say what?

"While reports have always suggested that Diana's flame-haired ex-lover, James Hewitt (left), may be the late Princess' real baby daddy, author Christopher Anderson claims in his new book After Diana: William, Harry, Charles, and the Royal House of Windsor, that now Harry (center) himself wants to take a DNA test to put the rumors to rest. Over the Queen's dead body! Although Harry and Hewitt both share a carrottop likeness, it should be noted that Diana's brother, Earl Spencer (right), is also a redhead. So there is some red in Diana's blue blood! Should Harry decide to go ahead and take a DNA test against the Queen's wishes, he might want to stay out of Parisian tunnels."