ANOTHER YEAR HAS passed with a very successful CineVegas Film Festival. The stars that came out on the Red Carpet for the premiere of "Oceans 13" included, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Frank Trigg from Pride fighting, Wayne Newton, Carrot Top, and the list goes on. Other celebrities who appeared during the festival included Criss Angel from "Mindfreak," Gerry McCambridge of "The Mentalist" on ABC, George Wallace, Steven Jackson from the St. Louis Ram's (#39), Mark Philippoussis the Australian tennis player who stars on NBC's "Age Of Love," Ladies of Fantasy from the Luxor, Dennis Hopper, Joey Gilbert from "The Contender," Gordie Brown, Bruce Campell, and Maria Menounos. On closing night at The Palms, Academy Award Winning Actor Sir Ben Kingsley received the Vanguard Award for "You Kill Me," Sir Anthony Hopkins received the Marquee Award, and Charlize Theron received the Half-Time Cadillac Award. The majority of these actors believe it's their job to play a part, but that it has nothing to do with affecting kids who watch their movies. In other words it is really the parent's responsibility to decide what their kids watch on T.V. Ben Kingsley tells it like this, "If a child doesn't have love from the parent, that is where the problems start. It has nothing to do with the content of the movie," Kingsley went on to say," kids that have dysfunctional lives have a much harder life in retrospect." Kingsley does feel however that storytelling is a way of ancient healing that is vital to all cultures.

Sir Anthony Hopkins is considered to be the best film actor by today's standards. At least that is what Dennis Hopper feels. Hopper happens to be the creative director of the CineVegas Film Festival. Let's refer back to "Silence Of The Lambs" where Hopkins played Hannibal Lector, which won him an Academy Award. In talking with Hopkins, one can learn just how deep a person he is. In fact, when I talked to him about "Slipstream," his latest film project, which was produced and directed by him. It was shown at the Sundance Film Festival. He told me that it represented his life and that it was a bit of an illusion. Whatever it was, it certainly went back to his earlier years where he was influenced by James Dean. Hopkins, who was born in Port Talbot, Wales, grew up in the Catskills and started his career some 40 years ago. It was the film, "A Lion in Winter" where Hopkins got the part with Pete O'Toole, Timothy Dalton, and Katharine Hepburn. What really got him going as an actor was watching James Dean and also Richard Burton. Disenchanted with school he left at the age of 17 and pursued his acting career. He got his first job in 1955, the same year the local newspaper wrote a story about James Dean passing away from an accident right below his article. In 1965 he moved to London and joined the National Theater, invited by Laurence Olivier, who could see the talent in Hopkins. In 1967 he made his first film for television, "A Flea in Her Ear."

The CineVegas Film Festival introduced a lot of new films, some of which are by young directors and producers. The film "The Merry Misfits," which had Maria Menounos as the executive producer and star, presented a lesson that those people that are misfits in our society do have a place. "Happy Misfits" had some great comedic scenes, but was rather slow and their graphic artwork showing the map of the cartoon-like characters. The cast consisted of Danielle Weeks, Randal Malone, Orji Walflauer, John Comerford, and Joe Gear. With all this said and done, what are your thoughts about violent movies? Do they influence young people into doing negative things? I'd like to know your thoughts, e-mail me at Allman@celebrityscene.com.

In closing, George Clooney said this about the movie business, "It's a great way to entertain folks and it's made me a great living. I would however enjoy doing family films, I think there is a market for them." Brad Pitt on the other hand when asked about "Oceans 13" stated, "Hey, the film's over and we are going to bury her in Las Vegas, that's it…" Wayne Newton, who still holds the title of Mr. Las Vegas while George Wallace claims he is the new Mr. Las Vegas. Las Vegas has just begun it's cosmopolitan theme. "We're at the top of the iceberg and there is a whole new air ready to come to fruition," Newton stated.

Until then, keep your visions positive and keep positive people around you, and above all, know that God is there for you. Also please check out our Web site www.celebrityscene.com.