Paris and her Benji — inseparable

By Robin Leach

Thursday, June 5, 2008 | 12:30 p.m.

It’s a whirlwind of a working weekend with honeymooned overtones! Paris Hilton is bringing lovemate Benji Madden with her today (Friday) when she flies in to spend a crazed 48 hours shooting scenes for her new MTV reality show My New BFF. Benji and Paris were here solo this past Valentines Day, but hit it off later that February 14 weekend -- and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

Paris traveled with the Good Charlotte rocker on the group’s tour through South Africa and Europe –- and Benji went off on the promo tour with the hot heiress when she launched her new fragrance line. Meantime, both of them have promised to look after each other and Paris’ parents; Rick and Kathy Hilton have said he’d make the perfect son-in law!!

Goodness knows what they might do in Vegas this weekend while they are staying at The Venetian -– but there’s hardly time to breathe, so don’t expect them to run off for a marriage license just for the cameras!

After she and the remaining contestants of her elimination show arrive here, they will be filmed first tonight at Cirque du Soleil’s Love show at the Mirage. Then Paris throws a party for the competing girls and the cameras at TAO nightclub at The Venetian. The action will keep rolling way after midnight, when back in a Mirage VIP bungalow, showman Jeff Beacher throws a mini-Madhouse show with his cast of crazy characters for her and the cameras.

Saturday, six contestants will rehearse two dance routines with sexy dancers of the Follies Bergere revue at the Tropicana. Then Sunday they’ll perform for real and Paris –- with Benji locked on her arm- will have to eliminate the worst dancer -- and this is not like the samba or the foxtrot on Dancing with the Stars! No word if the contestants have to go topless in their sparkly sequined next-to-nothing outfits as the Folies femme-fatales do at the late show! We’ll be with them almost every step of the way so check back here to Luxe Life on Monday for the full photo report!

SUPERSTARS PLUS SECRETS & SURPRISES FOR THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CINEVEGAS FILM FESTIVAL:

In just six days now the 10th anniversary of the CineVegas Film festival premieres –- and a slew of Hollywood stars, actors and actresses promise to make it the most glittering celebration in its decadelong history. It all kicks off next Thursday (June 12) and runs for 10 days through until Saturday, June 21.

Today, Luxe Life presents the first part of our exclusive interview with the Festival’s artistic director, Trevor Groth, who runs down all the star appearances. Monday in Part 2, he’ll review several of the film highlights. On Tuesday, we’ll feature our exclusive interview with Festival chairman, actor Dennis Hopper, just back from the Cannes Film Festival and a European movie shoot. On Wednesday, we’ll have the full 10-day calendar of movies and then each day of the star-studded Festival we will bring you the daily listing of movie screenings and events and our exclusive photo reports.

I asked Trevor first for a brief overview of this year’s CineVegas Film Festival. He told me, “We are taking advantage of celebrating the 10th anniversary by a combination of things. We are continuing to do what has been very successful, presenting world premieres of independent films from cutting-edge filmmakers, as well as presenting honoree and career achievement awards and actors who represent challenging work. We also wanted to add some new things to celebrate the 10th anniversary that add to the mix of the festival. We have a charity sneak premiere of Get Smart for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s “The Rock Foundation.”

“He is here in Vegas filming the Disney Witch Mountain sequel. We can’t let him leave town without visiting CineVegas. It is a very cool movie, and we have Planet Hollywood lined up for the glamorous festivities. It is a funny film and he will add a nice element to the festival for sure. As of right now, it is looking like Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway won’t be able to attend, so our event is centered around Dwayne Johnson.

“Our Ocean’s 13 charity premiere from last year worked out so well for us last year. We did that big studio film as a part of CineVegas, which is more about Independent films. It was so good to do that for a good cause and we raised so much money. This year we will raise money for needy kids here and in third world countries and we are excited to do that.

“Right from the start with our opening film CineVegas is about stars. Thinking that Ocean’s 13 was so great last year, I knew I couldn’t top that, but I wanted to kick off the festival with a similar splash and I saw this film called The Rocker starring Rainn Wilson from The Office with Steve Carrell. It is absolutely hilarious and I thought it would provide energy and laughter to kick off the festivities. Rainn is known as a TV actor, but I think that when people see him as a movie lead, they will realize he really has the chops. There are really funny comedians coming as well, a few are on Saturday Night Live. It is going to be a laugh fest. Christina Applegate, Jason Sudakis, Emma Stone and director Peter Caetanio, who directed The Full Monty. It is a really great cast and crew.

“Getting in to our honorees. I love every one of these actors. They represent the spectrum of risky actors to edgy independent films. They do it all. Angelica Houston is terrific; she comes from a terrific Hollywood family. I love her too because she is one of those people who does studio films and does these independent films including Choke this year which she did with Sam Rockwell. I realty admire her with that. She could do anything she wants at this point and she does these independent films. We have Don Cheadle back from Oceans 13 last year, Rosario Dawson, Viggo Mortsensen, Sam Rockwell and James Caan, who will be honored with the Festival’s special Icon Award for being an actor who embodies the spirit of Vegas and has delivered memorable performances in films and shows set here.

“As we do our last-minute tinkering I really am very pleased with this year’s festival. I have been learning what works in this city and at the festival and I was able to get all of those in place for this year. We have world premieres of films that are innovative; we have a film that stars Bill Pullman called Your Name Here. He will be here with co-star Bijou Phillips and we hope that former porn-actress Tracey Lords, who is now mainstream in this film will join them. Bill is coming and is passionate about this film and supportive, so he will be a great addition to the festival and the film is going to provoke people and get them to respond to it. We have this intriguing movie Women in Boxes which is about women who never get any credit for being skewered to death by magicians. The filmmakers have invited Criss Angel, Penn & Teller and Lance Burton who are in the film. It would be great to have them there. It is an interesting film.”

Here are the initial key star-spotting dates:

Thursday, June 12: Opening Night: The Rockerat Brenden Theaters in the Palms.

Saturday, June 14: The world premiere of neo-noir musical Dark Streets, with Bijou Phillips and Grammy-winning blues musician Chris Thomas King, who will team for a Palms poolside concert after the screening.

Sunday, June 15: The Get Smart charity premiere for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s “Rock Foundation” at Planet Hollywood. While here for CineVegas, Johnny Brenden, president of the host Brenden Theaters at the Palms will present Dwayne with his own lobby Celebrity Star.

Friday, June 20: The Honorees with James Caan, Don Cheadle, Anjelica Huston, Rosario Dawson, Viggo Mortsensen and Sam Rockwell.

Saturday, June 21: Closing Night with The Great Buck Howard premiere.

We’re also expecting the amazing Beatles Love behind-the-scenes documentary All Together Now to be premiered at the Festival, with Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte and the cast of The Mirage show with recording genius Sir George Martin. I hope to have that date for you on Monday. Almost all the movies of the festival are screened at the Brenden Theaters in the Palms with actors, directors and filmmakers of each one attending the screenings for meet-the-press and film enthusiast Q&A sessions.

Trevor summed up for me: “ I do think that people are supportive of CineVegas because they want to come to Las Vegas. It is an enticing destination. I think the idea of a successful film festival in Vegas makes everyone happy. This will be our best year yet -- and it truly is an amazing lineup of premieres and fascinating first showings of ndependent films. I’m feeling very happy and comfortable with it all. We all have reason to be very proud.”

WHEN DO THE HILLS STARS HEAD FOR HOME?

It’s a feeling of deja-vu as The Surveillance File overflows with stories about the cast of MTV’s The Hills partying all week long at various clubs around town. When will they head for the hills and go home? Sexy Lauren Conrad and Lauren “Lo” Bosworth circled Stephen Colletti at a dance floor VIP table in the Body English nightclub inside the Hard Rock Hotel. Rival network head honcho Ted Harbert from E! Entertainment joined the table with his Daily 10 stars Ben Lyons, Clinton Sparks and Sal Maskekela along with rappers Three 6 Mafia. Even reality star Khloe Kardashian from Ted’s network series “ Keeping Up with the Kardashians” stopped by to join in the fun-- but boxer Zab Judah stayed at his own private table. World-renowned Tiesto (no more DJ please) spun a marathon music set at the Hard Rock and actor turned Celebrity Apprentice star Stephen Baldwin put in a surprise appearance while former Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson enjoyed the nightclub party.