Last night was the Ocean's Thirteen red capet. It launched the start of the annual 10 day CineVegas film festival. But no matter what happens during the rest of the festival, it is safe to say that this event was  huge even by Vegas standards. The fans packed in rows 8 and 9 and even 10 people deep to see the stars, blocked the entire way into the casino.

 

I only got back inside the resort to get to the parking garage with the help of owner George Maloof, who escorted photographer Sarah Gerke and I back into Palms through a side door! And, no, I don't usually bother casino owners for stuff like that. There was no  other elegant solution from where I was standing in the press area. My point: this was a huge crowd. Unlike many Vegas red carpets, this one, being outdoors, and truly accessible to the public, pulled in both locals and tourists in droves. Eruptions of screams were deafening with the appearance of major stars like Brad Pitt and George Clooney. 

 

This is from my notes and reporting from the red carpet opening last night.

 

 

1. Brad Pitt looks exactly like a movie star. So, much so that the "working press" of the rope line were asking him for autographs and posing for what seemed souvenir photos. (In this photo you can see my shoulder and forlorn, ignored digital recorder.)

 

 

2. The standard for candor is very low with movie stars. Matt Damon mentioned the first Oceans movie stood out for him for being the only fun one to make. All the press listening were touched by his daring honesty.

 

3.You know LA is ruling a night in Vegas red carpet-land when the reporter next to you asks, "Who's that?" and you say: "Wayne Newton."

 

4. Being invited to cover the opening of a movie does not mean you are invited to see the movie. You are not.

 

5. Dennis Hopper, head of CineVegas creative advisory board, is always right, especially so when using any variation of the word paranoid: "I thought, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, these two great entertainment capitols that were paranoiac of each other. I thought they could do a lot with an exchange of cultures. So, I help in every way I can. I really love it."

(photo by Sarah Gerke)