CineVegas Film Festival...Paris Hilton and Bijou Phillips at Charity Event to Benefit Katrina. Dark Streets premieres! Rain smash after-party...
















Bijou Phillips sang her little heart out, Paris strode through to say hi to Johnny Brenden, and Genevieve Waite wantonly danced with a curious smile on her face among an entourage of females.




Bijou, by the way, is half-sister of China Phillips who is the daughter of Michelle Phillips of "Momma & Poppa's fame".




Later, guests of the fundraiser were treated to quite the adrenalin rush at the trendy watering hole - "Rain" - at the Palms Resort.

The setting for the stage show was exotic.


The sun fell behind the horizon in a ball of fury, palms whispered in a gentle desert breeze, and party-goers dangled their feet in the refreshing cool waters of the romantic reflecting pool as they rocked to the bluesy notes of the night's talented line-up.

At an open bar the liquor flowed freely.

The party guests (for the most part) were a select mix of young professionals and industry-types with quite a number of pretty young ladies and well-dressed handsome men thrown in for good measure.

The benefit was to raise funds for the Katrina hurricane victims and the "Louisiana Cultural Economic Foundation".

On the red carpet earlier, Bijou was excited about the unveiling of her new feature, "Dark Streets".

"This is the role I have wanted to play since I was a little girl," she confided in me last night.

"I used to walk the streets in the rain in New York when I was younger with my umbrella in hand and sing the blues out loud as I strolled along," she recalled wistfully.


But, it wasn't easy landing the part. No sir, she had to fight for the opportunity to play one of two femme fatales playing opposite dashing young actor Gabriel Mann.

While she may not be starring in lead roles in big budget features, she's comfortable in her shoes none-the-less, she assured me.

"I have the chance to do a wide range of work in the Independent film area."

"Dark Streets" was directed by Rachel Samuels.

The hot auteur's last turn at the helm was for a Gothic period drama called - "Suicide Club" - starring Jonathyn Rice and Paul Morissey (shot in Ireland).

"Streets" is a period piece with a killer soundtrack featuring blues contemporary artists such as Natalie Cole, Aaron Neville, and Solomon Burke.

Also, there were contributions from B.B. King and Richie Sambora.

The neo-classic - is a "music-driven feast for the eyes and ears" which "stimulates the senses" - according to the producers.

Industry buzz is leaning towards a prediction there will be good receipts at the box office.

We'll see.

The after-bash at "RAIN" was wild and frenetic; in fact, downright electric.

When the gyrating dancers on the packed floor were treated to their first jolt of pyrotechnic wizardly - fire ball blasts that burst exuberantly over their heads - they roared out loud.

Every slithering body in the joint was moving to the mesmerizing beat.

The pulsating mood was fast, furious, freeing.

A feature writer for movie web was blown away when we strode in the door, initially.

"I've never seen anything like this in Missouri or Ohio," he exclaimed excitedly. "Just amazing."

Well, "Rain" is described as a multi-sensory experience.

It is that, and then some.

As I departed around 1 a.m., throngs of excited party-goers were still in a line - itching to get in - in a queue that snaked all the back way into the main foyer of the casino.

For those who missed the party extravaganza, there is always next year.

Same time. Same place.

Right Trevor?




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