It isn’t as if kids of Hollywood celebrities don’t already attract too much attention by just being children of their parents that they just have to get the attention of “fashion critics” for their individual sartorial styles.  Celebrity magazines provide a peek of the clothes they wear at their every outing in a very consistent manner that it would be hard not to notice.  Each child who is undoubtedly under the watchful eye of an equally fashion conscious parent, always comes out in style even in the simplest garb.

1,  Suri Cruise

This girl can probably get away with anything in terms of clothes.  She is very rarely seen in public looking like she never gave a thought to what she’s wearing.  Her fashion sense earned for her , her own set of paparazzi literally waiting at the family’s doorstep to get the first glimpse of her clothes.  She has recently been spotted in less “formal” attires but no less fashionable specifically when she is in the company of her mother Katie Holmes after her estrangement with Tom Cruise.

2.  Kingston Rossdale

Kingston definitely has his own style with a little help from his designer mom Gwen Stefani.  He has been spotted in the most outrageous and the most impeccable fashion display that it is always exciting to guess what he’ll come up with next.    He appears to be enjoying the freedom of being able to dress up the way he wants to.

3. Shiloh Jolie Pitt

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter seemed to have set her mind for now for a “tomboyish” look with results that are practical for her age.  Her outfits are as interesting as the other two child celebrities in this list.  These three may have different fashion sense from each other but they seem to make it work individually.

Not many Hollywood personalities have had the distinction of having their own diamond jewelry collection.  Among those who do, Elizabeth Taylor’s name stands out because her use of them were highly publicized.  Each piece has a story to tell, a memory to remember.

1. The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond Ring

This was the 33.19 carat Asscher cut diamond ring most frequently worn by Elizabeth Taylor.  It was given by her former husband Richard Burton.  Prior to its auction sale, its estimated selling price was placed at $2,500,000 to $ 3,500,000.  It was sold for a record price of $ 8.8 million.

2. The Taylor-Burton Diamond

This was 69.42 carat pear-shaped diamond originally set on  a ring when purchased by Richard Burton for  $ 1,050,000 million in an auction.  Burton was outbidded by Cartier but prevailed after further negotiations.  Since the ring was too big for Taylor, the couple had it mounted as a pendant on a necklace designed by Harry Winston.  Taylor eventually sold it for the purpose of helping build a hospital in Botswana, Africa.

3. La Peregrina Pearl

Richard Burton again bidded for this pear-shaped pearl and won against Prince Alfonso de Bourbon Asturias.  The occasion this time was the 37th birthday of Elizabeth Taylor.  Burton purchased it for $37,000.  This piece of jewelry has a long history which dates back to the engagement of Mary Tudor of England to Phillip II of Spain in 1554.

4.  Bulgari Sapphire Necklace

Richard Burton once again gifted Elizabeth Taylor with this diamond and sapphire sautoir necklace which featured a 321-carat Burmese sapphire pendant.  The occasion was Taylor’s 40th birthday.  Burton is remembered to have said that the only Italian word Taylor knows is Bulgari.

5. The Michael Jackson Diamond Bracelet and the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara

This was a gift by Michael Jackson to Taylor which featured five rectangular-cut diamonds and a three-row circular-cut diamond band.  It sold for $194,500 in the auction far beyond the expected price of $30,000 to $50,000.  The diamond tiara which was a gift from Mike Todd also fetched an incredible price of $4,200,000, setting a record for tiara selling in the auction venue.

In the recent auction, auctioneers were at awe with the unbelievable interest of individuals to purchase an item or items from the Elizabeth Taylor Jewelry Collection.    It was almost as if the price didn’t matter as final bidding prices literally rocketed to the roofs.  There is no doubt that the jewelries’ history of ownership is largely responsible for this as sounded off by Denise of DiamondJewelry.org.

Paparazzi has quite a negative image of hounding stars and celebrities way too intrusively as to usually merit a restraining order from the court to stay away for a designated distance.  They usually consist of photojournalists who are not officially affiliated with any mainstream media group who track the activities of famous personalities on their own accord and volition.  They do this in the hope of catching just the right moment/s to be photographed and then sell them at a hefty price to newspapers, magazines, and other possible outlets for such pictures.

What is different from the paparazzi shots as compared to formal photo opportunities in showbiz events and other high-profile gatherings is that most often than not, the former tends to show stars in their most embarrassing moments rather than in their best.  These pictures are usually stolen shots of a celebrity’s private life which are obviously not meant for public consumption.  Given the insatiable desire of the public to know more about  what goes on the lives of the rich and famous, media will continue to come out with shocking and revealing pictures that will sell.

Paparazzi is literally watching out for the blunders of celebrities to make a living.  It isn’t very difficult to understand this since the most embarrassing photos usually command the highest price because of the expected interest that will be generated from it.  It is simply supplying what is in demand.

When celebrities do their dirty thing on public like having sex on a public place or engaging in criminal acts, they are usually asking for such treatment.  The rule is quite simple: Do not do anything in public that which you desire not to be publicly known.  It is an altogether different thing when paparazzi starts invading private family occasions, stalking children of celebrities causing fear and anxiety in them, and causing physical harm to the object of interest.

Image: picturewales.com

We all love to watch movies where on screen couples have a certain special attraction or chemistry. When an on screen couple can make this happen it creates a movie that is special, and it usually turns an average romance film becomes a box office smash. Continue reading »

Lots of visitors coming to Hollywood do so to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars. The great thing about the place is that anywhere you go the chances of being star struck is there.

If you want to spot some big stars but start feeling hungry from all the sightseeing you might as well visit restaurants that are the favorites of your favorite celebs including:

Spago Beverly Hills – The original Spago used to be located in west Hollywood but after Wolfgang Puck opened the Beverly Hills branch he had to let the first one go. If you want a sure shot at seeing big names this is the place to go especially during peak hours (7-9pm). The problem with the place though is that it is that you would need to book reservations days or even weeks in advance. Unless you’re a celeb or going out with one you also wouldn’t be able to get a table during the peak hours. Still the food is really excellent and at the very least you can say you’ve dined in the place where Sir Elton John, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, Robin Williams, Sydney Poitier, Tom Hanks, and so many more have dined.

Formosa Cafe – Fancy a drink? This is the place to go. Actually the place offers a lot more than drinks and has an excellent full menu everynight. Formosa Cafe is really frequented by the celebs though mostly just for cocktails. The great thing about Formosa Cafe is that the prices are relatively reasonable and the ambiance will make you fill at ease. Big names that have been spotted there include Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, James Dean, etc (although you surely wouldn’t see them coming again!). Among those alive and breathing big stars that have been seen there include Bono, Nicolas Cage, Britney Spears, Jodie Foster, Kevin Spacey, an more.

Do you consider yourself to be a maverick? I know a lot of people who do. It does not mean that they become instant successes but they do have a character of their own. In Hollywood, more than in other places, we can find a lot of mavericks. Forbes actually ran a feature article on some of Hollywood’s best known mavericks with this unforgettable lesson: “If you make people money, you can get away with being a maverick in Hollywood. If you don’t, well, that’s another story.”

So who made the list? Here are some of them.

Oliver Stone
He’s cemented his outsider status with a rebellious nature and a penchant for high-minded, controversial films. His work has provocatively depicted American culture, politics and business with Wall Street, Born on the Fourth of July and Natural Born Killers. But his latest film, W, grossed just $10 million during its opening weekend.

Michael Moore
He’s turned controversy into commerce, with documentaries that have explored American health care, the Iraq war, President Bush and gun ownership. But when his 2004 film Fahrenheit 9/11 grossed over $200 million worldwide–though it had a production cost of $6 million–that’s when he became a Hollywood darling. He’ll earn a reported $20 million to do the sequel.

Mel Gibson
Besides being outspoken, they’re adept at manipulating publicity–both positive and negative–to boost their fame, allowing them to work on their own terms. “Celebrities are selling their own brands because it affords them more freedom and they can drive the machine,” Says Levine.

That last description was actually referring not only to Mel Gibson but to other personalities such as Madonna and Kanye West as well. We all know where these people are right now and I think that being mavericks is one big reason that they reached where they are.

Anyone who has visited one of Madame Tussauds’ museums would know just how amazingly lifelike the exhibits are. And for those who just can’t get enough of their Hollywood stars, Madame Tussauds has something especially for them – the newest museum in its already vast line up.

This time, the museum is dedicated to the stars – the human kind, not the twinkly kind you see up in the night sky. The newest addition to Madame Tussauds’ museum is located right next to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, near the Kodak Theatre. If you follow the Walk of Fame, you will go by the new museum, which opened on the 1st of this month.

There are 115 celebrities immortalized in wax, and guess what? This is no stuffy museum where visitors have to stay behind the red ropes! Those who go inside Madame Tussauds can literally rub shoulders with the wax figures.

To add to the whole experience, the stars do not come as stand alone figures. Some of them actually have props, which they are most known for. Tom Hanks, for example, sits on a bench as Forrest Gump did. You can even put on some the available habits around Whoopi Goldberg’s figure to join her in Sister Act. Needless to say, the possibilities for fun are endless in this museum.

Tickets are sold online and at the door. Online, you can buy Priority Access or Flexi Tickets, both for a 10 percent discount. What are you waiting for? It’s the perfect trip to end the summer.

If I asked you right now who the most powerful women in Hollywood are, what would your answer be? When faced with this question earlier (my friend and I were talking about the very same topic), I named Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres. According to The Hollywood Reporter – which is definitely a more reliable source than I am – I got one correctly.

They recently honored the most influential women in Hollywood and Oprah was right there at the top. AP has a write up on the recent event:

The chairwoman of Harpo Inc. tops the trade paper’s 17th annual Power 100 list “based on her dizzying array of Oprah-branded media and her immense cultural influence,” Guider said.

Honorees are chosen by a panel of reporters and editors who consider each woman’s corporate position, control of purse strings and power to greenlight content.

During the same Q-&-A session, Disney’s co-chairwoman, Anne Sweeney, who was second on the list, said she uses chocolate as a salve, while No. 3, Sony Chairwoman Amy Pascal, opts to hide under the covers when failure strikes. The list was published Friday.

Who else made the list? I only really recognized Oprah in the top 10. Angelina Jolie made it to number 24, Tyra Banks is at 36, Tina Fey at 56, Rachael Ray at 65, and Miley Cyrus at 100. I don’t know about you but I was a bit surprised at number 100. Then again, the Hannah Montana phenomenon is indeed quite remarkable. For the complete list, visit The Hollywood Reporter.

What’s going on in Hollywood aside from the current season of American Idol? By the way, I heard that the show gathered the most votes ever for their top10. Anyhow, after the recent Oscars, it seems to me that the movie scene has not been that active. However, that is not really true. There is much going on behind the scenes, and I got wind of one story that just might make it to the big screen.

The King of Sting is the story of real life con men. Think Catch Me If You Can. It runs along the same lines. The protagonists of this story are Craig Glazer and Don Woodbeck. They operated all across the United States, posing as cops, and conducting drug stings. The caveat is that they kept all the money and drugs involved. Now you can just imagine how much they raked in!

In fact, they were so successful in their activities that they were hired by the Attorney General of Kansas. Unfortunately, Woodbeck lost his life in their final attempt. Glazer subsequently wrote a book about his colorful life, titled The King of Sting: The Amazing True Story of a Modern American Outlaw.

It seems that it was received warmly and is now targeted to be turned into a movie. Eric Eisner, a known producer, is said to have locked in the rights to the story. While there are no other details known as of yet, I am thinking we’ll get to see this movie by early next year.

He is a big star in Hollywood – and the rest of the world for that matter. He starred in so many hit movies. He bought a Toyota Prius (a green car, for those who do not know what it is) more than 7 years ago, when buying green cars was not the trend. He inspired other big stars to follow suit. He doesn’t have a Hummer (or a similar gas guzzling car) on the side. He even refuses to fly on a private jet and instead takes commercial flights. He has made films, which include a documentary, that highlights the environmental crisis. This is one man that “walks the talk” when it comes to being green. Can you make a guess as to who I am talking about?

To be honest, he was not the first person to come to mind. He is Leonardo di Caprio. Of Titanic fame, this guy has done a lot to bring environmental awareness to his part of the world. Even in private ways, he has been consistent in living a green life. Even international news agencies have taken notice. The Times Online (UK) ran a feature on him some time ago and noted that he has not always been this conscious of the environment:

The actor wasn’t always so planet-conscious: his first car, bought when he was 16, was a 1969 Ford Mustang, one of the original muscle cars. “It broke down on the freeway three times,” he says. “I nearly died [of embarrassment].”

So what made him change? He says that his role in the movie The Beach helped him become aware of our duty to conserve nature. His first act when he returned home after filming? He bought a Prius.

Seems to me we can learn something here.