ShoWest 2008 hits the strip

Las Vegas lives up to its sometimes-wishful "Hollywood East" nickname this week as the annual ShoWest convention and trade show attracts movie industry movers and shakers, from world-famous faces to technical wizards.
Today's famous faces, for example, include Oscar winners Robert Redford, Helen Hunt, director Ang Lee and writer-director Alan Ball, all of whom are scheduled to receive awards at a luncheon "celebrating the importance of independent and specialty film."
Independent and specialty releases may be in this afternoon's spotlight at ShoWest, which is headquartered at Paris Las Vegas. But it's the anticipated blockbusters -- high-profile sequels, effects-laden comic book adaptations, comedies and cinematic thrill rides -- that steal the focus every year.

Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher invited audiences to "get lucky" with them in the summer comedy "What Happens in Vegas."
And "21," about a group of MIT math whizzes demonstrating their blackjack prowess, premieres Wednesday at ShoWest, with star and producer Kevin Spacey joining co-stars Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne and others on the red carpet. (The movie hits theaters March 28.)
The "21" cast is scheduled to receive an ensemble award Thursday during ShoWest's closing-night banquet.
Other award-winners expected Thursday include Downey (ShoWest's Male Star of the Year), Anne Hathaway (Female Star of the Year), Seth Rogen (Comedy Star of the Year), Abigail Breslin and Emile Hirsch (Female and Male Star of Tomorrow, respectively), Brendan Fraser (Distinguished Decade of Achievement in Film) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Vanguard Award).

By Carol Cling LVRJ