Is Paris Jackson being exploited by a shady producer?

The 13-year-old daughter of "Thriller" icon Michael Jackson has been cast in her first feature film role. But some members of the Jackson camp are concerned that the teen is being exploited.

Paris is ready for her close-up.

No -- not that Paris.

We’re talking about Paris Jackson.

The 13-year-old daughter of late pop king Michael Jackson has been cast in her first feature film role.

But not everyone is ecstatic over the news.

Paris will play Lundon O’Malley in the upcoming fantasy film Lundon’s Bridge and the Three Keys.

The budding socialite is set to join Larry King, his wife Shawn Southwick King, Love Boat alum Ted Lange and former 'N Sync-er Joey Fatone in the film adaptation of a little-known, privately-published book by author Dennis H. Christen.

The plot focuses on the love between a family and the strength that brings them together. Mythical creatures are featured prominently throughout the storyline: There's an ancient sea wizard that shifts people between species, a dolphin who becomes a human, a jellyfish that turns into an evil fairy godmother and a teenage boy who morphs into a dragonfly.

Lundon's Bridge was featured in a segment on CNN's Larry King Live in 2009.

Paris is featured on the book’s cover.

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Jackson will most likely be only 15 years old when the film is released, something that was initially against the wishes of her famous family. The Jackson Clan wanted the aspiring actress to wait until she was 18 to make the foray into acting.

A crafty Paris, however, managed to persuade her grandmother, 81-year-old Katherine Jackson.

With a little help from Hollywood producer Stephen Sobisky, of course.

Ah -- which brings us to the source of contention in this story. Those in-the-know believe the teen is being "exploited" by Sobisky, whose name often prompts head-scratching and shrugged shoulders around Tinseltown.

He has yet to produce a single film.

"She does not need to be involved with a guy who clearly is using her attachment to his project to raise the money… This is pure exploitation of Michael Jackson's only daughter," a source very close to the family tells The Chicago Sun-Times.

The project is currently in production.  A release date has not yet been set.

Image courtesy Juddy Eddy/WENN.com

12 Dec, 2011

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Boy toy tension between Marc Anthony & Jennifer Lopez

J.Lo's boy toy Casper Smart is causing a war between the star and her ex, singer Marc Anthony. Is Marc too fixated on Casper's sketchy past?

Jennifer Lopez's May-December romance with a backup dancer nearly 20 years her junior could put the kibosh on her hopes for a "peaceful divorce" from Marc Anthony.

Lopez's hot and heavy relationship with 24-year-old boy toy Casper Smart has created tension with her soon-to-be ex-husband, new reports claim. 

The salsa star has refused to work with the American Idol judge, 42, on their upcoming Latin American talent show, citing Jen's new relationship with her younger man as the issue. 

Lopez and Anthony are working together on ¡Q'Viva! The Chosen, a Spanish-language singing competition. Tabloid snitches say Jen wanted to bring Smart along as they filmed on location in Peru, but her estranged husband quickly vetoed the plan.

Anthony now says he can no longer work with her. She says he's "very controlling and jealous."

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"There are millions of dollars on the line," according to a pal of Anthony's. "Marc's pride has been seriously dented."

"J.Lo is a very tough woman," tittle tattles another source. "When she decides she wants something, she gets it. She's keeping notes on Marc's behavior as well as her voicemails that show his volatile temper."

So what's eating Marc?

Well, no sooner had the gossip mags figured out the identity of Jennifer's new squeeze, than they started digging up the dirt on him. And they found plenty -- much to Marc's chagrin.

Casper Smart was arrested in 2010 for drag racing down a Los Angeles freeway with a friend. He later had three warrants issued for his arrest after he failed to turn up at multiple court hearings related to the charge.

He's scheduled to appear in court in January and could face jail time.

Smart faced a similar string of charges and warrants for speeding and driving on a suspended license back in 2006. He almost went to jail Lindsay Lohan-style for failing to complete his community service.

J.Lo dances with new man at the AMAs >>

Sources close to Casper tell In Touch magazine that he's only dating Jen because he "wants to be rich and famous."

"He's a smooth talker and he obviously thinks J.Lo will be his meal ticket," an insider tells the mag.

Marc and Jennifer -- who have three-year-old twins, Max and Emme, announced their split in August. Lawyers for both sides are working through a "complicated" divorce settlement that could take months.

After all, there are two children, multiple homes, businesses and joint ownership of the Miami Dolphins football team to be considered.

"It's complicated and it could be at least several more months before final terms of the settlement are agreed upon," a source tells Radar Online. 

Do you think Jen's romance with Casper is bad for her image?

Image courtesy Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

12 Dec, 2011

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Source: http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/849597/marc-anthony-doesnt-approve-of-jennifer-lopezs-may-december-romance
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Lindsay Lohan's purse stolen -- and returned minus $10K

Police in Hawaii are on the hunt for the person who swiped a $5,000 Chanel handbag belonging to actress Lindsay Lohan -- and took off with $10,000 hidden inside.

Police in Honolulu County, Hawaii have launched an investigation after a pricey handbag belonging to Playboy cover girl Lindsay Lohan was stolen -- and later returned sans a whole lotta dough.

A $5,000 Chanel purse, containing Lohan's passport, identification, cash and paperwork giving her permission to take a vacation to Hawaii while on probation, was reportedly stolen from a car parked outside a party in Laie on Saturday night.

The purse was returned Sunday afternoon, on the heels of reports that Lohan is due to appear before Judge Stephanie Sautner in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday. If complications from her missing had ID prevented her from returning to L.A. in time for her scheduled probation progress report, Lohan could have been found in contempt of court and sent back to jail.

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A "suspicious-looking" Hawaiian local produced Lohan's missing Chanel bag after being interrogated by one of the star's pals. 

LiLo was so happy to have her beloved purse back, she didn't even bother asking this strange man any questions about where he'd found it… despite the fact that she's now out $10,000.

It's all about the Chanel, darling.

Any of this sound remotely familiar?

This is the second time the star has experienced travel woes just before an important court date.

In May 2010, Lindsay was attending the Cannes Film Festival in France when she claimed her passport had been stolen. The actress was unable to return Stateside in time for a court hearing.

Have no fear, Gents: With her ID now safely tucked away in her suitcase, Lindsay will be back in the City of Angels just in time to unveil her Playboy spread on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Thursday.

The full 10-page pictorial leaked online on Friday.

Image courtesy WENN.com

12 Dec, 2011

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Paris Hilton puts business before pleasure

Paris Hilton has a rep as a total party girl, but the celebutante says she always puts business before pleasure.

Who says all Paris Hilton does is party? The blond bombshell says with all the irons she has in her fire, she doesn't have time to do anything but work, work, work.

Hilton threw a press conference while visiting Manila in the Philippines to discuss a new beach club she is designing with Azure and Century Properties. The press was more interested in her than the real estate project -- and this gave Paris the perfect opportunity to position herself as a serious businesswoman.

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"Eventually one day I want to have my own family, get married and have children, but right now I'm just focusing on my business," she said. "And [I'm] also involved in charity work, I've been doing charity since I was a little girl."

"I thank God everyday and think that it's important to give back and also lend my voice to those in need. One of the reasons God makes celebrities or other people is to give back and to be able to use it in a positive way."

"I have 17 product lines, I have released an album, I'm doing a second one, writing books, doing movies, acting, I've really done it all," Hilton explained. "But this is the one project I'm most proud about because real estate ...is something that runs in my blood."

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She even says her grandfather, Barron Hilton, who wiped out the inheritance of all of his grandkids by promising 97% of his net worth to the Conrad N. Hilton foundation after his death, is proud of her -- despite rumors that he has long been fed up with her party girl shenanigans.

"My great-grandfather started the Hilton hotel chain, and created his own legacy, and that's what I'm doing now and I feel so proud. My grandfather called me a couple of days ago when he heard about this project and he just said, 'I'm so proud of you, you're my eldest granddaughter and you've achieved so much success and to see you now developing your own real estate is so amazing.' It just made me feel so proud to get that call from my grandfather as a businessman."

Before her trip, Paris blew off a little steam at the Dom Perignon Art Basel Party in Miami where she almost certainly made some very important business contacts.

Image courtesy WENN.com

12 Dec, 2011

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5 Pretty pairs of holiday-ready shoes

Party season is here and we want to make sure you're ready to hit the dance floor in style with one of our picks for hot holiday heels. We guarantee you'll turn heads with every stride wearing any one of these pairs of fashion forward footwear.

Rhinestone pump There's nothing like a little extra sparkle to get you in the holiday spirit, and this pair of platform almond toe pumps fits the bill . The smattering of faceted rhinestones and the metallic heel add to the sheer decadence of these get-noticed heels. We're partial to the nude, but they also come in black and teal depending on what you want to pair them with.

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Color block Take your little black dress to the next level this party season by pairing it with these eye-catching color block Vince Camuto pumps . The main body of the shoe is a pretty shade of purple with a black underside and heel and a royal blue cap toe – a chic and contemporary combination. These would also look great peeking out from under a pair of white leg trousers.

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Ankle boots You can't go wrong with ankle boots when it comes to adding some edge to your party season look. Wear this simple but stylish black suede pair with tights and a mod structured mini dress in a solid color . What they lack in sparkle and flair, they make up for in tasteful design and versatility. When you're not wearing them with cocktail frocks, pair with skinny denim or leggings and sweater dresses.

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Gorgeous glitter All over glitter transforms these pretty pumps into a holiday party must-have . In order to not resemble a disco ball from head to toe, refrain from wearing these alongside any other sparkly pieces, but do wear them with all-black or other solidly-hued styles. They would work particularly well with a body-hugging dress in either green, dark blue or basic black.

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Satin peep-toe Our new favorite shoe of the holiday season was found when we came across this gorgeous pair of navy peep-toe pumps featuring an elegant silky satin ribbon tied into a bow across the toe . They also come in taupe with coral ribbon but we're partial to the more dramatic combination of blue and silver-gray.

More style tips & trends

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Chic layering ideas for winter

12 Dec, 2011

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Expert tips for traveling with your guy this holiday

Vacationing together – unless you're somewhere with multiple swim-up bars and fruity cocktails featuring miniature umbrellas – isn't all long walks on the beach and sparkling turquoise water. Traveling as a couple can test your relationship. Missed buses, delayed flights, language barriers and sub-par hotel rooms can all create chaos on the road. But there are also many benefits to exploring new territory as a duo. If you're hitting the road this holiday, follow our travel tips for a smooth vacation for two.

To get some insight into traveling as a couple, we spoke with travel agent Ilana Valo about what those benefits are and how to plan a trip that best suits your twosome.

Choosing a destination

First, you’ll need to keep in mind what you both like to do. If one person likes to sit on the beach while the other prefers to be more active, you need to find a place that satisfies both styles of vacation. After all, the whole point is to spend time together. Then think about where you’ve gone in the past and where you’ve been comfortable. If one person is used to backpacking and the other expects a suite at the Hilton, you’re going to have to find some middle ground. You need to find a solution that suits both of your comfort levels. “At the end of the day it comes down to patience and compromise,” Valo says.

Location inspiration

When it comes to where couples are going, many are taking more adventurous trips to places further afield like Thailand and South America, says Valo. In fact, one couple we talked to just booked a two week trip to Argentina in February. They’ll even be forgoing a hotel for an apartment in the city center so they can have a more authentic experience.

European vacations are also popular right now as are educational trips like visiting Napa for a weekend of wine tasting or hitting the slopes to learn to ski. If you can’t afford a longer stay, Valo says many couples are also opting to take long weekend trips to various easily accessible urban hubs with a lot to offer couples traveling together, like New York, Montreal, Boston and Chicago.

Benefits of traveling together

You learn a lot about a person when you travel with them. “Every time you travel together you’ll learn something new,” Valo explains. What better way to get out of a relationship rut or boost your bond than with a trip somewhere new? “Travel gets you out of your routine and experiencing another culture together will enrich your relationship.” Not to mention all the shared stories and great memories you’ll have when you get back – something that makes even the more stressful parts of travel worth the anxiety.

Travel tips for survival

When things do go wrong , Valo advises taking it in stride and realizing you can’t control everything. When you come up against problems, it’s usually out of your control and often out of the control of the people you’re dealing with, so getting upset won’t help anything. Be polite and take a step back to assess the situation. She also suggests using a travel agent to make things run smoother, and adds , “you can blame the travel agent if something goes wrong.”

More relationship advice

Romantic ways to enjoy the cold weather
Top 4 relationship milestones
Biggest benefits of long-term love

12 Dec, 2011

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Lindsay Lohan talks sexuality in a male-dominated world

Not only has Lindsay Lohan's Playboy pictorial been leaked, but her sexually-charged interview has, too. Read on to find out what she has to say about sexuality and life lessons.

By now you've seen the heavily-Photoshopped images of Lindsay Lohan in Playboy channeling her self-professed idol Marilyn Monroe -- but you haven't heard what the troubled starlet has to say.

Lohan told the mag that if you want to be a strong woman, you need to have confidence in your sexuality.

Lindsay Lohan would make a "great hooker" >>

"Sex and sexuality are a part of nature, and I go along with nature. I think Marilyn Monroe said that, and I agree with her," she said. "Knowing your body and being in touch with your body is important because it gives you confidence, and in life, women need confidence. It's a very male-dominated world, so knowing yourself and being comfortable with your body is an important thing for me as a woman. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but that's mine."

Lohan, who at this point in her career is better known for her legal woes than her talent, also touched on her early years in Hollywood that led her down her dark path in the first place.

Lindsay Lohan's so-called secret diaries revealed >>

"Ultimately, we are each responsible for ourselves and for our actions," she waxed philosophical. "Looking back, I probably would have listened to and taken more advice from the people whom I admire and would have followed through with it more. My stubbornness at 18 and 19 years old got in the way. During the past five years, I've learned that time flies faster than you think, and because you only live once you have to learn from your mistakes, live your dreams and be accountable."

Lindsay Lohan's Playboy spread has been released early and can already be accessed on Playboy.com after being leaked by unknown sources last week.

Image courtesy Andrea Centonz/WENN

12 Dec, 2011

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Source: http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/849585/lindsay-lohan-talks-sexuality-in-a-male-dominated-world
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