DARE TO BARE

Rollo Ross, 23/05/12

Film festival guru, entertainment expert, premiere whore and sometime slayer of dragons

You might think logically that the Cannes film festival is all about films. It's not. It's substantially about brands trying to hawk their names around the festival and ensure that they are associated with the most luxurious event of the year.

Anna Hart, 24/05/12

Freelance writer specialising in pop culture, social commentary and lifestyle features

This week we bring you the news that Naomi Campbell has celebrated her birthday in Bethlehem. That's right. Like JESUS.

Chris Jancelewicz, 23/05/12

Lead Entertainment Editor, Huffington Post Canada

Not every third movie installment has to be abysmal, as we all saw in 2010 with the thoroughly enjoyable and heartwarming Toy Story 3. Does Men In Black 3 please or disappoint?

Steve Sparrow, 24/05/12

Lead singer/songwriter Morning Parade

It's been a period to remember, or maybe just try to remember. We've traveled thousands of miles and met so many incredible people whilst taking in these incredible experiences.

Jane Witherspoon, 23/05/12

Journalist and TV Presenter

The rain might still be here but there are no damp spirits in Cannes. It could be because Hollywood golden boy Brad Pitt has arrived in town. On the subject of his personal life, he said that Angelina Jolie is not here in Cannes with him as she's prepping for a new role and that rumours of an August wedding are false. "There's no date been set."

Martha Lane Fox, 23/05/12

Martha is the UK Digital Champion and founder of the Race Online 2012 Campaign she also Co-Founded Lastminute.com and LuckyVoice and sits on the boards of M&S, Channel 4 and MyDeco.com

In 2009 I was asked to be one of the Orange Prize for Fiction judges. I loved it. Although my boyfriend groaned every time I opened another book, I revelled in it.

Paul Guest, 22/05/12

Classical music writer and repetiteur

When a friend falls sick the least you can do is relieve them of their, one night only, Jessye Norman sings the American masters tickets and, surprisingly enough, I did - I am such a good friend.

Scottee, 23/05/12

Award-winning performer, director, writer and full time showoff

Critics have a bit of a reputation for watching your work with what locals up here would call 'a face like a smacked arse' but when I forced her to sit in my eyeline and wear a party hat like everyone else she looked engaged and even LOL'ed - why was I staring at her during the show as if I could predict her review or manipulate her experience?

B.J. Epstein, 23/05/12

Lecturer in literature and translation, University of East Anglia

But many view children's literature as beneath them. If it's not for 'grownups', it's not worthwhile. But, wait, here's a sneaky little problem: what about all the 'grownups' who read and enjoy Rowling's work and other children's books? Shouldn't we explore why these works appeals to adults who are apparently supposed to know better?

Rollo Ross, 22/05/12

Film festival guru, entertainment expert, premiere whore and sometime slayer of dragons

With most interviews you're either talking to the actual real-life human being or their alter ego, which is actually more common than you'd think. A lot of A-listers in particular seem to come across like they're acting in interviews and just reciting a script given to them by their publicist. But with the comedy TV host Keith Lemon, I feel like I'm interviewing both him and his creator Leigh Francis and I struggle to understand which person I'm talking to.

Jane Witherspoon, 22/05/12

Journalist and TV Presenter

One week in and the team are still bearing up... just! We decided to have a night off - which in Cannes meant we watched a film. So we ordered pizzas and sat down to watch iLL Manors - Ben Drew aka Plan B's new film. Maybe not the wisest film choice for a night of switching off/escapism.

Dr Raj Persaud and Adrian Furnham, 22/05/12

Films with black leads and supporting white casts might violate the unconscious expectations of critics. In previous decades the majority of black performers cast in movies were seen in subservient or stereotypical roles. Only in the last 10 years have black artists made progress in the variety of roles available.

Simon Saunders, 22/05/12

Writer/Photographer, totallygone.com

Don't get your hopes up - that's the price Canadian distributors Alliance Films are charging journalists for an interview at Cannes with Brad. 20 minutes...

Anna Hart, 19/05/12

Freelance writer specialising in pop culture, social commentary and lifestyle features

If a good-looking and talented Hollywood actor felt that his sexuality would destroy his chances of success, the shame is mostly ours. Because depressingly enough, he wouldn't be wrong.

Laura Cress, 21/05/12

MA Broadcast Journalism Student at City University

In a passionate plea, Alan Partridge once shouted at his confused guests "Stop getting Bond wrong!" Skyfall looks like it's going to fulfil this demand and more besides - so for the 50th anniversary of the martini lover can Mendes manage to pull out the best Bond since Goldeneye?

Rollo Ross, 21/05/12

Film festival guru, entertainment expert, premiere whore and sometime slayer of dragons

It's not uncommon to be asked what it's like to work at the Cannes film festival, and I usually reply that "it's really quite exhausting." However, what I'm reminded of today is that it's also completely weird in an insane banana type way.

Jasmine Dotiwala, 19/05/12

Producer, director, broadcaster, columnist

This fortnight much of the music industry was excited about the announcement of a Prince tour which begins on 22 May in Australia... Whilst all eyes are on the front player, it's always interesting to see whom the movers, shakers and influencers behind the scene are. The unexpected force behind Prince is an Asian British female - Kiran Sharma.