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Sorry, Elton John sang, seems to be the hardest word. But no longer for advertisers. In the last few days Marks & Spencer and the London Evening Standard have decided that large advertising campaigns displaying contrition are the best route to win over the public.In the case of M&S a national press advertising campaign with the headline 'We boobed' told women it was dropping its unpopular policy of charging more for larger bra sizes.The Evening Standard, now under the ownership of Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev and the editorship of former Tatler editor Geordie Greig, decided to use the opportunity of its rebirth of sorts to run billboards and posters apologising to Londoners for its previous attitude. The campaign, developed by ad agency McCann Erickson London, has very low-level branding and the word 'Sorry' used in conjunction with phrases such as 'for being negative'.It is tempting perhaps to wonder whether the current lack of faith in big business, fuelled by the economic down

Singing sensation Susan Boyle has scored an interview with the biggest name in daytime television, according to US reports.

Fresh off his lauded new york production of Farragut North, director Doug Hughes reunites much of his ensemble cast, including Juno's Olivia Thirlby, The Wire's Isiah Whitlock, Jr, Mia Barron, Dan Bittner and Justin Huen, at the Geffen Playhouse to join the previously announced Chris Noth and Chris Pine. Noth, best known for his longtime stint as Detective Mike Logan on Law & Order and as the (in)famous Mr.Big on Sex and the City, is a fellow cast member from the Atlantic Theater Company's NY production, while Pine, who is starring as the young Captain Kirk in the new film Star Trek and was recently seen in the Geffen's production of Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, is new to the LA production. Written by Beau Willimon, Farragut North was recently nominated for two Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The big-screen return of 'Star Trek' launched into warp drive as it grossed an estimated $7 million from advance screenings in North American theaters, Daily Variety reported on Friday.

Angelina Jolie Gossip News Biography from Diana Mimon. Check out the latest gossip and news on Angelina Jolie and her life with the kids and Brad Pitt.

Film News: Firm looks past cashing in on 'Twilight' sequels -- When Summit Entertainment hit it big with 'Twilight,' it followed up almost immediately with plans for three more films based on the Stephenie Meyer novels, with the sequels seen as a good bet for a B.O. windfall. But even amid its heavy investment in the teen-friendly saga, Summit is trying to avoid the temptation to turn its slate into all vampires, all the time.

Independent regional group wins four categories in a good night for smaller newspaper publishersThe independent regional publisher Cumbrian Newspapers Group was the big winner at today's Regional Press Awards, winning four categories including a coveted newspaper of the year prize.On a good day for smaller regional newspaper publishers, CN Group's daily title, the Carlisle News & Star, was named daily/Sunday newspaper of the year with a circulation below 40,000.CN Group reporter Roger Lytollis picked up the weekly features writer prize for its sister paper, Cumberland News, for the second year in a row.The small Carlisle-based publisher picked up a further two awards, as its sports reporter Jon Colman was named weekly sports journalist of the year for the third year in a row, with judges praising his 'exceptional reports' for the Cumberland News.Colman then also won this year's sports journalist on a daily or Sunday paper award for pieces filed for the News & Star.Daily or Sunday newsp

Writer Harriet Ruderman reads from her new book 'The Laceyville Monkeys...Say the Right Words,' at Books of Wonder. The story, inspired by a tale told by the author's own mother, tells of three mischievous monkeys who try their luck in a talent contest. Guests enjoy cookies, for the kids, and flowers, for mom

Cannes 2009: Box office thrives in cities, shrinks in rural areas -- France remains a safe haven for independent distribution, but is showing vulnerability. It's Europe's biggest film market by admissions and box office, but the first-quarter results of 2009 show that while B.O. has been relatively stable in Paris and its suburbs, even enjoying a 3% bump, it has dropped by 40% in rural areas and 27% in medium-sized cities.

Cannes 2009: Buyers cautious due to static admissions -- A growing numbers of pics are competing for a static number of viewers in the Japanese market -- annual admissions have peaked at about the 160 million mark -- while a handful of megahits are grabbing larger market shares. 'There is no middle in the Japanese market anymore -- it's all either big commercial films or small arthouse releases,' says industry veteran Kiyo Jo, prexy of indie production and sales company Gold View.   Local distribs of foreign product, arthouse or otherwise, have accordingly become more cautious in their buying strategies, entering into joint distrib deals for major pics or, like former indie powerhouse Gaga, even exiting the acquisitions game altogether. For local indie producers, this shift has made it harder to raise coin, forcing reductions in budgets. They have compensated by making more pics on DV, but this strategy, notes Jo, has its downside. 'Those films are harder to sell abroad because the p