George Clooney Promises Film To Italy's Earthquake Region

L'AQUILA, Italy — George Clooney has toured the ruins of Italy's recent earthquake and told the survivors he'll shoot a film in their mountain region.

The actor inspected crumbled buildings during a visit on the sidelines of the G-8 summit in L'Aquila. The April 6 quake left thousands homeless and killed nearly 300 people.

Italy is holding the summit there to show solidarity with the victims.

On Thursday Clooney visited a tent camp for the homeless and kissed four women and shook hands with residents.

The actor said in September he'll shoot part of a film in the area, which could help the local economy. The movie will be a thriller about a killer who tries to hide out in an Italian town.

Actor Bill Murray accompanied Clooney to help draw attention to the quake victims.

Comments

[ispeak]

I wish more people in the public eye would use their celebrity to help bring attention to these kind of issues. People need to see the most successful use their popularity to help others, for the common good. That wealth isn't about how much you can accumulate but how much you can help others with what you have.

[Nanea]

It's not that this particular issue needed attention after that little event of no importance, the G8 summit, took place there.

And if Clooney really helped by donating some of the money he gets for all those product endorsements... but instead he seems to think this is what helps his image that has taken hits because of his involvement with Nestlé, his shilling for coffee for that single serve coffee that comes in aluminum pods that don't meet the environmental sustainability standards that he talks about so much at other occasions.

If Clooney only practiced what he preaches, but to me he comes across as a hypocrite.

[MiraMcB]

I would imagine that those people living in that tent camp after all these weeks feel their plight hasn't gotten nearly enough attention, G8 not withstanding. They were no doubt delighted that Mr. Clooney and Mr. Murray stopped by for a visit and a promise of some work that will help their economy down the road.

As for donations, how do you know he didn't donate? He donates more to charity every year that you probably have made in your entire career, and he does it quietly because he doesn't need the publicity or the credit. I'm assuming you work at something, so you must also be "shilling" something for some company in some way. Is it environmentally perfect? How much did you donate yourself, btw?

Why do we seem to feel we can hold celebrities to a much higher standard than we hold ourselves to? They work hard for their money just like anyone else and have, really, ZERO responsibility to donate it or donate their time or anything else. How would you like it if your less well-off neighbor down the street came to your door making demands on YOUR income? Probably not very much.