CLOONEY & ‘13′ CREW RAISE A YACHT OF LOOT FOR DARFUR
CLOONEY & ‘13′ CREW RAISE A YACHT OF LOOT FOR DARFUR
24 May 2007
New York Daily News
Those handsome “Ocean’s Thirteen” con artists - George Clooney, Brad Pitt (both at r.), Matt Damon and Don Cheadle - scored a cool $9.2 million on the French Riviera Tuesday night. But nobody’s calling the gendarmes.
The only people likely to complain about Clooney’s latest caper are the paparazzi. Most of them were left at the dock when the Oscar- winner and his crew shoved off on the 237-foot yacht that was the scene of the Not on Our Watch benefit for Darfur.
Among those piped aboard the RM Elegant (a Greek-registered vessel that ranks No. 49 on Power & Motor Yacht mag’s list of the world’s 100 largest yachts) were “Ocean’s Thirteen” castmates Ellen Barkin, Andy Garcia, Scott Caan and Elliott Gould and charity co- skipper Jerry Weintraub.
Everyone looked their best. Tan-n-tuxed Clooney “was a dead ringer for Cary Grant” in “To Catch a Thief,” says our spy. “Ellen looked fierce in a tight velvet dress. She has the most rocking body you’ve ever seen.” Cheadle, who told Foxnews.com’s Roger Friedman that he’ll direct himself in a biopic about Miles Davis, appeared to already be channeling the jazz legend’s style.
Guests paid as much as $25,000 a ticket for the Audi-sponsored cruise. Steven Spielberg personally chipped in $1 million and, we hear, OK! Magazine donated around $2 million (which may explain why it had the exclusive on coverage).
Pitt came without Angelina Jolie, who was having dinner with Mariane Pearl, whom she plays in “A Mighty Heart.” He met up later with them and daughter Shiloh, who’s about to celebrate her first birthday.
More on tonight’s O13 Darfur Benefit
George Clooney, Daniel Craig, Matt Damon and Al Pacino are also expected aboard the £80 million ‘mega-yacht’ RM Elegant, moored off the Cap d’Antibes.
The charity event, aimed at helping to end genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan, has been organised by Warner Brothers at an estimated cost of £2.5 million and coincides with the premiere of the heist movie Ocean’s 13. There will be a four-course banquet, including lobster, beef with truffles and a choice of five desserts. As well as an outdoor jacuzzi filled with floating rose petals, a full casino, magicians, circus acts, a surround-sound music system and interactive games console ‘play area’, clay pigeon shooting from the upper decks is rumoured to be part of the fun.
Surprise performers, rumoured to include the American rapper Snoop Dogg, will entertain guests while Clooney, who sang in the movie O Brother Where Art Thou?, is tipped to take to the stage.
Five hundred bottles of Krug and Cristal champagne have been shipped in at an estimated cost of £100,000.
It will be the biggest such event since the after-party for Matrix Reloaded four years ago - another Warner Brothers production. Sadly, while the theme of the evening is undoubtedly glamour, all female guests have been warned that they will be required to remove their designer stilettos while the men will also pad around barefoot to avoid damaging the deck. [Daily Mail]
O13 Darfur Fundraiser the hottest ticket in town at $25,000 a pop!
May 16, 2007 by admin
Filed under General Articles, Movies
What’s hotter? Darfur or amFAR?
“Harvey sent me an email this morning saying he’d just arrived in Cannes and he forgot to get his Darfur tickets,” said Weintraub. “I said, “Don’t worry about it, Harvey. How many do you need?”
Tickets to the Darfur fundraiser on May 22 featuring “Ocean’s” stars and NOOW founders George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle - arguably the hottest ticket in Cannes - are a mere $25,000. Each. Gulp. No word on how many Harvey snagged. Early on, Weintraub contacted amFAR – including Weinstein – to let them know that he was not trying to steal their charitable thunder. amFAR’s Cinema Against Aids even has raised an estimated $22 million since the annual star-studded Cannes event began in 1993. Other amFAR invitees (like Sharon Stone and MAC AIDS Fund and Viva Glam spokes-pinup Dita Von Teese) will probably attend the Darfur fete, upping the already sky-high celebrity quotient of “Ocean’s” stars. And I wouldn’t be surprised if maybe, just maybe, the “Ocean” gang returns the favor and slides into amFAR’s legendary annual cocktails/auction/dinner at Moulin de Mougins the next night. Just a hunch. “We have gotten money beyond our wildest expectations in just 5 ½ weeks,” says Weintraub. “The support has been terrific. It’s become the hottest ticket in Cannes.” But only 150-200 people will be lucky enough to get inside the closed-to-press Darfur fundraiser. There may be a small press line, according to the studio PR department. And Weintraub has already sold the inside-event photo rights to a big glossy magazine. Which one? ”One of those magazines that pay a lot of money for exclusive photos,” Jerry said cagily, adding, “I’ll announce the magazine in Cannes.” People maybe? Okay? Hello? Maybe Vanity Fair? After all, VF honcho Graydon Carter is a sponsor of the evening, along with Chopard and Belstaff.
After Cannes, there will be “Ocean’s” Darfur benefit events in Las Vegas and Chicago. The Vegas fundraiser will open the CineVegas Film Festival on June 6 - and Weintrub will receive the fest’s Vanguard Producer Award. The second will take place in Chicago on June 7, hosted by Vanity Fair. Weintraub will also be the first producer to have his hand and footprints cemented for posterity in the famed forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, along with his “Ocean’s” stars Clooney, Pitt, and Damon, on June 5th in Hollywood. That night the film screens at Grauman’s with an afterparty at a nearby but undisclosed location. Weintraub talked from his WB offices today about the group decision to form NOOW. “We knew we had a movie that will do well. We wanted to do something that will make a difference. I get so many requests to do premieres for various causes, there are so many that it’s hard to pick one. But we all have an interest in the Sudan. What’s going on there is like Nazi Germany.” “Over the past year, George, Brad, Matt, Don have all been to Darfur individually. George brought a lot of attention to the crisis when he went there with his father and when he addressed the UN. Brad and Angie do so much for Africa. Don has a best-selling book out about Darfur. (the organization’s name is derived from the title of his book) and Matt has gotten very involved. So we put together a project that all of us can participate in.” Weintraub enlisted experts on Darfur, from the private sector, academia, the political arena. “What I found out was the most important - other than money - is to focus people’s attention on what’s happening there.” To that end, click here to visit the organization’s website This is not a one-time benefit for Darfur. NOOW will not dissolve once the conflict, death and starvation in that region does. “We want to put a spotlight on Sudan, says Weintraub. “But we want this organization to live on and fight genocide around the world. We are starting with Chad, Darfur, but we hope that when those situations are resolved, we can focus on other areas in the world whereever genocide is happening.” It won’t all be partying in Cannes. Okay, there will be some. Okay, a lot. Hey, it’s the Ocean’s gang. But the five Not On Our Watch founders have their work cut out to support the existing relief efforts and organizations protecting civilians in the Darfur region. “Starting in Cannes, we will start figuring out which organizations to funnel the money to,” says Weintraub. Among them: the International Rescue Committee and Doctors Without Borders. [Source]
CineVegas Film Festival Opening Night Festivities
OCEAN’S THIRTEEN Floods 2007 CineVegas for Charity
Jerry Weintraub to Receive the Vanguard Producer Award at Ninth Annual Festival; Opening Night Festivities to Benefit Humanitarian Organization Not On Our Watch
Since 1998, the CineVegas Film Festival has sought to prove that there’s an ocean of difference between other celluloid events and “The World’s Most Dangerous Film Festival.” Appropriately enough, this year’s festival will open with the Las Vegas-set summer 2007 blockbuster Ocean’s Thirteen, it was announced today by Artistic Director Trevor Groth. The film’s producer Jerry Weintraub will be honored with the Vanguard Producer Award during opening night festivities—Lights, Camera, Take Action—on Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00pm at the Palms Casino, which will benefit the aid group, International Rescue Committee for Not On Our Watch, an organization whose initial campaign is to support existing Darfur humanitarian relief efforts and to ensure the protection of civilians in that region. Weintraub will be joined by his all-star cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Ellen Barkin and Andy Garcia in Las Vegas, where the festival President Robin Greenspun will present Weintraub and Not On Our Watch with a check representative of the proceeds of the festival’s fundraising efforts. The ninth annual CineVegas Film Festival returns to the Palms Casino Resort and Brenden Theatres from June 6-16.
In the third installment of the franchise, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and the gang look to pull off their most ambitious and riskiest heist after ruthless casino owner Willy Bank (Al Pacino) double-crosses Ocean’s friend and mentor Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould). Ocean’s plan is elaborate, dangerous and damn near impossible – but there are no limits when it comes to one of their own. Directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, Ocean’s Thirteen (Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures) stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin and Al Pacino. “CineVegas has truly hit the jackpot with Ocean’s Thirteen,” said festival Artistic Director Trevor Groth. “From the original – starring the iconic Vegas legends the “Rat-Pack” – through the first two installments of the new Ocean’s franchise, the films have emanated an unsurpassed coolness fueled by the essence of Las Vegas. CineVegas is honored to open the festival with a film based on our turf that will launch us into the stratosphere of global recognition.” “Jerry has always been a producer of movies for the people and his body of work – from Ocean’s to such films as Diner, Cruising and Nashville – also proves that he cares deeply about taking chances and breaking cinematic new ground,” remarked festival President Robin Greenspun. “Besides being a major force in the film industry, Jerry is one of the most philanthropic individuals I know. It is our pleasure and honor to help him in his humanitarian efforts with Not On Our Watch.” For complete program details and to purchase passes to CineVegas 2007, please call 1-888-8VEGAS8. To purchase tickets and sponsorship packages to the Opening Night festivities benefiting the Not On Our Watch please call (702) 952-5530. About Jerry Weintraub Weintraub is also known for his philanthropic efforts on behalf of a wide variety of worthwhile causes. He most recently joined forces with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle in Not On Our Watch, a humanitarian campaign that will advocate for, and provide assistance to, victims of mass atrocities including the Darfur conflict. He has been the recipient of myriad professional honors, most recently being named “Producer of the Year” at ShoWest. This June, he will become the first producer ever to be “cemented” in the courtyard of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood when he joins Clooney, Pitt and Damon in a ceremony celebrating the opening of Ocean’s Thirteen. About Not On Our Watch’s Darfur Initiative About the International Rescue Committee
Jerry Weintraub is one of the most influential and successful people in the entertainment industry. Now heading up Jerry Weintraub Productions, he recently produced Ocean’s Thirteen, opening June 8, 2007. He previously produced the hit Ocean’s Eleven and its sequel, Ocean’s Twelve, as well as the upcoming family film Nancy Drew. Weintraub made his film producing debut with Robert Altman’s Nashville, going on to produce such films as Carl Reiner’s Oh, God!, Barry Levinson’s directorial debut Diner and the inspiring drama The Karate Kid, which spawned three sequels.
Founded by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Jerry Weintraub, the aim of Not On Our Watch’s Darfur initiative is to support existing humanitarian relief efforts and to ensure the protection of civilians in that region by: advocating for action and mobilizing lifesaving resources to provide medical care, shelter families, build community, help children cope with conflict, empower women, and promote human rights.
Among first to respond and the last to leave, the International Rescue Committee has been a global leader in humanitarian relief for refugees and victims of conflict for 75 years. During crises, IRC teams provide health care, shelter, clean water, sanitation, learning and healing programs for children, and special aid for women. As conflicts subside, the IRC stays to revive livelihoods and help shattered communities rebuild. The organization also provides a fresh start for refugees arriving in the United States. A tireless advocate for the world’s most vulnerable people, the IRC is committed to restoring hope, dignity, and opportunity. For more information, visit www.theIRC.org.
Events Schedule leading up to Ocean’s Thirteen Nationwide Premiere
Stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon and Producer Jerry Weintraub Make Hollywood History as They Kick Off a Wave of Big Events Leading to the Nationwide Opening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ ”Ocean’s Thirteen”
9 May 2007
Business Wire
English
BURBANK, Calif. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - The all-star cast and the filmmakers from the much-anticipated caper comedy “Ocean’s Thirteen” will be crossing the country for major events leading up to the June 8th release of the film.
Combining film and philanthropy, two of the events will serve to benefit the aid group the International Rescue Committee for Not On Our Watch. Co-founded by producer Jerry Weintraub, and “Ocean’s Thirteen” stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle, Not On Our Watch is a humanitarian organization whose initiative is to support existing Darfur relief efforts and to ensure the protection of civilians in that region.
Jerry Weintraub remarked, “It was such a privilege to reunite with Steven Soderbergh and an amazing cast to make ‘Ocean’s Thirteen.’ I am very proud of the film, and I am excited about premiering the film in multiple cities across the country. However, the thing I am most proud of by far is that these events will benefit a cause that is very important to me and my colleagues.”
The events kick off in Hollywood, where stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon, and producer Jerry Weintraub, will make a strong “impression” at one of the town’s most famous landmarks. Surrounded by cheering fans and friends, the four will have their hand and footprints immortalized in cement in the famed forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The Hand & Footprint Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 5, at 11:30 a.m., and footage of the event will be made available via a satellite feed (coordinates to follow separately).
This event will also mark Hollywood history. While it has become a rare honor for any Hollywood luminary to have his hand and footprints cemented for posterity at Grauman’s, the “Ocean’s” films’ producer and 50-year Hollywood veteran, Jerry Weintraub, has the distinction of being the first producer ever to be accorded that privilege.
Later that same evening, “Ocean’s Thirteen” will be presented in its North American premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, beginning with the screening at 7:00 p.m. Attending the screening will be the film’s star-studded cast, including Clooney, Pitt and Damon, in addition to Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Al Pacino, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner and Elliott Gould. Director Steven Soderbergh, screenwriters Brian Koppelman & David Levien, and producer Jerry Weintraub will also be on hand to meet and greet the celebrity guests and industry VIPs in attendance.
Las Vegas, the site of the film’s story, is the next stop, where a special benefit screening of “Ocean’s Thirteen” will open this year’s CineVegas Film Festival on June 6. During the opening night festivities–dubbed Lights, Camera, Take Action–Jerry Weintraub will also be honored with the CineVegas Vanguard Producer Award. Benefiting the aid group the International Rescue Committee for Not On Our Watch, the star-studded event will be attended by “Ocean’s Thirteen” cast members, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Ellen Barkin and Andy Garcia; producer Jerry Weintraub; and other celebrity guests.
Heading east, the group will attend the Chicago premiere of “Ocean’s Thirteen” on June 7 at the AMC River East. George Clooney, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Ellen Barkin, Bernie Mac, and Jerry Weintraub will be among the celebrities in attendance for the screening, which is being hosted by Vanity Fair and will also benefit the aid group the International Rescue Committee for Not On Our Watch.
In advance of these events, “Ocean’s Thirteen” will celebrate its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 24.
Opening nationwide on June 8, “Ocean’s Thirteen”–the third film in the successful “Ocean’s” franchise–reunites director Steven Soderbergh and stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner and Elliott Gould. Joining the cast for the first time are Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin.
In “Ocean’s Thirteen,” Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and the gang have only one reason to pull off their most ambitious and riskiest casino heist–to defend one of their own. When ruthless casino owner Willy Bank (Al Pacino) double-crosses one of the original Ocean’s eleven–Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould)–the gang teams up one more time to see if they can break “The Bank.” The plan is elaborate, dangerous and damn near impossible…but there are no limits when it comes to one of their own.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Jerry Weintraub/Section Eight Production, “Ocean’s Thirteen.” The film was directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by Brian Koppelman & David Levien. Jerry Weintraub produced the film, with Susan Ekins, Gregory Jacobs, Frederic W. Brost and Bruce Berman executive producing.
This film has been rated “PG-13″ by the MPAA for “brief sensuality.”
“Ocean’s Thirteen” hot ticket premiere and “Reel Relief” benefit
HOT! HOT! HOT! The “Ocean’s Thirteen” hot ticket premiere and “Reel Relief” benefit — which will raise funds for the new “Not On Our Watch” relief organization earmarking the funds for the poverty- stricken Darfur region of the Sudan — is set for June 7 at the AMC River East 21. The private party that follows is at the new Room 21.
Most of the stars of the movie, including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac and Ellen Barkin are expected to walk the red carpet. Co-star Al Pacino can’t make it, and Brad Pitt may or may not attend — depending on family stuff.
The evening is sponsored by VF Big Picture Show, Jerry Weintraub, Vanity Fair, Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures. Sugar Rautbord Public Relations is handling this event.
Now, this is not a cheap evening: A single ticket is $2,000, which includes the premiere, after-party and gift bag. . . . But for the big, big spenders, “The Blackjack Package” is $100,000 and includes 21 tickets to the premiere, after party with reserved seating, cast autographing, a mention by Weintraub from the stage and a pre-cocktail reception before the premiere. . . . Then there is a “High Roller” package for $50,000 and the Lucky Seven package for $13,000. The International Rescue Committee also is involved. So get your pennies ready for an exciting evening.
Cannes FF: Not on Our Watch
Clooney to Hold Darfur Fundraiser at Cannes
George Clooney is putting his resources to work at the Cannes Film Festival next month. He’s lining up a screening of his movie, “Ocean’s Thirteen,” to raise money for the besieged Darfur region of Sudan. The film’s producer, Jerry Weintraub, is helping put this together. The fundraiser, sources say, is set for May 22, two days before the Steven Soderbergh thriller has its official Cannes premiere at the Palais de la Croisette. That means “O13″ will get two big parties. It must be a blockbuster. This also means good things for the people of Darfur and the people of Cannes. For the latter, it’s expected then that the all-star cast of “Ocean’s Thirteen” — including Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Brad Pitt, Ellen Barkin, etc. — will be in town for most of the week, including Wednesday night’s amfAR dinner. For the people of Darfur, it means worldwide media exposure for a horrific situation. Clooney has been steadily working for Darfur for some time. Most recently, he flew over the Christmas holiday to China and to Egypt, looking to find allies in his quest to assist the Sudanese people. He’s also appeared in front of the United Nations pleading a case that shouldn’t be so hard to accept. Clooney, by the way, has set up a new charitable foundation to disburse all the money he collects for Darfur. He’s joined by his “Ocean’s Thirteen” producer Weintraub, Cheadle, Damon and Pitt. It’s called Not on Our Watch, and Weintraub tells me it’s already registered and ready to go. (Fox News)
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