Green Katrina

May 11, 2007
The site of the first house in an eco-friendly residential development in New Orleans backed by actor Brad Pitt was marked out on Thursday.

The city's Lower 9th Ward neighborhood was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Hay bales were used to mark the outline of the first house, which is planned as a model home and visitor centre while construction is under way.

While the plans for the narrow, two-story house is based on New Orleans' traditional buildings, they will also incorporate solar energy panels, energy-efficient windows and use energy-saving materials such as metal roofing and recycled textiles.

Pitt funded an architectural competition for the buildings and helped select the winning designs.

"Hopefully this can be a model for the level of redevelopment that can be done here," said Matt Petersen, president and CEO of Global Green USA, the environmental group working with Pitt on the project.

Although the star could not be at the unveiling, he issued a statement saying "I'm crying out for one of our leaders to really make this a priority."

In January, he and Jolie purchased an early-1830s masonry mansion in the French Quarter for $3.5m.
-RTE Entertainment

Upcoming Films

Dallas Buyer's Club (2008)

Director:Marc Forster

Writers:Craig Borten (screenplay) &
Melisa Wallack (screenplay) ...
more
Release Date:2008 (USA) more

Told to "go home and die" after developing full-blown AIDS in 1986, electrician Ron Woodroof delves into the world of underground pharmacies that supply HIV drugs not approved for use in the U.S. in an attempt to prolong his life, and, ultimately, the lives of thousands of other people.

Dirty Tricks (2008)

Director:Ryan Murphy

Writers:John Jeter (play)
John Jeter (play)

Release Date:2008 (USA)
Genre:Drama / History
The wife of Richard Nixon's attorney general comes to her husband's defense in the aftermath of Watergate.

State of Play (2008)

Director:Kevin Macdonald

Writer:Matthew Michael Carnahan

Release Date:2008 (USA) more
Genre:Crime / Drama / Thriller
Based on the BBC mini-series of the same title, a team of investigative reporters work alongside a police detective to try and solve the murder of a congressman's mistress.
Production Notes/Status:
Will shoot in November.

Brad Pitt ... Cal McCaffrey

World War Z

IGN reports that Paramount and Brad Pitt's Plan B Productions are partnering to produce a film version of the novel World War Z: An Oral History of The Zombie War by Max Brooks (son of Mel). Brooks seems to have a flair for the subject of the "living challenged" as he also wrote the Zombie Survival Guide. Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski is adapting the book but there is no confirmation yet that Pitt will star, Straczynski kept it pretty non-committal saying the script was, "For Brad Pitt potentially -- we'll see what happens. He might be the star in it."

Brad Pitt ... Cal McCaffrey

Country:USA
Language:English
Color:Color
Filming Locations:USA