memphiz
10-24-2005, 11:35 PM
Movie idol Brad Pitt tries to stay under the radar
Superstar thrills his teenage fans
ONE of the world's most famous stars slipped into Winnipeg yesterday and tried his best to avoid the spotlight. Landing in a private jet at 3 p.m. yesterday, Brad Pitt dodged waiting media with escapes as cagey as the tricks in Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve, his recent movies about slick heists.
At the Fairmont hotel, where staff were sworn to secrecy about their superstar guest, he was admitted through a back door.
At about 8 p.m., Pitt somehow left the Fairmont without being noticed and went for dinner at a swanky restaurant, 529 Wellington.
"If Brad Pitt wants to stay under the radar, he can," said a Fairmont staffer.
Pitt is in Winnipeg for only a day or two to film scenes for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. The Pitt chase started yesterday when his small jet landed at Shell Aerocentre, a terminal just west of Winnipeg International Airport for private aircraft.
Large plane-refuelling trucks immediately moved in front of Pitt's aircraft, apparently to block photographers from taking pictures, some of which could be worth $100,000 US if Pitt's romantic partner, Angelina Jolie, was with him.
An SUV with tinted windows emerged from behind the refuelling trucks and drove to the Fairmont. Wearing sunglasses, Pitt emerged from the SUV and entered the hotel through a back door. Jolie was not at his side.
Security was heightened at the hotel and employees are under strict instructions from management not to reveal Pitt's whereabouts.
"We'll get fired if we say a word to anyone about anything," whispered a hotel employee, as the hotel's lounge filled up with cowboy-hat-wearing rodeo stars, who are extras in the film and also staying at the Fairmont.
"But word gets around, and we knew he was coming here," she said.
At least one freelance photographer for an American news tabloid, who was staying as a guest at the hotel, was ejected from the Fairmont for refusing to put away camera equipment.
Other photographers waited at the edge of the Fairmont property, waiting for Pitt to enter or exit to grab a shot.
The corner of Portage and Main, outside the Fairmont, buzzed with a a handful of fans who waited patiently in the windy cold to glimpse of the star. "He's the sexiest man in the world," said Veronica Moar, one of a gaggle of young women on the sidewalks pining for the heartthrob.
Later, outside 529 Wellington, Pitt thrilled a crowd of teens who waited on the sidewalk for him to exit the restaurant.
"He rolled down the window a little bit so you could see his eyes, and he waved a little bit, and said 'Hi guys,' " said Suzy Dodiroga, gasping at her exchange with the superstar.
"He's so nice, we couldn't believe he actually acknowledged us," she said.
Other local businesses said they hoped Pitt would appear at their establishments. The manager of Hy's Steakhouse said Pitt was welcome anytime.
"If he wants something that's not on the menu, we'll go and get it for him," said Hy's Bento Peixoto, who added he personally retrieves special ingredients for all his customer's favourite dishes. "He's the top star in the world, guaranteed 100 per cent."
Meanwhile, three blocks over on the film set at Adelaide Avenue and Princess Street, security was tight.
The Exchange District set, which has been turned into the wild west with fake building fronts and dirt over the pavement, is closed to the public and patrolled by police. Residents of the area were shuttled to and from the doors of their buildings by security workers, and Exchange District visitors were not allowed to walk the streets where shooting will take place.
Pitt, who has been shooting around Edmonton and Calgary since August, made headlines around the world when he was spotted out and about with Jolie at the West Edmonton Mall and a Safeway grocery store.
However, dogged media coverage of the reclusive pair in Alberta hasn't always paid off, as a photographer was charged with mischief recently after being found on the film's set.
The mania surrounding Pitt in Winnipeg likely will be brief, as senior crew members said he may only be in town for one or two days.
Scenes involving Pitt are slated to film today, but the script calls for summer weather. If the Winnipeg weather doesn't co-operate, filming could be as late as tomorrow.
Today's forecast calls for sun with cloudy periods and a high of nine. Tomorrow is expected to be sunny with a high of eight.
Shooting for The Assassiniation of Jesse James is scheduled to run until Oct. 28.
http://winnipegfreepress-proxy.nandomedia.com/ips_rich_content/front10242005.jpg
Actor Brad Pitt emerges from the 529 Wellington restaurant last night. A security guard's flashlight points the way to a waiting SUV
Superstar thrills his teenage fans
ONE of the world's most famous stars slipped into Winnipeg yesterday and tried his best to avoid the spotlight. Landing in a private jet at 3 p.m. yesterday, Brad Pitt dodged waiting media with escapes as cagey as the tricks in Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve, his recent movies about slick heists.
At the Fairmont hotel, where staff were sworn to secrecy about their superstar guest, he was admitted through a back door.
At about 8 p.m., Pitt somehow left the Fairmont without being noticed and went for dinner at a swanky restaurant, 529 Wellington.
"If Brad Pitt wants to stay under the radar, he can," said a Fairmont staffer.
Pitt is in Winnipeg for only a day or two to film scenes for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. The Pitt chase started yesterday when his small jet landed at Shell Aerocentre, a terminal just west of Winnipeg International Airport for private aircraft.
Large plane-refuelling trucks immediately moved in front of Pitt's aircraft, apparently to block photographers from taking pictures, some of which could be worth $100,000 US if Pitt's romantic partner, Angelina Jolie, was with him.
An SUV with tinted windows emerged from behind the refuelling trucks and drove to the Fairmont. Wearing sunglasses, Pitt emerged from the SUV and entered the hotel through a back door. Jolie was not at his side.
Security was heightened at the hotel and employees are under strict instructions from management not to reveal Pitt's whereabouts.
"We'll get fired if we say a word to anyone about anything," whispered a hotel employee, as the hotel's lounge filled up with cowboy-hat-wearing rodeo stars, who are extras in the film and also staying at the Fairmont.
"But word gets around, and we knew he was coming here," she said.
At least one freelance photographer for an American news tabloid, who was staying as a guest at the hotel, was ejected from the Fairmont for refusing to put away camera equipment.
Other photographers waited at the edge of the Fairmont property, waiting for Pitt to enter or exit to grab a shot.
The corner of Portage and Main, outside the Fairmont, buzzed with a a handful of fans who waited patiently in the windy cold to glimpse of the star. "He's the sexiest man in the world," said Veronica Moar, one of a gaggle of young women on the sidewalks pining for the heartthrob.
Later, outside 529 Wellington, Pitt thrilled a crowd of teens who waited on the sidewalk for him to exit the restaurant.
"He rolled down the window a little bit so you could see his eyes, and he waved a little bit, and said 'Hi guys,' " said Suzy Dodiroga, gasping at her exchange with the superstar.
"He's so nice, we couldn't believe he actually acknowledged us," she said.
Other local businesses said they hoped Pitt would appear at their establishments. The manager of Hy's Steakhouse said Pitt was welcome anytime.
"If he wants something that's not on the menu, we'll go and get it for him," said Hy's Bento Peixoto, who added he personally retrieves special ingredients for all his customer's favourite dishes. "He's the top star in the world, guaranteed 100 per cent."
Meanwhile, three blocks over on the film set at Adelaide Avenue and Princess Street, security was tight.
The Exchange District set, which has been turned into the wild west with fake building fronts and dirt over the pavement, is closed to the public and patrolled by police. Residents of the area were shuttled to and from the doors of their buildings by security workers, and Exchange District visitors were not allowed to walk the streets where shooting will take place.
Pitt, who has been shooting around Edmonton and Calgary since August, made headlines around the world when he was spotted out and about with Jolie at the West Edmonton Mall and a Safeway grocery store.
However, dogged media coverage of the reclusive pair in Alberta hasn't always paid off, as a photographer was charged with mischief recently after being found on the film's set.
The mania surrounding Pitt in Winnipeg likely will be brief, as senior crew members said he may only be in town for one or two days.
Scenes involving Pitt are slated to film today, but the script calls for summer weather. If the Winnipeg weather doesn't co-operate, filming could be as late as tomorrow.
Today's forecast calls for sun with cloudy periods and a high of nine. Tomorrow is expected to be sunny with a high of eight.
Shooting for The Assassiniation of Jesse James is scheduled to run until Oct. 28.
http://winnipegfreepress-proxy.nandomedia.com/ips_rich_content/front10242005.jpg
Actor Brad Pitt emerges from the 529 Wellington restaurant last night. A security guard's flashlight points the way to a waiting SUV