E-Vision has signed an agreement with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution to bring its feature films to viewers in the UAE. The partnership allows E-Vision to show movies through its pay-per-view service, eView, and the deal is set to be launched on April 26 with Firewall, starring Harrison Ford, and Syriana, starring George Clooney. (AME info)

Newsweek Interview With Clooney: For Non-U.S. Eyes Only

There’s been some interesting controversy over the past few days on Newsweek’s decision to censor an exclusive George Clooney interview from the U.S. market. Clooney has always been known as an outspoken activist on human rights; particularly concerning the crisis in Darfur — but this is the first time I’ve ever heard of a magazine not printing remarks due to fears of reactions on the home front.

So what exactly did Clooney say that caused the magazine to offer the story only to its international readers?

CAA Explosion Not As Epic As Its Client Roster

A gas explosion Tuesday afternoon at the 12-story headquarters of Creative Artists Agency, the mega-agency that reps Nicole Kidman, George Clooney, TomKat, etc., has injured nine. Southern California Gas Co. was working on a gas line in CAA's first-floor kitchen when the flash explosion occurred. A CAA insider tells Radar that most of the people in the building could feel the boom. "Everyone evacuated, but it all went in order as it should go." (Radar)

In the fall we brought you the news that Joe Carnahan would be directing an adaptation of White Jazz, James Ellroy’s sequel to LA Confidential. Later it was announced that George Clooney would be starring as dirty cop Dave Klein, sending interest in the film through the roof. Carnahan has said that he would like to see Guy Pearce return as Ed Exley, a character he played in Curtis Hanson’s film version LA Confidential who makes his return in Jazz. But does Pearce want to come back? He’s not too sure. I asked him about it today at the New York City press conference for his new movie, Factory Girl, where he plays Andy Warhol. "It’s been mentioned to me, but I haven’t read the script yet,” he said. “I ultimately don’t feel hugely compelled to revisit any character I’ve played before, really – but having said that it would depend on how it was realized, I guess.”

Word is that the script is great, and Exley has a pretty large role, so it would be great to have Pearce back. Somehow I imagine that with a look at the script – and a decent paycheck – Guy Pearce will be very happy to get back into the LAPD. (source: Devin Faraci at chud.com) Thanks to Clooney Network

Big Jumps in Online Video Spending for PR in 2006
The NewsMarket Reports Big Increases in Key Metrics
NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- January 30, 2007 -- Top companies in business, government and non-profit arenas are producing and distributing more video for public relations, according to key metrics issued today by The NewsMarket, the media's online source for video. Among the most requested clips were from the World Cup, George Clooney's visit to Darfur in April '06, the Detroit Auto Show and Google's acquisition of YouTube.  (Thanks to Clooney Network )

From an article at Agence France Presse via a News Database (Update: Thanks to Peanut Here's a direct link to the article)

"Festival director Dieter Kosslick said US star George Clooney, a near perennial favourite at the Berlinale, has pleaded off this year though his "The Good German" is screening in competition. "

Clooney, one of the world's hottest movie stars, has made no secret of his enthusiasm for Obama's candidacy, even if he's made no public endorsement. "George is a huge supporter and fan of Barack, as well as a friend," said Clooney's publicist, Stan Rosenfield. He stressed that Clooney is unlikely to campaign for Obama, though, because the actor feels support from liberal Hollywood can be a detriment to the candidate. "You lose the heartland." (Associated Press)

DraftObama.org, the nation's leading grassroots movement to encourage Illinois Senator Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) to run for President in 2008, today announced the launch of an "Honorary Celebrity Members" class for the Draft Obama movement. Headquartered at http://www.DraftObama.org/celebrities, the website offers a running tally of the growing number of incredibly talented, thoughtful and diverse "Barack Stars" -- celebrities who have said or strongly implied they would support Barack Obama for president.

George Clooney
"He possesses the one quality that you cannot teach and you can't learn. … He is a leader. He walks into a room and you want to follow him somewhere, anywhere. And … I've only seen that a couple of times in my life." (source)

It's not often you get Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Pastor Rick Warren, and George Clooney on the same list. That just shows the incredible ability of Senator Obama to inspire some of the most famous and respected Americans alive today," said Ben Stanfield, DraftObama.org founder. "By compiling this list of celebrity supporters in one place, we hope to showcase that ability in the clearest possible fashion and to encourage Americans of all backgrounds to learn more about Senator Obama." (PR-Inside)

By DESMOND BUTLER | Associated Press Writer | Orlando Sentinel
Posted January 11, 2007, 1:44 PM EST

WASHINGTON -- Previously unseen footage recorded by actor George Clooney and his journalist father, Nick, while traveling to the border of the war-ravaged Darfur region of Sudan will be aired Monday. "A Journey to Darfur," which will be broadcast on AmericanLife TV Network, recounts the trip they made in April with a photographer and another family member, flying by small plane into Sudan and visiting a village just outside the Darfur border.

The Save Darfur Coalition welcomes the agreement reached today by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir that his government and rebel groups will cease hostilities for a period of 60 days while they work towards a lasting peace.

The Peace agreement includes commitments to:

• A 60-day ceasefire with an international peace summit to be held before March 15, 2007.
• Sudan's cooperation to work with the African Union and United Nations on the deployment of a hybrid peacekeeping force in Darfur.
• Ensuring "zero tolerance" policies for gender-based violence in Darfur.
• Free access for humanitarian aid workers and journalists.

Read the Press Release here

Darfur Benefit on Tap for Fashion Week
By Rosemary Feitelberg
Published: Friday, January 05, 2007

NEW YORK — There might be some unexpected star wattage at New York Fashion Week next month — and all to help raise funds for the people of Darfur.

George Clooney has expressed interest in attending and speaking at a benefit fashion show being planned to help raise money for the residents of the war-torn area of the Sudan, according to designer Malcolm Harris of Mal Sirrah. Harris and Lydia Hearst-Shaw are organizing the event.

Movies: 45 days of Clooney madness 

While preproduction may already be in progress, "Leatherheads" won't begin filming in the Upstate until February 20, says Karen Owens, marketing and communications manager for the S.C. Department of Commerce. Owens says there will be 45 days of shooting in the Upstate until Clooney and crew move onto other places. "Leatherheads," the 1920s football movie, will be directed Clooney and will star Renee Zellweger and John Krasinski. (Greenville Online)

Actor George Clooney's career strategy
December 29, 2006 NEW YORK 

With his hard-won acting Oscar for last year's "Syriana" in hand, onetime ER doc George Clooney is choosing projects with surgical precision while allowing room for artistic risks. That includes the retro Cold War thriller "The Good German," a black-and-white takeoff on oldies such as "Casablanca" directed by Steven Soderbergh and which opened Dec. 15. Since 1997's superhero stinker "Batman & Robin," he says, "I've been trying to do projects that were a lot better. I worked on trying to get the focus away from one perception people have of you, so you can sort of have the other. I think I've succeeded." 

Clooney's strategy for staying power: 

George's Oscar Speech made number three on LeeAundra Temescu, communications coach, Best Rhetorical Moments of 2006.

3. George Clooney's Academy Award Acceptance Speech

"I'm not one for getting too political in Oscar speeches," says Temescu but she adds that Clooney's reaction to host Jon Stewart's opening jokes about Hollywood being "out of touch" was "pretty profound, concise and fluent for being off the cuff. He was also funny which is a big plus." (EMedia)

That magic moment
(Sunday Herald Sun)

THE backgrounds of most actors, even the biggest superstars, are littered with stories of rejection, of having to pick themselves up and try again for a grasp of that elusive brass ring. The ones who succeed usually have some inspiration, no matter how small, and a vast love of what they do - they need both just to keep going. So what were the moments, or perhaps the specific movies, that changed the lives of some of today's top stars, that convinced them that acting was the only path they could follow? 

Academy Award winner George Clooney saw his first movies at a drive-in theatre. "We had drive-in theatres where we went to see movies and I think the first movies that were a big part of my life were (titles) like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). "I was maybe 12 or 13 years old and they (Paul Newman and Robert Redford) were movie stars. I just thought there was nobody cooler than those guys and it was a huge, beautiful movie. "And there were older, black and white films that were starting to play Saturday afternoons on television and I remember seeing It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and, of course, Fail Safe (1964), which had an immense impact on me."

Clooney makes Bush compromise

George Clooney put aside his political opinions to join forces with George Bush Snr to discuss the rebuilding of a Louisiana hospital on Thursday morning. The 'Ocean's Thirteen' actor - a keen Democrat and a very public critic of Bush Snr's son President George W. Bush, who is a Republican - appeared with the former US leader to promote relief efforts following the destruction caused by Hurricane Rita. Bush Snr praised Clooney saying: "I thought we could add a little spice to this event, and, boy, was I right. What he has done for the morale of this town is remarkable. I know there's been a lot of tears shed over the past year. Hurricane Rita, like Hurricane Katrina, showed us the very worst in nature but they've also brought out the best in human nature." Bush Snr also shared a joke with notorious ladies man Clooney, telling him not to talk about his wife. He quipped: "Don't ask about Barbara. I'm too old to ask about Britney Spears." (Movie News) (Thanks to Armen!)

George Clooney and George 41 Join Forces
The Actor and Former President Are Helping Revive a Louisiana Town
Dec. 21, 2006  ABC News

The two Georges make an odd couple, but the work they're doing together is nothing short of amazing.

Actor George Clooney and former President George H.W. Bush have joined forces to help the residents of Cameron, La., which was nearly swept away last year by Hurricane Rita. Though they come from opposite ends of the political spectrum, Clooney and Bush have put their ideological differences aside to help restore the small town of 10,000 people and rebuild its hospital.

ABC's Diane Sawyer traveled to Cameron to talk to Clooney and Bush and find out what's driving their will to help.

Bush, Clooney mark rebuilding of hospital after Hurricane Rita

The Associated Press

Hundreds waited through hours of wind and rain Wednesday to watch former President George H.W. Bush and Academy Award-winning actor George Clooney mark the rebuilding of Cameron Parish's only emergency care hospital, which was destroyed by Hurricane Rita.

Bush presented officials with a $2 million donation from the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund that will pay for operating expenses once South Cameron Memorial Hospital is rebuilt next year. The fund has raised $130 million to date to help the Gulf Coast recover from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Bush, who worked for an oil company with an office in Cameron Parish before he entered politics, recalled the aftermath of Hurricane Audrey, which killed more than 500 people in 1957.