Clooney to film in Italy quake area

During a visit to the ravaged L'Aquila, he said he'd make a film there to help boost the region's economy

During a visit to the ravaged L'Aquila, he said he'd make a film there to help boost the region's economy

George Clooney has toured the ruins of Italy's recent earthquake and told the survivors he'll shoot a film in their mountain region later this year to help boost the region's economy.

The actor (48) inspected crumbled buildings during a visit on the sidelines of the G-8 summit in L'Aquila.

The April 6 earthquake killed nearly 300 people and left thousands homeless.

Doing his Bit: George Clooney shows a T-shirt reading 'San Demetrio in my heart' during the opening of the Nobel for Peace cinema at a campsite for the homeless in the village of San Demetrio.

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

Yesterday, Clooney visited a tent camp for the homeless and met with residents.

"We'll shoot a film here at the end of September, in which I will act," said Clooney.

"I think this is the best way to lend a hand and boost the economy," said Clooney.

"We are here to draw attention to this tragedy." The movie will be a thriller about a killer who tries to hide out in an Italian town.
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Actor Bill Murray accompanied Clooney to help draw attention to the earthquake victims.

Italian connection

Clooney (48) who has a home near Lake Como in northern Italy, also opened a small cultural center inside one of the tents still being used to house thousands of people who lost their homes in the earthquake.

The Oscar-winning star of Syriana and Ocean's Eleven is a United Nations 'messenger of peace' and has used his fame to draw attention to the plight of refugees from Sudan's violence-torn Darfur.