Film commission says ignore Brad, keep movies in province

Hollywood star Brad Pitt's presence in Alberta is a boon for star-gazers, but the province's film commissioner says if his privacy isn't respected it could affect the ability to lure films here.

Brad Pitt (CP Photo)

Dan Chugg says American producers are sensitive to how actors are received when they shoot outside of Hollywood, and if fan frenzy affects the production schedule or angers a star it can harm future decisions on where to film.

Pitt has been in Alberta for the past two months shooting the Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, using locations around Calgary and Edmonton. Angelina Jolie, and her two children, have been staying with Pitt in a number of rented homes near the film sets.

The couple Pitt is newly divorced from former wife Jennifer Aniston are being followed by a pack of tabloid journalists, and have made the cover of local papers as well, with excursions to the West Edmonton mall, shopping at a Safeway in Spruce Grove and Jolie's visit to an art show in Calgary.

A photographer was arrested in Edmonton for hiding on the film set at Fort Edmonton, and people were caught trying to sneak onto the set near Cochrane.

An Edmonton radio station offered a "reward" for anyone who could get Pitt and Jolie into their studio, and newspapers in both Calgary and Edmonton are encouraging reports of any sightings.

The film commission says the Economic Development Alberta is considering sending a letter to media outlets around the province, asking them to ease up on the movie star.

"Whenever there is a situation that makes their stay less than what they experienced, of if they have any negative parts of that, obviously that affects relationships and it can affect long-term implications for our industry," Chugg said. "Actors have a very major impact on decisions on where projects are shot."

Major films like the Pitt vehicle employ many local film people as extras and technicians at least 150 technicians are working full-time on Jesse James, which is expected to wrap in early December.