Brad Pitt showed up at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York early Thursday evening. Before he came out on stage for the panel discussion, they showed a really great short documentary with Brad, and interviews with people from New Orleans. It was a lovely profile of Make It Right and the devastation and regeneration of the Lower Ninth Ward. Brad and the interviewees, all NOLA residents, talked about the improvements being made in the past four years since Katrina. Then President Clinton came on to introduce the Make It Right panel. Clinton was at his wonkish best, reinforcing the theme that good environmentally-friendly projects are good for the economy. He talked a lot about all of the jobs being created in New Orleans because of the all of the projects CGI had helped finance and shepherd through.
When the panel finally came out, Brad ended up sitting next to Bubba. Brad didn’t shave, but he did look like he showered, so that’s a blessing. After Bubba‘s introductory speech, Brad was given the floor (sort of, they were all seated). Brad started out by thanking Bubba for creating “a forum where we can share our ideas… since the creation of CGI, $46 billion has been committed” to projects around the world. Brad asks for a round of applause for Bubba.
After the presidential ass-kissing, Brad describes his process in starting Make It Right, saying he got “no love” when first fundraising in 2005, and how he came to Bubba for advice. Brad says that Bubba basically told him “calm down, it’s a good idea, just stick with it.” Brad singles out Bill and Melinda Gates, and Steve Bing as big donors. Brad’s voice sounds shaky, nervous and emotional. He says Make It Right has exceeded his expectations. His goals for the homes were about affordability, aesthetics, sustainability, and resiliency. “We can no longer tell ourselves that this technology cannot be implemented in a larger way.” Brad also makes a plea for funding to take the Make It Right model and expanding it globally – “we want to take this out to a wider area… we are just scratching the surface.”
The next panelist was a woman who actually lives in one of the Make It Right NOLA homes – she actually lives in one of the first home, a “prototype” home. She was funny as she talked about skipping to the computer to pay her $50 electricity bill. She kept saying, “this is real, I’m not an actor” which made Bubba and Brad crack up, and Bubba actually touched Brad affectionately. Christ, Bubba probably tried to get Brad to go out with him to a strip club. This woman is so sweet as she talks about her “beautiful home… with all of these gadgets.” She described the “awesome” lighting system, the stove and the dual-mode toilet.
After that, Brad and his partners received a pretty award made of glass. It looked totally heavy. I had to look it up to see exactly what kind of award it was – Make It Right received a US Green Building Council award, the LEED plaque for the “biggest green neighborhood in the world.” Make It Right has built 13 LEED Platinum certified, storm-resistant homes and are planning another 150 more in the Lower 9th Ward.
This was a really great appearance by Brad, and he managed to both have star power amongst the wonks, while still giving due credit to all of his partners and all of the groups Make It Right NOLA works with. This was actually the most intelligent, passionate and interesting speech and interview I’ve ever heard from Brad – so what does that mean? Has he just been playing dumb all along? Or does he only shine when he gets to talk about environmental architecture?
Photo credit: WENN.com
Well congrats on Mr. Perfect finally saying something worth something. I am so sick of Brad going on shows and magazine and talking about nothing over and over. Brad only talks about like 4 things and just repeats them over and over. Gay marriage, his kids(vague comments only), building are beautiful, and global distress are all the things Brad is allowed to discuss. lol
I am so tired of celebrities becoming politicans.
Fine, help the folks in NOLA (which is debatable), donate to worthy causes ,but please, stick to acting. If you want to be a politician and attempt to save the world, then quit the biz and devote your time to politics.
I really don’t understand why alot of people pass him off as an idiot? I’ve never thought of him that way. He’s a great actor, imo, Legends of the fall, 12 monkeys, Snatch, Seven, fight club, interview with the vampire, even when he showed up in Friends, he was great! But his filmography goes on and on and alot of them are very good movies.I’ve never heard of him being a jerk, saying something mean or doing something bad.And i’m not talking about the wild imagination of some magazines!!!(and as for the whole dirty triangle and how it all started, no one actually lives with any of these people so no one really knows what each person does, says or feels. We should leave their private life alone). So he likes his beer every now and then, I bet if we were photographed non stop like he is and caught everytime we drank something, we’d be passed off as real drunkards!!
Anyway, the guy’s a nice guy. So he likes architecture, motorbikes, art..etc. If we all liked the same thing on this planet, imagine how boring it would be! He’s doing something good for his country and not only. At least he cares.
Is it just me or does brad always look like he is a little tipsy?
Brad is taking this NOLA thing very seriously, right down to looking like Paul Prudehomme.
What does it mean? It just means Bubba gave Brad access to one of the good speechwriters, that’s all.
Yeti, he always looks like he has had enough bottles. But I am not surprised. Somehow intelligent and Brad Pitt are at opposite ends of a room. He always comes off a dumb in his movies and actions. Who morphs into his lady of the moment down to the die he uses in his hair.
150 houses has been the promise of Make it Right, since 2006.That is now 3 yrs. Only 8 have been built, and less than a handful have been sold.
Pitt is requesting others donate to his vanity project. What he won’t TELL you that this is an investment scheme. He isn’t giving these houses away, but selling them for 150,000.00, AFTER donations are given. Do you all understand this? Once these houses are sold..Make it Right, AKA Brad Pitt makes a 100% profit!
He isn’t doing this out of the kindness of his heart..he’s doing it for his own EGO..and $$.
It’s quite the little racket he has going.
But of course, the MEDIA will never really investigate this..they just regurgitate the same BS, that Pitt is doing this to help New Orleans. Bullhookey. Brad Pitt is doing this to help Brad Pitt. He is just using this tragedy as a means to boost his own ego.
Where exactly was Brad Pitt for 4 yrs after Katrina hit? Oh yea..he was to busy making movies, and in constant travel with his skank, and their little noahs ark, brood.
Now he is living in a 50 million dollar chateau, and requesting US taxpayers (via stimulus money) foot the bill for his vanity project…and then on top of that, asks CGI to donate more. Of course he couldn’t get anyone behind this scheme. They are all wise enough to know this is a fraud!
Where are the results so far? One woman that bought a house? Yea…lets see how she survives the next category 3 or 4 Hurricane that hits N.O.
Oh and I love the hypocrisy of Pitt. Talking about environmentally friendly homes…while he’s shacked up in some ancient chateau, and flies around constantly in a private jet…and has many other mansions around the globe. Hmm…when these celebrities start practicing what they preach, is when they will get my respect. Until then…Brad, as well as George and Leonardo,Julia Roberts, and Gore can preach all they want to..because they don’t practice what they preach to others!
Totally off topic, but what happened to J. Harvey???
Ursula, you may think he always “comes off a dumb”, but he may know better than to put “die” in his hair. He might even know how to spell.
Cynicism is the last resort of the lazy. The man’s done a good thing, many good things, what’s to slate about that. How hard is it to applaud a good deed!
Brad does totally take on the persona of whoever he is with. Kind of weird – I can get developing new interests and stuff, but he takes it a little far.
He has never struck me as particularly intelligent. Kind hearted and passionate maybe, but not a genius.
MIR is a good idea, but slow as molasses. I’ve been following the project, and while I appreciate the green efforts and the basic idea, they’ve had millions in resources (and tons of publicity) for several years now and have only completed 13 houses out of the 150 they’ve been talking about since it started. Habitat for Humanity is now starting their 300th in the same time frame. Green building does take longer, but when you still have families living in FEMA trailers four years later, it’s time to get your butt in gear!
Fair point lucy, but how many people can you say are intelligent! There are a reasons Einstein’s considered a genius: he was gifted in a world in which most people are ordinary. Therefore saying that Brad’s not particularly intelliegent bespeaks your own delusion that anyone famous ought to be intelligent. It’s not for their intellectual eminence that they’re famous. Most intellectuals are not known beyond academia
“God, they love us,” Clinton whispers to Pitt.
Oh please. LOL
Donna in Mich seems a bit “over the top angry” about Brad. Methinks the lady doth protest too much…
It was probably a relief not to have to be ‘on guard’ for personal questions and to be able to talk about something other than himself for a change.
Just a wild-ass guess.
Why is he and his partners getting an award for the largest green neighborhood if only 13 houses have been built???
This is not snark, I’m seriously confused. SMH…
Brad had a puffy face from to many alcohol!
Poor Angelina, poor Kids!
I’m not negating what you’re saying Donna, but I’d like to see some credible evidence regarding the statements you’re making.
And I gotta say <3 Bubba. He was definitely a president to be proud of imho.
Make It Right is a “hand up”, not a “hand out” organization. Make It Right provides residents with access to home financing geared towards low-income families. There are only 13 homes built because, so far, only 13 9th Ward residents have been able to purchase their homes. Make It Right will build the homes to the homeowner’s specification and needs.
I take it REAL architects and scientists, and economists, diplomats aren’t ‘cool’ enough to appeal to the American public so they use celebs instead.
Ladies and gentlemen, the reason America is falling to pieces. Our elected officals listen more to celebrites rather than experts.
Spot on, Sakota.
It’s funny that on this site and others like it, we bemoan the empty celebs who do nothing but shop and promote themselves. But here, Pitt (whether you like him or you still consider him the devil for dumping she who will not be named) is doing something good for someone else. He doesn’t have to do anything except make movies and vacation like a lot of others. You never see interviews with Pitt or Jolie unless they are promoting a movie or a charitable endeavor, so I really don’t understand the negativity about this project.
Isn’t it possible to acknowledge when someone does something good regardless of your feelings about their decisions about their personal lives?
Clinton whispers to Pitt: Have you brought some pot?? The answer: Of course!!
Tess- LOL ( Bubba and Pitt, egocentrism at its best)
I agree with Donna from Mich and Sakota.
You should have seen his photo of yesterday! Still celebrating his happiness! Drunk, barely walking! kkkkkkkk
make it right is building houses in a neighborhood that should never have been developed to begin with. it is at a vulnerable crossroad of two waterways, behind a poorly maintained levee on land two feet below sea level. for those that idolize pitt for his charitable deeds, know that despite his good intention (or pr savvy), he is too uninformed and uneducated to make an ecological impact. he is not an architect regardless of his enthusiasm for the profession and should avoid the activity altogether. after all, it will be us the taxpayer expected to pay up when these houses ultimately fall prey to the next flood/hurricane- and they will. all the while, he is holed up in one of his multimillion dollar supersized estates accessed by his private planes. no environmental hero!
JHC!
I can’t stand this guy.
He DOES come off as a dumbass and why is he patting himself on the back for his little 13 houses that cost a fortune to build. The people in the 9th ward couldn’t afford to get out of the damn disaster zone as a cataclism was looming how does he expect them to actually buy a house?!
Moreover what they should be thinking about it building houses that can sustain floods and hurricane i.e. NO WOOD and with living quarters ABOVE street level.
And yeah, he always looks like he’s high.
You can check out video of Brad at the Clinton Global Intiative on dmbjonline.com
The headline of this post is the funniest shit I have read in some time…
Spot on Donna and Sakota.
True Dat Sakota.
Does “celeducat’em” work for the developers who desperately want that area for their own commercial projects? Does DonnaInMich have any ties to reality?
There are many parties who would love to keep the homeowners of the Lower 9th from reclaiming their neighborhood including, I believe, the city. It’s good enough land for the developers but not the homeowners? The Lower 9th isn’t even the lowest or most fragile area in the city but those other lower and even less desirable geographic neighborhoods aren’t populated by minority and lower inclome families so it’s okay for them to go home and keep their homes but not the 9th?
Don’t listen to anyone who tries to sell you the idea that no one should live in the Lower 9th. They just want it for themselves. Or they are parroting those who do.
DonnaInMich is selling some of the crazy tinhat theories concocted at the WE HATE BRAD AND ANGIE sites. I think we all know that they will make up and say anything to trash Brad or Angelina and now even the kids. Spare us the ridiculous lies about this project.
Make It Right is about helping people reclaim their lives by offering all kinds of assistance – as someone above said it is not just a charitable handout and a generic tract house. It is homeowner driven which means the homeowners themselves dictate at what pace they are able to and want to move the process along. It is respectful of each family and what they can do at what pace. The families face must resolve various issues before any building can start: e.g., since many homes were handed down orally there are issues with proving ownership.
Make It Right has accomplished a great deal just to get to this point: the numerous and regular community/architect/engineer/etc meetings that resulted in plans and designs catering to the requests and needs of the homeowners and a costly and time consuming environmental issue that had to be resolved. Perhaps people should make a little effort to educate themselves before they criticize a project that smarter and more informed people have been heaping praise on as innovative and worthwhile.
I expect that as others see the neighborhood’s rebirth they will be eager to return. There is much to do yet to make it more hospitable such as reopening public service facilities, stores, schools, etc. But this neighborhood which had one of the highest home ownership rates in NOLA and has contributed to the richness of the NOLA experience deserves respect and help to come home.
YOU GO TOFU..whoops I mean Brad..
Thank you, I’ve recently been searching for info about this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve found out so far. But, what about the conclusion? Are you positive about the supply?