Clooney Seeks Focus On Quake Victims

Visits Tent City Housing Homeless from April's Major Temblor in Italy, in Shadow of G-8 Summit

(CBS/AP)  George Clooney toured the ruins of Italy's recent earthquake and reminded survivors he'll shoot a film in their mountain region.

The actor visited a tent camp for the homeless and inspected crumbled buildings during his stop on the sidelines of the G-8 summit in L'Aquila. The April 6 quake left thousands homeless and killed nearly 300 people.

Italy held the summit there to show solidarity with the victims.

Clooney had said in September he'd shoot part of a movie in the area, which could help the local economy. It will be a thriller about a killer who tries to hide out in an Italian town.

Actor Bill Murray accompanied Clooney to help draw attention to the quake victims' plight.

"By anyone's lights," observed CBS News Correspondent Allen Pizzey, "it was an inspired piece of casting: Get a star whose fame rivals any of the leaders gathered near here and have him make the case for the little guy -- in this case -- earthquake victims."

"I think it sort of helps when cameras follow (us) around and see the camps," Clooney told reporters. "And the idea, the hope is that you continually keep attention on (the quake victims)."

Officially, Pizzey pointed out, Clooney came to town to open a facility to promote cultural rebirth, in one of the tent cities set up after the quake.

It became the sight for the world premiere of clips from an animated movie in which Clooney has a starring voiceover role, "Fantastic Mr. Fox."

But, Pizzey noted, Clooney's "spotlight was on the (nearby) summit of the world's prominent leaders."

At a square where a 13th century cathedral was damaged, Clooney said what inspired him most was people's desire to get on with their lives. "Most of the people here we have spoken with aren't looking for a handout, they're looking for a hand-up," Clooney remarked. "They're looking for help, they want to go home. They want to live a normal life."

"Certainly," Pizzey says, "no one can accuse the earthquake victims of a lack of imagination when it comes to publicizing their case." They built a giant side on cleared hilltop field saying, "Yes, we camp," a clear reference to President Obama's famous campaign slogan, "Yes We Can."

Pizzey says it refers to the fact that more than 15,000 people still living in tents, months after they were promised their homes would be rebuilt, and will likely still be camping when the winter snow sets in.

"Whether or not this publicity stunt will get the earthquake victims the action they are seeking is debatable," Pizzey concluded. "But it does serve to highlight to the G-8 leaders that the global issues they came to discuss are rooted in very basic human needs, and that they will be spotlighted one way or another. And choosing a leading man with a face that with the possible exception of the president of the United States is the most recognizable in town, pretty much makes that a given."