Hollywood, in the form of heartthrob actor Leonardo DiCaprio and other big names, has come to the small town of Port Edward on the South Coast, bringing a small economic boom to the locals.

The Blood Diamond, the much-anticipated multi million-dollar Edward Zwick-directed film, is in its pre-production stage in Port Edward and has brought a star-studded cast and crew to the town.

Zwick's other movies included blockbusters such as The Siege, The Last Samurai and Legends of the Fall. Although shooting has not started, stars such as DiCaprio, Danny Glover and Jennifer Connelly are believed to be lying low on the South Coast. They have kept a low profile, but have created a stir in the town nevertheless.

With its picturesque landscape, Port Edward has proven to be a popular location, having hosted several other productions. However, The Blood Diamond is the biggest so far. Parts of Port Edward and the Eastern Cape will make up the set for the film, set in a bloody war in the West African state of Sierra Leone in 1999.

The movie tells the story of a poor farmer who gets caught up in a conflict between an American diamond smuggler (DiCaprio) and the syndicate that controls local diamond mining, producing what are called "blood diamonds" because of their ties to violent, political conflicts.

For the local Methodist Church, however, the movie has been a case of "manna from heaven".

Pastor John Pretorius said the church had served the community for almost 30 years but had run into financial difficulty in recent months. Fundraising initiatives had been launched to keep the church going, but the true saviour appeared to have arrived in the form of Hollywood, said Pretorius.

The production team has rented the church hall for storage and workshop purposes for the duration of the production.

"We were praying for fundraising, and here the Hollywood crew comes through for us," he said. Also all smiles since the Hollywood team arrived was Gary Bentley of Margate resort Surfspray Cottages, who has not only secured a role in the movie, but has scored with his business, too.

It was a bumper season for Bentley last Christmas when the production team rented his resort for the first three months of pre-production. Bentley cashed in on his famous guests by advertising their stay on his website, attracting several others to the resort.

Bentley was to also play a mercenary in the film. "They were looking for someone who had some military training, and I was one of those fortunate people. I can't wait for filming to start," he said.

The movie has also boosted other local businesses. The Port Edward hardware store has improved its turnover by 15% since the crew arrived. Local electricians, plumbers and builders are also reaping the economic benefits.

Boet van Rensburg, the owner of the Port Edward Hotel, said the Hollywood crew had created a buzz in the town. "The crew are generally seen in the evenings, at the pubs. They are wonderful folk and we are glad to have them here. It's exciting to finally see Port Edward put on the map," he said. (Source: www.iol.co.za)

Bar Rafaeli with Leonardo DiCaprio
Note 2 (editor): Its been heard that his new girlfriend is 20-year-old Israeli catwalker Bar Rafaeli. She's staying with him in South Africa, where he's shooting the Blood Diamond.

Leonardo DiCaprio in Caprice
Note 1 (editor): CapeTownMagazine.com has heard Leonardo Di Caprio was in Caprice in Camps Bay last Sunday 12 February 2006.

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