All systems are go for production on Leonardo Dicaprio's feature-length environmentalist film project, which is partly the fruit of a budding friendship and business relationship between the actor and poker legend Doyle Brunson. The documentary, which teaches about the ills of global warming, is being produced and narrated by DiCaprio himself, with financing provided in part by Brunson, on behalf of his online poker room, DoylesRoom.com.

Commenting on his role in DiCaprio's upcoming film, entitled “11th Hour," the environmentally conscious Brunson said, "I know we'll be able to raise a lot of awareness for an issue that plagues our world and could have devastating consequences down the road if nothing is done."

DiCaprio, a poker enthusiast for quite some time, has been spotted regularly at various Hollywood games. As far as mentors go, Brunson, a ten-time WSOP bracelet winner, is certainly as good a choice as any. The camaraderie between the two-time Academy Award nominee and Doyle “Texas Dolly" Brunson was first documented in mid-October at the Doyle Brunson Player Appreciation Party organized by DoylesRoom, where the two were photographed together. This was indeed the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Shortly thereafter, on October 27, DiCaprio and Doyle both publicized on their respective sites that Brunson would donate money toward the film. Less than a week after that, Dicaprio was seen at a Los Angeles Lakers game sporting a cap emblazoned with the DoylesRoom logo. It's not clear whether Dicaprio donned the Brunson-branded gear as a mere gesture of appreciation and admiration for the poker great, or whether DiCaprio was endorsing Brunson's poker room in exchange for funding the film. Regardless of the motive, 11th Hour will likely be the most substantial mainstream project to come out of Hollywood's flirtation with the poker circuit.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Tuesday, 06 December 2005