Pitt wanted 95 percent discount on resort stay

Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

Sean Penn and the Jolie-Pitts all living under the same roof? For a brief time, such thing was a possibility.

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and kids set up camp in Texas for nearly a month as Pitt filmed “Tree of Life.” Penn, who also stars in the film, arrived on set last week, and if the cost of Pitt’s accommodations hadn't been an issue, Pitt and Penn might have both ended up staying at the same place.

Penn last week checked into the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa, near Austin, Texas. He stayed under an assumed name, and there’s no word on whether he was accompanied by anyone when he checked into the hotel’s Governor’s Suite, which is 1,200-square-feet with two bedrooms and a full kitchen.

And before the Jolie-Pitt clan arrived in town, a member of the film’s production company looked into having the family stay at the resort, but Pitt’s people balked at the price. Sources familiar with the inquiry say that Pitt was interested in the Litton House, a 2,600-square-foot residence separate from the main property, which costs about $2,000 a night. Pitt's offer, via the production company, was reportedly only $3,000 for a 30-day stay. That's a whopping 95 percent discount. (The Jolie-Pitt’s opted instead to rent a house near the shooting location.)

Slideshow   Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (and their growing family) travel the world for worthy causes. more photos

Why would Pitt need to cut costs? It’s got nothing to do with his expanding brood, but rather the budget for “Tree of Life.” Despite the film’s big-name stars, “Tree” is more indie film than anything, and gained early notoriety when Pitt stepped in to fill the role that was supposed to have been played by Heath Ledger. In fact, most of the cast and crew are staying in rented homes in historic Smithville, Texas, according to the source.

All that said, Pitt and Jolie might be doing business with the Hyatt after all. A source said that Jolie has been in touch with property managers about holding a big fundraising event there.

Another Jamie Lynn baby registry surfaces

Slideshow   Celebrity sightings Ginnifer Goodwin gets serious at the “Single Man” screening, Beyonce wows Berlin at MTV awards, Claire Danes is a BAFTA beauty and more. more photos

Jamie Lynn Spears has already put together a comprehensive baby registry at a Baton Rouge, La., Babies R Us, but another registry for the teen star’s bundle of joy has surfaced on PetitTresor.com as well.

The registry, which lists the due date as July 11, includes mostly basics such as onesies and burp clothes. The most expensive item on the list is a $295 Netto Polar Bear Rocker. Curiously, nothing had been purchased as of press time.

Sting patrols front rows for upcoming Police concerts
Someone is always willing to pay up for front-row seats at a concert, and Sting is among the growing list of musicians who is taking control over how those seats are sold and where the money from the ticket sales goes.

Video   The Scoop on bad Tupac news April 8: Courtney Hazlett reports on the L.A. Times' retraction of its big story linking Sean 'Diddy' Combs to an attack on Tupac Shakur. Morning Joe

For the Police tour that runs from May to August, front-row tickets will be available only on CharityFolks.com, and the profits from the ticket sales will go to Unitus, an organization that fights worldwide poverty. The Police are following in the footsteps of Bruce Springsteen and Led Zeppelin, who’ve also sold tickets and concert packages through the Web site.

In other celebrity charity news, teen-run non-profit For Darfur, Inc., is teaming up with Kanye West for his upcoming “Glow in the Dark Tour” concert in Miami in May. Much of the promoter proceeds, including $1 of every ticket sale, will go to Doctors Without Borders to aid in the humanitarian efforts for families displaced by poverty, war and ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region. Cindy Crawford teamed up with PUR Water Filtration Systems to try to curb bottled water use. She has helped design the “Thirsty for Change” limited-edition reusable water bottle. Proceeds from sales will benefit Children's Safe Drinking Water Program.

Don't miss this on msnbc.com Entertainment Is Leno’s 10 p.m. experiment nearing an end? One ‘Housewife’ lands behind bars Best Bets: Doomed in ‘2012’? Movie says maybe When it comes to stardom, Clooney has smarts For ‘Big Bang’s’ Sheldon, the nerd is the word TV snobs are wrong about ‘Two and a Half Men’

MORE FROM THE SCOOP

The Scoop Section Front

Letterman extortion case heads to court Susan Boyle discusses pressures of fame No immediate plans to move ‘Oprah’ Rihanna says album helped recovery Stewart doesn’t want Jolie-level fame The Scoop Section Front   Add The Scoop headlines to your news reader: