Charles Darmanin may have welcomed visitors into his Strait Street residence in Valletta over the years but hosting Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt in his humid kitchen would never have crossed his mind...

Not because of the improbability of the A-list American actor ever entering his humble abode but because he had absolutely no idea who he was.

Were it not for the hype around the World War Z film set, which lower Valletta has been transformed into, Mr Darmanin would be even more nonchalant about the fact that the actor was filming scenes of the zombie movie right in his dark and airless home.

The underground dwelling, devoid of windows, has remained virtually untouched to double as an Israeli home. The only subtle change is the Hebrew wording on milk cartons and other minute details.

During his celebrity encounter, Mr Darmanin did not engage in much conversation with the actor. But even if he had the opportunity, he confesses, “I can’t speak English”.

The truth is the man who has lived in the lower – and more socially depressed – part of Valletta for 30 years had no idea who Brad Pitt was until he saw him for the first time two weekends ago. “I’m not into movies,” he admits. “I only know Mickey Mouse cartoons!”

The chances of Mr Darmanin ever going to watch the international debut of his dingy property at the cinema are remote and he cannot really be persuaded into understanding what it means for his meagre accommodation to feature in a blockbuster. But he is more than happy to comply with the production’s needs.

“We had a panic moment in the morning when our budgies started singing and we quickly had to get them out of the way,” he and his son fret, feeling like naughty schoolchildren. “Can you imagine if we ruined everything?”

Hollywood has, indeed, hit the more contrastingly derelict and deprived Due Balli area of the capital, which has embraced camera crews, top actors and the sort of activity it has barely ever seen before.

The locals have not only consented to the use of their properties and received monetary gifts in exchange but many also joined the team, having been picked up for the odd job.

Beyond any inconvenience, the residents benefitted from the production, both economically and socially, according to Valletta mayor Alexiei Dingli. “The beauty of it all,” he points out, “is that many have been involved in the film.” And most, albeit far from professionals, could do something, given the nature and the scale of the movie.

“Everyone stood to gain in terms of jobs,” he says, adding that the production made it a point to use Valletta residents, who have acted as watchmen, security personnel and parkers, runners and extras and been involved in traffic clearance.

A young-looking Valletta girl, Raissa Grixti, is standing on a centre strip. Her role is to put a cone down when one of the many trucks that lines the ring road moves off to reserve a place for it, she explains.

The Valletta movie set has spread as far as the Mediterranean Conference Centre and Victoria Gate and dying areas, such as the Biċċerija block – once housing the butcher shops but now an uninhabited and neglected building – have enjoyed a new lease of life, which the mayor considers “positive”.

“It is the biggest movie Valletta has ever seen and the city is bound to be promoted through it,” he maintains.

The baroque capital, which has manifested chameleon-like traits as it set the scene for various movies, is doubling as Jerusalem. Stores in the narrow streets are selling postcards of Israel but, amid the racks, an image of Dwejra can be spotted by the trained eye.

The movie has two units and shooting is also under way at the Marsa set, known as Bus Land, which required the purchase of about 70 old Maltese vehicles before they exit the local scene and others from Italy and Israel.

The airport is another location for the three-week Malta shoot, with filming planned on a plane.

Some 900 Maltese extras were involved in yesterday’s filming in Marsa and Valletta Waterfront as Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech went on set to witness the action.

Brad Pitt took a break from filming to chat with Dr Gonzi, telling him he and his family were enjoying their stay in Malta.