Brad Pitt wants to make it clear that he fired the first shot in his ongoing practical joke war with pal George Clooney, claiming an elaborate joke during filming of Ocean’s Twelve marked the beginning of hostilities.

“I sent a memo to the entire Italian crew, in Italian, that said, ‘Dear Crew: We wish you a wonderful shoot. George Clooney asks that, this is a very difficult role for him. He needs to concentrate deeply,” Pitt explains during an Inside the Actor’s Studio” interview.

“Mr. Clooney asks that you try not to interrupt him, look him in the eye. If you do need to address Mr. Clooney, please refer to him only as ‘Daniel’ or ‘Mr. Ocean.’ It went on for two weeks. He handled it gracefully, but he was becoming unnerved, I think.”

And what about Clooney’s recent promises for a new, even bigger prank he plans to pull on Pitt?

The Moneyball star says he’s got his retaliation move ready to go. “Whatever he’s got, this is uglier. It’s so bad, I don’t even know if I can do it,” Pitt says.