The actor, in Tokyo to promote his latest movie, “Inglourious Basterds,” said he trashed his favorite bike recently while trying to escape overzealous photographers.

“I had a little mishap,” he said. “No injuries, except my ego. I was trying to get away from some paparazzi and instead gave them a good story. It was my favorite bike, so that is really sad.”

Pitt, a well-known motorcycle buff, was involved in a minor accident in Los Angeles last month after a paparazzo reportedly cut him off in traffic. He said that while he is in Tokyo he will be looking for a replacement.

“I will definitely be looking at motorcycles,” he said. “You’ve got some of the best builders right here.”

“Inglourious Basterds,” directed by Quentin Tarantino, premiered in Tokyo on Wednesday. As a promotion gimmick, Japanese movie viewers will be given a money-back offer if they are bored after watching the first 60 minutes of the revisionist World War II swashbuckler.

Pitt said he felt lucky to be chosen as the movie’s leading man – Tarantino had initially planned to cast himself in that part.

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According to several Twitter posts, Brad is enroute to Tokyo and most likely will appear at the Inglourious Basterds premiere and promotional events tomorrow, November 4th. So keep an eye out. Thanks Asanty.

After running up a huge gross of more than $250 million worldwide since its late August opening, director Quentin Tarantino’s WWII epic “Inglourious Basterds” is now shifting gears from its initial marketing phase as a “popcorn picture” to serious Oscar contender.

Thursday that campaign seemed to begin in earnest for the Weinstein Co. when Tarantino was honored with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Kirk Douglas Award for excellence in film at a black-tie gala at the Four Seasons Biltmore resort in Montecito, a voter-rich area with close to 100 Academy members in residence at various times.

Festival organizers threw a lavish cocktail party and sit-down dinner featuring generous clips of such Tarantino landmark movies as “Reservoir Dogs,” “Jackie Brown,” “Kill Bill” and of course “Inglourious Basterds.” Among those in attendance were Douglas and wife Anne, who were seated next to the honoree, star Diane Kruger and the film’s producer, Lawrence Bender. Festival director Roger Durling and board President Jeffrey Barbakow (former MGM/UA head) both made amusing and well-received remarks. Comedian and Santa Barbara resident Dennis Miller shared a table with “Basterds” co-star Samm Levine along with the entire Barbakow clan, including wife Margot and sons Bennett and Max.

A consultant working on the film told me this campaign is a fun one so far, as the pressure is off. The film is already more successful than even their wildest hopes, so awards are just the icing on this particular cake. Considering the strong response the film seems to be getting in the industry, nominations for screenplay, directing, supporting actor (Christoph Waltz, maybe even Brad Pitt, too), editing, cinematography, sound, costumes and best picture are realistic goals in a wide-open season so far, especially if the film’s occasionally graphic violence doesn’t turn off queasy voters. With Oscar maven Harvey Weinstein calling the shots anything is possible, even with internal competition from other expected Weinstein contenders, including the still unseen “Nine,” “A Single Man” and perhaps “The Road” (at least for Viggo Mortensen).

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Whoohoo! We’ve reached the 50,000 images mark @ BP Gallery. Enjoy!

Be sure to watch several official videos, also the full press conference @ the official San Sebastian FF website. Thanks Intothegrinder.

It’s really interesting and fun to watch. Brad mentions his family, confirms their trip to kenya (he took the kids deep into Kenya for a week, as quoted), Moneyball is still not off the table, he has nothing coming up anytime soon tho Lost City of Z and World War Z are in development for Plan B. Screencaps later and possibly a transcript when I find the time this week. And of course lots more pics.

When you know that you are about to interview someone as mind-bogglingly famous as Brad Pitt, you try to stay cool. You remind yourself that, really, this man is just a good guy from the American Midwest armed with a charming smile – and a phenomenal career in the film industry. After all, he’s got to be just like the rest of us: human. But the minute I shake his hand that internal voice starts screaming, reminding me that this is him: Brad Pitt. A megastar since Thelma And Louise 18 years ago, winner of countless acting accolades and now the lead in Quentin Tarantino’s long-awaited war film, Inglourious Basterds. So what do I do? Try and pretend that this really is just a bearded guy in a white T-shirt and baggy beige pants. So, here goes…

I’m curious – what got you interested in Tarantino’s new project?
This one came with a build-up of mythic proportions. There were rumours that he’d been sitting on this idea for eight years. People wondered: would he ever get to make it? Rumours were spreading that he wanted to make a WWII spaghetti Western. Then I got word this summer: he was going to get in touch with me because he was almost finished with the script and wanted to start shooting immediately. After that it was just one of those times when you read a script and there’s nothing you want to change.

Read more/discuss. Thanks Gabriella.