Both a love letter to film and a raucous, unflinching look at the hard-living culture of the Hollywood of the time, Damien Chazelle’s Babylon features a sprawling ensemble cast and an epic run time as it follows a number of characters through a crucial period of change: 1930s Los Angeles. And Chazelle certainly doesn’t hold back when it comes to portraying the wild abandon of the parties of the era.
Largely fictionalized – albeit with real-life references and inspirations – Babylon stars Margot Robbie as rising star Nellie LaRoy and Brad Pitt as silent era icon Jack Conrad (loosely inspired by John Gilbert and Douglas Fairbanks). Speaking to Total Film(opens in new tab) in the new issue of the magazine, featuring Oppenheimer on the cover Pitt discusses the scale of the movie: “There’s such an energy to this thing. I’m amazed by how much [Chazelle] was able to slot in – and not jam in, but slot in gracefully. This opening party scene is staggering, of epic proportions.”
Despite the ambition and scope of the party scene, Chazelle didn’t follow the rules with his approach. “The approach of it all was not doing the coverage – you know, like a single on this actor, a single on that actor,” explains Pitt. “The constant takes can actually wear down and confuse the energy of the scene. He’s doing everything in camera, old style, explosions, 700 extras, actors coming in the scene, actors coming out – in one camera shot, in one camera move, and the camera’s gliding around. It’s one of those things where you’re waiting for the magic to happen, where everything falls into place. That kind of thing is really exciting. You get close, and then something doesn’t quite work out. And you keep going until you get it. I think that energy shows in the scene.”
Category: Alerts
Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson to visit Korea to promote ‘Bullet Train’
Actors Brad Pitt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson will visit Korea to promote the upcoming film “Bullet Train” (2022), Sony Pictures said Friday.
The pair will take part in red carpet events on Aug. 19 ahead of the film’s premiere on Aug. 24.
It has been eight years since Pitt last visited Korea. He has previously made local press appearances for three other films “Moneyball” (2011), “World War Z” (2013) and “Fury” (2014).
Empire magazine
Brad is featured in the latest Empire magazine (UK). Go get your copy now, and if you do: please consider sending us your scans!
Never one for the easy payday blockbuster or sequel, Brad Pitt’s filmography is as impressive as it’s eclectic. It makes him the perfect subject to kick off Empire’s major new series on the greatest ever movie stars, Gods Among Us.
John Lewis Tribute Hosted by Brad Pitt, Tyler Perry, Gayle King and Oprah Winfrey to Air on CBS
CBS is set to honor the legacy of civil rights pioneer and longtime congressman John Lewis with a primetime special hosted by a an array of A-list names.
The one-hour special, which is titled “John Lewis: Celebrating a Hero,” will be co-hosted by Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Gayle King and Brad Pitt, and will air Aug. 4 on CBS and across several other ViacomCBS brands (namely OWN, BET, MTV and Smithsonian).
“John Lewis: Celebrating a Hero” will consist of musical performances, interviews, and inspirational conversations about Lewis’ life and legacy. It is being produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment in partnership with CBS Entertainment and CBS News. News of the special comes exactly two weeks after his death at the age of 80.
Oprah, John Fogerty, Brad Pitt Tapped for Grammys’ Tribute to Essential Workers
Oprah, Brad Pitt, John Fogerty, Jamie Foxx, and Cyndi Lauper will appear on a Grammys tribute to essential workers, United We Sing. Harry Connick Jr. will host the show, which airs June 21st at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
Per a press release, the show will feature Connick and his filmmaker daughter, Georgia Connick, taking “a road trip in an RV to thank and celebrate essential workers who risk their own lives on a daily basis to keep us safe.” The trip will start in Connecticut and end in New Orleans, and at each stop along the way, the Connicks will listen “to the stories of essential workers in health care, food preparation, sanitation, law enforcement, trucking, and more to honor their dedication and public service during this unique moment in history.” (A note in the press release adds that United We Sing was “filmed with a minimal crew practicing social distancing and with extensive safety precautions in place.”)
During the trip, celebrities like Oprah, Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Renée Zellweger, Queen Latifah, and Drew Brees will “deliver surprise messages to America’s unsung heroes.” There will also be plenty of musical performances: The lineup boasts Connick, Fogerty, Foxx, and Lauper, as well as Herbie Hancock, Little Big Town, Dave Matthews, Tim McGraw, Andra Day, Jon Batiste, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Rockin Dopsie, Irma Thomas, and Trombone Shorty.
During United We Sing, viewers will be encouraged to donate to charities that support underserved children, such as No Kid Hungry and the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans. The special will also raise money for the COVID-19 relief fund set up by the Recording Academy’s charitable wing, MusiCares, which is providing aid to people in the music industry who have been hit hardest by COVID-19.
Brad Pitt, Chris Evans, Laura Dern and Six Other Stars Grace the Covers of W’s Best Performances 2020 Issue
For the Best Performances 2020 issue, the stars of the biggest films of the past year posed for photographer Juergen Teller in the most quintessential of Los Angeles locales: strip malls, parking lots and hotel rooms. This time around, the annual portfolio features nine different covers, with Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and Ad Astra), Joaquin Phoenix (Joker), Jennifer Lopez (Hustlers), Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name), Chris Evans (Knives Out and Avengers: Endgame), Laura Dern (Marriage Story and Little Women), Adam Driver (Marriage Story, The Report, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems) and Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit) at their bold, unvarnished, effervescent best. For the portfolio inside the issue, the actors sat down with W’s Editor at Large Lynn Hirschberg to discuss their lives and work: Dern reflects on her public perception (she’s never felt like an icon), Lopez recalls her early days as a dancer, and Murphy opens up about the films and comedy albums that influenced him as a kid. Here, all of Teller’s iconic covers for W’s first issue of the new decade, and its tenth edition of Best Performances.
Be sure to read Brad’s hilarious (in my opinion) short interview right here.
• x005 W Photoshoot
Golden Globes: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon Set to Present
Additional presenters include Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, Will Ferrell, Tiffany Haddish, Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Daniel Craig, Sofia Vergara and Kerry Washington.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Charlize Theron, Will Ferrell and Tiffany Haddish are among the presenters set to take the stage for the 2020 Golden Globes on Sunday.
The 77th annual Golden Globes will air Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC live from the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. A two-hour, official red carpet preshow will stream live exclusively on Facebook Watch, hosted by Sofia Carson, A.J. Gibson, Jeannie Mai and Scott Mantz, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
Brad Pitt to Speak with NASA Astronaut on Space Station about Artemis Program
As NASA prepares to send the first woman and next man to the Moon by 2024 under the Artemis program, Brad Pitt is playing an astronaut in his latest film. Now the actor will have the opportunity to discuss what it’s truly like to live and work in space with a NASA crew member living aboard the International Space Station.
Pitt’s Earth-to-space call will air live at 11:35 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 16 on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
NASA astronaut Nick Hague will answer questions from the actor. For nearly 20 years, astronauts have continuously lived and work on the International Space Station, testing technologies, performing science and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth.
Brad on Ellen?
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” will celebrate the beginning of its seventeenth season during the week of September 9.
Day-by-day listings are beginning to materialize for premiere week.
September 9: Kylie Jenner (plus Kris Jenner joins Kylie and Ellen to surprise fans as part of the $1 million giveaway)
September 10: Melissa McCarhty
September 11: Chrissy Teigen, Chance The Rapper
September 12: Reese Witherspoon
September 13: Sean HayesAn official press release says Brad Pitt will also be appearing during premiere week; the airdate for his visit is not yet available.
