Brad Pitt was optimistic about the current indie film landscape during a packed-out press conference this morning at the San Sebastian Film Festival, where he is set to screen his latest feature, Heart of the Beast.
“The current setup is really conducive to independent cinema in a really cool way because more eyes are getting on these projects. It even feels as strong as in the ’90s,” Pitt told the audience in San Sebastian when asked about the current film landscape.
The veteran actor also spoke positively about what he described as the creative opportunities streaming platforms have added to the movie business.
“Streaming has brought us so many more opportunities for actors, writers, directors. And because of that, we have a greater plethora of really interesting stories and really interesting talents, and that’s been amazing,” he said.
But Pitt added a caution to his comments and highlighted what he described as the tightening space in the marketplace for mid-budget films, which he said were his bread and butter.
“Movies got so expensive. We always talk about how the very big tentpole movies are able to recoup. And the more independent, lower-budget, or anything in the middle ground—anything from 30, maybe 40, 60—has a really difficult time getting made, even movies like ours, because it’s very difficult for the studio to recoup that middle budget,” he said.
Pitt added: “I’m hoping those movies still have space, because that’s usually where I end up most, in the middle ground.”
Heart of the Beast was one of the late additions to the San Sebastian lineup. Pitt is here at the festival with director David Ayer. centers on a former Army Special Forces soldier (Pitt) and his retired combat dog who battle for survival after a plane crash deep in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness.
The film’s official synopsis reads: After a harrowing plane crash, Special Forces officer James Belmont (Pitt) and his combat dog, Odin, find themselves stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness. Together, they are forced into a brutal fight for survival against the elements.
Cameron Alexander wrote the film. Olivia Hamilton, Marty Bowen, Ayer, and Pitt are producers. Exec producers include Damien Chazelle, Scott Lumpkin, Cameron Alexander, Chris Long, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, Andrew Lary, Sophie Cassidy, and Zack Conroy.
The project reunites Pitt and Ayer for the first time since Fury, their 2014 WWII drama for Sony, and comes following Pitt’s starring role in the Oscar-nominated Apple flick F1.
Paramount debuted footage of the pic at this year’s CinemaCon. The studio will release the film on September 25.
