Hollywood star Brad Pitt won’t quit acting at 50, enjoys getting older and will always focus on telling stories that are “significant to our times.” So said the actor during his first visit to Korea on a promotional tour for baseball drama “Moneyball,” Tuesday.
“I do not have the exact deadline on my expiration date (for acting),” Pitt told reporters during a press conference at Megabox Coex in southern Seoul. The 47-year-old had said in a recent television interview he would quit acting at 50 and would like to devote his time to film producing.
“But I am interested in and enjoy the producing side,” he said, adding that he would like to produce films encountering difficulties being made.
Pitt arrived in Korea through Gimpo International Airport on Monday. His partner Angelina Jolie visited Seoul last year to promote her 2010 espionage thriller “Salt.”
“Angelina was here last year and spoke so highly of her visit,” Pitt told reporters. “And I look forward to the same experience.”
Dressed in black and wearing a pair of thick-framed glasses, Pitt was somewhat serious and calm throughout the conference.
Pitt’s latest baseball drama, which is scheduled to be released on Nov. 17 in Korea, is based on the real-life story of Billy Beane, the general manager of Major League Baseball team Oakland Athletics.
The former Major League Baseball player successfully, though with much struggle, put together a baseball club on a low budget by using computer-generated and scientific analysis of his players. Beane and his unique approach became the subject of Michael Lewis’ 2003 book on baseball economics, “Moneyball,” which later was used as the basis of the movie.
Pitt, who stars as charismatic and competitive Beane in the film, said he had never thought of the sport from the economic side before working on the project. Yet he found many similarities between Beane and himself, notably because he considers himself a very competitive individual as well.
“I felt immediate kinship with Billy in the book,” Pitt told reporters. “And upon meeting him I felt that even more. We spent most of our time laughing. We have common interests and respect for justice and a sense of fairness.”
Pitt thinks both the movie and the book delve into the theme of “personal victories,” rather than fame or success that we put “too much emphasis on” in our present-day world.
“What I appreciate the most about the book is it seems to speak of personal, quiet victories,” he said.
“It asks what your personal win is, which I am much more keen and interested in.”
Pitt’s production company, Plan B Entertainment, is currently producing a zombie film titled “World War Z,” which is based on a 2006 post-apocalyptic horror novel by Max Brooks. Lotte Cinema, a subsidiary of Korea’s conglomerate Lotte Group, is participating in the project.
“We live in a global community,” Pitt said, when asked if he is willing to work with Korean companies in the future. “I’m interested in opening those doors that are inclusive. It’s a big zombie movie, a perfect film for global distribution and I’m quite happy about that. And why not?”
Having spent his early years in Missouri, Pitt said his favorite baseball team is the Missouri-based St. Louis Cardinals, though he spent a lot of time with Oakland Athletics for the movie.
The actor, who will turn 50 in three years, seemed unfazed about getting older. The father of six children, whom he raises with Jolie, said being a father changed everything as he started taking care of himself while trying to be around for his kids. “I personally like aging,” he said. “Aging comes with wisdom, and I’d always choose wisdom over youth.”
By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)
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