F1: Brad Pitt in Monza despite Hollywood film strike (Update)

The tentative deal to end the Hollywood writers’ strike after nearly five months will be welcome news to Brad Pitt and the Apple-Backed F1 movie crew.

The agreement between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is still subject to formal ratification. A separate but related strike by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federal of Television and Radio Artists remains in effect and could still impact the filming.

One of the big wins for the writers was protections that artificial intelligence would not be used to put them out of a job.

During the tandem strikes — Hollywood’s first since 1960 — networks have also increasingly leaned on live sports to help fill programming holes. That is expected to continue, particularly while the actors’ strike is still ongoing and writers begin to ramp up production on myriad projects.

Several companies with extensive sports media ties also saw stocks rise in initial Monday trading, including Amazon, Apple, and Netflix.

(GMM) Brad Pitt will be back in the F1 paddock and grid this weekend at Monza. While Pitt is unable to officially work due to the strike, non-union people can and will.

That is despite the fact that filming for the forthcoming film about Formula 1, which began at Silverstone, had to pause for the Hollywood strike.

Lewis Hamilton, whose production company is involved with the Apple-backed project, says he is not worried that the strike could terminally damage the film.

“I know that Apple is fully behind us and wants us to go ahead,” said the seven time world champion. “Everyone in the team is fully focused on making the greatest movie we can – it’s just a matter of time.

“It’s definitely not the easiest time, I think, for actors around the world, but hopefully it’s something that will be resolved in the not-too-distant future.”

At a launch event for the Italian GP this week, Monza boss Giuseppe Redaelli confirmed that Brad Pitt will indeed be with others also involved in the filming of the movie this weekend at Monza.

When asked about the strike, Redaelli smiled to journalists: “It doesn’t mean you can’t meet Brad Pitt.”

Indeed, while the writers and actors – including Pitt – are unable to officially work, other people involved with the film are still able to continue their progress.

“We’re still able to do some filming,” Hamilton confirmed. “We can use stunt doubles and we still have editing and things we can do with the stuff we’ve already done.

“I’m not massively concerned (about the strike) just yet,” he added.