George Clooney's criticism of President Joe Biden in The New York Times may have contributed to Biden's decision not to run in a new presidential election.
In Venice, this is the first time Clooney comments on this:
Everyone should applaud Biden. This was incredibly selfless. It's something we need to remember. Now we have a better way forward, that's the truth. I'm proud of where we are today, he says.
Cleaning up after crimes
Together with friend Brad Pitt, Clooney has come to Venice to present the action film "Wolfs". In the film, they both play "cleaners" who are called in to clean up after a crime has been committed. These two "cleaners" don't know each other, but will do so after a rather eventful night in New York.
The film gets a short theatrical release in the USA and can then be streamed on Apple TV+ worldwide, which is a disappointment for Clooney.
We would have liked it to have more theatrical screenings. Both Brad and I have been involved in producing it, we lowered our salaries and I want to point out that the writings about how much we've earned are wrong. Millions, millions, millions of dollars wrong. It would be terrible if people believed we earned such sums.
We worked hard to get theatrical screenings, but things happened along the way that we wonder about.
More channels mean more jobs
Both Pitt and Clooney believe that streaming channels mean more jobs for actors.
When I started in the industry, there were 64 TV series. I called on Monday morning to check if the numbers were good and if I still had a job. Now there are 700 series, with masses of acting jobs. It feels more optimistic now than when I was young.
Brad Pitt takes over where his colleague left off:
I'm always more romantic about the cinematic experience. But I like streaming channels, you get to see more.
About emerging fascism
Many films at this year's festival deal with emerging fascism, including ones about Leni Riefenstahl, who made films for the German Nazi Party, and the Italian dictator Mussolini.
Film has a power that you can use. That's always the case, says Brad Pitt.
But at the same time, a film is not a fresh product. They take years to produce. Therefore, films reflect and look back, adds George Clooney.
