One of the biggest stars of Hollywood graced the red carpet with his presence in Santa Barbara.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival presented the Maltin Modern Master Award to Brad Pitt in a touching tribute and recognition of his accomplishments in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Ad Astra.

The tribute presented a one-on-one sit-down discussion with acclaimed film critic Leonard Maltin. They talked about his career, including starting off as a journalism student at the University of Missouri and dropped out to move to Los Angeles. A tribute sizzle reel included film highlights from Thelma & Louise, Interview with a Vampire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Fight Club, Inglourious Basterds, Burn After Reading, 12 Years a Slave and others.

During the tribute, he noted turning down Neo in The Matrix, in which it was eventually played by another superstar Keanu Reeves.

“I did pass on The Matrix. I took the red pill. That’s the only one I’m naming. I wasn’t offered two or three. Only the first one. Just to clarify that. I come from a place, maybe it’s my upbringing. If I didn’t get it, then it wasn’t mine. I really believe [the role] was never mine. It’s not mine. It was someone else’s. They go and make it. I really do believe in that. If we were doing a show on the great movies I’ve passed on—we would need two nights,” he explained.

LRM Online was on the red carpet to interview actor Brad Pitt and many of the independent filmmakers before the tribute.

Watch the exclusive interviews below.

Source: LRM Online Exclusive