RE-RELEASE: Ben Affleck | SmartLess

The Childhood Bond of Affleck and Damon [00:17:45]

• Affleck and Damon grew up two blocks apart in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• They shared a joint bank account and split their earnings when they were teenagers.
• Both aspired to be actors and supported each other's early career pursuits.

  "We really did. And we really split the money."

Early Acting Aspirations and Auditions [00:19:15]

• They both auditioned for roles like the Mickey Mouse Club and "Soul Man."
• They were extras together and practiced scenes, showing a deep commitment to acting.
• Their genuine support for each other's success was a key factor in their enduring friendship.

  "I hope I get the part. But if I don't, I really hope you do."

"Air" and Directorial Debut [00:24:20]

• Affleck directed Matt Damon for the first time in the film "Air."
• He praises Damon's performance and ability to convey stakes to the audience.
• The film explores the business behind Nike's deal with Michael Jordan.

  "Jason is fucking amazing. Guys, let him finish."

Artist Equity: A New Production Model [00:37:12]

• Affleck co-founded Artist Equity to address issues of unaligned incentives in filmmaking.
• The company aims to ensure crew and artists benefit from a project's success.
• It operates on a model where the production company takes on financial risk and creative responsibility.

  "We came up with this idea never thinking anyone would ever actually fund us to do a movie studio that was predicated on two things basically allowing the crew and the artist... to benefit from the upside of it."

The Changing Landscape of Film Distribution [00:44:00]

• The rise of streaming and the decline of traditional theatrical releases are discussed.
• Affleck expresses hope that original dramas and comedies can still find an audience.
• He notes the challenge of competing with prestige television.

  "And now you've got Succession and Ozark and really good fucking stuff where people at home go you know what I can pause I can watch tomorrow."

"Air" and its Thematic Resonance [00:47:00]

• The film "Air" is congruent with Artist Equity's philosophy on compensating people fairly.
• Affleck believes the story of Nike and Michael Jordan is an incredible, largely unknown American business story.
• He hopes the film's success will encourage more movies of its kind.

  "And this movie explains it and you're releasing it during March Madness which I think is genius."

Playing Batman [00:54:20]

• Affleck discusses his portrayal of Batman in "The Flash."
• He talks about finding the character and a pivotal scene where he connects with Batman's inner feelings.
• He expresses satisfaction with his performance after initially struggling.

  "I finally figured out how to play the guy no really you got it for real."

The Art of Acting and Letting Go [01:05:00]

• Affleck reflects on his acting career and the advice he received from Sidney Pollack.
• He emphasizes the importance of letting go, being relaxed, and not worrying about others' opinions.
• He finds joy in acting when he develops his own criteria and stops seeking external validation.

  "You know why I'm a good actor but not a great actor? Because I was Blink's Kowalski on Broadway and I uh uh it was the door he was supposed to leave the screen door and I guess in some and the screen door wouldn't open."

"Argo" and Oscar Triumph [01:11:00]

• Affleck recounts the experience of winning an Oscar for "Argo."
• He shares a humorous exchange with Sean Hayes about his tan and the film's success.
• He emphasizes the pride and joy of his professional achievements.

  "I saw your little sweet face when I was standing up there accepting my Oscar in the middle of the greatest triumph of my professional life I thought I have got to tell Sean to go tanning."

Directing vs. Acting [01:03:00]

• Affleck initially wanted to focus solely on directing but found joy in acting again.
• He credits his ability to act well to a certain "sexy indifference" or a lack of concern for external judgment.
• He enjoys acting in films with people he loves and when he has creative control.

  "I started really loving acting finally for real when I was like I don't want to do this anymore I'm just going to direct movies I'm done with this."

The Collaborative Spirit [00:29:00]

• Affleck highlights the collaborative nature of filmmaking.
• He emphasizes the importance of trust and mutual respect between collaborators.
• He notes that bad ideas are often discarded, leading to better outcomes.

  "Most of the ideas are bad. So I'll have a bad idea he'll have a bad idea I'll have a bad idea he'll have a bad idea."

The Origin of "Good Will Hunting" [00:27:00]

• Affleck and Damon developed "Good Will Hunting" through improvisation and recording ideas on audio cassettes.
• Their high school drama teacher encouraged a holistic approach to filmmaking.
• This method shaped their writing and creative process.

  "We recorded it, yeah, on what were audio cassettes at the time."

The Business of Filmmaking [00:37:12]

• Affleck discusses the financial aspects of filmmaking and the traditional Hollywood model.
• He criticizes the lack of alignment between financiers and filmmakers.
• Artist Equity aims to create a more transparent and equitable system.

  "The Hollywood model is kind of like I get paid in failure right right like I still have the money I spent it but like I made money on Gigli I didn't have to give it back."

The "Air" Trailer and Audience Reception [00:52:00]

• The trailer for "Air" generated excitement, but Damon's daughter initially didn't recognize him.
• Affleck reassures Damon that his performance is impactful.
• The film is expected to resonate with audiences due to its compelling story.

  "Dad, I thought you were in that movie."

The Importance of the Crew [00:39:00]

• Affleck stresses the value of the crew as artists who contribute significantly to a film's quality.
• He believes the crew's well-being and compensation are crucial for a successful production.
• Artist Equity aims to recognize and reward the contributions of the entire filmmaking team.

  "And the artist being the writer and I consider the crew the artist which is the whole group actors, directors, writers, so on as well as cinematographers sound mixers everybody who collectively create the value in what we're doing to benefit from the upside of it."

Creative Negotiation and Artistic Integrity [01:09:00]

• Affleck touches on the concept of "creative negotiation" in filmmaking.
• He contrasts this with the singular vision of an artist like Picasso.
• He values situations where creative decisions are driven by passion and artistic merit.

  "You see Picasso never had to negotiate with anybody because it's just a single thing."

The Power of a Good Story [00:49:00]

• Affleck believes that compelling stories and characters are what draw audiences in.
• He laments the decline of original dramas and comedies in theaters.
• "Air" is presented as a film that exemplifies the power of a well-told story.

  "And the performance and the writing and so we came up with this idea never thinking anyone would ever actually fund us to do a movie studio."