Invited to a public discussion by the New York Times, Ben Affleck attacks Netflix and its production method, which he describes as an “assembly line”.
With the launch of Artist Equity, his new studio with Matt Damon and RedBird Capital Partners, Ben Affleck hopes to create a production model that is the opposite of Netflix’s mode of production and its avalanche of content. Ben Affleck took part in the New York Times’ DealBook Summit – a public and professional meeting – on November 30 lamenting the fact that Netflix operates like a “Mountain range” in his way of producing such an amount of content.
“If you ask Reed Hastings (co-CEO and chairman of Netflix), he’ll say, ‘Hey, we went for quantity to make a footprint’“said the actor and producer.I’m sure there’s wisdom in that and I’m sure they had a great strategy, but I would have said, ‘How are we going to make 50 great movies? How is it possible ? There is not a big enough committee. There’s not enough, you just can’t do it.’“
Ben Affleck explains that making movies “is something that requires attention, dedication and work and resists the assembly line process” which Netflix has made its standard. And to add: “Scott Stuber (Netflix Original Movies Manager) is a really talented and smart guy who I really like… but it’s an impossible job.“
“There’s a bigger audience for action movies than for intimate dramas. I understand that“, continues the star. “Some genres have a larger audience and you can’t ignore that. But let’s make it a good one, surprise the audience, get them interested.As a reminder, Ben Affleck starred in his own Netflix movie with the action thriller Triple Frontier in 2019, directed by JC Chandor and starring Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund and Pedro Pascal.
At Artist Equity, Ben Affleck will serve as CEO while Matt Damon will take on the role of Chief Content Officer. The company’s first project is already in production: an as-yet-untitled drama, written and directed by Ben Affleck, about the birth of the ultra-popular sneaker brand, Nike’s Air Jordans. Matt Damon will play the Nike executive who secured the deal with Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan.
Watch the full discussion in the video below: