Ben Affleck Calls Netflix an "Assembly Line" and Says His and Matt Damon's Production Company Will Blend Quality and Commercial Fare

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Academy Award-winning writers and actors and Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have launched their new production company, Artists Equity, and they are sharing their vision for what it will accomplish. They say the company is hoping to make films that are commercial but smart, that acknowledge popular tastes, but that “people remember 20 years later.”

Their first project is one that Affleck directs and Damon stars in, covering the true story behind the creation of the iconic Air Jordan brand, slated for release in 2023 in partnership with Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures. Artists Equity anticipates releasing three projects next year, with plans to scale up to a minimum of five per year in the future.

Affleck spoke about the company’s mission during a wide ranging Q&A at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in NYC alongside Artists Equity’s investor partner Gerry Cardinale of Redbird Capital, saying:

“I see no difference between commercial and quality. Quality takes time. If you ask Reed Hastings … I’m sure there’s some risk 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 that possible? There’s no committee big enough. There aren’t enough — you just can’t do it. It’s a thing that requires attention and dedication and work and resists the assembly line process. Scott Stuber is a really talented, smart guy who I really like… but it’s an impossible job,” Affleck said, referring to Netflix’s founder and co-CEO and to its head of original films.

He went on:

“There’s bigger audience for action movies than there is for small dramas – I get that. Certain genres play more broadly and you can’t not be mindful of that. But let’s do a good one, let’s surprise the audience, let’s make them care about it.”

“The first wave of streaming was about volume,” said Cardinale. “The second wave is about quality.” Affleck, Damon and Cardinale, Redbird’s founder and managing partner, formally announced the launch of their artist-led studio earlier this month, planning to partner with filmmakers to empower creative vision and broaden access to profit participation through “entrepreneurial partnerships” with filmmakers.

I think Affleck and Damon are well-versed on how to tell great stories. I look forward to seeing what they come up with.

via: Deadline