Is Ben Affleck’s Hollywood clock ticking? He seems to think so!
The Air director got candid about his “insecurity” in the movie biz over the weekend while talking about his and Matt Damon’s production company Artists Equity. You see, their goal is to make participants shareholders — instead of just giving it all up to studios. In theory, that mindset encourages talent to believe in their projects beyond being a “cash grab.” Ben Affleck told Deadline:
“I think it’s fair to say that talent got taught that if you can’t really believe in the definition of upside success when gross was taken away, the motivation then becomes, okay, just grab what you can. It’s sort of a cash grab in the moment.”
You know, the one for them mentality. And even Ben admits he isn’t exempt from this line of thinking! He told the outlet that at any point, “the phone could stop ringing” for him and that’s motivated him to “take” whatever money (and roles) he can get. He told the outlet:
“We’re all subject to this sort of insecurity in this business. Whether we’re actors or directors or writers, the phone could stop ringing for us. This is the time to take the money. But what that does is puts people at cross purposes. The people invested in the movie are not aligned exactly with the people who are doing it. And it’s not because they’re trying to just be extractive, it’s because they’ve learned, well, this is the only thing I can count on, this upfront money. I don’t know when this might go away.”
It’s sad but true. Stars fall out of favor all the time, suddenly they’re no longer cool or they just aren’t the hot new thing. But that’s not the only thing that has him insecure these days!
Related: J.Lo Reveals ‘Best Thing’ She’s Done During Ben Affleck Divorce — And It Might Upset Fans
No, he took it even a step further! The 52-year-old added:
“I’m one errant remark away from being canceled, or I’m one movie bomb away from never working again, and I’ve got a family and so forth. Naturally, people seek to do what’s in their best interest.”
Dayum!! “One errant remark”? Does he worry some of what he’s saying in private is so problematic that if the moviegoing public heard it he’d be history?? Or does he just realize he’s a 50+ white guy who might not fully understand what’s OK anymore?
Maybe it’s just general anxiety. After all, he doesn’t focus solely on being canceled — in the same breath he mentions flopping! And that, well… We can’t help but think this was a subtle recognition of all the drama he’s been involved in over the past several months with soon-to-be ex-wife Jennifer Lopez. We’ve heard she was in crisis mode this year after her album and tour flopped. Heck, some even claimed that was a big catalyst in the marriage imploding!
We mean, he even named his own 2003 film Gigli, which co-stars J.Lo and infamously BOMBED at the box office — and how it’s an antiquated way of doing business he and Matt are trying to move away from:
“I’ve been in movies like Gigli, that’s a famous example. I got a big cash payday for that. Well, it doesn’t feel right in retrospect because [the studio] lost money. It wasn’t the biggest money-losing movie in history even though it was the most famous bomb in history, perhaps. Nonetheless, that doesn’t sit right with me. But it also doesn’t sit right with people when they go, wait a minute, we all sacrificed to be committed to this.”
It’s reasonable for everyone to get a piece — especially with the infamous Hollywood accounting he mentions:
“And then the old story about the $10 million movie that’s made $200 million and nobody’s seen a nickel.”
We can totally get behind Ben wanting to change the industry, but the way he puts it — specifically in relation to his own career — ain’t helping him beat the Sadfleck allegations! Ha!
Thoughts??
Related Posts
-
Categories
