In short · Summary by AI
SmartLess hosts Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman and Will Arnett interview Ben Affleck, who discusses his directing work on Air, his decades-long friendship with Matt Damon, his Batman and Oscar history, and his film-financing studio concept. The conversation is loose and joking, with frequent tangents about merch, sweeteners and Jennifer Lopez.
- Affleck says he lost his lunch-related chat and the hosts riff on Sean Hayes' chicken curry and a sweetener study linked to strokes and heart attacks.
- Affleck describes how he and Matt Damon grew up two blocks apart in Boston, shared a joint bank account as teenagers, and pursued acting together.
- Affleck explains that Air, which he directed and in which Damon stars, tells the story of Nike's deal with Michael Jordan and is releasing around March Madness.
- He describes his production studio model, where the creative team shares in upside and accountability, and Amazon is releasing Air with a theatrical window of about six weeks.
- Affleck recalls that Jennifer Lopez wrote two songs about him, and Jimmy Kimmel wrote a third, and the hosts praise her documentary.
- Affleck says he finally found his footing playing Batman after a scene where Wonder Woman uses the lasso of truth on him in The Flash.
- The hosts discuss Affleck's Oscar wins for Good Will Hunting and Argo and an email exchange with Victor Garber about his speech.
- The episode closes with an invitation for the hosts to visit Affleck's home screening room and a mention of the show's sponsors.
Opening banter and merch
0:05[music] Boy, you know, I just can't get enough of that opening song. I just think it's just great. >> It's under our voices right now. Can you hear it right under us? >> Right. Yeah. And it just kind of gets me going. >> Oh, I'm being real boyed by it. Really boyed by this. >> Well, you always call me a robot.
0:17It's kind of like my little theme song, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. It is like a little for a little robot theme, but [music] it's playing underneath us right now. >> It's going to kick in in a second. Kick it in. Something kicking in. Kicking in. Kicking. >> Two. One [music] smart
0:39less [music] smart less. Now, uh, so we had a little record earlier today and now we're having our second record. There was a gap in between where lunch usually sits. And I always whenever this happens, I'd love to know what Sean had. >> Oh, good. I had uh chicken curry with rice and uh cauliflower and sweet potatoes and then I had a huge bowl of ice cream after.
1:08>> Wait, you had chicken curry with rice? >> Yeah. >> I I did not I did not know that uh Chef Buardi made that. [laughter] >> That's funny. >> That's new. >> But you see, I didn't change. I still I'm still in my Smartless merch shirt. >> Smartless merch. There's some good stuff in there. I was uh I guess I shouldn't be surprised cuz we looked at it all before it went in there.
1:26But >> let me tell you something. I slept in this. Shop shopsmartlist.com. It's the best stuff. >> Oh, it's it's it's sleepable. >> Is that what it is? Wait, is it shopsmartlist.com for real? >> Smartlist.com. Yeah. >> What's it again? Sorry, Sean. >> What' you say? >> Shopsmartlist.com. It's I'm telling you, you sleep in the sweats.
1:42You put the hat on when you roll out of bed. It's great. >> Who um did you design the blanket? Those big heavy blankets you did, right? You wanted >> I didn't design them, but I What's that? >> You wanted the heavy blanket. >> I wanted the heavy blanket because I have an issue with a throw blanket. A throw blanket covers one leg, >> right?
1:59>> So, I never understood the the the function of a throw blanket. >> No, I'm saying I like it cuz it's it's it's weighty. >> Yeah, it's weighty and it's big. It covers your whole body >> and it's uh it's like um what do you call it? Uh warm fleece. Like fleece, I guess. Is it? Yeah. >> Hey, by the way, >> you know what I did?
2:16>> Oh, definitely whisper. Yeah, cuz that's going to be >> for Scotty. I got him a surprise. >> I got John Williams, the composer. >> Yeah. >> To sign a page of the ET score >> for Scott. >> How'd you do that? >> A friend of mine knows is friends with his daughter and then we just kind of made it happen.
Gifts, teeth and dental jokes
2:35[snorts] >> Are you guys good at that? Are you good? It sounds like you are, Sean, where you you sort of like you remember what your your friend or partner or kid or whatever really loves and you work on it for a few months. Yeah. >> And [clears throat] you get the perfect gift. Like, do you do that?
2:52>> I love doing that. >> Yeah. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Hey, [clears throat] Will, you don't need to go up high like everybody in the world does it except you, Jason. >> I [laughter] don't do it. So, that's why. >> Yeah, exactly. It's true. >> Will Will's very good at throwing money at a gift. You know, >> Sean and I am very good at that.
3:11>> You're very good at that. Whereas Sean, you you'll do sort of a sentimental thing or I remember you said in July that what you wanted for Christmas was >> That's right. >> Like I clocked I clocked last year. >> Yeah. >> For um for Maple's birthday. She said she just mentioned that she loved skateboarding.
3:27So I got her a skateboard or a certificate for a skateboarding thing. >> Yes. And we went and spent the hell out of that. >> Did you remember that's how she broke all her teeth? Remember? Thanks, Sean. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Remember that time she broke her arm and all her teeth came? She had to spit her teeth out.
3:39That's why she's got those flippers now. >> And we've got this [laughter] memory of her and she takes her teeth out every night. She thinks of you when she has to take them out. >> By the way, though, back to the ice cream thing. I didn't tell you this, Jay. Last episode we recorded, you we talked about you having their what is it called?
3:55The root root canal. >> I had a cavity. >> You had one? >> And I just got Yeah. Just last week. >> I got a crown. >> Not possibly your first. >> No. Oh my god. I have so many. But at 52 years old, I have a cavity. Oh, they're going to start coming fast and furious. >> That is strange. Let's take a look at your diet.
4:11Um, >> yeah, but [laughter] what what is strange about things on your body degenerating as you get older? >> Well, but I floss and I brush and I do everything. So, it's like teeth teeth don't play by that. >> No, cuz they're sitting in sugar all day. >> Yeah. >> I will say this. >> When you're having ice cream, when you're having dessert for lunch of a >> situation, >> he had dessert for breakfast the other day.
4:33Hey, I I did have a thing um where my fa one of my favorite sweeteners that I use, I don't want to say which one, uh with my coffee because I thought, "Oh, I'm not having sugar for a few years. I've been using sweetener and I see that one of its ingredients, this study came out yesterday, huge study saying that it causes like uh strokes and heart attacks and shit."
Sweetener health study debate
4:51>> Oh, I saw that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Really? [ __ ] Yeah. I'm so [ __ ] bummed. >> Well, so you don't want to say this publicly since it's already public? Well, just because it's in other So, I don't want to call out the one particular brand. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's being reported on or whatever, right?
5:07>> Yeah. >> Oh, so the sweet the the the the the sweetening component is the problem, not the brand, >> right? One of the ingredients in it. >> So, then what is the ingredient? Do you remember? >> I forget. >> I want to know if I'm agave. >> Is it agave? >> It's in a lot of It's in a lot of sort of steviacentric sweeteners have it in.
5:26>> Yeah. Is that Is that what you're using? >> Yeah. I'm mainline stevia, Dan. >> Yeah. So, so a lot I don't know if purist I don't know but I I know that some of them have it in anyways >> guys >> I know guy real uplifting huh >> let's get to >> are we ready for our guest >> oh I guess let's get to the guest >> before I die let's get it done [laughter] >> at least we'll know why I got to >> I got to say I get some of the best guests this guy has had >> this intro did you write this intro
5:56>> this is the intro yeah >> did you write it >> of course I did This guy, >> this guy has not has had not one but two songs written about him by a huge pop star. Most would agree he's Hollywood royalty being an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, a heavyhitting movie star who's portrayed a very famous DC comic book character on screen multiple times.
Guest introduction and Lopez songs
6:18>> But most importantly, just an all-around great guy that I'm so happy to call a friend who I love a whole bunch and I know you fellas do too. Please welcome to Smartless, Mr. Benjamin Gaya Affleck Bolt. >> Benjamin, we go. >> Oh, no. [laughter] No. >> There he is. I love him. I love him. >> Very nice.
6:37>> Wait a second. How did Sean get you and I don't? God damn it. >> Because I like him and he's a great guy. >> You are a good actor. You I always feel like I'm liked when I'm around you. >> Where are you? Are you in the basement? >> I'm in my lair. >> Okay. In a lower layer >> because crime might need to be fought.
6:55Yeah. [laughter] >> Oh god. >> I am. >> Yeah. >> Wait, what songs have been written about you? >> Dear Ben and Dear Ben written about me have been written by the greatest >> um performer in the history of the world, Jennifer Lopez. >> I don't know that they're exactly so much about me as maybe inspired by because um you know because there's some negative things in there.
7:17>> So they're aimed at you. >> I was going to say are they flattering? >> She's amazing. Yes. Can you imagine? And also I also there is a third song written about me but not by anyone gifted. Uh Jimmy Kimmel wrote a song about me [laughter] called Unfucking Ben Affleck. >> Wait, did uh did >> did Jennifer write the songs about you during or when you weren't dating?
7:42>> Jennifer wrote You know what, Jason? >> Uhhuh. I just want to know if they're happy over and over and I tell you if you want to ask Jennifer about her career if you're interested in [laughter] her work. Go ahead and screw your courage taking place and ask her. >> I learned a lot about about her with that great documentary.
7:59Um I love that. That was really watched that was incredible. >> Yeah. And by the way, that's the first time I know we're going to interview you in just a second, but Jennifer Lopez who was on Will and Grace twice or three times or whatever. And >> was she on Will and Grace? It's fun. And I was I was I not one two no times.
8:18>> No, you were. This is the story of my life. >> Bill was. I wasn't. >> But she was. But that documentary blew me away because I was like, my god, the what the woman has accomplished is astounding. >> Yeah. And she's It takes a big man not to feel inadequate in the face of my wife's many. >> But um but no, but she but you too.
8:35You too. You've you've accomplished >> Oh, I don't feel bad about myself. It's not so I'm not low self-esteem. I'm not Well, I am. I'm fishing a little bit, but [laughter] nothing. No, the truth is it's amazing. Sometimes I think I like completely forget because here's this incredible actress and this incredible performer and then we're sitting in the car, you know, and I'm humming along like I will, you know, the radio and then a a professional singer goes aheads and, you know, sings along and you kind
9:03of feel like, well, that's embarrassing. Yeah, >> maybe I should just zip it. >> Do you know all her music? Don't lie. I do know. Uh, >> can you sing all of her songs? >> Not to you. >> No, but you know them though. Like you can't I can't get a JLo song past you that you haven't heard. >> Waiting for the night.
9:22>> I That's the remix. There it is. That's >> I like when Sean does it sound kind of sounds like Sher is doing a remix. >> That was like a Share waiting for I think Cross might be in. >> Now you're making me self-conscious like oh gosh, if I were on like Jeopardy, would I miss a question? But I do love her music.
9:40It's brilliant. And I know >> uh all of it. Thank you. >> Yeah. Jason, don't put him on the [ __ ] spot. Look at [ __ ] We don't even remember your wife's birthday. >> Yeah. >> I'm pretty sure with an A. >> It [laughter] is surprising. No, wait a second now. Ben. Uh >> hi. >> Hi, Ben Affleck. >> It's Ben Affleck's on here.
Air and Matt Damon friendship
9:59>> I don't really We don't know each other. >> Thank you. Somebody. Yes. Hi. We I I don't have the pleasure of knowing you, but everybody who knows you likes you a great deal. And I >> I feel often like Baitman you he is he's doing this dealing with Baitman which is really so I mean surprising that >> it is it is surprising and uh and as you know uh yes so you but you and Jason have known each other for a number of years.
10:23>> Yeah I I've known just a long time and I had the chance to do like now four movies with the guy. >> I know. And and by the way the trailer for air looks incredible. looks amazing for you for the new movie you guys did that you've invited Jason to be part of any any regrets and you can be honest now you can be if you have regrets about this >> I got to tell you I mean usually and I hate you know when people come on shows and they're like you know you're great no but what you bring
Growing up together in Boston
10:49>> because it's just so [ __ ] boring to listen to and you have to >> but I'm going to tell and let me tell you why because it's actually true and I've lied so many times that it's nice to get the chance Jason is [ __ ] amazing in the movie and >> has the hardest part in the movie which is the part where you're supposed you're the guy who's like but if we don't make it to the train station by six you know the whole you know constantly having to tell the audience what the stakes are
11:19>> look out >> what's going to happen >> turn right >> and somehow like made himself you know the most I think like the most uh you know compelling real. You're drunk. It's brilliant. A lot of it's improv and funny and a lot of it's just humanity, >> but it's Jason's brilliant. And it was such a I was really lucky cuz that it's what Matt did very easy >> when you're the lead and you're that guy and you have those lines.
11:47You know what this scene is? This is me looking out the window. The music, you know, that's going to help you. That's the wind at your back. >> I was the one working. [laughter] Do you know, by the way, you should know, Ben, that we were at we we watched uh the Super Bowl at at at Kimmels and >> Oh, yeah.
12:02I have a problem. This is a problem. >> Hang on. So, we're watching and and at that moment that the that the ad for your movie came on, Jason and I were sitting there and Jimmy happened to kind of drift in right between us. And then I said, "Hey, quiet everybody. Here's the >> here's the the the commercial for the big movie."
12:17And Jason was all excited. And then there was just a silhouette for a second and then nothing. >> Silhouette. And then Jason's [clears throat] daughter goes, "Dad, I thought you were in that room." >> Oh my god. >> In front of my kids, Ben, >> that can't be true. >> It's a true story, right, Jason? Is that true?
12:32>> It's a true story. But listen, there's many different >> I mean, it's my fault in the sense that I did see it and not notice. [laughter] >> But it's not my fault in the sense I didn't make it. And let me Can I talk to your daughter? [laughter] >> Your daddy's very good. This is all a joke, but it was it was actually pretty funny.
12:49It was like, "Hey, thought you were [laughter] in that." And everybody goes back to their chips and watching other >> I've been there. You know what I mean? When things aren't panning out in your career and you've been in the movie and all of a sudden you're like, "I I think I show up in this." >> The worst.
13:03No. The worst is when you're at the premiere and they go past the point where you know your big scene was and it's it's now gone >> and they've moved on and you're like, "Oh, guess that was cut." >> You're like, "Mom, no. This is where I have the monologue." [laughter] Oh. Oh. Oh, maybe it's comes later now.
13:18I don't know. >> Maybe it's during the credits. They saved it for during the credits. >> Anyway, I'll do it for you at home. >> It'll probably need special features. >> Yeah. >> So, Ben, talk to me a little bit about, you know, we had Matt who came and joined us on um on tour. He came to Madison, Wisconsin.
13:32When you think Madison, Wisconsin, you think Matt Damon. >> That's the thing about Matt is he'll always do something nicer than me. >> He's [laughter] like, "Matt, hey, what you're doing is great." You know, Matt went a whole lot further. >> No. No. >> No. Great. >> No. But we did. We But we talked to him about about how you guys started and how you guys knew each other back in the day and what that was like when you guys were kind of >> Yeah.
13:56>> It was really cool. Yeah, it was it was great really hearing from him and I and I'd love to hear your perspective of how you got and I'm sure you told it a million times so forgive me if if it's if it's boring but for us it's really I love that story and I told Matt I remember we made this really bad um I I say bad my friend wrote it but this really pretty chintzy version of a movie called Souy and you guys came to the rap party that I was in and then you guys were about to do Goodwill Hunting and
14:21then our movie would like they buried it under a couch somewhere and then you guys went on to like amazing. But I just love the beginnings of what you and Matt did and I want to hear it from you. Uh because I think it's a great story. >> And by the way, I had no idea you guys grew up so close to each other.
14:36No idea. >> Yeah, we did. First of all, it's like it's a really lucky thing. It occurs to me now. I saw him the other day and we're doing this movie together. Very few people are lucky enough to spend their life in the same line of work with their best friend from when they were kids, manage to, you know, stay friends, not end up hating each other, >> actually be friends and love each other and >> and not have one of them soar to the stratosphere and the other one be have nothing happen.
15:07But no, no, but I'm saying like that's like that's what usually happen. The fact that both of you guys are superstars. >> Yeah. Um, so in context, the reason we're asking this hacky question is because in Air, the film that we're talking about, Ben, for the very, very first time directs Matt. >> I love it.
15:26It's full circle. I love it. I love it. >> Yeah. I mean, it was something that seemed really normal and that I took for granted because there we were. We were kids who he was a bigger kid uh for a brief period. >> I was eight, he was 10, he was a big kid. He played baseball. He was really cool. He had a bowl cut that was a little feathered that we all wanted of course and he and he was um you know nice to me and we were both interested in the same we just just kids who grew up two blocks apart and both
15:56wanted to be actors uh for whatever reason it is that makes you want to do that thing and hung out and then we're in the same the same friend group and then sort of went off and did like oh let's you know we're just like dumb enough to think like it'll pan out for us we'll just go be actors. We'll just go work, you know, and and kind of sort of believe in it and then live together.
16:17But I think the reason why >> it wasn't a thing, that sort of competition thing that you talk about is because we did a lot of auditioning very early on for for for the Mickey Mouse Club, for example. Amazing. >> Uh I think maybe for some of Jason's early work. Um >> Gosling got the Mickey Mouse job.
16:36>> He did. He was one of We did. We uh a Corey Hay film called Soulman. And I remember we both auditioned for we did we we both auditioned for Robin and the the the Clooney uh movie. No way. >> Uh-huh. >> Yeah. We were extras together all the time. Matt did Mystic Pizza. He had a line in that. I didn't get it.
16:54>> And and always the thing was we would get our, you know, little act together and practice our scenes and do our workshop. I mean, nerdy doesn't even begin to describe it >> really. >> And but it really was a genuine thing where we were be like, "Look, I hope I get the part, >> but if I don't, I really hope you do."
17:09Right. >> And you know, for a while we had this thing where we're like, we'll just split all our money. You know what I [laughter] mean? >> We like had Oh, you >> did you really say that? >> We really did. And we really split the money. >> We put it in the bank account at the time. I was the lion's share of the money.
17:26Yes. >> No way. How old were you? >> Yes, I am. We had a joint bank account. >> I I think I was We were I was 14. Matt was 16. Something like that. >> Well, that's cool. Put money in the ATM and then was [clears throat] like, "Okay. What do you want to get? >> I saw you made a big withdrawal last weekend.
17:43>> Joking as much as you are, but it does show that on a certain level there is a trust there that you guys just trust each other implicitly that there's just right that that's on a very basic level. >> I like took for granted that he liked me and rooted for me and wanted me to succeed. We just didn't we're lucky enough not to have the friendship of that the whole like it's not enough that I succeed.
18:02All my friends have to fail thing like and I there are people I've wanted to fail. You know what I mean? like I can be just as petty and bitter as any other actor, but [laughter] >> I loved them and he loved me and it felt like we would work the scenes together and you know it actually I think is what made us sort of good writers and better actors was that we learned very early on to hear like I'm not sure that works that choice you know and you go okay let's try something else you know and
18:26get our facts our sides and >> let's try a lower voice do you ever give that >> not that to I had to hit puberty [laughter] and so not so wait but you but when you say you grew up you grew together in Boston, right? But you were born or raised in California. Like what's the California? >> I was born in California.
18:41My parents were at a uh teaching at a like an experimental school outside Berkeley briefly and then actually my mom and Yes. And then I moved back to Boston around two or three. I moved into um uh Central Square in Cambridge and then Matt moved there from Newton when I was eight and he was 10. And that's when we met at at the b at the basketball.
19:03And you got a Burger King commercial. That was your very first thing. >> Listen, I had done a Burger King commercial. Okay. The I'm sure you remember the law, the slogan was sometimes you got to break the rules. >> Yeah, sure. And >> Oh, yeah. I'm a little bit of a rule breaker. >> I really quick. I did a I did these guys are going to love this.
19:19I did a McDonald's commercial. Uh, one of my first things where I worried I I worried about how I was going to impress a girl and the catchphrase from my guy scene partner was don't worry about it. I was like, how am I going to pay for the date? Don't worry about it. >> That's my story. So wait, go back to the bird.
19:35>> Holy [ __ ] >> What the [ __ ] are you doing? Ben's got a head of steam going out of [ __ ] punch line out of gas. >> Jesus, >> boy. [ __ ] sorry. Go ahead, Ben. >> Anyway, let me just Can I regroup? Do you mind take all the time? >> Start over. [laughter] >> Shake it off. >> And then you did like crying.
19:59>> Uh, we So we were I've established that we were very nerdy and a little weird. We used to have business lunches in what was called the media cafeteria. Amazing. Which at the time um there was a big ESL uh um portion of our public high school which was like 2600 kids and that was where the ESL kids I don't know why that was where we I we like to be surrounded by people who spoke other languages.
20:21I'm not sure what it was but we maybe we didn't want anyone to actually hear our business lunches because there no business was conducted. >> Um but we plotted things. We planned our careers. >> But look at you now. Look at the business you guys are in now. Art artist equity. Yes. >> Yeah. We I Yeah, we we it is bizarre like to have gone this far and definitely a lot of I don't think I would would be sane as sane to the extent that I am had I not had somebody who was from where I grew up and who was
20:53my best friend and who was going through the same thing. So you could cuz I'm sure you guys all know there are these moments in this business where you look around and go like >> is this completely insane? Yeah, >> I feel as though, you know, I'm coming unglued and and having that when somebody shared that perspective and then so as we went on and on and so finally got to a place where like with Last Duel was like, why haven't we just we had so much fun every day on that set was so much fun and we just like let's
21:23just do this. Let's just do movies together and with people we like. >> Mhm. >> And we will be right back. And now back to the show. Going back that the the first thing that kind of launched was was it dazed and confused or was it something before that? >> And what's the story about Vince Vaughn? >> He's [clears throat] asked a two-parter there.
21:42You can take them one at a time or you can ask him to repeat it when he just >> I get excited. I get excited. >> I know it crap in the pre-in the vents bit. >> I don't know where you're going with that. >> No, but I heard I heard >> I do know Yeah. >> No. >> I do know that we that we I had done a couple of what I was the more experienced.
22:00I don't want to make Matt feel insecure. I had some early [clears throat] experience with professional acting. >> Selling burgers, you know. >> I was Well, not only I sell burgers, but I don't know if you know your public television history. I was on a show, Voyage of the Mimi. >> Voyage of the >> Yeah.
22:15Uh science. It was also shown to sixth graders for their science class because I think because it was so gripping >> and a young boy and his grandpa uh uh renting out a boat to scientists for for experiments. And so I [clears throat] would periodically go off and do a little Voyage of the Mimi. So [snorts] Matt was a little threatened by that.
22:33And when I got to the high school, he kind of pulled me aside and he said, "Listen, man. [laughter] All right. This is the theater. It's not about your looks." >> Okay. It's about the work. >> And I took that very seriously. I felt that I was hearing something, you know, real like the words of wisdom from a guy who understood it.
22:51I didn't know until that time he felt I'd been entirely boguarding my way through life on like charm and looks of which there were very few. >> Well, but no, it sounds like actually you came roaring into high school just killing it. >> Yeah, you were you were crushing and Matt and Matt I mean by the way I mean again no insult to Matt, but it sounds like he he felt threatened by you, Ben.
23:14And and I wanted to >> I think maybe I think maybe a little guy the other thing he said to me he's like you know the thing about Hoffman and salesman is you can see the wheels turning but he wants you to see the wheels turn. [laughter] >> Madam 15 years old man. >> No way. That's hysterical. >> That's a true story.
23:33>> That's [ __ ] amazing. However, that's why he's brilliant because that guy has been absolutely convinced that and has paid attention to like, you know, very little else in his free time other than acting since he was a little kid doing Wheelock Community College theater when he was 11 years old. And he's been with absolute conviction that this is what he was going to do.
23:58And he was a lot smarter about it than me. He understood a lot earlier on. He was like, "It's it's this just all about the director. I'm just going to focus on the director." He was like passing on parts when we were broke. I was like, "What are you passing on? You can't pay the gas bill. What what's like this?
24:12How is this not good enough for you?" >> Because he didn't like the director. >> Yeah. He just didn't feel he didn't he it didn't have anything to offer, you know? And it was like that's I was I'm like I'm doing after school specials about steroid abuse and you're passing on like movies. >> That's pretty great.
24:29But I I will say this. you gave him a piece of advice that he has since uh uh paid forward and given and he let us in on it last year when he came to join us which was apparently you said to him if somebody asks you to do something down the road imagine that the thing you know we get it all the time hey will you come and do this six months from now and come and show up at this thing >> imagine that you would have to do it tomorrow and then let that be your answer >> if you don't want to do it tomorrow
24:59>> if you don't want to do it tomorrow say Yeah, >> I did give him that. I never thought that was particularly wise. >> I just thought it's >> because [laughter] constantly saying yes and then be like, "Hey man, can you call them and tell them I'm sick?" And >> yes. Yeah. And that's [ __ ] >> It's amazing.
25:11I've told I've told minimum 50 people that piece of advice as as if I came up with it my own and they have people love it and have latched on to it. Right JB? We've talked about >> I I live it. I did it today. I got asked to do something like three months from now. That sounds kind of interesting. That' be kind of fun.
25:28But then I thought, well, actually, if it was on the calendar for tomorrow, would I would I wish that it was cancelled? If the answer is yes, pass. >> You know the thing about that that I can't completely cosign. Like my dirty little secret is I might pass on everything. Like I almost never want to get off the >> Did you think about that this show today about passing on the show?
25:51>> Oh, I mean I was a half hour late, wasn't it? [laughter] Yeah, >> they had to talk you out of it. Um, so for the guy who likes to do nothing except sit on his couch every day like I do, I find it interesting that you're actually able to get up and work as hard as I think anybody could possibly work.
26:11Um, when it comes to directing, like that's a really really all-encompassing job. So, are you like me where it's like either all or nothing? I'm either working full or out. I I think you and I have that in common. Yes. And I think that um I think that part of it is >> uh it's a little bit like it's more sort of social things like I'm I feel actually kind of shy.
26:34I don't really want to go say hi to people. It feels a little bit like, oh, I'm going to, you know, something's going to happen. It's going to make me feel awkward. >> But I I I love directing movies. And that movie in particular was the best experience I've had. And directing is hard and terrifying.
26:48And at first I thought like, okay, even if I don't know anything about this, I know that I can at least work harder than everybody else. And so I thought, well, you put in 20 hours a day and that's what you do. And it made it excruciating and I got migraines, but like to the extent that the that the movies um, you know, were I was happy with, I I thought, well, it must be because I worked 20 hours a day and did nothing else and thought of nothing else >> and eventually realized that you don't
27:15quite have to do it that way. And that actually this movie, which is my the favorite movie I ever made, I love this movie. It it it benefits entirely from the writing and acting of Jason and Matt and Chris and Viola and uh and Chris Mina and Matt Mayer, but it was so much [ __ ] fun every day. >> Yeah.
27:33Well, you you're it's your fault. I mean, he he Well, we don't have to do a whole thing on the kind of set you run and and your talent and everything, but it was it was >> No, no, no. We can actually I think we have time. >> Do we have we have 25? >> It was uh It it was actually incredibly easy, guys.
27:48We shot this down the street. Um we shot it in in an in a business uh in a in an office building that um you were supposed to be in an office building. So, they basically just flipped the lights on. Now, that's to take nothing away from Bob Richardson, who is like the best DP in the history of movies.
28:04Um but, uh it was very fast. I think after wasn't it after like seven days, we were already three days ahead. Yeah, we we went we got I wanted to go quickly and then you you and Matt showed up and like having not directed Matt, I didn't appreciate when you're a director, right? You have you have your plans, you have the you worrying about all these other things.
28:24Yes, you're worrying about the performances, but I thought, okay, well, I won't have to worry about the performances and I'll just worry about all the other sort of [ __ ] I I'm doing that I think is relevant when really the actors the are the only thing the audience is paying attention to and like, you know, camera moves and that kind of thing.
28:37and Jason and Matt are such pros that no I mean it was like a dance to watch these two guys together. They've done it so much and so well so that as soon as you start to feel the dolly is late. It's not going to be all of a sudden Jason's looking in his pocket for something that might be behind him and that looks be and all of a sudden he makes maybe a little more mournful choice on that line delivery cuz it's going to give him an extra half step to the turn to where he knows the
29:03steady cam's going to come. the two of the guys were [laughter] I started feeling like you're you're like making it for me. Stop like doing this too and I love that. It really was amazing to see. In fact, it got to the point where >> um because Bob's crew and everyone was so good, they started anticipating and trying to do it.
29:21And then the guys who were really good and women who were doing it were like it started to just speed up. And finally I was like, Matt, Jason, don't do their job for them. You don't have to do everybody's job. Yes, I know you're great at it, but just worry about the scene cuz it I think they kind of started having fun with it like because I had warers and you'd have to see this and that and Jason would know like you're probably going to want that magenta in the background.
29:42So, and I thought you'd like the window and I was like you son of a [ __ ] Yeah, I did want the window. I didn't think I was that transparent. >> [laughter] >> Did you uh did you do you can you remember uh having any sort of significant creative negotiation with Matt either in the writing process or in the directing process like giving him a note that he didn't want to take or writing a scene that he that he thought was kind of fine already or >> because didn't you have the writing
30:06process like Goodwill Hunting back in college where you would they won an Oscar you would what you would you would uh talk about it or improv it and >> we record it yeah on on what were audio cassettes at the time kids. Those were small brown paper cassettes put in devices. >> Wait, really? You guys talked out the script?
30:25>> Yeah, because we never thought of ourselves as formal writers. Uh we had a great uh teacher, drama teacher in high school who taught us kind of sort of writing, directing, acting and didn't sort of put them in distinct silos. So he was [clears throat] we would actually end up making plays which we later I later realized we were act write direct them in effect but we just thought we would improvise them and kind of distill them down and find a story.
30:46>> Such a great idea. So that's just how we know how to do it. So >> this person did you such a such a a favor by doing that by sort of putting it all together. Right. There's no question without Jerry Spec, Matt or I or my brother or Matt Mayer or Max Cassella or Anal Larson or all the people that came out of the program who are who are working and who are terrific would would I I think be working because he was he he taught us that and he taught us to like to not take ourselves
31:12seriously, respect other people but take the work that we were doing incredibly seriously. And that was like that kind of and there's that like great time of life when you have the older person who's the mentor who you look up to in the who's who's doing the thing you want to do who says this is meaningful but you really have to work hard at it and so we did >> Ben is that that's a so that was a teacher that you guys had at at your public high school >> I mean our public school just lucked out
31:38and got this guy who's a genius >> amazing and he he was amazing for kids that didn't even end up wanting to be in theater and he was I could do a a whole thing on him. But the truth is I I think that's part of why I learned to be collaborative is that Matt and I never fought or argued about stuff. It was always that we and we never got our feelings hurt because most of the ideas are bad.
32:00So I'll have a bad idea. He'll have a bad idea. I'll have a bad idea. He'll have a bad idea. I'll have an idea with that's a little bit maybe better. And then Matt that kind of keys something in Matt that's mediocre. You know what I mean? And we so we know we're building from there and it's never about and then it just becomes about like finding the best thing until both of us feel like it can't be improved and and we kind of go like and and if there is a kind of difference of opinion it
32:23always ends up coming down to who cares more. >> Yeah. Yeah. I go, "Man, I don't know. I really think this is about the" And he's like, "Man, that" And I go, "All right, >> if you don't want to do it more than I want to do it, then we're not going to do it, you know?" Or if I want to do it more than you don't want to do it, we're going to do it.
32:38Like that's just common. I Amanda and I try to live by that. There she is. Look, it's Jennifer. Special guest. >> There she is. >> Hi. You can't hear us. Hi. >> Hi. >> Hi, Jen. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Hi there. You were just doing very well. We were talking about you in very favorable terms and so was your husband.
32:56>> Oh, thank you. >> I was singing some of your songs back to you. >> Please sing. Please sing. >> WAITING FOR THE NIGHT. OH. [screaming] >> Oh my love. It's waiting for tonight. [laughter] >> Waiting for >> Oh, that's the mic drop right there. She crushed it. [laughter] That's We're lucky that is brilliant.
33:21>> Thank you for saying hi. Yes, of course. [laughter] >> Bye. >> Looking forward to doing this with you. >> Oh, good. I love you. >> There's There's the part that will make the show. >> By the way, we we just bypassed Jason. I didn't know this term uh creative negotiation. >> Yeah. Way to take the art out of it, man.
33:39You [ __ ] find a way every [ __ ] time. [laughter] >> Just business, my friend. >> You don't have to negotiate. >> Canal Street. How much for the the the batteries? >> Hey, Picasso, how much paint did you use? How many cubic liters of paint did you use? That's the >> just take the [ __ ] art out of it, baby.
33:54And [ __ ] you. >> He [laughter] you see Picasso never had to negotiate with anybody cuz he it's just a single thing. Well, the what we're doing is like team stuff, right? So, you got to always negotiate. >> There is a lot of negotiation. I mean, the lucky thing is when you don't have to negotiate when you go like, you know, you you you do something, you write it, you give it to him, and then Jason sits down and reads the scene and like I he made me cry on the I and I and then you
34:17feel like a jerk because you feel like that guy who just like uh was it Marty Short or whatever who used to go and then [sighs] you know you just want to give one of like those >> what was the name of that character played? Jimmy Glick. >> Jimmy Glick. >> Jimmy Glick. I just watched last night. >> I have a question.
34:31Mr. Affleck. [laughter] Damn. and he goes, "Don't." >> So, so, so to wrap up the Matt stuff, we we'll we'll leave him out of the rest of the interview. Um, uh, but the, uh, because we've, we've had enough of Matt, right? I mean, Will, with you with your Wordle, Squirtle and Squirtle every morning. >> I want to get in on that.
34:49And Matt was like, "You're not ready." I was not ready. I I removed my dropped out. He couldn't take the heat. >> No, it's not the Heat. It's It's Will likes to tell you how much better his score could have been had he done X, Y, or Z. Anyway, that's really >> Wait, wait. I wanted to close the map part of it.
35:05Uh, tell for the and you could I know I would love to do a full podcast with you about artist equity and all the sort of studio economics that you're buddy. >> They didn't told me you didn't want to do this one. >> Put our audience to sleep. So, for the those that have narcolepsy, do the quick version of generally what the concept is, what you guys are doing versus what exists.
35:26um and why that makes sense for you guys doing this since you're buddies and you want to kind of spread that kind of buddy feeling in the process. >> It's it's a tough elevator pitch and I overt talk and go on too long. So this a bad combo. >> Sean will cut you off. Don't worry. >> Basically what it is is like over the years as I'm sure you have we start to kind of know like there's money that gets spent on things that don't end up making the movie any better.
35:51And the more money that you spend on what you do, the more obligation you have, the sort of more risk there is and the less likely people are to do things that you know you consider more interesting. They want to be more uh conventional, >> right? And then um I looked around and and it I just as a director started to really understand and value the people on the crew who made such a significant difference to the quality of what you're doing both in terms of speed and in terms of the environment and the way in
36:22which you're able to perform. But I'm a big believer that that the performance really ultimately is what what draws people in and performance and the writing. And so we uh came up with this idea never thinking anyone would ever actually fund us uh to do a movie studio that was predicated on um two things basically in allowing the crew and the the artist being the writer.
36:42I mean and I consider the crew the artist which is the whole group actors directors writers so on. >> Yeah. as well as cinematographers, sound mixers, everybody who who collectively create the value in in what we're doing to benefit from the upside of it in a really meaningful significant way, but also to be responsible for it.
37:02In other words, listen, if it goes over, you're going to get less. If it comes in under, you're going to do better, but all of us have to make it good. Otherwise, we're not going to get anything. And sort of treat people like grown-ups. Believe they can be accountable. and also believe that, you know, when because incentives have not historically been aligned between the people financing movies traditionally and and the people making them always.
37:25>> And so without going into too great a detail, the idea was like let and let's separate this out from like what is the value of a of a movie? Well, usually they'll use comps like well what's the budget and what did you make on your last movie and uh and especially now because there's no backend and no gross.
37:43That's sort of it, right? >> Well, I've always felt that was akin to to going into the Apple store and saying, "I'll tell you how much I give you for the iPhone when you tell me how much you paid the guy that put it together." >> But that's, you know, you don't that's not how it works, right? So, why does it have to work in the other way?
37:58So by being agnostic as a financier and producer this studio and we had to then you know hire all the business affairs and legal and physical production and so on so that we could be an entity significant enough to take on the entire creative responsibility of developing producing shooting and delivering the movie and in exchange we got to say look this is what it's going to cost it won't cost a dime more than that if it goes over we pay for it but you have to sort we're going to be the ones who take on
38:29the burden, the role of saying we're going to deliver something good. If it's terrible, it's our fault. >> Um, and but you're going to sort of um put your trust in us to be able to do this. I'm sure whatever partners that we we work with, they're excellent, brilliant people distributing and marketing movies.
38:43We don't do that. >> Uh we don't want to do very many movies, but we want to just really make good movies with people we like. >> I love that. And that's it. and and we think you should be people should be paid more for for for what they >> So you're basically taking on the financial risk by by funding the production effectively and then you're saying we don't need you you don't get the leverage financeier uh by giving us the money to make it assuming that we don't have it to make it.
39:08We actually do. We're going to spend the money to make it and we're basically coming to you and saying we'd like to sell you this product. We're going to take care of the wholesale part. Here's the retail price. Who wants to buy it? >> Exactly. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> Makes a lot of sense. That's what he That's what he just said.
39:21He just said >> I'm trying I'm trying to see if my brain heard it right. >> We'll be right back. And back to the show. >> So now, but then once you have finished the completion of a film, you now have to enter into a whole another thing because you're you're going out there to distributors. Yeah. So are you working with all different distributors, all different shapes?
39:45>> Obviously business is like there's all sorts is changing a lot. You have streamers, you have, you know, the companies are theatrical and streaming and so and that's nobody's quite figured that out yet. My feeling is people are watching things and interested in them and that's going to be ongoing how they figure out the economics of where they place value on it, you know, there if we keep our focus to a few things and make them make try to make them really good.
40:08And also I really was felt like, you know, interesting original dramas, comedies sort of ideas were starting to fall away from the theatrical world. Yes. It was kind of like nah that's not in movie theaters. And so with this movie and this movie's themes are kind of congruent with with the ideas and the philosophy of this business like what are the people worth and how should they be compensated and isn't this the story itself I think is interesting meaningful and I want people to go see movies like
40:34this. >> Yeah. I I watch watching your trailer, I thought the that very thing the first time I saw it, I thought nobody gets to make movies like this anymore because we've lived in a in a world where and everybody has benefited and participated to a certain degree in these sort of whatever you call them these temples or these these um >> including me.
40:52>> Yeah. No, that's what I mean. Everybody all of us have benefited in certain ways. However, what happened was the result of that is is that these other kinds of movies that you're talking about >> without special effects >> without special effects and that are storydriven and that are >> your hair but [laughter] yeah uh th those things don't really those those kind of movies don't really exist as much anymore.
41:11in theaters and this one's part of the problem is [ __ ] Ozark >> because it used to be that you know you to put out a movie you were competing you know like Law and Order or whatever Magnum you know what I mean you had an 11in black and white and you could watch Simon and Simon or you could go see [laughter] you know Murder at 1600 but now you've got Succession and Ozark and really good [ __ ] stuff where uh people at home go you know what I can pause I want tomorrow that's made it very difficult
41:40>> but it looks like they're approaching a good combo where you're getting a you're getting a nice window of time in the in the in the brickandmortar theaters. So you can see it on a big screen if you want or you can wait what is it I think it's now basically 6 weeks before it'll be at your home as opposed to the old method was like 3 months and it was >> yeah I'm really grateful to Amazon the first time they're really going for the we're going to do a theatrical traditional you know 3500 screens out in
42:05the theaters go see don't you can't like wait to see it for free like not sort of upstaging it with a sub very soon impending free version at home >> which is Amazon right >> Amazon yeah and they really are are taking a flyer on this and I I mean, I hope it works honestly for obviously for the movie, but also so that we can do it again.
42:21And the reason why going back to that model, the one thing that we that we do ask is that like the the Hollywood model is kind of like I get paid in failure, right? Like I still have the I mean I spent it, but like I made money on J. I didn't have to give it back, right? >> You know what I mean? Like everyone else went broke and I got a car, you know?
42:39So this is like we're not going to get paid here. We're just going to spend what it costs to make the movie itself. And we're all going to show up and invest our time and energy. And if it works and if it's successful and if it's financially successful, you'll get paid whether you're the cinematographer, whether you're the writer, the director, much more otherwise than you would have.
43:01But the relationship between how you're compensated and how much it connects to audiences is really direct versus just like, hey man, you know, I don't get out of bed for less than whatever. And that's what I kind of, you know, that that and such a nice thing to not have that vibe, you know, where the people who are doing it just want to be there.
43:20>> And I think this this film's got a real good chance of of of of hitting that sort of zeitgeist thing only be well, for two reasons. Number one, it's a story we all think we know, but we don't. the whole story about how and why Nike got into business with Michael Jordan when Michael Jordan entered the NBA and and this whole start of this sneaker this this whole Air Jordan thing like it's an incredible American business story that no one really knows how it how it went together and this
43:47this movie explains and you're releasing it during March Madness which I think is [snorts] >> first of all it's great I heard it's I hear it's great from a a few different people who have seen it uh two of them are in the movie um but they say it's believe them. >> And uh and uh uh >> you can come by the house and watch it anytime.
44:03By the way, I told Jason I want to invite you cuz I told Jason two or three times, please ask him to tell you. I think he broke up during that part of the >> I'm desperate to see it and and uh I think Bradley saw it. Anyway, whatever it is, I'm desperate to see it. I think it sounds amazing. And >> Bradley won't let me see his movie until it's mixed.
44:20So that movie is great. I heard his I heard I read the script and I and I remember saying to him like this is you know this is the movie >> talking about maestro dude brilliant and the the test it's amazing. It looked amazing. >> [ __ ] amazing. Talk about movies that nobody made. >> It's the best script I've ever read that that >> it's really really good and but I was going to say for your movie what's great is because it is like as Jason says it does tell this story and it's so great
44:44and you know people like Jason this is where they learn stuff is from the movies because they've never read a book before. >> They have no [clears throat] life experience, >> right? They have no life experience. So, but I if truly everybody says and even Jason says this, which you never say you didn't even you weren't talking about yourself about how much you love the movie.
45:00I can say that he legitimately loves it. So, it's I'm very excited to see it. Now, let's talk about Batman. Let's talk about the real thing that every time business >> No, because the only time we we really hung out was when we did that thing with Kimmel about the Batman and then I stuck my head in as Lego Batman and you guys all laughed at me.
45:19Um, >> we do have two Batman's on the podcast, Sean. >> I know. That's kind of cool. >> It's very cool. >> One real and one uh Yeah. cartoon. >> But I saw the trailer for The Flash and everybody was like freaking out when you came on the screen. >> You know what? That movie is good. >> I hear it's amazing.
45:33It looks really good. I hear that movie. >> They made a good I love that. >> And it's my best [ __ ] I've done is I finally figured out how to play the guy. >> No, really. [laughter] >> I got it for real. >> I was like, hold on. Am I Is that I I quit. I know. I quit and I know I [laughter] came back to But I got it now.
45:48It's like, you know, you do the audition and you're on your way home and you're like, "Oh, no." >> Wait, what was the moment? What? How did Why did the Why did the penny drop? What What happened? >> I I mean, I don't want to give a spoiler, but it was a It was a scene where I got I get caught I get saved by Wonder Woman uh during a a confilration with some some some bad guys.
46:08>> Yeah. >> And she saves me by um I mean, I'm sure I'm like the spoiler, you know, DC assassins, but >> she saves you somewhere. He saves you with the lasso of truth. And so what happens is that Batman >> um dulges, you know, some of his real feelings >> about um his life and his work. >> And u it help you it helps you see the character and now you want another [laughter] chance to play it.
46:32>> And I was like, wait a minute, I got it. >> Am I still Wait, can I Guys, [laughter] >> are we still rolling? Can we write another >> story? Am I [ __ ] >> by the way, Ben? One time I remember years ago and I asked him about it. Uh, I remember Alec Baldwin told me saying in an interview that he was driving home from Knots Land when he was on Knots Landing.
46:52>> Oh yeah. >> And and like on a Friday night and just going like, "Oh, [ __ ] That's how you do the scene." And he's like from that moment on, he made a deal with himself that he would never leave it that he would always figure out the scene while he was there. And it always stuck with me, especially because it was not light.
47:06>> It's so funny. Alex told me a similar story, but totally different. >> Is that [laughter] true? >> Yeah. He loves this metaphor. He's like, "You know why I'm a good actor but not a great actor?" And I was like, "Uh, no, Alec, and I don't want to answer that." >> He was like, "Because I was playing Kowalsski, unprobably."
47:19And I uh [snorts] uh the door he was supposed to leave the screen door and I guess in some and and the screen door wouldn't open and he was exiting. It wouldn't open. I shook it once and I shook it twice and it wouldn't open. And so I stepped around it and [laughter] right then right then I realized what would Brando do?
47:37He would have kicked it down. He would have kicked it down and >> I was like, "So, oh, kick it down." Okay. [laughter] But he's very focused on that like moment after thing. >> Dude, that's hilarious. >> I want to ask you about You've won two Academy Awards, Good Goodwill Hunting and Argo. >> Thank you.
47:55I was wondering if we were going to get to it. The Jason Baitman show. >> Your publicist is like all over me about that. I was like, "Okay, got it." [laughter] Texted, texting, texting. >> Yeah. No, but I want to talk to you about Argo because he wrote me one of the funniest emails which I want to read right now and we can cut it if you want, but it's really funny.
48:13Anyway, Victor Garber, who's a friend of ours, right? He was staying in my guest house here while you were filming Argo three houses down >> guest house, but go ahead. >> What's that? >> He said you were in his guest house, but >> yeah, sure, whatever. We swap. >> Uh, we share like you share a bank account.
48:28We share a guest house. So, um, >> I want to still share a bank account with Matt. All of a sudden, the deal's over after born, [laughter] even. But you shot Argo three houses down from me and I would walk over in my pajamas and sit down and watch you direct and it was super super fun and then um then you won the Oscar and I was there uh at the Oscars and I wrote an email to you and I said I'm so proud of I'm so thrilled for you.
48:52I still then all the other sentences had question marks. I said I still haven't seen it and I probably won't get to it. I'll probably have to Netflix it and someone will have to read the subtitles to me, but I'm sure I'll love it like everyone in Iran says they do. And then I said, "I loved your speech, blah blah blah."
49:07And you wrote back, "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. [laughter]
Distribution and streaming windows
49:23I [ __ ] So when I was doing all this research for you today, like all this stuff, I found that old I was like, I'm going to look at old emails. I laughed out loud and then you wrote me another one. >> You haven't taken me up on it. Still [laughter] still pasty. >> No, not at all. I'm I'm translucent.
49:39>> So good. >> Benjamin, this has been amazing. Way too much of your time. >> Is it over? They told They told me it's two. So Oh, only an hour for me. You don't usually do a two. We usually go three. We usually go three. >> I am a big fan. I got to tell you guys, I love the Mark Marin show. You are wonderful.
49:56Oh, I'm sorry. Wrong. >> Oh [ __ ] Oh [laughter] [ __ ] Oh [ __ ] No. The truth is you guys are you guys are uh you do a great job. You manage to be very interesting to listen to and yet very little of substance is ever said. >> We distract you with all the constant noise. That's >> it feels like uh kind of wonderful.
50:14>> I enjoy it. It's an honor and a pleasure to be on the show. Thank you for having me. Honest to God, you are [ __ ] amazing in the movie. From the first time I met you on the day of smoking aces when I walked into that scene and you did the monologue about about congenital alcoholism and herpes and a small penis.
50:30>> I have never you cannot If you go back and watch that movie is not a shot of me whether or not that's [laughter] from the movie, dude. He was just telling somebody hanging out and remember >> they put it in the movie. [laughter] >> It was I was like this guy is a genius. of genius and I have never forgotten it.
50:49And then >> Joe Carneah's fault. You know, he wrote a great scene and directed a great movie to work with you. No, no, your fault. Genius. Love Joe. Great in that great extract. I I have loved it. It's been >> We had fun on extract. >> I think you're a genius. >> Yeah, you are. >> I do. I think all the >> My mother thinks that word's overused.
51:07>> Yeah, it is usually she probably hears it a lot about her sons. >> But we're really happy. Uh I I will say this. I'm so happy that you're directing movies and you're making movies like this and that you're just continue to do [ __ ] great stuff and I love it. This is all I want to do. >> You do want to direct more than act, right?
51:25You love it. >> I I you know, 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. This is I'm done with this. I don't care. I just like directing. And then I was like, well, I'm already here and I can, [laughter] you know, >> do them both, right?
51:40Act in the movies that you direct. And then I just let go. And I remember Sydney Pollock um once saying when we did he was a director and an actor and we did a movie called Changing Lanes 20ome years ago and he said to me, "You know why I'm a good actor?" >> I was like, "No, no, Sydney, cuz I don't give a shit."
51:58>> Yeah. I was like, I didn't understand at the time, but I I know what he's getting at now, which is that so much of it just has to do with letting go and being relaxed and trying things and not sweating what people are going to think. And you know, you know, trying the take that at the time Jason and Matt make fun of you for, but later on works in the movie.
52:16We know what we're talking about. >> Wait, really? Wait, which one was [laughter] >> It was the take where I where I really wanted to play my part and I interrupted Matt and made him wait a second and you were like, "Maybe too big. Maybe that's too >> I said that. Uh >> oh. >> No, I I believe Matt was right out in front of you.
52:34He was like, "You can't do that." Hold on. Hold on. >> Uh, no. I'm kidding. >> Oh, wait a second. Oh, wait. Is this the one with the blaster glasses and the and the and the and the and the jogging outfit? >> Oh, no. You were all unequivocal about that. And that didn't make that was too big, >> dude. It's on the poster.
52:47What do you mean it didn't make the movie? You were on the poster in your in your phaser glasses and your and your jumpsuit. >> That is historically accurate. I get it. No one's going to know that though. They're just going to be like, "Oh, >> I'm trying to promote it." [laughter] >> That's what I'm here.
53:03The whole point was to get to the fact that that is not made up. That is the clothes that were worn >> and his purple his purple Porsche and his uh >> he had a purple Porsche that said Nike, man. Yeah. >> This is Phil Knight, listener. Uh the the uh the guy who created Nike. >> Um Phil, I can't wait to see.
53:18It's fun. And and I do once I started doing it and doing people I I really loved and it's true. I would I I love directing in a in a different way, but acting has become really fun. Tender was really fun. Last Duel was really fun. The Way Back was really fun. Weirdly, for a movie about a person whose child dies and is alcoholic, it was like it become joyful because I started developing my own criterion and stopped kind of making it about like, you know, who likes >> Will says it's a sexy indifference,
53:47right, Will? >> Yeah. >> I don't say that. No. >> I I'm going with overweight indifference. [laughter] Indifference is attractive. >> Well, whatever you're doing, please keep doing it, man. Uh just such a fan. You're you're so great at what you do and you always have been and uh just >> Thank you very much and I'm going to hold you guys to it.
54:05Um you're all in the next one for free. Thank you. >> Oh my god. I told you the model. We'll do it for free. We just do it for the art. >> Um you're amazing for doing this. >> I'm too handsome for film. >> Will you let me into the [ __ ] ocural battle or do I my JV? Tell Tell Matt. >> Here it is. Yeah.
54:23Give my my agent your number. Yeah. No, I >> Does Matt own the invites? >> He's He's the commissioner. >> So, did he really did he really keep you out? I'll I'll >> Yeah, totally locked me up. >> Well, not not even locked Matt. He was like, "Maybe maybe keep working." [laughter] >> You know what that mean?
54:39Like out of lock. >> He finally I tell him this this is insane. He finally won today for the first time in like six weeks and he was ecstatic. >> Really? >> Yeah. Yeah. He was having a tough time. But like I said, once I found out that he's in the low 50s, now I I maybe I'm wondering if there is kind of an intramural league that I can be because that >> I have a feeling Ben's going to wax all you guys.
55:01>> Yeah, it won't take you long. Believe me, you're a sharp guy. It will not take you long to [ __ ] make us all look like fools. >> I'm starting to lose it as I >> You are y'all young. >> Sure. >> Thanks, guys. >> I have a question about Batman. Oh, sorry. [laughter] No, >> no, no. Feel free. >> Go ahead.
55:16Call >> Ben. Love you. Thank you for doing this. >> I love you, pal. Very nice. >> Seriously, guys, Jason has my number and you guys, honest to God, like the movie is here sitting here in in the on the projector and if you ever want to come at any point, even if I'm not here, it's like, set it up, ring the bell, come watch the movie.
55:32You probably don't give a [ __ ] and you're going to end up, you know, watching. >> No, no, they do. And you live about three blocks from Will. >> Okay. So, someone has no excuse. >> Well, no, we'll walk over. >> By the way, we will cut this, but I love the new house. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Well, the rent is not too [ __ ] shabby.
55:49Is that Is that the one you're talking about, Sean? >> No, the [clears throat] one that they just purchased. >> Sean is keeping up with some of our celebrity journal. >> No, no, no. I have a I have a real estate agent whose knows it. >> Oh. >> Uh but uh yeah, and I saw it under construction and I was like, "This is amazing."
56:06So, I'd love to see it when it's done. >> You are the first to be invited. >> We heard it. We got it recorded. >> Um thank you, Benjamin. We love you. I love you all. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. >> Thanks, Ben. Bye, bud. Bye. >> Wow. >> Well, that guy [ __ ] wattage, Sean.
Closing remarks and invitation
56:25>> So, so when we So, when we were talking >> big star wattage, I mean, we had we had Damon on tour and that's fine. That was fine. But then we have Ben [laughter] Affleck >> and just coming with the [ __ ] wattage and like, well, that's that's the >> star. Yeah. Through outer space. Yeah. >> Yeah. throughout.
56:42Not like remember [ __ ] Matt showed up in like a [ __ ] hoodie and he [ __ ] you know what I mean? >> Just get through the interview. >> Just get through the thing and then Ben shows up and he's handsome and he's talented and he's smart as [ __ ] >> He's prepared. His hair is gorgeous. >> Yeah, hang on a second.
56:58Jason Jason, let me see your hands real quick. I want to see your hands while you're talking >> because it's really dark where you are. >> Um no, all jokes aside, wow is uh that was awesome. >> Yeah. And when I was doing like the research, you know, learning about him and stuff and about his past and whatever, I was like, and then you go through his credits, you're just like, "Wow, you forget like, wow, bang, bang, bang, hit after hit after hit after hit."
57:20>> He's been so relevant uh and talented and successful for so long, and I feel like he's only halfway done. >> Yeah. And I think I don't know if this is true. Does anybody know it? Didn't he hasn't he played Batman more than any other actor? >> I'll bet. I think that that might be I think you might be right.
57:37Yeah, I think so. He's played it five times, I think. >> Really? >> That's just I'm I'm so happy for him. And this movie, he just he crushes it. And Matt and him did a great job writing a lot of stuff, too. >> He's such a natural as a director. I mean, Jason, it's kind of what you talk about when you spend all that time, you know, doing and and you've got a head on your shoulders and you spend all that time on set and in that environment.
58:00>> Yeah. You got to absorb something. >> You absorb something and you can kind of apply it. And he had you have done it and he has done it. Uh, and he's made so many great films, you know, as you said, uh, um, >> Sean Sean. >> Yeah. Sean, no, no, no, I know, but what was the what was the one about Iran, the hostages?
58:14Uh, >> Argo. So, Argo, >> the town is amazing as well. That's another great film that he directed. >> Yes, The Town. I love that movie. >> Really, really good. >> See, that's what I'm saying. I didn't even get a chance to talk to him about The Town. That was so good. >> I know. Well, cuz you had you were asking, you know, you had too many questions about out of left field.
58:31[sighs] >> God, >> he just texted me. I hate Sean. Mhm. Well, he spelled it s h a w n, but um the hate is spelled correct. >> No way. >> No, that's not true. Um, no, he's uh he's he's he's the guy. My god, what an interesting I'd like to read his book. I want to read his book. I want to read Downy's book.
58:50Um, >> just a book. >> Any book would be great. >> That's right. Would be amazing. >> It's top to bottom, left to right. Right. >> Yeah. As long as the as long as the book has a Ding ding. The pages are bound. >> That works. >> Oh no, he doesn't [laughter] even know how it works. >> Smart.
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