Imagine working tirelessly on a film, pouring your heart and soul into every detail, only to see the big stars and studio executives rake in all the profits. It's a disheartening reality for many crew members in Hollywood, but Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are trying to change that. They're bringing back an old-school bonus system for the 1,200-strong crew of their new movie, The Rip, ensuring that everyone shares in the potential success. But here's where it gets controversial: In an industry grappling with the shift to streaming, can this profit-sharing model really make a difference, and will other studios follow suit?
The dynamic duo, known for their close friendship and frequent collaborations, understand that a positive and collaborative environment on set is crucial for a successful film. The Rip, directed by Joe Carnahan and launching on Netflix this Friday, stars Affleck and Damon as Miami cops who uncover a hidden stash of millions, leading them to distrust everyone around them. Beyond acting, they also produced the film through their production company, Artists Equity, which is key to understanding their new approach to crew compensation.
During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Affleck and Damon, ever the charming pair, explained their motivations. Affleck pointed out the seismic shift happening in the film industry with the rise of streaming platforms. "Netflix is obviously a streaming platform, business is obviously changing, there’s been a lot going on," Affleck said, acknowledging the controversy surrounding streaming's impact. "And what we’re kind of trying to do is, in the old days, you knew how a movie did and you could get bonuses based on the box office performance.”
He continued, emphasizing the importance of a unified and dedicated team: "And what we wanted to do was try to adapt that model to what’s happening on streaming. For a bunch of reasons, but basically one of the things that was important to us is we really believe that it’s not just the cast and the writers and director, but that the environment, every single person involved, that if they’re committed to making the movie good, it’s very likely to be better. It’s really a collaborative art form." This approach reflects a deeper understanding of filmmaking as a team effort, moving away from the traditional star-centric model.
Affleck highlighted that the more people who watch The Rip, the more financial success it achieves, and the more the crew members will benefit. "The more people that watch [the movie] the more levels it will hit," Affleck said. What’s most important to them is that the financial rewards are shared with all "1,200 crew members, every standby painter, greensman, camera [operator]." The audience erupted in applause, clearly appreciating the sentiment. Damon, ever the comedian, added jokingly: "The more you guys watch this movie…"
Affleck playfully echoed the sentiment, with Fallon joining in the humor: "Not that we could suggest that you just leave it on, unless you’re a good person," Affleck laughingly echoed with host Fallon joining in. "You would never say to turn on the movie and put it on loop," he teased. "But if you happened to do that, crew members would make a lot of money.”
Of course, Affleck and Damon's collaborative history runs deep. From their breakout success with the Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting (1997) to the thought-provoking comedy Dogma (1999) and the recent sports drama Air (2023), they've consistently demonstrated their ability to create compelling stories together. And this is the part most people miss: Their commitment to profit-sharing extends beyond just this one film. In 2022, they co-founded Artists Equity, an artist-led studio explicitly designed to share a movie's profits with everyone involved. This replaced their previous production company, Pearl Street Films, which operated from 2012 to 2022. Artists Equity represents a significant step towards a more equitable and collaborative film industry.
The Rip premieres on Netflix this Friday. But here's a thought: Is this a genuine attempt to create a fairer system, or simply a clever PR move? And even if it's well-intentioned, can this model truly scale and create lasting change in Hollywood's often-unequal landscape? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
