Ben Affleck Asks About Netflix's Assembly Line Filmmaking Process: "How Do You Make 50 Great Movies?"

Ben Affleck is unconvinced by Netflix's cinematic approach. During a recent appearance at The New York Times' DealBook Summit, Affleck questioned the idea that the streaming giant is able to control the quality of its original content while making hundreds of new movies every year. p>

"If you ask [Netflix Co-CEO and Chairman] Reed Hastings...he'd be like, 'Hey, we went for quantity to establish a footprint,'" Affleck said. 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 that possible? There's no big enough committee. There aren't enough - you just can't do it."

The actor went on to explain that making movies "is something that needs attention. , dedication, hard work and he resists the kind of "assembly line" process he thinks Netflix often uses.

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Affleck isn't calling on Netflix to completely abandon its business instincts, and he understands why the streamer leans so heavily on hit genres that appeal to audiences. But he thinks the company would benefit from taking the time to make higher quality films, even if it means less quantity.

"There is a bigger audience for action movies than for smaller dramas. I understand," he said. "Some genres play more broadly and you can't ignore that. But let's make it a good one, let's surprise the audience, let's get them interested."

Affleck has a unique opportunity to try to rectify what he sees as the problems with streaming, as he and Matt Damon recently launched Artists Equity, a new production company aimed at including artists in revenue sharing streaming.

"As streamers have proliferated, they've really shut down back-end participation, and so it's partly an effort to try to recoup some of that value and sharing it in a more equitable way," Affleck said in a recent interview announcing the company. "Not just writers, directors, and stars. , costumers and other crucial artists who I believe are grossly underpaid."

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