Matt Damon and Ben Affleck recently appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience to promote their new Netflix movie The Rip, and the longtime friends and collaborators shared their thoughts on how the streamer is changing the way movies are made.
Damon noted that Netflix wants to push action set pieces to the forefront of the runtime because viewers have “very different levels of attention” to movies at home and in theaters. He also said there was behind-the-scenes discussion about repeating the plot “three or four times in the dialogue” to explain people using cell phones.
“The standard way that action movies are made, we learned, is that there are usually three set pieces: one in the first act, one in the second act, and one in the third act,” Damon explained. “You spend most of your money on that piece in the third act. That’s the finale. And now they’re saying, ‘Can we get something big in the first five minutes? We want people to stick around. And if you repeat the plot three or four times in conversation, it’s not terrible, because people are on their phones while they’re watching.”
Affleck then interjected, adding that a streamer’s formula for successful content isn’t the only way. He cited Netflix’s recent limited series hit “Adolescence” as a shining example.
“But when you look at ‘Adolescence,’ he didn’t do anything that terrible,” Affleck said. “And it’s fucking amazing. And it’s dark. It’s tragic and intense.[The story]is about this guy who finds out that his child has been charged with murder. There’s a long shot of the back of their head. They get into the car and no one says anything.”
While Damon thought shows like Adolescence were “an exception,” Affleck said he felt the show “shows you don’t need to do” Netflix’s tricks to please viewers.
Watch Damon and Affleck’s entire episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” here.
