Artists Equity announces the Writers’ Room program, an internal development initiative focused on fostering original screenwriting.
The program invites writers to submit film ideas across a variety of genres, and rooms are opened based on the selected ideas. The script is then incubated with the goal and expectation of becoming a viable package on Artists Equity’s slate, with specific attachments and funding strategies. As part of the program, Academy Award-winning writers Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Eric Roth (Forest Gump, Dune) will provide regular feedback to participating writers.
“The backbone of this company is collaboration with great artists, and that’s what this program is all about,” said Affleck and Damon, CEO and chief content officer of Artist Equity, respectively. “Artist Equity is committed to fostering the often-overlooked homegrown process and the bold, original ideas that help the movie business thrive. We want to give screenwriters real support and a real path to success. This isn’t about writing scripts for scripts’ sake. We want to bring great movies to life.”
The Writers’ Room program has had two successful pilot rounds, with the room held twice a year and submitted through agents, with a total of four scripts currently packaged and four in progress. The newly launched third round will feature eight writers in two rooms.
Participants include Jason Stone (“The Altruists,” “The Hardy Boys”), representing a combination of established and emerging voices; Gabriel Sherman (The Apprentice, The Loudest Voice). ET Feigenbaum (“Blink Twice,” “High Fidelity”); Flint Weiness (“Linda and Monica,” “Super in Love”). Jono Matt (upcoming “Foster the Snowman”). Sam Mazany (“Tire”); Agatha Helena Nowicki (“Kingdom Come,” “The Gorilla and the Birds”). and Stephen Robillard (“Summer Qamp,” upcoming “The Up & Up”).
“The Writer’s Room fundamentally represents what is so special about Ben and Matt’s vision for Artist Equity,” said Amy Bear, president of Artist Equity’s film and television division. “This program provides screenwriters with a superior script development dynamic without the endless notes and moving goalposts that have become all too familiar. The pilot program has exceeded our expectations and has been successful enough to make this an integral part of our creative agenda and official cornerstone.”
Writers will receive WGA-sized compensation during the program and participate in Artist Equity’s talent-first business model. Films resulting from this program will be added to the studio’s portfolio.
Artist Equity has a multi-year theatrical film deal with Sony Pictures and recently began a creative partnership with Netflix. Founded in 2022 by Redbird Capital’s Affleck, Damon and Jerry Cardinale, the company has produced successful ad campaigns for Dunkin (including four consecutive Super Bowl ads) and Stella Artois, in addition to scripted projects such as “The Accountant 2,” “The Investigators,” “Unstoppable” and “Air,” as well as a series of documentaries. The company’s most recent release was the Netflix chart-topping The Rip, starring Affleck, Damon, Steven Yeun and Teyana Taylor. He will next be seen in Affleck’s thriller “Animals,” co-starring Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, and Ewan.
(Photo: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, Eric Roth)
