“We were going to help each other and be there for each other,” Affleck recalled of the years before the global success
The friendship that the duo formed by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have consolidated is merely legendary. It is well known that they met since high school in Boston, where they shared their love for cinema and supported each other so that today they are recognized as two of the most important actors of an entire generation. The process was not easy, because before living the life of a Hollywood star, the duo had to make many sacrifices, including sharing a bank account.
This was confessed by Damon and Affleck on writer Bill Simmons' podcast. According to the actors, this was a way to continue on the path together; If Damon got a role and Affleck didn't or vice versa, both could benefit from each other's money.
During the podcast, Damon remembers a specific situation, after having been part of the 1993 film Geronimo: An American Legend. This was the first feature film in which the actor participated, so the profits were very far from what he now perceives. .
“I remember after playing Geronimo, I was like, ‘Damn,’ I probably had like $35,000 in the bank. I told (Affleck), 'We're good! We're good for a year!'” Affleck confesses about the precariousness they had to face. And, although 35 thousand dollars may seem like a large amount 30 years ago and even today, it is not such a large amount if you consider that it was supposed to last a whole year.
During this “time of austerity,” actors could not afford to take out money whenever they wanted. They had a method so that the money was distributed fairly, and above all, it could last as long as possible. According to Damon himself, the money could only be used to travel to auditions; If they wanted to be entertained, they could use 10 dollars to go to the video game arcades. Over time, they were allowed to buy beer, however, it ended up causing a lot of problems among the actors.
However, their convictions were well established, and even with everything against them, they were going to continue together until they reached their goal. This is how Affleck tells it in the interview.
“We were going to help each other and be there for each other. It was like, 'You're not going to be alone. I'm not going to be alone, let's go out and do this together.'”
Despite all the complications, Damon and Affleck managed to move forward, because in 1997, the duo won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the film Good Will Hunting, which is known in Mexico and Latin America as A Beautiful Mind. This film marked the beginning of a prolific career for Affleck and Damon, which continues to this day.
Precisely, this 2023 the movie Air will arrive, whose plot is based on the true story of how the Nike team made history in fashion and sports by collaborating with what is considered the greatest athlete of all time: Michael Jordan.
This film is directed by Affleck, but the actor also shares cameras with his best friend. About the experience of recording together again, the former Batman shared the following:
“I think the most wonderful thing was that I loved coming to work every day. I love seeing Matt. It was really fun, I don't know. It felt like it was just us and we could do what we wanted to do,” he continued. "I did. I loved him. I loved him. I miss him every day since then. It was the best work experience of my life, without a doubt.”
