Attention Filmmakers: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Want to Make Your Dreams Come True with ‘Project Greenlight’
Ready to be judged by Batman and Jason Bourne? Now’s your chance (again). HBO has announced that they’re bringing back the talent competition “Project Greenlight,” allowing aspiring filmmakers to submit for the chance to make a feature film — under the watchful eye of producers Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and a crew of reality TV cameras.
A reality show born of the late-90s indie film boom, the first seasons of “Project Greenlight” produced a few underseen features — “Stolen Summer,” “The Battle of Shaker Heights” and “Feast” — that did not launch any megastar careers (well, except for “Shaker Heights” actor Shia LeBeouf, that is). Of course, that was a pre-YouTube era, when cell phones weren’t capable of shooting HD video. How that changes the playing field could be most interesting.
In the amusing and self-deprecating announcement video below, Affleck and Damon admit to not having had any new ideas in 13 years (when the last “Project Greenlight” ended), before encouraging the “next great filmmaker” to take a chance on entering. Not listed among the contest prizes is the chance to hang out with Affleck and Damon, but you have to admit, that looks like fun.
Submissions open on July 24th and close August 8th. More information is available at projectgreenlight.com.
