Matt Damon got into a heated racial debate with black movie producer Effie Brown on Sunday’s episode of “Project Greenlight.” The actor is now receiving backlash on social media for his controversial opinion about the inclusion of diversity in filmmaking. Watch the video here.
“Project Greenlight” is an HBO docuseries that chronicles the behind-the-scenes process of making a movie. Season four of the show, produced by Damon and Ben Affleck, premiered on Sunday night after a 10-year hiatus.
The show has a group of first-time filmmakers vying for the chance to make a movie. The winner is chosen by around eight producers who, other than Brown, are all white men and one white woman.
During a discussion about the film that Damon, Brown and the others are producing, Brown pointed out that the only black character in the entire script is a prostitute who gets slapped by a white pimp. She didn’t suggest that they necessarily change the script, but felt that the director who’s chosen to oversee the project handle that scene with care, and that the other producers should consider choosing an ethnically diverse finalist.
“When we talk about diversity, you do it in the casting of the film, not the casting of the show,” Damon argued back. A shocked Brown responded, “Wow!” as she rolled her eyes. In other words, Damon thought it was important to cast ethnic actors, but not necessarily as vital to have the filmmakers in charge of the project be people of color.
Source: Gossip Cop | Andrew Shuster
Comments