Ben Affleck wants to make a film about the conflict in eastern Congo
In a recent interview, the Oscar-winning writer, actor and director in Hollywood regrets the lack of interest in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Bono-esque Ben Affleck philanthropic ambitions can be advanced, but have trouble gaining the interest of the great platform that is Hollywood.
“I think the point of this general sense that people kind of tune, not important. “I love to do a film about Congo, but unfortunately I have asked people in Hollywood and they always say that nobody wants to see a movie about Africa. It is also a function of trends and conventional wisdom: if you come to a movie with robots in combat or a movie on what is happening in eastern Congo, we will not win.
The organization’s goal is to promote economic and social development in the troubled eastern region. Using his celebrity to raise awareness of the global crisis, he founded the initiative in eastern Congo earlier this year in March. To learn more about their efforts and view video on the Congo after the jump.
Rape and violent crime are common in eastern Congo.Affleck is dedicated to his cause and has already made several visits to the Congo. It also urges the U.S. government to redouble their efforts and provide necessary assistance to bring stability to the region.
But if I had to make a movie, it would definitely be a documentary. Maybe Affleck, who won an Oscar for Good Will Hunting and more recently wrote and directed the City, knows its strengths as a storyteller, telling AFP:
You can tell the story of a person and really control the extent that they are layers of history and politics in, but you have the power line through a protagonist who you are really encouraging. “There was a lot of documentaries and, and fiction is more exciting. ”
Affleck elaborates on the problem of the commercial prospects of a film set in Africa:
“So the leadership has to be someone in America, and you have to find a way to have a person embedded in American African history … [Leonardo DiCaprio] did very well in blood diamonds, so it is not impossible. “But the other problem with movies about Africa is that no African film star in America.
More A-Listers I think you can follow the game if – or when – the project becomes more concrete.Charlize Theron, who is South Africa, has already expressed interest.
Affleck has already made two short films on Congo, including the collaboration of 23 minutes with the leader of the Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, Gimme Shelter, a shot in the region of Nord-Kivu.
He also recently published a five-minute video on the Democratic Republic of Congo on YouTube with the U2 song “Bad.”
He will next be seen in The Company Men, which opens December 10Meanwhile, he keeps busy with his day job: Affleck was recently discovered on the set of the untitled film, Terrence Malick.