I read the script and had the first meeting with Ben and Matt, and [executives] were there telling them how much I love the script. And I said, ‘Guys, on page 60 there’s a scene where the two professors perform oral sex on each other. I don’t understand that.’ I thought they were both heterosexual in the way they talked before — he lost his wife and he talks about his family. I’m like, ‘What the hell was that?’ And they said, ‘That’s the red herring! Now we know you’re the first guy in a studio to have read the script.’ … They gave it to me on the spot. They said, ‘We’re making it with you because you read it yourself.'”
— Harvey Weinstein discussing how his company Miramax scored the Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting and stars-writers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
Chip Swalley
Of course it did!!! LOL
Mark Reimer
Art immitates life? These two attractive bois would make a MOST appealing porno movie (IF they haven’t already.)
Ron Parsons
What? No one at Queerty is going to call them homophobic for removing that scene?
Hypocrite much?
David Tillman
Duhhhhhhh
John Kuehnle
When I first read this I thought b.s., but then again Hollywood has been doing that for years
jason smeds
Modern Hollywood is extremely homophobic because that’s the way it was invented. Its existence depends on the idea of romance between a man and a woman. Virtually all Hollywood movies feature heterosexual courtships. The actors and actresses who made Hollywood what it is knew this and exploited it to make money. Money, money, money. Hear the ka-ching thing?
If there is to be a homosexual element, it’s extremely rare. You might find it presented in a comical context but rarely anything else.
Think of all the liberals who work in Hollywood today. And think of how they are contributing to this homophobia.
jwtraveler
A clever ruse, and a lot of confidence for first-time screenwriters.
Lewis Kinslayer
Welcome to old news. Welcome
Gregg Jabarisidiki
Yes to make sure people actually read it , we know , we know .
Randy William Ash
That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.
Jaroslaw
I’m sure I have this right – the Gay sex scene was put in just to see if anyone was really reading the script? Love reading Queerty but this is barely interesting. Nothing else to write about?
tricky ricky
@Mark Reimer: ben decided after his jack off film not to continue in porn.
enfilmigult
Well I though it was funny, sheesh.
Cam
Honestly, I call bullshit on this story. They were two basically unknowns, and we’re supposed to believe that they would have said no to ANYBODY who offered to do the movie? When it first came out, they said that it was turned down, and that Kevin Smith, who Ben had worked with, got Miramax to take a chance on it. Amazing how these stories change with time. (Or When Harvey Weinstein needs to make himself seem like a great guy)
RomanH
I’m with Cam on this one. The story sounds like it was designed to make everyone involved look good: Affleck and Damon are confident and funny, and Weinstein is a smart, savvy producer. Any idiot with a brain, though, knows that if a producer doesn’t read a script, he’ll hire somebody who will. Weinstein is a cheating a$$hole and this is ridiculous PR aimed at idiots.
Mickel Paris
This is not how new screenwriters get movies accepted
Maude
Ben and Matt are a great looking couple. I remember all those stories about them being straight friends with gay benefits.
It may not be a bulls-eye, but IMO, it sure hits the target.
They’d be fools to pass up such a good thing.
Clark35
@Mark Reimer: Indeed but it’s rumored that Matt is gay, while Ben is bisexual.
Paul
We all know Matt was the bottom anyway.