“It’s funny you mention that because once Kevin suggested that, I decided to do the same thing, so I’m giving any further residuals that I get from either a Miramax or a Weinstein movie will go either to FI or to RAINN. One is Film Independent and the other is a women’s organization, and I just didn’t want to cash any more checks from the guy, you know? I don’t usually bring it up.”
It’s a respectable move from Affleck, but it’s impossible not to mention the fact that he was also subject to his own accusations shortly after Weinstein’s came to light, and his brother Casey has had a number of accusations leveled his way as well. Affleck was quick to apologize and has been mostly controversy-free since then, but this move will doubtless be seen as his own gesture of repentance in addition to simply refusing profit from a Weinstein movie.
Affleck says he hopes this is something that becomes more common with other actors who made money from those profits, although a 100% donation might not be feasible for everyone :
“It was Kevin’s idea, I thought it was a good one and I hope it catches on. Some people probably couldn’t afford to give all those residuals away, but even if you’re doing 10 percent, you know, that’s something.”
The implications of this decision could be interesting as time goes on, especially with the potential of more producers being accused. Brett Ratner, for example, is a producer on both
Batman v Superman and
Justice League, which Affleck was obviously promoting when he made this statement. While Ratner’s logo does appear before
BvS and may appear before
Justice League (some have speculated it will be removed), his influence is hardly that of Miramax and The Weinstein Company on Affleck’s career. Affleck owes much of his fame to the mogul, particularly the Oscar he won for
Good Will Hunting, whereas Ratner is only one producer of several, including Deborah Snyder and Charles Roven, to be credited on the DC films.