Artists Equity Launches New Program to Support Original Screenplay Development in Writers’ Rooms
Artists Equity Launches New Writers’ Room Program for Original Screenplay Development
Artists Equity, the artist-led independent studio founded by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Gerry Cardinale, has officially launched a Writers’ Room program aimed at bolstering the development of original screenplays. The initiative comes after a successful pilot phase and invites writers to pitch ideas across various genres, with dedicated rooms established for selected concepts.
During the program, participating writers will receive ongoing feedback from Affleck, Damon, and Eric Roth, a noted screenwriter associated with the Dune franchise. Scripts that advance through the program will be packaged with talent and financing by Artists Equity, emphasizing a collaborative approach to filmmaking.
The Writers’ Room will convene twice annually, with new participant recruitment expected to begin in late summer. Current participants include notable writers such as Jason Stone (The Altruists), Gabe Sherman (The Apprentice), and Steven Robillard (Summer Qamp), among others. Writers will be compensated according to WGA standards throughout the program and will benefit from Artists Equity’s talent-first business model.
“The backbone of this company is collaboration with great artists, and that’s what this program is all about,” Affleck and Damon said in a joint statement. “Artists Equity is committed to the often-overlooked process of homegrown development, and cultivating the bold, original ideas that sustain a thriving film business. We want to give writers real support and a real pathway to success. This isn’t about writing scripts for scripts’ sake. We want to bring great films to life.”
Amy Baer, President of Film & Television at Artists Equity, highlighted the program’s core values, stating, “The Writers’ Room represents fundamentally what is so special about Ben and Matt’s vision for Artists Equity. This program offers writers a better script development dynamic, without the endless notes and shifting goalposts that have become all too familiar. The pilot program has been beyond promising, bearing enough fruit to make this an integral part and official cornerstone of our creative agenda.”
Artists Equity has also seen significant success since its inception in 2022, producing projects like The Accountant 2, The Instigators, Unstoppable, and Air. The studio recently released The Rip, directed by Joe Carnahan, and has upcoming projects, including Netflix’s Animals, which stars Affleck.
To date, the Writers’ Room program has conducted two pilot rounds, leading to the development of four scripts currently in packaging, with an additional four still in progress. Prior to this initiative, Artists Equity announced the acquisition of InterPositive, an AI company designed to create tools for filmmakers.
