Netflix also recently acquired InterPositive, the filmmaking technology company founded in 2022 by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. As to Affleck, he’ll be coming on board at Netflix as a senior advisor. This decision further emphasizes the streaming giant’s deep commitment to bringing artificial intelligence (AI) into the creative process behind making films.
In 2016, Affleck launched InterPositive to understand how AI can redefine the future of storytelling. He emphasized the need to “preserve what makes human storytelling human, which is judgement.” This perspective reflects his commitment to protecting human creativity amid the technological advancements that AI offers.
The acquisition is notably timed as the film industry is rapidly turning to AI to improve production efficiencies. Affleck’s vision for InterPositive was to create these tools in a way that can help filmmakers, without compromising the sanctity of their creative choices. He stated, “Intensive research and development led to our first model, trained to understand visual logic and editorial consistency, while preserving cinematic rules under real-world production challenges such as missing shots, background replacements or incorrect lighting.”
Elizabeth Stone, Netflix’s new chief product and technology officer – part of the deal – shared her excitement over the acquisition. Tanya noted that the new InterPositive team carries Netflix’s conviction that innovation should be used to enhance creators’ capabilities, not take them away. Stone highlighted the company’s ongoing commitment to serving the creative community: “Our approach to AI has always been focused on meaningfully serving the needs of the creative community and our members.” This acquisition makes sense in the context of Netflix’s larger play to add value with unique technology.
The use of InterPositive as part of Netflix’s workflow promises to achieve progress in filmmaking craft without sacrificing the intention of the artist. Stone explained that “we built in restraints to protect creative intent, so the tools are designed for responsible exploration while keeping creative decisions in the hands of artists — and ensuring that the benefits of this technology flow directly back to the story they’re trying to tell.”
Ben Affleck’s move to Netflix signifies not only his dedication to advancing filmmaking technology but his desire to remain at the forefront of an evolving industry landscape. His extensive role as a senior advisor will likely afford him the opportunity to shape future projects and initiatives at Netflix, beyond this current one.