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2015 Toronto International Film Festival - 'The Martian' Press Conference

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Matt Damon has apologized for the way he handled a conversation about diversity in Hollywood with Effie Brown, during a recent airing of Project Greenlight.

Via Entertainment Weekly:

I believe deeply that there need to be more diverse filmmakers making movies. I love making movies. It’s what I have chosen to do with my life and I want every young person watching Project Greenlight to believe that filmmaking is a viable form of creative expression for them too,” Damon said in a statement provided to EW. “My comments were part of a much broader conversation about diversity in Hollywood and the fundamental nature of Project Greenlight which did not make the show. I am sorry that they offended some people, but, at the very least, I am happy that they started a conversation about diversity in Hollywood. That is an ongoing conversation that we all should be having.”

Project Greenlight, which is produced by Damon and Ben Affleck, focuses on first-time filmmakers who are given the chance to direct a feature film. During the premiere last Sunday, Damon rudely interrupted producer Effie Brown (Dear White People), after she expressed reservations over how the chosen script’s one Black character, a prostitute, would be represented onscreen.

It’s not so much what he said, it’s how. The way he interrupted Brown, and then tried to school her when she obviously knows what she’s talking about is what was most annoying.

Brown posted on Twitter that she was happy that the situation sparked a great conversation.

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Hopefully this conversation will lead to effective and positive action.

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Matt Damon Apologizes For His Diversity Comments on ‘Project Greenlight’  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com