Matt Damon discussed working with Ben again, his ‘EuroTrip’ cameo, and his favorite taco ever in a Reddit AMA
"I would love to write another script with Ben."
In anticipation of the July 29 release of Jason Bourne, Matt Damon is making the press rounds, including a Tuesday pit stop right here on the internet for an “ask me anything” session on Reddit. (For those unfamiliar, a Reddit AMA is a question-and-answer forum on the website; users comment with questions, and the person being asked can reply.)Among the subjects Damon addressed: Ben Affleck (obvious), Robin Williams (legendary), his 2004 EuroTrip cameo (unforgettable) and his ideal taco (because why not). Some of Damon’s answers are below (written as they appear in the AMA).On why he and Affleck haven’t appeared on the big screen together since Good Will Hunting:
So I would love to write another script with Ben … The big issue is time for us. … The thing about Good Will Hunting is that we were unemployed and we weren’t writing the script on a deadline either. Nobody was expecting it, so we were just these two idiots in our basement writing this thing, and now we have all of these pressures of the lives grownups have. So I would never say never because I would absolutely love to write with Ben again, and I’d love to collaborate with him on anything, he’s brilliant. I’d love to be in one of his movies that he directs. The problem there is that he just keeps giving himself the best roles.
On one of his favorite actors:
Casey Affleck is one of the best actors that I’ve ever seen in my life. Growing up with him, he’s 5 years younger than me, he’s kind of like a little brother to me, but watching his work develop over the years has been really fun. There’s a movie that I produced that’s coming out called Manchester by the Sea. I’m as proud of that as anything I’ve ever been a part of. Casey is the lead in that movie, Kenny Lonergan directed it, and Casey is absolutely brilliant in that movie.
On how his cameo as the punk-rock dude in EuroTrip actually came about:
So EuroTrip was written by three guys I went to college with, Alec Shaffer, Jeff Berg, and Dave Mandell. And the three of them are three of the best comedy writers in the world. … I was in Prague shooting The Brothers Grimm, we were in rehearsals, and I had a wig in that movie, and so Alec and Dave and Jeff were making EuroTrip and they said “Will you come play this, you know, Howard Rollins kind of insane, bad version of a suburban, you know, punk band guy?” And I said “Yea, I’m in Prague”. So I showed up and I’m sitting there, and I’m like “I’m wearing a wig, just shave my head, let’s just go for it.” and we did it, and put a bunch of piercings all over. And “Scotty Doesn’t Know”, the song, was actually written by one of my college roommates brothers.
On the best advice he’s ever received, from his and the Afflecks’ high school acting teacher:
…my high school acting teacher Gerry Speca had a huge influence on me and Ben and Casey. Five words he said “Just do your work, kid.” and he repeated that so many times to me “Just do your work, kid.” and that is kind of what I can always retreat to. That’s my touchstone if, when in doubt, just focus on my work. If everything on the movie is going wrong, alright, I’ll make sure that my work is tight and go from there.
On his experience filming Good Will Hunting with Robin Williams:
Working with Robin almost defies description. He was one of the most generous, loving, wonderful people I’ve ever met. He had this capacity that I’ve never seen on a movie set. When everyone started to get tired and started to flag a little bit, he would launch into standup. We knew it was original because he was making fun of crew members and pulling them into these bits. It was like 15 minutes of the best stand-up ever that was just privately for us. … I’ll never be able to thank him enough for what he gave us.
On his ideal taco, in great detail:
My ideal taco is actually the taco I’m not supposed to have which is the taco we have on taco night at my house. It’s the crunchy corn shell with the good meat, just ground beef in there. It’s all about the layering. The meats gotta be hot, and the cheese goes on first so that it melts. And then you’re gonna get in there with a little bit of tomato and lettuce but not too much cause it’s not a salad, it’s a taco, and then you’re gonna throw some avocado on top and some sour cream and then a bunch of cholula. I don’t know if you know what cholula hot sauce is but it’s the best. Throw a bunch of cholula on there, maybe squeeze some lime on top, and go to town.
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