Patrick Stoner: There are many themes in GOOD WILL HUNTING -- materialism versus human values, particular people's importance in our lives, even the meaning of life itself. What did you want people to take away from your movie?Matt Damon: Well, it was intensely personal in that we [Damon and his co-star and co-writer, Ben Affleck] were very proprietary about it. We cared about all of those things, and once it got sold to a studio and got bigger, we didn't want the baby to get thrown out with the bathwater when they started cleaning house, you know.
Stoner: How long were you trying to get this done?
Damon: It was a five-year road.
Stoner: Five years! Was it frustrating at times?
Damon: Oh, yes -- the lowest of the lows. We would hear, "OK, it's happening. It's happening next week. We did it!" Oh, yeah.
Stoner: And then nothing.
Damon: "It's off. . ." Yeah. Like creative differences with one studio made us leave -- and other problems.
Stoner: What WOULDN'T you let them do to this movie?
Damon: I wouldn't let them NOT shoot in Boston.
Stoner: Because Boston is a character.
Damon: Exactly. Boston is a character here. We also just felt sure we could get a great director. We said, "You know, why don't we just send it to a great director and see what happens?" And then when we got Gus [Van Sant], we thought that this was just an incredible dream come true. I mean, what he can do with actors is really amazing. Look at Nicole Kidman in TO DIE FOR and River Phoenix in MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO. These aren't ordinary performances.
Stoner: And yet, there's an obvious danger here, since you have to step back and release control of your creation.
Damon: Right, but that was easy with Gus, because any sense that "this is ours and this is the way it has to be" was just gone. I mean, the minute you hand it someone of that caliber, it's more like "I'm not worthy. I'm not worthy." [He laughs.] Just tell me where to stand and tell me what to say, and if you want to change it, hey, just tell me how to change it.
Stoner: [laughs] Yes, I suppose it has to be that way, and it's easier with someone you respect so much.
Damon: [laughs] Yes, and the whole actor/director relationship HAS to work that way. If you can't completely trust the director, it's curtains.
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