Netflix has acquired InterPositive, a Los Angeles-based AI filmmaking technology company founded by actor and director Ben Affleck, aiming to enhance the film production process with advanced tools. The acquisition, announced recently in Washington, brings the entire 16-person InterPositive team under Netflix, with Affleck joining as a senior adviser to the streaming giant.
Innovating Film Production with AI Assistance
InterPositive has developed artificial intelligence tools designed specifically to aid filmmakers during both production and postproduction stages. Rather than creating content independently, these AI solutions enable users to build custom models based on their own footage, offering assistance with shot completion and modification.
Ben Affleck shared in an accompanying video,
“You can use your own model to remove the wires on stunts, reframe a shot, get a shot you missed, shape the lighting, enhance the backgrounds,”
emphasizing the technology’s practical applications.
Affleck clarified the scope of the technology by stating,
“It’s not about text-prompting or generating something from nothing,”
adding,
“AI, people mostly think of it as making something from nothing: ‘I’m gonna type something into a computer and it’s gonna give me a movie.’ That’s not what this is.”
This distinction underscores the system’s role as a tool to empower filmmakers rather than replace creative input.
Netflix’s Vision for AI in Creative Storytelling
Executives at Netflix highlighted that the InterPositive acquisition aligns with their carefully considered approach to artificial intelligence. Elizabeth Stone, Netflix’s chief product and technology officer, said,
“Our approach to AI has always been focused on meaningfully serving the needs of the creative community and our members.”
She continued,
“The InterPositive team is joining Netflix because of our shared belief that innovation should empower storytellers, not replace them.”
Netflix intends to provide these AI tools exclusively to its creative partners, with no plans for commercial sales, maintaining a focus on supporting artistic collaboration rather than broad technology distribution.
Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, emphasized the company’s commitment to creative freedom. She stated,
“We believe new tools should expand creative freedom, not constrain it or replace the work of writers, directors, actors and crews.”
According to Bajaria,
“Ben and his team at InterPositive are part of a long tradition in our industry of artists leading the way in how innovation is used in storytelling. Their work is about giving filmmakers more choices, more control and more protection for their vision.”
Expanding Collaboration Between Ben Affleck and Netflix
This acquisition continues a growing partnership between Netflix and Ben Affleck. Earlier in the week, Affleck’s production company, Artists Equity—which he co-founded with Matt Damon—entered a multi-year agreement with Netflix to produce and distribute upcoming streaming projects, signaling further involvement in the streamer’s content ecosystem.
By integrating InterPositive’s AI tools, Netflix appears poised to reshape filmmaking workflows, offering creative professionals advanced technologies that enhance rather than diminish their artistic agency. This development reflects a cautious yet optimistic step toward balancing innovation with respect for traditional storytelling practices.
