Ben Affleck hires real-life criminals for ‘The Town’

LONDON - Ben Affleck apparently roped in real-life hardened criminals to create an authentic bank heist for his second directorial film - ‘The Town.’

Affleck, who has for the first time directed as well as starred and co-written a film, seemed desperate to ensure that the film turns out to be a big success.

“Pretty much everyone on the set was an ex-con of some sort. And there were probably a couple of guys there who were still robbing banks,” the Daily Star quoted Jeremy Renner, starring opposite Ben as saying.

Ben, 38, also spent four months meeting criminals in prison and later created dialogue on the incidents they told him.

“I felt I couldn’t do anything that I didn’t think felt real. I could only direct it if I understood it on a gut level,” added Ben.

The ‘Goodwill hunting’ star had some reservations about the film.

But after advices from other actors turned directors, including Kevin Costner, Sean Penn and Warren Beatty, he realised he must go ahead with it.

“The majority said it was do-able and, granted, I was talking to some really talented guys,” added Affleck. (ANI)