Actress Lina Esco has opened up about the surprisingly playful and comfortable atmosphere while filming romantic scenes with Ben Affleck for the new Netflix crime thriller, The Rip.
On-Set Chemistry and a 'Dorking Around' Dynamic
Speaking to People at the film's New York premiere on Tuesday 17 January 2026, Esco, who plays Captain Jackie Velez, described the light-hearted rapport she developed with Affleck, who portrays her love interest JD Byrne. The S.W.A.T. alum recalled that during their intimate bedroom scenes, the pair were often giggling. "We were just two dorks, dorking around," she quipped, highlighting the absence of any awkwardness.
Esco, 40, went on to praise Affleck, 53, as "such a sweet man" and emphasised the rarity of such an easygoing set environment. "Sometimes you don’t run into people that are easy, and I can honestly say it just felt [like an] easygoing set energy, which is very rare," she stated. She characterised the overall mood as "very lowkey, very down to earth" and completely free of pretension.
A Deliberately Collaborative Production
This friendly atmosphere was no happy accident but a core philosophy implemented by the film's co-producers and stars, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Through their production company Artists Equity, the duo sought to foster a sense of equality and collaboration for all cast and crew. Director Joe Carnahan was also credited for maintaining comfort, playing soundtrack music to set the tone, and creating a "cozy, loving set."
In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Affleck explained their approach. "We really believe that it’s not just the cast and the writers and director, but that the environment, every single person involved, that if they’re committed to making the movie good, it’s very likely to be better," he said, describing filmmaking as "a collaborative art form."
An Innovative Model for Streaming Success
To tangibly support this collaborative spirit, Affleck and Damon adapted an old-school back-end bonus model for the streaming era. Acknowledging the industry's shift to platforms like Netflix, Affleck noted they wanted to find a way to share the project's financial success with the entire team.
"What we wanted to do was try to adapt that model to what’s happening on streaming," Affleck elaborated. The innovative scheme is designed to spread profits among the "1,200 crew members, every standby painter, greensman, camera [operator]."
Now streaming on Netflix, The Rip reunites Affleck and Damon as a pair of Miami cops who discover millions in cash, leading to intense paranoia within their team. The film also features recent Golden Globe-winner Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, and Sasha Calle.
