Affleck's Gone Baby Gone premieres

Ben Affleck's first film as director, Gone Baby Gone, has made its European premiere in the German city of Munich.The "complex thriller" is based on Dennis Lehane's best-selling novel about a four-year-old girl who goes missing in Boston, in the US.Affleck, who won an Oscar for co-writing Good Will Hunting with fellow Boston native Matt Damon, also co-wrote the script for the film.Affleck said he always wanted to direct, but thought it was much tougher than acting.He said: "For me certainly, it was much more time intensive to be a director, it took me two and a half years, it was very exhausting and stressful."It was also very satisfying and thrilling and I got the chance to work as a partner with a lot of extraordinary artists and actors and technicians on the movie, and so it was a completely different experience."Affleck's brother Casey, Amy Ryan, Michelle Monaghan, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman also star in the film.On casting his brother, Affleck said he did not have to think twice, even if it meant Casey might outshine him as an actor.Actress Amy Ryan, who plays the missing girl's mother in the movie, said: "Working with Ben is hands-down one of the most creative times I have had."It is a great fortune to have a writer, actor and director by your side and he comes in one package."I think directing is his true calling, I think he is too smart just to be only an actor."© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

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ITN | October 27, 2007

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