AOL Live : We are here with Ben Affleck, star of 'Changing Lanes,' opening in theaters tomorrow. Welcome, Ben Affleck!

Ben Affleck : Hello, and thank you for having me! Thanks for showing up!

AOL Live : LittleAussie asks:

Question : What is 'Changing Lanes' about?

Ben Affleck : 'Changing Lanes' is a drama about two men who cross one another's path by a twist of fate in a fender-bender accident. One wrongs the other; that person retaliates. The cycle of retribution escalates during the course of the day to [the point at] which both men's lives are almost ruined. It's about redemption and forgiveness. The movie works, and everyone should see it.

AOL Live : CurlyFry121 asks:

Question : Did you enjoy working with Samuel Jackson?

Ben Affleck : I did. Sam is one of the guys who I have always looked up to, and I consider it an achievement to be in a movie with him. I feel very lucky. He was very professional, dignified and a true artist.

AOL Live : Roberts7884 asks:

Question : Have you ever experienced road rage?

Ben Affleck : I've definitely experienced road anger. I think people think of road rage as a type of anger. I've never gone bananas, but I've found myself reacting way, way out of proportion with the severity of an event on the road, and I've had to control myself -- usually because of something else going on in my life.

AOL Live : EPALACIO81 asks:

Question : Hello, my name is Elena, I'm from Toluca, Mexico. My

Question : You' ve worked in independent films such as 'Chasing Amy' and 'Dogma' directed by Kevin Smith. How is it different to work in such movies from bigger productions like 'Armageddon' or 'Changing Lanes'?

Ben Affleck : Mostly it has to do with time. Not the time you have to film a scene -- there are bigger-budget movies where the characters are not as important as trailer movies. I group 'Changing Lanes' with the kinds of movies that are more about interacting with people.

AOL Live : ROO91481 asks:

Question : I want to thank you for launching Project Greenlight. It means a lot to a beginning screenwriter. I wanted to ask what kind of advice you'd give to a new writer, and are there any writers that you really admire, that you'd love to talk to? Thanks!!!!

Ben Affleck : Michael Tolkin is a writer that I admire, as is Wes Anderson. Billy Bob Thornton is one of the most talented screenwriters out there today. The Coen brothers are brilliant writers, as is Kevin Smith. Quentin Tarantino has really written some great stuff.

AOL Live : SCHOOL KIDS X5 asks:

Question : How did you become an actor?

Ben Affleck : The first thing I did as an actor was appear in a low-budget movie called 'Dark End of the Street.' After that, I did theater and acting classes. I went from Boston to New York and banged on doors and scratched my way into roles. I took it one step at a time. There is no magic formula. A lot of it is luck -- right place at the right time. Sometimes I didn't work; then I did. It was a long process. It's a process I've been doing for more than 20 years.

AOL Live : Squigglez07 asks:

Question : Congratulations on making it all the way to the top. My name is Whitney, and I am an actress. Do you have any advice for up-and-coming actors?

Ben Affleck : My advice would be -- and I should say that I don't think there is any one way to do this. In my opinion, the best way to do it is to keep doing it. Look for the opportunities that are out there for you to work. That's the only way you'll get better -- theater, acting classes and showcases. You'll get more exposure, and you'll learn about it. And make sure it's something you want to do. There's no point in saying you want to act until you go out and do it. I would tell anyone this is very difficult -- be careful for what you wish for.

AOL Live : Skieblue02 asks:

Question : Hey, Ben!! My name is Kate, and I love to act. I was just wondering how much research you do for a character, and if you play someone who is real, how do you make the character your own?

Ben Affleck : Obviously the amount of research I do depends on the role. I do a lot of preparation. In terms of research, you can only research what exists. Sometimes you have to find something you have in common with your character. You have to realize you're never going to be the person you're playing. I would think I would try to accept the fact that I'm not ever going to be exactly like them, but I'd try to adopt some of their characteristics.

Question : How has e-mail and the Internet changed your life/the way you communicate?

Ben Affleck : One good thing about e-mail is that it kind of returns people to letter writing. The telephone came along, and people didn't feel the need to write. The Internet is more convenient than the phone. People spend more time reading and writing because of the Internet. It makes for a more literate society, a smarter population. E-mail is great because you answer it when you have the time to answer it properly, as opposed to being rushed. I prefer e-mail by a lot to the telephone. Ultimately, the Internet will turn out to be the framework to which many tools of gathering and sharing information will be used. Oftentimes it's a very pedestrian way. One of the first things I did was put an Internet line in my house when I started making money. I think Internet companies will make a return and come back.

AOL Live : MUDVANYE 3 5 6 asks:

Question : What were your influences growing up?

Ben Affleck : My influences ranged from my grandfather to my godfather to Larry Bird to the Boston Red Sox to, gradually, writers and artists. I always admired bold figures like Martin Luther King. In terms of acting, my list probably looks like everyone else's, all the great contemporary actors. I professionally wanted to emulate them. They sort of evolved with my level of maturity but tended to be people who could make your life exceptional. There are other things in life greater than satisfying yourself -- helping other people.

AOL Live : ljromero75 asks:

Question : Ben, what is in your CD player right now?

Ben Affleck : I put together a digital jukebox connected to the Internet that I download music to. I have thousands of songs on this. Right now I'm listening to Slydell from L.A. I like Colin Hay, who's interesting, India Arie...

AOL Live : Lynn332 asks:

Question : What will be your next project?

Ben Affleck : The next thing coming out is an adaptation of a Tom Clancy novel called 'The Sum of All Fears.' I play Jack Ryan. It stars Morgan Freeman, also. I really like it and look forward to it.

Question : Why did you do Project Greenlight, and is it an accurate portrayal?

Ben Affleck : I think it's an accurate portrayal of making that particular movie. The process is different according to the project. I did it because, along with my partners, I felt like it would be an interesting exercise to show how scripts are made. These scripts were moved down to five and chosen by the people on the Internet. People always would ask Matt Damon and I how movies are made. We certainly didn't do it for the money. In retrospect, it seems more courageous than it seemed at the time.

AOL Live : MysticxAngel13 asks:

Question : Where do you get your inspirations and ideas for screenplay writing?

Ben Affleck : From little incidents that happened in my life, music, books, things I hear people say, stories, etc., things that make me laugh. Sometimes I get a bunch of ideas at once.

Question : What is an important personal goal and career goal you have in the next two years?

Ben Affleck : My personal goals really don't have anything to do with work. I'd like to ultimately have a family, but that's a long way off, considering I don't even have a girlfriend! I want to continue to try to be a better person and be the best person I can be. In the next year or so, I'm going to do a lot of acting, then take time off to do some writing. It seems now I prefer writing to acting. That might be something I turn my focus to in two years from now, but I don't have any hard, fast rules about it. I still feel really lucky that I was invited to the party. I'm not being false; I know how fortunate I've been. I'm going to capitalize on that and do what makes me happy.

AOL Live : MaterialGURL Y2K asks:

Question : Ben, would you ever change anything about the career you've chosen?

Ben Affleck : Oh, sure. The thing about movies is that there is a strange thing to it -- you never know how it's going to turn out. There are movies I've done that I didn't get a lot out of, but that's part of the deal -- you make your best guess about how things are going to go. You take your best shot. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. There are movies that I've done that have made a lot of money that I wish I hadn't done, or movies that didn't make any money that I wouldn't trade for anything. I do what makes me happy and try to block out the rest of it.

AOL Live : Lilcutie17777 asks:

Question : What was your biggest challenge in acting?

Ben Affleck : It's hard to say. There's always something challenging about any role. It's challenging to try to live realistically. It depends on the character itself. It's always kind of challenging. I'm really proud of ' Changing Lanes.' Some of the work I've done, I'm really proud of. I didn't think I could do it until this movie. As long as I keep feeling this way, it's worth it for me.

AOL Live : We've got Mother's Day approaching next month...

Question : What's your favorite thing about your mom?

Ben Affleck : Not to fear that I wouldn't be loved, and although I didn't know it, it made me stronger as a person. My mother is a very remarkable woman, and she raised my brother and I pretty much by herself. She's been a close friend to us and someone I will love forever. Mother's Day is a solid holiday, definitely one worth celebrating.

AOL Live : AMischfmkr101 says:

Question : What would you say is the best advice you ever received?

Ben Affleck : I've been the beneficiary of so much good advice, and so much bad advice too -- that's the problem with advice, to decide what's good and who's steering you wrong. You have to be present and aware of yourself, and what it means to be a good person, in order to have a happy functioning life, otherwise you'll just be flailing at the wrong things. You need to set healthy boundaries, and that nothing simple is ever easy, not to sweat the small stuff. You only really need one or two close friends. It what's you DO in life that matters, not what you say. Simple things, but they resonate.

AOL Live : Thanks you so much for being here, Ben!

Ben Affleck : Thank you, everyone, for coming and listening, and go see ' Changing Lanes'! You won't be disappointed.