It made me think, I don’t know ifTropic Thundercould get made today.
Do you think it could?
BEN STILLER: I doubt it.
Image by Jefferson Chacon
Obviously, in this environment, edgier comedy is just harder to do.
He read it and was like, Alright, let’s make this thing.
It’s a very inside movie when you think about it.
Image via DreamWorks Pictures/Paramount Pictures
Even at the time, of course, it was dicey too.
I’m being honest.
It’s a completely different world.
The idea for ‘Tropic Thunder’ emerged while Stiller was working with method actors on this Spielberg project.
You were eight years old, I believe, the last time the Knicks won the championship.
Is this their year?
Image via Universal Pictures
STILLER: Tough question.
I don’t know.
I am hopeful that they’re gonna make a really great run.
I think the jury is out in terms of the chemistry coming together in time.
I have no doubt that the chemistry is going to come together.
It’s just that they’re missing a lot of pieces right now.
Image via CBS
So, I think it’s a better question to ask at the All-Star Break.
But I couldn’t be more behind this team.
You are a very vocal and hardcore fan.
Image via Apple TV+
How much would you pay to have the Knicks win in the next five years?
Like what would I give up?
STILLER: I’m willing to sacrifice a lot.
Image via Apple TV+
The thing is, I’ve always loved the Knicks.
The thing is, this Knicks team, you justlovethis team.
I am so all in on this team.
So, I’m rooting for them.
I believe it’s gonna happen.
I couldn’t believe when Adam Sandler decided to doHappy Gilmore 2.
Image via Showtime
I love the first one so much.
For me, he’s playing with the third rail because this is such a beloved movie.
What was it like getting the call to come back as Hal L?
Image via Paramount Pictures
Weirdly, I got to do Hal L inHubie Halloweena few years ago.
He had him at the beginning of that movie working at this insane asylum.
He’s a dear friend.
And the opportunity to do that guy is just so much fun because he has no redeeming characteristics.
I think he’s a good person inside.
I think he’s misunderstood.
Image via Showtime
It bothers him that everybody loves Happy.
We had the best time.
Your photo of Hal is the photo on IMDb forHappy Gilmore 2.
Image via Showtime
The photo of you on set literally went everywhere.
It just exploded on the internet.
STILLER: Yeah, everybody.
There’s a good surprise there.
The film stars Adam Sandler and Bad Bunny.
I really enjoy when you’re behind the camera directing.
Image via Prime Video
Which of your projects changed the most in the editing room in ways you didn’t expect going in?
STILLER: Oh, wow.
It’s such a weird reality, we’re always learning about it as we make it.
A female prison employee in upstate New York becomes romantically involved with a pair of inmates and helps them escape.
STILLER: Good question.
I’ve got a couple of things that I’ve been wanting to do.
That’s a story I really wanna tell, and that could be the next thing.
But honestly, it’s been full-on working onSeverance.
Then the other thing that I’ve been working on is this documentary about my parents.
That’s been taking up my time.
I can’t wait to see this.
I loved your parents, and your dad made me laugh countless times.
It’s really been an interesting process.
It’s fascinating, too.
It’s been a really interesting process.
Do you think it’s like a two-hour movie?
Because it could be a lot longer.
Theres so much footage.
STILLER: I think it’s gonna be a movie.
I like movies, too.
Do you envision a Toronto or a film festival-punch in environment to premiere?
STILLER: Yeah, I think so.
What do you want to tease them about Season 2?
STILLER: Knowing how Season 1 ended, there were so many obviously big questions.
STILLER: Yeah, I think it’s very important.
You have a responsibility to the audience that you’re going somewhere with it.
STILLER: That’s the amazing thing about Netflix.
It’s incredible, honestly, because that never existed before in our world, to have the opportunity.
I don’t understand why it’s listed as seven episodes.
But I saw on Netflix that they broke it up into two episodes.
But for me, Episode 7 was always just that two-parter together.
It should have been together, but I have no complaints.
It’s on Netflix.
I’ve spoken with 1,000 directors, and they all talk about it being a marathon.
Was this the hardest thing you’ve directed just because of the sheer volume of shooting days?
It was challenging because of the strike and all that stuff and just what we were doing.
It was pretty incredible to have all that.
So, it’s like that team stayed together forSeverance.
“Hey, kids!
What’s for dinner?”
All the performances on the series are fantastic, but Patricia [Arquette] is operating on another level.
When did you realize she’s shooting three-pointers on every take?
STILLER: Early on.
We’d worked together onFlirting with Disasterback in the 90s as actors.
On and off a little bit.
We had the same manager who’s a good friend of ours.
But then when we got together onDannemoraand we started talking, I just felt so comfortable with her.
She’s such a good person, and she’s so without ego.
She’s just brilliant.
She’s subtle, and she’s real, and she’s fearless.
And Benicio [Del Toro], every scene, Id never worked with him before.
Honestly, I was learning so much as an actor watching these actors.
Putting Benicio in anything is like putting a cheat code in a video game.
STILLER: For sure.
What do you think might surprise fans to learn about the making of the series?
STILLER: Well, we shot it backwards.
We shot at the actual prison, at Dannemora Clinton Correctional.
We shot there for, I think, three days.
We shot outside for a couple of days, and then we shot inside on that yard.
That yard is just an incredible place that’s been there for almost 70 or 80 years.
It’s almost like a Roman amphitheater or something.
Like I said, there were real people playing themselves.
We had, as I said, the real locations.
We had a lot of fun doing it, weirdly.
It was just a great experience.
You have acted in and directed so many things.
Obviously, the movie was sort of about the same thing.
I remember thinking, I have three weeks to get down that road.
We gotta figure out how to do it.
Somehow, we figured it out, but I remember that being super challenging.
For Episode 6, you shot on 16-millimeter.
To me, I’m all for film.
It was a flashback, and it gave it, I think, much more of a visceral feel.
So, for me, that’s always how I like to approach it, too.
STILLER: I agree.
You don’t even have to have any dialogue.
So, I’m the same way.
Have you heard about this?
Boyle’s post-apocalyptic follow-up will star Fiennes opposite Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer.
He did, and I’m very curious what it’s gonna look like.
That’s the coolest thing ever to me.
It’s like, Hey, this is aTootsielens!
So Episode 6 you shot at the end so Patricia and Eric [Lange] could lose weight.
STILLER: Look, that stuff is not easy for actors.
I felt lucky that we had the time to do that.
It ended up making a really big difference.
Sometimes you’re not afforded that in the schedule.
So, you take your stand on things like that.
I love Paul’s work.
It all works because of the performances.
If you don’t buy into the three of them, you don’t buy into any of this.
What was it like winning the DGA Award for Outstanding Directing Miniseries or TV Film for this project?
So, it was a great feeling.
How much had you prepared a speech?
STILLER: I did not think I was gonna win.
I secretly hoped I would win, but these awards things are so crazy.
I mean, look,Tropic Thunderis all about that.
it’s possible for you to get in your head about all this stuff.
It was very exciting.
I’ll take it.
When it’s coming from other directors, that’s the best feeling.
The miniseries is a showcase both for its lead actors and Ben Stiller, who directed all 7 episodes.
There’s something missing.
STILLER: Again, it’s the same thing.
It’s nice to have that approval.
It’s nice that everybody is gathering around it and that it is getting that recognition.
I don’t think it was that bad.
But that’s not easy.
[Laughs] My whole life, I’ve been trying to navigate all that stuff.
I don’t want the repercussions to be like, I can’t keep working.
As I’ve said a few times, I really enjoy when you’re behind the camera directing.
When did you realize, Oh, I’m gonna be able to keep directing.
They like my work.
I’m gonna get the financing to keep doing this.
So, honestly, that’s something I felt onDannemora.
What is something that you really wish more people had seen that you worked on?
Its a true story.
He was a heroin addict, and figured it out.
I just always felt that was a good little movie.
Every once in a while, someone will shout out, Hey,Permanent Midnight!
STILLER: Yeah, you never know what it’s gonna be, which is great.
Again, as time goes on, I’ve come to appreciate it more, honestly.
I’m getting older, fans are getting older who have been with me over the years.
It’s a nice feeling of continuity, and I appreciate it.
you’ve got the option to watchEscape at Dannemoraon Netflix now.
