Ben Stiller Talks Creativity and Film Industry at BU College of Communication

October 26, 2023

Ben Stiller (left) and Jeff Kahn (right) discuss breaking into the film industry in front of a packed audience of BU students. Photo by Bryan Hecht.

By Bryan Hecht, Samuel Shipman, and Junru Tao

Students should commit to telling their stories, even though the path to success can be long and challenging, actor, director and producer Ben Stiller told an audience at Boston University on Oct 6. 

Stiller stressed the significance of embracing the artistic process and emphasized that great work will get discovered. There is an audience eager for new voices even when it doesn’t seem like it in mainstream Hollywood, Stiller said.

Stiller gave a talk at Boston University’s Tsai Performance Center alongside BU adjunct professor, long-time friend and collaborator Jeff Kahn, co-writer of  “The Ben Stiller Show.” The talk, put on by the BU College of Communication, was sold out and lasted three hours. 

Though some in the audience appeared star-struck in the presence of Stiller, the actor showed up alone and humbly, dressed in casual black pants, a black t-shirt, and blazer.

Stiller, who hasn’t acted in a major role since 2017, has shifted a lot of his focus toward directing. His most recent directorial endeavor, the first season of the Apple TV drama “Severance” was released in early 2022 and received 14 Emmy nominations. 

Stiller showed the pilot episode of “Severance” as a part of his talk and explained the show's production process, originating from a spec script submitted to his production company, Red Hour Productions, seven years ago.

Stiller says he was immediately drawn to the unique voice and vision of the show’s creator, newcomer writer Dan Erickson. 

“When you read something that’s original, it is just so exciting,” Stiller said.

By the time the series went into production with Apple TV the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing. Even with COVID shutdowns, Stiller and his team committed to bringing Erickson's original series to life. 

Stiller gave the production of “Severance” as an example to students of unique work triumphing over the complications that can come in the film industry. He likewise encouraged students to commit to telling the stories they feel compelled to tell. 

The industry has changed a lot since Stiller entered the profession in the late 1980s with the love and support of his famous comedic parents Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. Stiller lamented how every modern film needs to be a massive box office draw based on franchise properties like Marvel and Star Wars.

“It's ridiculous,” Stiller said. “I think you have to disassociate from that and just make the movie you want to make.” 

Stiller said he sees television as the most open frontier for creative voices that don’t fit into these boxes. 

Stiller and Kahn ended the event by taking questions  from the audience, leading to discussions on the nature of creativity and the tensions between commerce and artistic expression when breaking into the film industry. 

Stiller offered advice about dealing with criticism, finding his work and life balance, directing himself, and more, but ultimately emphasized that doing the work will pay off no matter how hard the road. Working in film is the most rewarding career he can imagine, Stiller told the audience.

“Art is not a luxury,” Stiller said.

The message seemed to resonate with the audience of young aspiring artists.

“I am leaving the room feeling optimistic that I do have a voice and stories to tell,.” BU film and Television major Julia DeSantis said after the event.

When asked what inspires him and Stiller  to do these talks, Kahn said, “It’s our honor to be around young, creative people, because that’s who we were, and we have never forgotten that.”