“I screwed it up”. Ben Stiller embarrassed himself in front of Steven Spielberg, pushing boundaries on set

As a fan, I can’t help but admire Ben Stiller’s audacity and innocence, even in the face of such a legendary figure as Steven Spielberg. The story of his blunder on the set of Empire of the Sun is a testament to the human side of Hollywood, where even the most accomplished actors can stumble and make mistakes.

Ben Stiller has made a promising debut, with his second film being one directed by none other than Steven Spielberg. Although he only had a minor part in Empire of the Sun, the chance to act in a movie helmed by such a renowned director was undoubtedly more significant for him than the size of the role offered to him.

During his appearance on the Late Night with Seth Meyers show, the actor shared an awkward moment that happened on the set of Empire of the Sun, where he accidentally drew attention to himself, despite having only a minor role. He confessed that this incident made him feel embarrassed, as it involved him making a mistake in front of Steven Spielberg and receiving a reprimand from the director.

As he spoke his line incorrectly and missed the mark with his action, he called out “Cut!” to redo the scene. Stiller shared that by overstepping the boundary, he ended up feeling awkward and exposed.

As a fervent admirer, I can recount an incident where, after around three to four minutes into a scene, I was supposed to deliver the line, “Hey, kid, would you like a Hershey bar?” Instead, in a moment of blunder, I said, “Hey, kid, would you like a chocolate bar?” My heart sank as I muttered, “Oh, darn. I’m sorry. Cut.” The only response was a puzzled “What?” from the monitor area. I sheepishly admitted, “I’m sorry, I messed up my line.” To my surprise, my role model, my idol, Steven Spielberg, chimed in with, “You never yell cut!” In that instant, as I realized the magnitude of my faux pas, I felt an overwhelming sense of embarrassment. Fortunately, everything turned out alright in the end.

In a nutshell, the performer encroached upon the director’s domain, taking it upon himself to halt scenes at will. This action prompted Spielberg to sternly advise Stiller to avoid such behavior in the future. Apparently, this incident left a lasting impression on him, as he continues to recall it vividly even today. Moreover, he still views it as the most mortifying experience of his life.

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2024-12-09 14:01