Ben Stiller

But there's nothing like that when you do come back because you really do have so much more of an appreciation for what you have because we know we could not have it, too.

But there's nothing like that when you do come back because you really do have so much more of an appreciation for what you have because we know we could not have it, too.

Well... I think it's really made me look at my own relationship to my parents more than anything. Every time I want to make the movie about them, I'm realizing it's all kind of reflecting back on my own issues that I have with them. And how much, you know, I mean, you're right.

Well... I think it's really made me look at my own relationship to my parents more than anything. Every time I want to make the movie about them, I'm realizing it's all kind of reflecting back on my own issues that I have with them. And how much, you know, I mean, you're right.

Like, I feel so fortunate that I have all this footage of my parents and our family from these Super 8 movies that my dad took and then I took. And recordings my dad made hours and hours and hours.

Like, I feel so fortunate that I have all this footage of my parents and our family from these Super 8 movies that my dad took and then I took. And recordings my dad made hours and hours and hours.

Talking with my mother as they were writing sketches. Or sometimes he'd just record us just because he wanted to have our voices. But I see my... I see the world I grew up in. I see my father. I was just thinking about it this morning, just how much of... I love my father, but also that tension of not wanting to be my father.

Talking with my mother as they were writing sketches. Or sometimes he'd just record us just because he wanted to have our voices. But I see my... I see the world I grew up in. I see my father. I was just thinking about it this morning, just how much of... I love my father, but also that tension of not wanting to be my father.

But everybody loves my father, and so I would love to be loved as my father is loved because he was a lovely person. But then there's also the thing of like, oh, but I'm me. And that was something I was feeling... since I was, you know, a teenager.

But everybody loves my father, and so I would love to be loved as my father is loved because he was a lovely person. But then there's also the thing of like, oh, but I'm me. And that was something I was feeling... since I was, you know, a teenager.

No, I think it was more just wanting to individuate for my father, wanting to be my own person. not being into their comedy and their thing. I wanted to be a serious director. And then when I discovered comedy, it wasn't like what they did. It was like, I like SCTV or Saturday Night Live. And not until I was older was I able to really just appreciate what they did.

No, I think it was more just wanting to individuate for my father, wanting to be my own person. not being into their comedy and their thing. I wanted to be a serious director. And then when I discovered comedy, it wasn't like what they did. It was like, I like SCTV or Saturday Night Live. And not until I was older was I able to really just appreciate what they did.

But all the while, my parents were so supportive, especially my dad. My mom was a little bit of a...

But all the while, my parents were so supportive, especially my dad. My mom was a little bit of a...

tougher audience um and i think my dad was very overprotective and concerned about the rejection in show business that you get have to deal with um yeah i don't know i mean it's a hard thing when you're when you look up to a parent so much in terms of just their like what their essence is like jerry's essence was so sweet um that you know you look at i look at myself and go you know am i

tougher audience um and i think my dad was very overprotective and concerned about the rejection in show business that you get have to deal with um yeah i don't know i mean it's a hard thing when you're when you look up to a parent so much in terms of just their like what their essence is like jerry's essence was so sweet um that you know you look at i look at myself and go you know am i

Am I that person? Am I as good as he was? And maybe that's a good thing to want to aspire to, but I feel like that's what he was. Are you? I don't know. I mean, I try, but also, by the way, he obviously wasn't perfect, but he wasn't one of those guys who was like... you know, win, win, win. That wasn't his drive.

Am I that person? Am I as good as he was? And maybe that's a good thing to want to aspire to, but I feel like that's what he was. Are you? I don't know. I mean, I try, but also, by the way, he obviously wasn't perfect, but he wasn't one of those guys who was like... you know, win, win, win. That wasn't his drive.

His drive was just to kind of create and to try to protect his family and to be loved. Because he came from a background of parents who were very poor and there was a lot of fighting between his parents and depression. And he wasn't nurtured like that. But he didn't go on to not nurture his children. He went the opposite way. He was so nurturing. So, you know, that's what he was.

His drive was just to kind of create and to try to protect his family and to be loved. Because he came from a background of parents who were very poor and there was a lot of fighting between his parents and depression. And he wasn't nurtured like that. But he didn't go on to not nurture his children. He went the opposite way. He was so nurturing. So, you know, that's what he was.