--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was staying on [writer/director/actor]…" description: "\"I was staying on [writer/director/actor] Eric Schaeffer's couch in New York, and he said, \"I've got this movie [If Lucy Fell]. Can you do five days on ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/ben-stiller-7406_actors_i-was-staying-on-writer-director-actor-e_2184533.jpg" --- # I was staying on \[writer/director/actor\] Eric Schaeffer's… ![“I was staying on [writer/director/actor] Eric Schaeffer's couch in New York, and he said, "I've got this movie [If Lucy Fell]. Can you do five days on it?" And I was like, "Yeah, anything. Twenty-four hours times five is 120 hours. Oh, great, I'll fill 120 hours of my life with something." So I…” quote by Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/ben-stiller-7406_actors_i-was-staying-on-writer-director-actor-e_2184533.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/ben-stiller-7406_actors_i-was-staying-on-writer-director-actor-e_2184533.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/ben-stiller-7406_actors_i-was-staying-on-writer-director-actor-e_2184533.jpg) > “I was staying on \[writer/director/actor\] Eric Schaeffer's couch in New York, and he said, "I've got this movie \[If Lucy Fell\]. Can you do five days on it?" And I was like, "Yeah, anything. Twenty-four hours times five is 120 hours. Oh, great, I'll fill 120 hours of my life with something." So I did that and it was fun, and then I did Flirting with Disaster.” [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stiller accepted a demanding film schedule, viewing the intense workload as an adventurous challenge and a chance to grow. **In simple terms:** He tackled a huge task with enthusiasm. Key Takeaway Take on big challenges boldly. Themes career ambition work ethic creativity Mood motivational energetic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - film production - career development - personal challenges Key Concepts time management risk taking Questions to Reflect On - What large project excites you? - How will you sustain energy through it? A Different Perspective Burnout risk if balance isn’t maintained. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [120 Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/120-hours-4734305/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Couches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couches/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Eric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eric/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Flirting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flirting/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Hours Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-life-1025716/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lucy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucy/) [Lucy Fell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucy-fell-4734307/) [Movie Lucy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-lucy-1714704/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Schaeffer Couch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schaeffer-couch-4734306/) [Staying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staying/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Yeah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yeah/) ## Related quotes > [I worked 120 hours a week for eight years. That's 20 to 22 hours a day every day and one week I only got 15 hours sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/i-worked-120-hours-a-week-for-eight-years-that-s-20-to-22-hours-a-day/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [I always wanted to do some sort of action film - even a superhero movie - and when 'Lucy' came out, I was like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-snook/i-always-wanted-to-do-some-sort-of-action-film-even-a-superhero-movie/) [Sarah Snook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-snook/) > [You don't pay with money, you pay with hours of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-pay-with-money-you-pay-with-hours-of-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The average person living to age 70 has 613, 000 hours of life. This is too long a period not to have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-average-person-living-to-age-70-has-613-000-hours-of-life-this-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lonely hours are the best hours in life. Because its the only time we share our deepest secrets with the most trusted person in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/lonely-hours-are-the-best-hours-in-life-because-its-the-only-time-we/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [S.C.H.O.O.L Seven Crappy Hours OF Life C.L.A.S.S Come Late And Start Sleeping F.I.N.A.L.S Fuck I Never Actually Learned Shit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/s-c-h-o-o-l-seven-crappy-hours-of-life-c-l-a-s-s-come-late-and-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The hours of your life are the most valuable currency you will ever have. How will you spend them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/the-hours-of-your-life-are-the-most-valuable-currency-you-will-ever/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“If I open this envelope fifty years from now, I will be again as I am now and there will be no being old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/if-i-open-this-envelope-fifty-years-from-now-i-will-be-again-as-i-am/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [I seem to spend a minimum of eight hours a day in transit of some sort or another... that's eight hours of your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skrillex/i-seem-to-spend-a-minimum-of-eight-hours-a-day-in-transit-of-some/) [Skrillex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skrillex/) > [S.C.H.O.O.L. Seven Crappy Hours of our Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/s-c-h-o-o-l-seven-crappy-hours-of-our-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The heroic hours of life do not announce their presence by drum and trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-cardozo/the-heroic-hours-of-life-do-not-announce-their-presence-by-drum-and/) [Benjamin Cardozo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-cardozo/) > [The last time I seen Eazy-E, we were at a meeting at the House of Blues with me, Big Hutch and Jada Pinkett Smith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kokane/the-last-time-i-seen-eazy-e-we-were-at-a-meeting-at-the-house-of/) [Kokane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kokane/) > [I never give anyone advice: it can backfire horribly. In the 1950s, Eric Morecambe told Ken Dodd to get his teeth fixed. But those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merton/i-never-give-anyone-advice-it-can-backfire-horribly-in-the-1950s-eric/) [Paul Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merton/) > [A million years of evolution, Eric said bitterly, and what are we? Animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/a-million-years-of-evolution-eric-said-bitterly-and-what-are-we/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“No matter how broken you think you are always remember that there’re worse stories than yours out there and it’s never too late to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pantelis-kassotis/no-matter-how-broken-you-think-you-are-always-remember-that-there-re/) [Pantelis Kassotis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pantelis-kassotis/) ## More by Ben Stiller > [I don't think know if anything's going to translate anywhere. You're making a movie, you hope it's going to be funny, you can't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-don-t-think-know-if-anything-s-going-to-translate-anywhere-you-re/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I studied Tom Cruise running in all the Mission Impossibles. I think he's one of the best screen runners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-studied-tom-cruise-running-in-all-the-mission-impossibles-i-think/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [When I didn't have a family, I was much more of a workaholic. I still like to work, but I also want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/when-i-didn-t-have-a-family-i-was-much-more-of-a-workaholic-i-still/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [My own parents were touchy-feely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/my-own-parents-were-touchy-feely/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I just watched Paul Michael Glaser. He was the reason I wanted to do the movie because as a kid I was such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-just-watched-paul-michael-glaser-he-was-the-reason-i-wanted-to-do/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [Whatever talent I had, I'm sure it helped that my parents were in the business and that I grew up around actors, comedians and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/whatever-talent-i-had-i-m-sure-it-helped-that-my-parents-were-in-the/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I'm Jewish, but my mom's Catholic, so the guilt area is covered. I have the highest expectations, along with the lowest. I tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-m-jewish-but-my-mom-s-catholic-so-the-guilt-area-is-covered-i-have/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I think most politicians could take a dodgeball in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-think-most-politicians-could-take-a-dodgeball-in-the-face/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I don't play hockey at all. I'm not comfortable on skates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-don-t-play-hockey-at-all-i-m-not-comfortable-on-skates/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [Nobody makes me bleed my own blood - nobody!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/nobody-makes-me-bleed-my-own-blood-nobody/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/moisture-is-the-essence-of-wetness-and-wetness-is-the-essence-of/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I think people will be curious to see what I can do as a dramatic actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-think-people-will-be-curious-to-see-what-i-can-do-as-a-dramatic/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I don't have a burning desire to be taken seriously as an actor. I don't have a master plan in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-don-t-have-a-burning-desire-to-be-taken-seriously-as-an-actor-i-don/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I'm not an expert on the Malaysian sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-m-not-an-expert-on-the-malaysian-sense-of-humor/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I love history. I'm very interested by it and I think it's great to have a movie that brings it alive in a way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-love-history-i-m-very-interested-by-it-and-i-think-it-s-great-to/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) [Explore all 91 Ben Stiller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was staying on [writer/director/actor] Eric Schaeffer's couch in New York, and he said, \"I've got this movie [If Lucy Fell]. Can you do five days on it?\" And I was like, \"Yeah, anything. Twenty-four hours times five is 120 hours. 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