--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, this movie I've been working on for…" description: "\"Well, this movie I've been working on for a while. I had the idea for the movie like twenty years ago when I was doing 'Empire of the Sun' in 1987 beca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/ben-stiller-7406_auditions_well-this-movie-i-ve-been-working-on-for_3162439.jpg" --- # Well, this movie I've been working on for a while. I had… ![“Well, this movie I've been working on for a while. I had the idea for the movie like twenty years ago when I was doing 'Empire of the Sun' in 1987 because at that time that's when all these Vietnam movies were being made and my friends and I were going on auditions for these Vietnam movies and my…” quote by Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/ben-stiller-7406_auditions_well-this-movie-i-ve-been-working-on-for_3162439.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/ben-stiller-7406_auditions_well-this-movie-i-ve-been-working-on-for_3162439.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/ben-stiller-7406_auditions_well-this-movie-i-ve-been-working-on-for_3162439.jpg) > “Well, this movie I've been working on for a while. I had the idea for the movie like twenty years ago when I was doing 'Empire of the Sun' in 1987 because at that time that's when all these Vietnam movies were being made and my friends and I were going on auditions for these Vietnam movies and my friends were getting them and going away to fake boot camps.” [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. He reflects on how early exposure to a genre can spark long‑term creative projects. **In simple terms:** Early ideas can become later works. Key Takeaway Nurture early inspirations. Themes creativity career inspiration Mood reflective determined Type narrative personal When to use this quote - writing a screenplay - seeking collaborators - pitching ideas - overcoming self‑doubt Key Concepts film development personal history Questions to Reflect On - How did early experiences shape your current project? - What obstacles have you faced turning a long‑held idea into a film? A Different Perspective Success may still depend on market trends and funding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditions/) [Boot camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boot-camp/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Empire of the sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empire-of-the-sun/) [Empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empires/) [Going away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-away/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [Vietnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vietnam/) ## Related quotes > ['Empire of the Sun' is one of the films that I often think about. I think it had a profound effect on me when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blagden/empire-of-the-sun-is-one-of-the-films-that-i-often-think-about-i/) [George Blagden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blagden/) > [I had to turn down a part in 'Empire of the Sun.' It would have paid £15,000, which was a year's earnings for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rylance/i-had-to-turn-down-a-part-in-empire-of-the-sun-it-would-have-paid-15/) [Mark Rylance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rylance/) > [I made 'Empire of the Sun' in Shanghai in the 1980s and want to come back one day to make a movie in China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-made-empire-of-the-sun-in-shanghai-in-the-1980s-and-want-to-come/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [The Empire of Wisdom is the only empire on which the sun never sets!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-empire-of-wisdom-is-the-only-empire-on-which-the-sun-never-sets/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“After a heavy snowfall one night in early December the snow formed a thick quilt from which the old man's face emerged like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard-3/after-a-heavy-snowfall-one-night-in-early-december-the-snow-formed-a/) J G Ballard > [“In the trenches between the burial mounds hundreds of dead soldiers sat side by side with their heads against the torn earth, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard-3/in-the-trenches-between-the-burial-mounds-hundreds-of-dead-soldiers/) J G Ballard > [“That place, called the heliopause, is one definition of the outer boundary of the Empire of the Sun. But the Voyager spacecraft will plunge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/that-place-called-the-heliopause-is-one-definition-of-the-outer/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [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/) > [The electro scene is all over the clubs now: groups like Duck Sauce, Empire of the Sun, even MGMT. But I get inspiration from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/the-electro-scene-is-all-over-the-clubs-now-groups-like-duck-sauce/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [When I was thirteen, I had a nervous breakdown, and I was put into this grown-up mental hospital with all these 50-, 60-year-old men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-roy/when-i-was-thirteen-i-had-a-nervous-breakdown-and-i-was-put-into-this/) [Duncan Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-roy/) > [When I work with artists, I give them a general guideline of what my vision is. Then they're going to speak their minds on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-aoki/when-i-work-with-artists-i-give-them-a-general-guideline-of-what-my/) [Steve Aoki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-aoki/) > [“In the talcum on the floor around him he could see the imprints of his mother's feet. She had moved from side to side,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard-3/in-the-talcum-on-the-floor-around-him-he-could-see-the-imprints-of/) J G Ballard > [Leonardo DiCaprio I find very inspiring... He's my idol. I absolutely love Leonardo DiCaprio. Christian Bale, obviously, being a British actor and going from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/leonardo-dicaprio-i-find-very-inspiring-he-s-my-idol-i-absolutely/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [I couldn't do any of my other characters, you know? But I could have done the lady. Church Lady's Malibu Beach party is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/i-couldn-t-do-any-of-my-other-characters-you-know-but-i-could-have/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [I love the idea of a movie hero in a thriller who is able to get ahead by just his brilliance, and not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-strong/i-love-the-idea-of-a-movie-hero-in-a-thriller-who-is-able-to-get/) [Danny Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-strong/) ## 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 Auditions quotes > [My favorite performance would definitely be "Toxic," which was my blind audition song. It was the start of it all and it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/my-favorite-performance-would-definitely-be-toxic-which-was-my-blind/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [Ed Koch once said that New York City is where immigrants come to audition for America. That's what happened to my parents; that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/ed-koch-once-said-that-new-york-city-is-where-immigrants-come-to/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [I have had to give auditions for every film I had done until 'Dedh Ishqiya.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/i-have-had-to-give-auditions-for-every-film-i-had-done-until-dedh/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [When preparing for auditions, I have no rituals. I just try to be as prepared as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-basco/when-preparing-for-auditions-i-have-no-rituals-i-just-try-to-be-as/) [Dante Basco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-basco/) > [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I got into acting in high school mainly because I wasn't doing anything else and started to hit a few bumps in the road.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-letscher/i-got-into-acting-in-high-school-mainly-because-i-wasn-t-doing/) [Matt Letscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-letscher/) > [Always my fallback is - I'm gonna move to a poor town and open a scone shop... Sometimes after some bad auditions I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rannells/always-my-fallback-is-i-m-gonna-move-to-a-poor-town-and-open-a-scone/) [Andrew Rannells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rannells/) > [I would go to different production houses everyday for auditions and they would reject me saying you cant talk, smile, dance, or act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-tamboli/i-would-go-to-different-production-houses-everyday-for-auditions-and/) [Nikki Tamboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-tamboli/) > [Like every audition I go on, I do my best, but after that, I let it go because, you know, the rejection rate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/like-every-audition-i-go-on-i-do-my-best-but-after-that-i-let-it-go/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [“Some people look like they sound better than they actually sound, because they look confident and have good posture," once musician, a veteran of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/some-people-look-like-they-sound-better-than-they-actually-sound/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Life beats down and crushes our souls and theatre reminds us that we have one. 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My mom was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-emerson/when-i-was-six-years-old-my-friend-was-auditioning-for-annie-and-i/) [Jacqueline Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-emerson/) > [I managed to get onto 'The Hobbit,' which is a story in itself. I missed the main round of auditions but managed to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-stevens/i-managed-to-get-onto-the-hobbit-which-is-a-story-in-itself-i-missed/) [Conan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-stevens/) [Browse all 789 Auditions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, this movie I've been working on for a while. 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