Ben Stiller: No Chairs, No Phones

Ben Stiller doesn’t just direct—he creates an environment. Inspired by Noah Baumbach’s “no chairs” rule on Greenberg, Stiller removed chairs on The Secret Life of Walter Mitty to keep his crew engaged. “That’s a good idea! No chairs,” he recalled thinking. On Severance, he took it further: a strict “no phones” policy.

While crew members need phones to work, Stiller bans them near actors. “It drives me crazy seeing someone scrolling while an actor is acting their brains out,” he said. His approach isn’t just about discipline—it’s about respect for the craft, ensuring focus and energy stay where they belong: on the performance.
Source: Variety 2025