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Ben Stiller Directing Participant's Help Me Spread Goodness

by Alex Billington
May 3, 2009

Ben Stiller will be taking on quite a challenge. The actor/filmmaker is set to direct a project called Help Me Spread Goodness for Participant Media, a production company that has a mandate that says their films must compel social change. Help Me Spread Goodness, written by Mark Friedman, is about a Chicago banker who gets swindled in a Nigerian Internet scam. It's described as a drama with comic overtones and was developed by Participant Media exec VP Jonathan King and president Ricky Strauss. While the project is meant to be entertaining, it sheds a light on current issues in Nigeria and other African countries.

The reason this is a challenge for Stiller is that I don't know if he's good (yet) at directing anything but comedy. While he's starring in Night at the Museum 2 and Little Fockers, we can't forget that he co-wrote and directed Tropic Thunder and produced Blades of Glory, all comedies. I think he's a great director, I'm just interested in seeing how he handles a more dramatic project that has real world social implications. Maybe this is a chance for him to get some good experience before he directs The Trial of the Chicago 7, which is a big gig he landed in place of Steven Spielberg and, according to Variety, is still set to direct.

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Dr Robotnik

Ben Stiller can do this, Tropic Thunder wasn't just a good comedy, it was a legit good movie in general, I have full faith in him.
James

You forgot about Reality Bites. That wasn't really a full on comedy either IIRC.
http://ohaidere.com danielvutran

Tropic Thunder was legendary, simple as that. Lol.
Tim "Cloverfield"

Please.......God no!
b

Cable Guy rode the line too ya'lls.
Chuck Norris

Tropic Thunder = overrated
elessar

Reality Bites and Tropic Thunder show that Ben Stiller can do this kind of thing. I do think though that the title should be changed because it sounds too hokey. I wonder if Stiller will play the lead. That could be his chance to prove that he has gravitas. Alex: I may be misreading the article, but it says that Stiller will be doing this AFTER he does Chicago 7, not before it. BTW, it would be nice to hear some actual news about Trial of the Chicago 7 as I've been wanting to see it since I heard about it.