in the early 1990s stiller had minor roles in films such as stella and highway to hell as well as a cameo in the nutt house. in 1992 stiller was approached to direct reality bites, based on a script by helen childress. stiller devoted the next year and a half to rewriting the script with childress, fundraising, and recruiting cast members for the film. it was eventually released in early 1994, directed by stiller and featuring him as a co-star. the film was produced by danny devito, who would later direct stiller's 2003 film duplex and produce his 2004 film along came polly.