We shot the first Werner Brandes scene at a Chinese restaurant. I am on a date with Mary McDonnell’s character, Liz, who is secretly recording me, trying to get me to say several key words that will enable her team to disarm a voice-activated security system and break into my laboratory. Phil's first piece of direction to me was "Stephen, feel free to do anything you want to make Mary laugh." Dangerous words. It set the tone for the rest of the shoot. I played with my food. I made up lines (including one about pounding chicken breasts in the kitchen during our second date). I can't remember having so much fun on a movie.

Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Ben Kingsley, Dan Aykroyd: What it was like shooting the movie Sneakers. - Slate Magazine