--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't write on set. I also - in a funny…" description: "\"I don't write on set. I also - in a funny way, I don't really differentiate between the writing and directing. I think it's all sort of the same thing...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/alex-garland-8441_directing_i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-w_1591299.jpg" --- # I don't write on set. I also - in a funny way, I don't… ![“I don't write on set. I also - in a funny way, I don't really differentiate between the writing and directing. I think it's all sort of the same thing.” quote by Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/alex-garland-8441_directing_i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-w_1591299.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/alex-garland-8441_directing_i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-w_1591299.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/alex-garland-8441_directing_i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-w_1591299.jpg) > “I don't write on set. I also - in a funny way, I don't really differentiate between the writing and directing. I think it's all sort of the same thing.” [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Garland sees writing and directing as inseparable, treating both as facets of the same creative process. **In simple terms:** Writing and directing are the same activity for him. Key Takeaway Blend writing and directing seamlessly. Themes creativity film-making authorial vision Mood reflective enthusiastic Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - directing a film - screenwriting a - collaborative production Key Concepts narrative control artistic unity Questions to Reflect On - How does merging roles affect collaboration? - Can one maintain objectivity when wearing both hats? A Different Perspective Balancing multiple roles can dilute focus on each. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [For me the dream is the freedom to make all the crazy ideas I have in my head into movies. I truly love directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-ozeki/for-me-the-dream-is-the-freedom-to-make-all-the-crazy-ideas-i-have-in/) [Nicholas Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-ozeki/) > [There should be more women directing; I think there's just not the awareness that it's really possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/there-should-be-more-women-directing-i-think-there-s-just-not-the/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [As far as writing and directing, I'm very focused on the thriller genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/as-far-as-writing-and-directing-i-m-very-focused-on-the-thriller-genre/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [I love writing, directing and photography; if I could figure out a way to put the three things together, that's what I would love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-love-writing-directing-and-photography-if-i-could-figure-out-a-way/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I'm going to be writing and directing my own videos, and performing in them too, and I'm super-excited about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-day/i-m-going-to-be-writing-and-directing-my-own-videos-and-performing-in/) [Mikey Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-day/) > [Acting is the most pure fun as far as jobs go, but it can be limiting in terms of freedom of expression. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/acting-is-the-most-pure-fun-as-far-as-jobs-go-but-it-can-be-limiting/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [I think I'll always want to write and direct. I'm interested in producing and helping other people tell stories. But I'm still in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-think-i-ll-always-want-to-write-and-direct-i-m-interested-in/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I spent most of my 20s working as an actor. I started writing and directing because I was frustrated with the types of roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-spent-most-of-my-20s-working-as-an-actor-i-started-writing-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I certainly was an actor and then I drifted more towards writing and directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-certainly-was-an-actor-and-then-i-drifted-more-towards-writing-and/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [The things I want to focus on are music, writing, directing, and developing stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/the-things-i-want-to-focus-on-are-music-writing-directing-and/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [Writing and directing just sort of fell into my lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/writing-and-directing-just-sort-of-fell-into-my-lap/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I was a standup comedian, which is kind of like writing and directing yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/i-was-a-standup-comedian-which-is-kind-of-like-writing-and-directing/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [ All these teachers and \[screenwriting\] books mean you see movies that have been worked over by more committees wielding more rules, that all originality… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/all-these-teachers-and-screenwriting-books-mean-you-see-movies-that/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [I went to film school so I have a writing and directing background, and I think a lot of the material I'm interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/i-went-to-film-school-so-i-have-a-writing-and-directing-background/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [Directing a movie precludes me from being involved in any greater way. But, the job was never to do more, it was always to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/directing-a-movie-precludes-me-from-being-involved-in-any-greater-way/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) ## More by Alex Garland > [The first draft of 'Ex Machina' is extremely different than the finished film. That would be like 10% of the original draft stayed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-first-draft-of-ex-machina-is-extremely-different-than-the/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > ['The Beach' novel, in my mind, was, in some respects, subversive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-beach-novel-in-my-mind-was-in-some-respects-subversive/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Dream life, I realized, was only confusing when you were awake. It was from the perspective of waking life that dream life seemed fractured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/dream-life-i-realized-was-only-confusing-when-you-were-awake-it-was/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Of course witnessing poverty was the first to be ticked off the list. Then I had to graduate to the more obscure stuff. Being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/of-course-witnessing-poverty-was-the-first-to-be-ticked-off-the-list/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [“That was longer than a heartbeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/that-was-longer-than-a-heartbeat/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [The truth is, I hadn't grown up really wanting to be a writer. The whole thing was a weird aberration in some ways, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-truth-is-i-hadn-t-grown-up-really-wanting-to-be-a-writer-the/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [If someone says Wes Anderson is an auteur, I'll believe it 100 percent. Fine. He's an auteur, but I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/if-someone-says-wes-anderson-is-an-auteur-i-ll-believe-it-100-percent/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [“Moshe was an Israeli with an ear-slitting laugh. He used it in the same way as a madman uses a gun, spraying it around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/moshe-was-an-israeli-with-an-ear-slitting-laugh-he-used-it-in-the/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [I've never been to Comic-Con, but I'm certainly aware from this side of the Atlantic that it's a very important part of film marketing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/i-ve-never-been-to-comic-con-but-i-m-certainly-aware-from-this-side/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Vietnam, me love you long time. All day, all night, me love you long time. (...) Dropping acid on the Mekong Delta, smoking grass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/vietnam-me-love-you-long-time-all-day-all-night-me-love-you-long-time/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Personally I don't think there's any real intrinsic difference between comic books, movies, theatre, novels. I know there's sure to be some differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/personally-i-don-t-think-there-s-any-real-intrinsic-difference/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Tourists went on holidays while travellers did something else. They travelled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/tourists-went-on-holidays-while-travellers-did-something-else-they/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [I carry a lot of scars. I like the way that sounds. I carry a LOT of scars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/i-carry-a-lot-of-scars-i-like-the-way-that-sounds-i-carry-a-lot-of/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [“You never listen to me anymore. Before, if I was talking to you, you would always listen. But now you have no time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/you-never-listen-to-me-anymore-before-if-i-was-talking-to-you-you/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil, for I am the evilest motherfucker in the valley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/though-i-walk-through-the-valley-of-death-i-will-fear-no-evil-for-i/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) [Explore all 81 Alex Garland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) ## More Directing quotes > [Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. The main thing about directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/anybody-can-direct-a-picture-once-they-know-the-fundamentals/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I took on the role of CEO, which involves directing the Management Team and overall day-to-day operations of 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/i-took-on-the-role-of-ceo-which-involves-directing-the-management/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [When I see my movies on the editing table, I do think I could have done them a certain way. The satisfaction is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/when-i-see-my-movies-on-the-editing-table-i-do-think-i-could-have/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [For me the dream is the freedom to make all the crazy ideas I have in my head into movies. I truly love directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-ozeki/for-me-the-dream-is-the-freedom-to-make-all-the-crazy-ideas-i-have-in/) [Nicholas Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-ozeki/) > [The producing thing has come quite naturally to me. I feel like for directing, I would like to be more technically-savvy. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/the-producing-thing-has-come-quite-naturally-to-me-i-feel-like-for/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I'm addicted to directing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-m-addicted-to-directing/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [Making a movie and not directing the little moments is like drinking a soda and leaving the little slurp puddle for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/making-a-movie-and-not-directing-the-little-moments-is-like-drinking/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Directing films is easier said than done. The job needs a lot of sensibility to put many things in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/directing-films-is-easier-said-than-done-the-job-needs-a-lot-of/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-starred-in-a-broadway-play-that-was-sidney-poitier-s-first/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. It's not like acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-don-t-get-nervous-when-i-m-directing-a-play-it-s-not-like-acting/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [My dad's a prominent theatre director in Toronto, so I grew up in that world, directing and producing theater since I was a teenager.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gass-donnelly/my-dad-s-a-prominent-theatre-director-in-toronto-so-i-grew-up-in-that/) [Ed Gass-Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gass-donnelly/) > [The hardest part about directing is getting everyone on the same page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/the-hardest-part-about-directing-is-getting-everyone-on-the-same-page/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) Browse all 1,163 Directing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't write on set. I also - in a funny way, I don't really differentiate between the writing and directing. I think it's all sort of the same thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alex Garland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-way-i-don-t-really/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Directing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-way-i-don-t-really/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/alex-garland-8441_directing_i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-w_1591299.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/alex-garland-8441_directing_i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-w_1591299.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/alex-garland-8441_directing_i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-w_1591299.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't write on set. I also - in a funny way, I don't really differentiate between the writing and…” — Alex Garland", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alex Garland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't write on set. I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-way-i-don-t-really/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/i-don-t-write-on-set-i-also-in-a-funny-way-i-don-t-really/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```