--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to be very controlling with…" description: "\"I used to be very controlling with visuals and editing, and I would pretty much craft the performances; now I have learned to trust the material and th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/alfonso-cuaron-9576_actors_i-used-to-be-very-controlling-with-visua_1175579.jpg" --- # I used to be very controlling with visuals and editing… ![“I used to be very controlling with visuals and editing, and I would pretty much craft the performances; now I have learned to trust the material and the actors.” quote by Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/alfonso-cuaron-9576_actors_i-used-to-be-very-controlling-with-visua_1175579.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/alfonso-cuaron-9576_actors_i-used-to-be-very-controlling-with-visua_1175579.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/alfonso-cuaron-9576_actors_i-used-to-be-very-controlling-with-visua_1175579.jpg) > “I used to be very controlling with visuals and editing, and I would pretty much craft the performances; now I have learned to trust the material and the actors.” [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He shifted from micromanaging visual details to trusting the script and actors, allowing organic performance growth **In simple terms:** From controlling visuals to trusting material and actors Key Takeaway Embrace collaboration and let actors shape the story Themes film directing trust collaboration Mood reflective optimistic Type insightful inspirational When to use this quote - directing a feature film - theatre rehearsals - advertising shoots Key Concepts creative control actor agency organic performance Questions to Reflect On - How does trust change the creative process? - What risks arise when letting go of control? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on control can stifle creativity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [My father was actually controlling and abusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-vox/my-father-was-actually-controlling-and-abusive/) [Vidya Vox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-vox/) > [I try and not be the controlling woman I can probably be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-tedeschi/i-try-and-not-be-the-controlling-woman-i-can-probably-be/) [Susan Tedeschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-tedeschi/) > [“It comforts us to think that we have control when we don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/it-comforts-us-to-think-that-we-have-control-when-we-don-t/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“I am not a thing to be controlled by you,' Nesta said icily. Everything in her life, from the moment she was born, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-am-not-a-thing-to-be-controlled-by-you-nesta-said-icily-everything/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Shift your focus from controlling others to creating your own happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/shift-your-focus-from-controlling-others-to-creating-your-own/) Senoraroy > [When a person feels powerless in regard to controlling his life, he can defend against the discomfort of such an experience by asserting control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-nicholas-groth/when-a-person-feels-powerless-in-regard-to-controlling-his-life-he/) A. Nicholas Groth > [I do have a temper, but am good at controlling it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-do-have-a-temper-but-am-good-at-controlling-it/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [It only lasted 4months but those months were intense, we were amazing 2 begin with, then we were in deep & nearer the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-shipman/it-only-lasted-4months-but-those-months-were-intense-we-were-amazing/) [Samantha Shipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-shipman/) > [Because I was a shy and awkward child, I used humour to deflect attention. It was a controlling mechanism. Because I could use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/because-i-was-a-shy-and-awkward-child-i-used-humour-to-deflect/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [There's so many things you can't account for that can happen during each race. I just focus on controlling what I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-elliott/there-s-so-many-things-you-can-t-account-for-that-can-happen-during/) [Chase Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-elliott/) > [We're failing when it comes to controlling spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/we-re-failing-when-it-comes-to-controlling-spending/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [“I hope I can never trust my wife. If I trust her it means I know her. If I know her it means I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mitchell/i-hope-i-can-never-trust-my-wife-if-i-trust-her-it-means-i-know-her/) [Ben Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mitchell/) > [When you have solved the problem of controlling the attention of the child, you have solved the entire problem of its education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/when-you-have-solved-the-problem-of-controlling-the-attention-of-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Look at what happened in the 1990s: when they balanced the federal budget, it was through growth in the economy and controlling spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/look-at-what-happened-in-the-1990s-when-they-balanced-the-federal/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) ## More by Alfonso Cuaron > [I was 8 when we landed on the moon. I was so into the space program as a kid. Eventually, I realized it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-was-8-when-we-landed-on-the-moon-i-was-so-into-the-space-program-as/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [My mom, she was, she studied chemistry. And later on she changed and majored, she changed later in her career, in her life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/my-mom-she-was-she-studied-chemistry-and-later-on-she-changed-and/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [I love that process in which there is no safety net. Then the actor also can allow mistakes, because there's no such a thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-love-that-process-in-which-there-is-no-safety-net-then-the-actor/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [For me, my films are not like my children. They are like my ex-wife. They gave me so much; I gave them so much;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/for-me-my-films-are-not-like-my-children-they-are-like-my-ex-wife/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [I produce the way I would love to be produced: In ways to create the best conditions to make your movie, but also to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-produce-the-way-i-would-love-to-be-produced-in-ways-to-create-the/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [When I finish a movie, I don’t ever see the movie again. The moment I finish the color correction and the mix, I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/when-i-finish-a-movie-i-don-t-ever-see-the-movie-again-the-moment-i/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [Cautionary tales were fantastic in the '70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/cautionary-tales-were-fantastic-in-the-70s/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [I left Mexico for artistic survival. If I had stayed, I would have been forced by the government, who control the movie business, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-left-mexico-for-artistic-survival-if-i-had-stayed-i-would-have-been/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [Once I finish a film, I don't ever see it again. Never ever. I have never seen any of my films since I finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/once-i-finish-a-film-i-don-t-ever-see-it-again-never-ever-i-have/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [I find it very stupid that teenagers could only see caricatures of teenagers but they couldn't see films that you try to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-find-it-very-stupid-that-teenagers-could-only-see-caricatures-of/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [This is the thing I have with awards: If awards would make your movie more pretty, I would really get super excited about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/this-is-the-thing-i-have-with-awards-if-awards-would-make-your-movie/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [I have my set rigged with the biggest sound system possible and have a mini jack for my iPod attached to my director's chair.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-have-my-set-rigged-with-the-biggest-sound-system-possible-and-have/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [I have my misgivings about 3-D. I don't like the lack of blacks and whites, how it dulls the image, how the color gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-have-my-misgivings-about-3-d-i-don-t-like-the-lack-of-blacks-and/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [“The way I see it, there are only two possible outcomes. Either I make it down there in one piece and I have one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/the-way-i-see-it-there-are-only-two-possible-outcomes-either-i-make/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [Style is just an impression. Style itself is hollow. Style, its ok style as long as it is part of a language. Style for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/style-is-just-an-impression-style-itself-is-hollow-style-its-ok-style/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) [Explore all 71 Alfonso Cuaron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I used to be very controlling with visuals and editing, and I would pretty much craft the performances; now I have learned to trust the material and the actors.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfonso Cuaron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-used-to-be-very-controlling-with-visuals-and-editing-and-i-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-used-to-be-very-controlling-with-visuals-and-editing-and-i-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/alfonso-cuaron-9576_actors_i-used-to-be-very-controlling-with-visua_1175579.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/alfonso-cuaron-9576_actors_i-used-to-be-very-controlling-with-visua_1175579.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d43/alfonso-cuaron-9576_actors_i-used-to-be-very-controlling-with-visua_1175579.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I used to be very controlling with visuals and editing, and I would pretty much craft the performances; now…” — Alfonso Cuaron", "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": "Alfonso Cuaron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I used to be very controlling...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-used-to-be-very-controlling-with-visuals-and-editing-and-i-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/i-used-to-be-very-controlling-with-visuals-and-editing-and-i-would/#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 } } ] } ```