--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there's one thing that I know how to…" description: "\"If there's one thing that I know how to do, it's talk to actors. From what I have experienced working with so many different directors in so many diffe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/carrie-preston-12501_cinema_if-there-s-one-thing-that-i-know-how-to_2905547.png" --- # If there's one thing that I know how to do, it's talk to… ![“If there's one thing that I know how to do, it's talk to actors. From what I have experienced working with so many different directors in so many different things, a lot of them don't really know how to talk to us.” quote by Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/carrie-preston-12501_cinema_if-there-s-one-thing-that-i-know-how-to_2905547.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/carrie-preston-12501_cinema_if-there-s-one-thing-that-i-know-how-to_2905547.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/carrie-preston-12501_cinema_if-there-s-one-thing-that-i-know-how-to_2905547.png) > “If there's one thing that I know how to do, it's talk to actors. From what I have experienced working with so many different directors in so many different things, a lot of them don't really know how to talk to us.” [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors often lack clear communication with directors, leading to misunderstandings and suboptimal performances. **In simple terms:** Clear dialogue improves collaboration. Key Takeaway Ask directors for specific feedback. Themes communication collaboration acting Mood inquisitive practical Type advice professional When to use this quote - film set - theatre rehearsal - workshop - casting session Key Concepts dialogue dynamics creative process Questions to Reflect On - What questions can you ask to clarify direction? - How can you adapt to different directing styles? A Different Perspective Some directors prefer indirect guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors Experienced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-experienced-1775514/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Different Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-directors-455182/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Directors Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-different-1564735/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk/) [Talk Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-actors-394502/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [Different directors have different things, so when I left Mike Leigh, as it were, and I went into other projects after 'All or Nothing,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/different-directors-have-different-things-so-when-i-left-mike-leigh/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [Different directors have different techniques in the use of films. Cronenberg is very different in the way he works with film, and how he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-shore/different-directors-have-different-techniques-in-the-use-of-films/) [Howard Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-shore/) > [The beautiful thing about art is that there's always somewhere to go. There's always something new to explore and, as an artist, that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/the-beautiful-thing-about-art-is-that-there-s-always-somewhere-to-go/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [The techniques of different directors are very different, and people have different ways of expressing ideas in film. I'm happiest when working with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-shore/the-techniques-of-different-directors-are-very-different-and-people/) [Howard Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-shore/) > [I get to meet different directors and different people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quvenzhane-wallis/i-get-to-meet-different-directors-and-different-people/) [Quvenzhane Wallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quvenzhane-wallis/) > [It is great to work on different scripts with different directors who have different styles. You get so much experience from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-bostick/it-is-great-to-work-on-different-scripts-with-different-directors-who/) [Devon Bostick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-bostick/) > [I'm lucky that I've worked with so many different directors with very different styles and with a lot of different actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-m-lucky-that-i-ve-worked-with-so-many-different-directors-with-very/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [I think I've learned a lot working with actors as experienced as Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. They taught me that whatever happens during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-blue-richards/i-think-i-ve-learned-a-lot-working-with-actors-as-experienced-as/) [Dakota Blue Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-blue-richards/) > [Some directors hardly talk to the actors at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/some-directors-hardly-talk-to-the-actors-at-all/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [When you are not working in TV and primarily doing film, you're working with one director for a long period of time, so getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/when-you-are-not-working-in-tv-and-primarily-doing-film-you-re/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [I've been in this business a long time, and I've worked with a lot of different directors now. It's cool to get the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rooker/i-ve-been-in-this-business-a-long-time-and-i-ve-worked-with-a-lot-of/) [Michael Rooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rooker/) > [Priyadarshan has directed over 84 films and more than 150 ad films. With every film, he is growing. He knows his job well; he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/priyadarshan-has-directed-over-84-films-and-more-than-150-ad-films/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [I made one contribution to a film about the 11th of September: there were 11 directors and everyone had a different take on that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/i-made-one-contribution-to-a-film-about-the-11th-of-september-there/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [All directors are different. Certainly, the directors that I respond to the most are guys that figure it out by doing it, not by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/all-directors-are-different-certainly-the-directors-that-i-respond-to/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [In the '90s, indie movies could get financing, because financers gave money straight to directors... Now it's a different system. Indie movies got co-opted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/in-the-90s-indie-movies-could-get-financing-because-financers-gave/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) ## More by Carrie Preston > [Everyone thinks they went to high school with me. I take it as a compliment that I look different in every role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/everyone-thinks-they-went-to-high-school-with-me-i-take-it-as-a/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [By the time I was twelve, I had started my own theater company and was doing plays in the backyard and the front yard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/by-the-time-i-was-twelve-i-had-started-my-own-theater-company-and-was/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [Auditioning is so different than doing the work in some ways. It's very much about solving the scene, I think, and coming in with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/auditioning-is-so-different-than-doing-the-work-in-some-ways-it-s/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I got my first big paycheck for 'My Best Friend's Wedding.' This was in the days when you actually did get paid to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-got-my-first-big-paycheck-for-my-best-friend-s-wedding-this-was-in/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I have a great amount of respect for what a manicurist does - now, when I go and get my own nails done at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-have-a-great-amount-of-respect-for-what-a-manicurist-does-now-when/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I have a recurring role on 'Person of Interest,' which is my husband's show. I play the love of his life. 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Nothing is more humbling and more exhilarating than taking ahold of those sacred words and riding them like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-owe-so-much-to-shakespeare-nothing-is-more-humbling-and-more/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I do like to get inspired by and support any female leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-do-like-to-get-inspired-by-and-support-any-female-leads/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I'm a character actor and I get lost in these characters, so I think it's only recently that people have begun to connect dots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-m-a-character-actor-and-i-get-lost-in-these-characters-so-i-think/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [What I like to do as an actor is transform. It's way more fun to play characters who are completely different than me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/what-i-like-to-do-as-an-actor-is-transform-it-s-way-more-fun-to-play/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I think that in order for anything to work on television, you have to have conflict. Nothing can be too happy or it's boring.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-think-that-in-order-for-anything-to-work-on-television-you-have-to/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [Getting or not getting the job isn't an indicator of your abilities. You're going to get jobs when you think you sucked, and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/getting-or-not-getting-the-job-isn-t-an-indicator-of-your-abilities/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) > [I tend to play every color in the Southern rainbow, and the challenge is to make each character different so I'm not doing any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-preston/i-tend-to-play-every-color-in-the-southern-rainbow-and-the-challenge/) [Carrie Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) [Explore all 54 Carrie Preston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-preston/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [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/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [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/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there's one thing that I know how to do, it's talk to actors. 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