--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great thing about having spent all…" description: "\"The great thing about having spent all this time on film sets is that I've been able to watch directors and how they work. I now know that this is what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/catherine-mccormack-29920_able_the-great-thing-about-having-spent-all-t_3208516.png" --- # The great thing about having spent all this time on film… ![“The great thing about having spent all this time on film sets is that I've been able to watch directors and how they work. I now know that this is what I want to do as well: to tell stories visually. But it's definitely my vision that I want to put across, nobody else's.” quote by Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/catherine-mccormack-29920_able_the-great-thing-about-having-spent-all-t_3208516.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/catherine-mccormack-29920_able_the-great-thing-about-having-spent-all-t_3208516.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/catherine-mccormack-29920_able_the-great-thing-about-having-spent-all-t_3208516.png) > “The great thing about having spent all this time on film sets is that I've been able to watch directors and how they work. I now know that this is what I want to do as well: to tell stories visually. But it's definitely my vision that I want to put across, nobody else's.” [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She learned from observing directors and realized her own desire to create visual stories, emphasizing personal vision over others'. **In simple terms:** She wants to tell her own visual stories after watching directors work. Key Takeaway Prioritize your unique visual storytelling. Themes creativity vision film storytelling Mood inspired determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - film directing - personal projects - visual storytelling workshops Key Concepts visual narrative authorial voice directorial observation Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain your vision while collaborating? - What steps help you develop a distinct visual style? A Different Perspective Balancing personal vision with collaborative filmmaking can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [As a director, you never get to watch other directors work, and you also don't get to collaborate with other directors that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/as-a-director-you-never-get-to-watch-other-directors-work-and-you/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [Somehow I got to be one of five or six actors that the directors would use as guinea pigs at this directing colloquium, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-henley/somehow-i-got-to-be-one-of-five-or-six-actors-that-the-directors/) [Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) > [Gotta watch out for directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/gotta-watch-out-for-directors/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I never had a burning desire to direct. But Burt and I, on many pictures together, used to watch other directors and we realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-never-had-a-burning-desire-to-direct-but-burt-and-i-on-many/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [With every movie I produce, I learn something. I watch the directors. It's like the relationship you have with your children. I'm there to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/with-every-movie-i-produce-i-learn-something-i-watch-the-directors-it/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [I just want to play interesting characters, and I want to work with the best directors I can work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-just-want-to-play-interesting-characters-and-i-want-to-work-with/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [On a very small scale, I kind of understand why the directors that I work with do certain things. I don't consider myself an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-kiyoko/on-a-very-small-scale-i-kind-of-understand-why-the-directors-that-i/) [Hayley Kiyoko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-kiyoko/) > [Some directors work from day to day. I work from moment to moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-romero/some-directors-work-from-day-to-day-i-work-from-moment-to-moment/) [George A. Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/) > [There's nothing worse than a director that keeps changing their mind. Because, unlike the directors I work with, I'm not decisive at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-martinez/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-director-that-keeps-changing-their-mind/) [Cliff Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-martinez/) > [Really, what I'm doing is an attempt to continue the best work of the people I adore: Francis Coppola and Scorsese and Robert Altman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/really-what-i-m-doing-is-an-attempt-to-continue-the-best-work-of-the/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I watched a couple of really bad directors work, and I saw how they completely botched it up and missed the visual opportunities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-watched-a-couple-of-really-bad-directors-work-and-i-saw-how-they/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I had worked for a lot of directors whose work I didn't respect, and as I was editing material, I was thinking about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/i-had-worked-for-a-lot-of-directors-whose-work-i-didn-t-respect-and/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [All of the directors I work with have their own unique gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/all-of-the-directors-i-work-with-have-their-own-unique-gifts/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [I work with big directors. I work with good actors. I act in female-centric films. And I do all this without ever indulging in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jeremiah/i-work-with-big-directors-i-work-with-good-actors-i-act-in-female/) [Andrea Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jeremiah/) > [I think I've always wanted to direct, but I didn't go to film school. I was lucky enough to work in movies, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-think-i-ve-always-wanted-to-direct-but-i-didn-t-go-to-film-school-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) ## More by Catherine McCormack > [I'm so glad this is the last day of these thing, I get so tired of listening to my own voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/i-m-so-glad-this-is-the-last-day-of-these-thing-i-get-so-tired-of/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [I happen to have worked with male directors who don't understand women at all. Not at all. I'm flabbergasted by their ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/i-happen-to-have-worked-with-male-directors-who-don-t-understand/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [Sunday evenings often feel like the weekend is over before it's even begun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/sunday-evenings-often-feel-like-the-weekend-is-over-before-it-s-even/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [Left to my own devices I'd get up at midday every day of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/left-to-my-own-devices-i-d-get-up-at-midday-every-day-of-my-life/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [Occasionally I go shopping for clothes, but I find the whole thing a real chore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/occasionally-i-go-shopping-for-clothes-but-i-find-the-whole-thing-a/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [Rufus? He's a grand kisser, and he's dead sexy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/rufus-he-s-a-grand-kisser-and-he-s-dead-sexy/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [Britain is producing some of the worst films in the world. Our film industry is desperate to be part of America, and we just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/britain-is-producing-some-of-the-worst-films-in-the-world-our-film/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [I lead a very boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/i-lead-a-very-boring-life/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [It's funny, I listen to friends who talk about back when they were 14, eight, 16, whatever, as if it was yesterday. Me, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/it-s-funny-i-listen-to-friends-who-talk-about-back-when-they-were-14/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [What's it like to kiss Mel Gibson?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/what-s-it-like-to-kiss-mel-gibson/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [The events with Henry III happened, obviously the way it happened, liberties were taken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/the-events-with-henry-iii-happened-obviously-the-way-it-happened/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [I listen to Radio 4 and put the iPod on shuffle. I like the randomness of, say, the Stones, then something from Nina Simone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/i-listen-to-radio-4-and-put-the-ipod-on-shuffle-i-like-the-randomness/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [If I'm not working, I have a habit of becoming rather insular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/if-i-m-not-working-i-have-a-habit-of-becoming-rather-insular/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [Actors are accustomed to doing exactly what the director or writer requests us to do, and rarely get involved in that part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/actors-are-accustomed-to-doing-exactly-what-the-director-or-writer/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) > [In my entire career? I am so sick of being asked, What's it like to kiss Mel Gibson?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mccormack/in-my-entire-career-i-am-so-sick-of-being-asked-what-s-it-like-to/) [Catherine McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) [Explore all 18 Catherine McCormack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mccormack/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [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/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The great thing about having spent all this time on film sets is that I've been able to watch directors and how they work. I now know that this is what I want to do as well: to tell stories visually. 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