--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have a particular philosophy in the…" description: "\"We have a particular philosophy in the casting room that we don't really tell the actors - the actors tell us.\" — Craig Zadan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/craig-zadan-15338_actor_we-have-a-particular-philosophy-in-the-c_3162141.jpg" --- # We have a particular philosophy in the casting room that… ![“We have a particular philosophy in the casting room that we don't really tell the actors - the actors tell us.” quote by Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/craig-zadan-15338_actor_we-have-a-particular-philosophy-in-the-c_3162141.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/craig-zadan-15338_actor_we-have-a-particular-philosophy-in-the-c_3162141.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/craig-zadan-15338_actor_we-have-a-particular-philosophy-in-the-c_3162141.jpg) > “We have a particular philosophy in the casting room that we don't really tell the actors - the actors tell us.” [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The director trusts actors to shape the story, letting their instincts guide decisions. **In simple terms:** Actors drive the creative direction. Key Takeaway Listen to actors’ instincts. Themes collaboration trust creativity Mood reflective inspired Type advice process When to use this quote - film production - theater rehearsals - creative workshops Key Concepts improvisation authoritative Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance actor input with vision? - When should a director intervene? A Different Perspective Actors may lack experience, leading to misguided choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-tell-249611/) [Casting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casting/) [Casting Room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casting-room-1326648/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Casting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-casting-5720262/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/room/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) [Tell Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-actors-400070/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [To walk into a casting room full of people who look like you is a crazy thing. What is the thing that necessitates all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daveed-diggs/to-walk-into-a-casting-room-full-of-people-who-look-like-you-is-a/) [Daveed Diggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daveed-diggs/) > [We've always had a simple philosophy in casting. We don't care if somebody's a big star or a little star. We just want the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/we-ve-always-had-a-simple-philosophy-in-casting-we-don-t-care-if/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [When people walk into our casting room, we do think about what you do outside of being an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/when-people-walk-into-our-casting-room-we-do-think-about-what-you-do/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [The first time when you can really get a sense of what the movie is going to look and feel like is when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michod/the-first-time-when-you-can-really-get-a-sense-of-what-the-movie-is/) [David Michod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michod/) > [When I'm sitting in a casting room in Paris, I'm not the thinnest model. Sometimes I'm not the most flat-chested, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrej-pejic/when-i-m-sitting-in-a-casting-room-in-paris-i-m-not-the-thinnest/) [Andrej Pejic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrej-pejic/) > [If you're a young person who wants to become an actor, it's really important to walk into a casting room with a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-ortega/if-you-re-a-young-person-who-wants-to-become-an-actor-it-s-really/) [Kenny Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-ortega/) > [When I came to Mumbai to act and it didn't work out for me for few years, I thought I will go back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-banerjee/when-i-came-to-mumbai-to-act-and-it-didn-t-work-out-for-me-for-few/) [Abhishek Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-banerjee/) > [It's really cool going into a casting room and having them know who you are and the work that you've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-shaffer/it-s-really-cool-going-into-a-casting-room-and-having-them-know-who/) [Atticus Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-shaffer/) > [One thing I always do is just tell actors that I'm as afraid as they are, because I can sense that, and I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/one-thing-i-always-do-is-just-tell-actors-that-i-m-as-afraid-as-they/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [I'd love to tell actors about all the things they don't need to worry about. Less is more. If you have it inside, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigourney-weaver/i-d-love-to-tell-actors-about-all-the-things-they-don-t-need-to-worry/) [Sigourney Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigourney-weaver/) > [I am beyond critical of my own work. I always tell actors they have to watch themselves 4-7 times in a given scene before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-ann-emery/i-am-beyond-critical-of-my-own-work-i-always-tell-actors-they-have-to/) [Julie Ann Emery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-ann-emery/) > [I tell the actors that the biggest gift they can give me is to fail. And that the second gift they can give me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-cianfrance/i-tell-the-actors-that-the-biggest-gift-they-can-give-me-is-to-fail/) [Derek Cianfrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-cianfrance/) > [I always tell other actors that work begets work. You never know where your next job is going to lead you, down the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-schull/i-always-tell-other-actors-that-work-begets-work-you-never-know-where/) [Amanda Schull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-schull/) > [I always tell actors, "Don't think of it as unemployment when you don't have a job. You have to think of it as being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-madsen/i-always-tell-actors-don-t-think-of-it-as-unemployment-when-you-don-t/) [Virginia Madsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-madsen/) > [Directors have so much else to do besides tell actors what to do. There are so many issues and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/directors-have-so-much-else-to-do-besides-tell-actors-what-to-do/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) ## More by Craig Zadan > [When you work on a passion project, there's always the chance that you'll get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/when-you-work-on-a-passion-project-there-s-always-the-chance-that-you/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [I think maybe the most important thing that we have to say is that people don't often talk about network executives being brave. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/i-think-maybe-the-most-important-thing-that-we-have-to-say-is-that/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [We'd never do 'The Sound of Music' because the movie was perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/we-d-never-do-the-sound-of-music-because-the-movie-was-perfect/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [When we did 'Chicago' and we announced Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, and Queen Latifah, everybody went crazy and said, 'What are they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/when-we-did-chicago-and-we-announced-renee-zellweger-catherine-zeta/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [Carrie Underwood clearly drove 'The Sound of Music.' For 'Peter Pan,' we had terrific actors but not stars, and we did not do nearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/carrie-underwood-clearly-drove-the-sound-of-music-for-peter-pan-we/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [To battle the odds - loss of interest, no funding, discouragement - requires someone who doesn't give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/to-battle-the-odds-loss-of-interest-no-funding-discouragement/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [We zero in on family as a theme because it makes the movies emotionally available to a universal audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/we-zero-in-on-family-as-a-theme-because-it-makes-the-movies/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [Neil and I share a desire for great quality in our work. If we are offered projects, look at projects, or consider projects that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/neil-and-i-share-a-desire-for-great-quality-in-our-work-if-we-are/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [We're finding that the casting of 'A Few Good Men' is different from the musicals because the kind of actors that you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/we-re-finding-that-the-casting-of-a-few-good-men-is-different-from/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [The future for us is not to go bigger but to go different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/the-future-for-us-is-not-to-go-bigger-but-to-go-different/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [Basically, we had the idea of doing this production of 'Steel Magnolias,' and we spoke to Queen Latifah about it, and she got excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/basically-we-had-the-idea-of-doing-this-production-of-steel-magnolias/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [If anything's going to go wrong, it'd go wrong during 'Peter Pan,' not 'The Sound of Music.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/if-anything-s-going-to-go-wrong-it-d-go-wrong-during-peter-pan-not/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [The reality of producing the Oscars is that it's a blood sport. With social media, everyone has a chance to voice their opinions. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/the-reality-of-producing-the-oscars-is-that-it-s-a-blood-sport-with/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [I don't understand how other producers who have no experience making a musical jump in and produce one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/i-don-t-understand-how-other-producers-who-have-no-experience-making/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) > [It was very, very difficult to be a student in the drama department and also review my professors' school shows. I got a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zadan/it-was-very-very-difficult-to-be-a-student-in-the-drama-department/) [Craig Zadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) [Explore all 43 Craig Zadan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zadan/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [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/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. 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