--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As an actor you have to bring to the…" description: "\"As an actor you have to bring to the table your creative input. But when a director like Ridley Scott says I want you to do this this way, you know whe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/cuba-gooding-jr-14311_actor_as-an-actor-you-have-to-bring-to-the-tab_1890845.jpg" --- # As an actor you have to bring to the table your creative… ![“As an actor you have to bring to the table your creative input. But when a director like Ridley Scott says I want you to do this this way, you know when he gets to the editing room he has a reason for it. It's like watching a masterpiece.” quote by Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/cuba-gooding-jr-14311_actor_as-an-actor-you-have-to-bring-to-the-tab_1890845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/cuba-gooding-jr-14311_actor_as-an-actor-you-have-to-bring-to-the-tab_1890845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/cuba-gooding-jr-14311_actor_as-an-actor-you-have-to-bring-to-the-tab_1890845.jpg) > “As an actor you have to bring to the table your creative input. But when a director like Ridley Scott says I want you to do this this way, you know when he gets to the editing room he has a reason for it. It's like watching a masterpiece.” [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors must balance personal creativity with a director's vision, trusting that editorial choices shape the final masterpiece. **In simple terms:** Blend your ideas with the director's plan. Key Takeaway Respect the director while contributing your own voice. Themes collaboration creativity filmmaking authority trust Mood reflective professional inspired Type advice industry insight When to use this quote - film sets - theatre rehearsals - creative workshops - post‑production meetings Key Concepts artistic expression directorial control editing decisions Questions to Reflect On - How do you negotiate creative input with a strong director? - When does following direction become compromising your art? A Different Perspective The director’s vision may limit an actor’s freedom, potentially stifling originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Bring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-bring-339063/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Director Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-like/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing/) [I want you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-want-you/) [Input](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/input/) [Like Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-ridley-1600834/) [Masterpiece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masterpiece/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridley-scott/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Tables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tables/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I've done movies with a sword before. But I haven't really been given the full responsibility of something like a Ridley Scott film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-bloom/i-ve-done-movies-with-a-sword-before-but-i-haven-t-really-been-given/) [Orlando Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-bloom/) > [ In other words, when you have someone \[like Ridley Scott\] with that authority, then you tend to be left alone. But they were good… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/in-other-words-when-you-have-someone-like-ridley-scott-with-that/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [I don't think it would be possible for me to respect people like Ridley Scott or James Cameron more than I already do. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-w-s-anderson/i-don-t-think-it-would-be-possible-for-me-to-respect-people-like/) [Paul W. S. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-w-s-anderson/) > [A good director is like a good coach. You want to play for him. You want to really show him your good stuff. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/a-good-director-is-like-a-good-coach-you-want-to-play-for-him-you/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I think - in general, I don't think I've been involved in a single movie that turned out the way I anticipated it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-think-in-general-i-don-t-think-i-ve-been-involved-in-a-single-movie/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [No, I went through a process just like I would any other job in which my agent received the breakdown for 'Doctor Who' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandip-gill/no-i-went-through-a-process-just-like-i-would-any-other-job-in-which/) [Mandip Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandip-gill/) > [I only want to use my status as a comic actor to bring about a difference to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karunas/i-only-want-to-use-my-status-as-a-comic-actor-to-bring-about-a/) [Karunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karunas/) > [Sometimes, if you leave yourself open, an actor can bring nice nuances to a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-twohy/sometimes-if-you-leave-yourself-open-an-actor-can-bring-nice-nuances/) [David Twohy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-twohy/) > [As an actor you bring some of your own experiences which can make things easier. You build off of it, but your imagination is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-vaughn/as-an-actor-you-bring-some-of-your-own-experiences-which-can-make/) [Vince Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-vaughn/) > [I think the responsibility that any actor has is to bring some truth to the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-think-the-responsibility-that-any-actor-has-is-to-bring-some-truth/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [When you are an actor, you bring a tool in your craft but you are not that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/when-you-are-an-actor-you-bring-a-tool-in-your-craft-but-you-are-not/) [Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/) > [I was fortunate as a young actor, to go straight to the RSC, where I learned that being an actor can bring with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/i-was-fortunate-as-a-young-actor-to-go-straight-to-the-rsc-where-i/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [The most important thing you can do as an actor is bring as much of yourself to the character to ground the character in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/the-most-important-thing-you-can-do-as-an-actor-is-bring-as-much-of/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [The best thing an actor can bring to a role is himself - that's no secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-role-is-himself-that-s-no/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [As an actor I can bring the story, the narrative in each performance. If I can't do that, then... might as well give up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-fletcher/as-an-actor-i-can-bring-the-story-the-narrative-in-each-performance/) [Kelvin Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-fletcher/) ## More by Cuba Gooding, Jr > [I worked so much when my first son was born that I missed a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/i-worked-so-much-when-my-first-son-was-born-that-i-missed-a-lot/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [When I won the Oscar, I fell into that mind-set that this is a precious role. People everywhere were shouting, 'Show me the money!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/when-i-won-the-oscar-i-fell-into-that-mind-set-that-this-is-a/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [At one point, I was greenlighting films and scripts that shouldn't have been made based on the fact that they had that stamp of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/at-one-point-i-was-greenlighting-films-and-scripts-that-shouldn-t/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [I'm not a prude. On the set, they called me 'Butt Naked.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/i-m-not-a-prude-on-the-set-they-called-me-butt-naked/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [I've been given that gift of working with Jack Nicholson and James Coburn and certain people who just out of nowhere break into stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/i-ve-been-given-that-gift-of-working-with-jack-nicholson-and-james/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [I have never made a decision based on race and never will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/i-have-never-made-a-decision-based-on-race-and-never-will/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [I think police officers are modern day heroes. I think they protect us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/i-think-police-officers-are-modern-day-heroes-i-think-they-protect-us/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [The hardest part was when I was in high school not having a job and always being broke. I had to get to auditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/the-hardest-part-was-when-i-was-in-high-school-not-having-a-job-and/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [I understand it all. I can write my own ticket for one or two movies. But if they're not the right ones, my ticket…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/i-understand-it-all-i-can-write-my-own-ticket-for-one-or-two-movies/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [I speak to my agent about great roles, and he's like, 'They are all going to Will Smith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/i-speak-to-my-agent-about-great-roles-and-he-s-like-they-are-all/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [Don't let people disrespect you. My mom says don't open the door to the devil. Surround yourself with positive people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/don-t-let-people-disrespect-you-my-mom-says-don-t-open-the-door-to/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [My wife and I have been together since 1986. I graduated in '86 and she graduated in '88. We began dating when she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/my-wife-and-i-have-been-together-since-1986-i-graduated-in-86-and-she/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [Our job as artists is to reflect the ills of society sometimes and to find a truth in that, and I think you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/our-job-as-artists-is-to-reflect-the-ills-of-society-sometimes-and-to/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [The Academy Awards was an amazing night. I know I kind of lost my mind a little bit. I apologize for that. That night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/the-academy-awards-was-an-amazing-night-i-know-i-kind-of-lost-my-mind/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [I don't choose parts. I choose filmmakers. I'm done trying to make a statement with a character. What happens is, I craft a performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/i-don-t-choose-parts-i-choose-filmmakers-i-m-done-trying-to-make-a/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) [Explore all 47 Cuba Gooding, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) ## 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. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As an actor you have to bring to the table your creative input. But when a director like Ridley Scott says I want you to do this this way, you know when he gets to the editing room he has a reason for it. 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