---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel like a lot of directing is casting."
description: "\"I feel like a lot of directing is casting.\" — Damien Chazelle"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/damien-chazelle-8242_casting_i-feel-like-a-lot-of-directing-is-castin_336007.jpg"
---

#  I feel like a lot of directing is casting.

![“I feel like a lot of directing is casting.” quote by Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/damien-chazelle-8242_casting_i-feel-like-a-lot-of-directing-is-castin_336007.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/damien-chazelle-8242_casting_i-feel-like-a-lot-of-directing-is-castin_336007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/damien-chazelle-8242_casting_i-feel-like-a-lot-of-directing-is-castin_336007.jpg)

> “I feel like a lot of directing is casting.”

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Directing involves shaping vision, often through casting choices.

**In simple terms:** Directing is about casting.

Key Takeaway

Focus on casting decisions.

Themes

directing vision casting

Mood

analytical creative

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- film production
- theater
- advertising

Key Concepts

creative control storytelling

Questions to Reflect On

- How does casting influence a story?
- What other directing aspects matter?

A Different Perspective

Casting alone doesn’t guarantee success.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [I keep saying this, but the most important part of directing is casting, and the rest of it is pretty easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-winkler/i-keep-saying-this-but-the-most-important-part-of-directing-is/)

[Max Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-winkler/)

> [I think people forget that a lot of directing is just real management of the size of a production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavid-hood/i-think-people-forget-that-a-lot-of-directing-is-just-real-management/)

[Gavid Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavid-hood/)

> [I relieve myself from the rigours of directing by casting the movie correctly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-huston/i-relieve-myself-from-the-rigours-of-directing-by-casting-the-movie/)

[John Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-huston/)

> [If I have things my way, over the next few years, I'm going to be doing a lot more directing and a lot less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jane/if-i-have-things-my-way-over-the-next-few-years-i-m-going-to-be-doing/)

[Thomas Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jane/)

> [There's a lot of directing within the stunt coordinator's job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leitch/there-s-a-lot-of-directing-within-the-stunt-coordinator-s-job/)

[David Leitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leitch/)

> [When I first moved to New York, I had some colleagues who said I should be my straightest self - whatever that means -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/when-i-first-moved-to-new-york-i-had-some-colleagues-who-said-i/)

[Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/)

> [I feel like I could be good at directing or producing, but I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-mann/i-feel-like-i-could-be-good-at-directing-or-producing-but-i-don-t-know/)

[Leslie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-mann/)

> [Directing's the best part. Whenever I've directed something, there's this feeling of demand and focus that I like. And secondly, it means that you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/directing-s-the-best-part-whenever-i-ve-directed-something-there-s/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I feel like I won the Lotto, as far as that show's concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gallagher/i-feel-like-i-won-the-lotto-as-far-as-that-show-s-concerned/)

[Peter Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gallagher/)

> [I feel like everyone has a preference. You have women who don't like shorter guys. You have women who like taller guys. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sevyn-streeter/i-feel-like-everyone-has-a-preference-you-have-women-who-don-t-like/)

[Sevyn Streeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sevyn-streeter/)

> [On 'Workaholics,' I feel like I'm just hanging out with my buddies being filmed, but on 'Mindy,' I'm around professional funny people who act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/on-workaholics-i-feel-like-i-m-just-hanging-out-with-my-buddies-being/)

[Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/)

> [I read real books. On paper. You know, those printed books? I feel like this is the last thing I do to support my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/i-read-real-books-on-paper-you-know-those-printed-books-i-feel-like/)

[Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/)

> [I own about 300 pairs of shoes. When I start to go over 300, I have mini-sales from my closet and give the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/i-own-about-300-pairs-of-shoes-when-i-start-to-go-over-300-i-have/)

[Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/)

> [Some people don't like my songs because they think they're too simple or easy or not that thought-out. I feel like the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langhorne-slim/some-people-don-t-like-my-songs-because-they-think-they-re-too-simple/)

[Langhorne Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langhorne-slim/)

> [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

## More by Damien Chazelle

> [My motivation for being a good drummer was born out of fear, which, in a way, seems so antithetical to what art should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/my-motivation-for-being-a-good-drummer-was-born-out-of-fear-which-in/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [It's interesting when you wind up distilling all your ambitions and your goals and dreams into one single person. It's giving that person a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/it-s-interesting-when-you-wind-up-distilling-all-your-ambitions-and/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [In a weird way, I'm always going to ground myself. I'm an insecure kind of pessimist, but I'm always kind of waiting for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/in-a-weird-way-i-m-always-going-to-ground-myself-i-m-an-insecure-kind/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [Real practice means working on stuff you're not good at. Real practice is about butting your head against the wall repeatedly until you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/real-practice-means-working-on-stuff-you-re-not-good-at-real-practice/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [It's a little difficult when something goes from being an utter obsession - a thing where your skill defines you as a person -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/it-s-a-little-difficult-when-something-goes-from-being-an-utter/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [I love the ending of 'The Wrestler.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/i-love-the-ending-of-the-wrestler/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [It was only through getting interested in more out-there and avant-garde forms that the musical suddenly seemed like such a wonderful genre to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/it-was-only-through-getting-interested-in-more-out-there-and-avant/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [If you're an artist, you want to draw from real life; you want to draw from experiences, emotion, and it's something that a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/if-you-re-an-artist-you-want-to-draw-from-real-life-you-want-to-draw/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [I was interested in music and making movies about musicians, but my own experiences, and doing what it felt like for me to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/i-was-interested-in-music-and-making-movies-about-musicians-but-my/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [There are a lot of musicians in my life. But movies came first for me. That was my original passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/there-are-a-lot-of-musicians-in-my-life-but-movies-came-first-for-me/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [By the end of high school, I had this fork-in-the-road moment where part of me considered going to vocational music school to really pursue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/by-the-end-of-high-school-i-had-this-fork-in-the-road-moment-where/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [At the upper echelon of musicians in general, I guess performers in general, you have to have this kind of live-or-die, cutthroat mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/at-the-upper-echelon-of-musicians-in-general-i-guess-performers-in/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [If you want to make a movie, there may be many forces trying to pull you down, but really, a lot of it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/if-you-want-to-make-a-movie-there-may-be-many-forces-trying-to-pull/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [I would break a lot of cymbals. You whack the cymbals hard enough, and they will crack in half. Drums are not actually as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/i-would-break-a-lot-of-cymbals-you-whack-the-cymbals-hard-enough-and/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

> [Practicing is not normally fun. Sometimes people say they're practicing, but they're really just enjoying themselves and the instrument. That's not real practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/practicing-is-not-normally-fun-sometimes-people-say-they-re/)

[Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

[Explore all 82 Damien Chazelle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/)

## More Casting quotes

> [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 being called in by all the great casting directors. It's no longer based on a headshot. I realize now what they're buying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-gonzalez/i-m-being-called-in-by-all-the-great-casting-directors-it-s-no-longer/)

[Nicholas Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-gonzalez/)

> [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/)

[Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/)

> [There's a certain feeling of giving, a certain feeling of generosity in love songs. When you sing a song of love, you're actually giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/there-s-a-certain-feeling-of-giving-a-certain-feeling-of-generosity/)

[Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/)

> [It would have been an interesting run if we hadn't gotten along! It was good casting, I suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-west/it-would-have-been-an-interesting-run-if-we-hadn-t-gotten-along-it/)

[Dominic West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-west/)

> [People are always casting me for what they call my 'authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-hunt/people-are-always-casting-me-for-what-they-call-my-authority/)

[Linda Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-hunt/)

> [So here I sit in the early candle-light of old age-I and my book-casting backward glances over out travel'd road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/so-here-i-sit-in-the-early-candle-light-of-old-age-i-and-my-book/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [I guess my height has hurt me as much as it's helped me. In comedy people don't mind casting tall women next to shorter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/i-guess-my-height-has-hurt-me-as-much-as-it-s-helped-me-in-comedy/)

[Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/)

> [I don't think anyone went the polls and said, 'I am casting my vote to make sure that Wall Street has better chances to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/i-don-t-think-anyone-went-the-polls-and-said-i-am-casting-my-vote-to/)

[Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/)

> [I think Michael Crawford realised, I think we all realised, once we'd gone the route of casting a very young girl, you can't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/i-think-michael-crawford-realised-i-think-we-all-realised-once-we-d/)

[Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/)

> [Seen from the point of view of the composer, the most nonsensical practice is that of casting people in musicals who are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gold/seen-from-the-point-of-view-of-the-composer-the-most-nonsensical/)

Ernest Gold

> [I spend a long time casting, but once I've cast a film there's a reason why I selected those people. So I'm hands-on in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-spend-a-long-time-casting-but-once-i-ve-cast-a-film-there-s-a/)

[Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/)

> [That's the fun thing of casting a show. I'm a pretty strong believer that TV makes stars, not the other way around. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kring/that-s-the-fun-thing-of-casting-a-show-i-m-a-pretty-strong-believer/)

[Tim Kring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kring/)

> [AMC has a track record for finding actors who have been working actors but not names yet and casting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-enos/amc-has-a-track-record-for-finding-actors-who-have-been-working/)

[Mireille Enos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireille-enos/)

> [I have to speak for myself. As far as videos go - casting, the artwork, everything - I'm completely hands-on. You have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pink/i-have-to-speak-for-myself-as-far-as-videos-go-casting-the-artwork/)

[Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pink/)

Browse all 858 Casting quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I feel like a lot of directing is casting.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Damien Chazelle"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/i-feel-like-a-lot-of-directing-is-casting/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Casting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/i-feel-like-a-lot-of-directing-is-casting/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/damien-chazelle-8242_casting_i-feel-like-a-lot-of-directing-is-castin_336007.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/damien-chazelle-8242_casting_i-feel-like-a-lot-of-directing-is-castin_336007.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/damien-chazelle-8242_casting_i-feel-like-a-lot-of-directing-is-castin_336007.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I feel like a lot of directing is casting.” — Damien Chazelle",
                "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": "Damien Chazelle",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I feel like a lot of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/i-feel-like-a-lot-of-directing-is-casting/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/i-feel-like-a-lot-of-directing-is-casting/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```