--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think actors like to be directed…" description: "\"I think actors like to be directed. Actors like to know where they're headed and what they want, so I'm very encouraging.\" — Dan Mazer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/dan-mazer-31559_actors_i-think-actors-like-to-be-directed-actor_965863.jpg" --- # I think actors like to be directed. Actors like to know… ![“I think actors like to be directed. Actors like to know where they're headed and what they want, so I'm very encouraging.” quote by Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/dan-mazer-31559_actors_i-think-actors-like-to-be-directed-actor_965863.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/dan-mazer-31559_actors_i-think-actors-like-to-be-directed-actor_965863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/dan-mazer-31559_actors_i-think-actors-like-to-be-directed-actor_965863.jpg) > “I think actors like to be directed. Actors like to know where they're headed and what they want, so I'm very encouraging.” [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors thrive when they understand the vision and expectations, allowing them to perform confidently. **In simple terms:** Clear direction helps actors. Better Key Takeaway Provide clear goals and supportive guidance. Themes leadership communication performance Mood encouraging collaborative Type advice motivational When to use this quote - film sets - theater rehearsals - team projects - coaching sessions Key Concepts Motivation creative direction Questions to Reflect On - How does clarity affect creative freedom? - What balance between guidance and autonomy works best? A Different Perspective Actors may resist if direction feels restrictive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Acting to me is a very organic art form and you just go and do it. And I like to direct the same way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/acting-to-me-is-a-very-organic-art-form-and-you-just-go-and-do-it-and/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I don't much like being directed. I enjoy being allowed to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/i-don-t-much-like-being-directed-i-enjoy-being-allowed-to-play/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [I like to be directed, but when I'm flying and I'm on fire, I don't want someone coming and getting in my way just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/i-like-to-be-directed-but-when-i-m-flying-and-i-m-on-fire-i-don-t/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [I guess once you've been acting for a long time, you glean the great bits of good directors and the bad bits from other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/i-guess-once-you-ve-been-acting-for-a-long-time-you-glean-the-great/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I like to direct the same way that I like to be directed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/i-like-to-direct-the-same-way-that-i-like-to-be-directed/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [When you work with an actor, it's cool because they know what it's like to be directed themselves. Jodie directed a scene with me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-prepon/when-you-work-with-an-actor-it-s-cool-because-they-know-what-it-s/) [Laura Prepon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-prepon/) > [Being an actor, you know what it feels like to be directed, so when the chance comes for you to direct someone else, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-morrone/being-an-actor-you-know-what-it-feels-like-to-be-directed-so-when-the/) [Camila Morrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-morrone/) > [I've been directed by other actors, and being an actor doesn't make you a good director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-ve-been-directed-by-other-actors-and-being-an-actor-doesn-t-make/) [Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/) > [To me, I think of my actors like they're my spouse. You chose them, and you love them, and you know them so intimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-song/to-me-i-think-of-my-actors-like-they-re-my-spouse-you-chose-them-and/) [Celine Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-song/) > [My preference is live performance, because you get the feedback. There's an energy. It's live theater. That's why I think actors like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/my-preference-is-live-performance-because-you-get-the-feedback-there-2/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I think most actors like to be liked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/i-think-most-actors-like-to-be-liked/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) > [It's a nice challenge to escape your reality. I think that's why actors do what we do. We like to play other people. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-maeve/it-s-a-nice-challenge-to-escape-your-reality-i-think-that-s-why/) [Stella Maeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-maeve/) > [I think actors always like to think they don't bring the character home, and then their family all laugh and tell you otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beckinsale/i-think-actors-always-like-to-think-they-don-t-bring-the-character/) [Kate Beckinsale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beckinsale/) > [I think most actors like to do things that are right outside of their comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beatriz/i-think-most-actors-like-to-do-things-that-are-right-outside-of-their/) [Stephanie Beatriz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beatriz/) > [When you're still, and some actors are really brilliant at that, you bring a kind of energy to you as opposed to sending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/when-you-re-still-and-some-actors-are-really-brilliant-at-that-you/) [Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/) ## More by Dan Mazer > [I like to foster an atmosphere on set of collaboration and openness and risk taking. The beauty is when you have such brilliantly talented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/i-like-to-foster-an-atmosphere-on-set-of-collaboration-and-openness/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [I don't want to sound arrogant and say that I know everything about directing and I've got it cracked, but it was just all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/i-don-t-want-to-sound-arrogant-and-say-that-i-know-everything-about/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [I've been on lots of film sets. I've produced films and written films and been around, so it wasn't my first rodeo in terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/i-ve-been-on-lots-of-film-sets-i-ve-produced-films-and-written-films/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [It's incredibly easy as a director to be egotistical. Of course, it is because you have 200 people on set every day listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/it-s-incredibly-easy-as-a-director-to-be-egotistical-of-course-it-is/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [My casting process was slightly different and slightly interesting insofar as I knew everybody could act. That's something you've seen. You know people can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/my-casting-process-was-slightly-different-and-slightly-interesting/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [So, as opposed to getting people in to read the script and read scenes with me, what I wanted to do was sit down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/so-as-opposed-to-getting-people-in-to-read-the-script-and-read-scenes/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [I think improvisation is really crucial in terms of making things feel real and authentic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/i-think-improvisation-is-really-crucial-in-terms-of-making-things/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [And then, movie-wise, I'm writing a couple of things. They're all comedies. It's the only way I know. I'm also being sent scripts, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/and-then-movie-wise-i-m-writing-a-couple-of-things-they-re-all/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [It's tough to make funny films. And the truth is, with this process, especially if you write your own movie, then you're giving three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/it-s-tough-to-make-funny-films-and-the-truth-is-with-this-process/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [In terms of magnifying it and making it plausible, I'm a great believer in truth in comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/in-terms-of-magnifying-it-and-making-it-plausible-i-m-a-great/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [To me, there was an interesting movie to be made about two people who had been on that whirlwind romance and what happens after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/to-me-there-was-an-interesting-movie-to-be-made-about-two-people-who/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [I know what I want. I try and convey that at the beginning and set that out, but within those parameters, I'm very happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/i-know-what-i-want-i-try-and-convey-that-at-the-beginning-and-set/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [With directing, your day is done. When you hit seven o'clock, it's "Cut." That's what it is. For better or worse, that's what you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/with-directing-your-day-is-done-when-you-hit-seven-o-clock-it-s-cut/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [You sit down in the morning on your own to write something. You get to the end of the day and it's not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/you-sit-down-in-the-morning-on-your-own-to-write-something-you-get-to/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [I learned that I enjoy directing a lot more than I enjoy writing, which is interesting, because writing is lonely and infamous basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/i-learned-that-i-enjoy-directing-a-lot-more-than-i-enjoy-writing/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) [Explore all 16 Dan Mazer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [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/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think actors like to be directed. 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