--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reason I wanted to start directing is…" description: "\"The reason I wanted to start directing is that as an actor I felt I came into a job late. There's a whole team of people who have been working on it fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/david-morrissey-11102_cinema_the-reason-i-wanted-to-start-directing-i_2518128.jpg" --- # The reason I wanted to start directing is that as an actor… ![“The reason I wanted to start directing is that as an actor I felt I came into a job late. There's a whole team of people who have been working on it for months before you start. You have this really intense period of filming and then you leave it, knowing that the director will work on it for…” quote by David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/david-morrissey-11102_cinema_the-reason-i-wanted-to-start-directing-i_2518128.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/david-morrissey-11102_cinema_the-reason-i-wanted-to-start-directing-i_2518128.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/david-morrissey-11102_cinema_the-reason-i-wanted-to-start-directing-i_2518128.jpg) > “The reason I wanted to start directing is that as an actor I felt I came into a job late. There's a whole team of people who have been working on it for months before you start. You have this really intense period of filming and then you leave it, knowing that the director will work on it for another few months. I always felt slightly frustrated because I wanted to be with the piece a lot longer.” [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He felt directing would let him stay longer with a project than acting, where his involvement ends after filming. **In simple terms:** Directing offers longer creative involvement than acting. Key Takeaway Consider roles that extend your creative influence. Themes creativity control collaboration Mood reflective determined Type professional artistic When to use this quote - film directing - career transition - project continuity Key Concepts film production artistic ownership Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain influence after filming? - What aspects of a project matter most to you? A Different Perspective Limited control over final edit may persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-actor-1222836/) [Director Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-work-584199/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Knowing Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-director-1222837/) [Start Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-directing-1222835/) ## Related quotes > [The reason I wanted to start directing is that as an actor I felt I came into a job late. 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I just hope to find the right thing and, if I was afforded the opportunity, I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-peck/i-would-love-to-start-directing-i-just-hope-to-find-the-right-thing/) [Josh Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-peck/) > [“In the production of a good play with a good cast and a knowing director a kind of banding-together occurs; there is formed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/in-the-production-of-a-good-play-with-a-good-cast-and-a-knowing/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [As a director, your work is finished only when it's on the screen. But I will always be an actor who occasionally directs. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/as-a-director-your-work-is-finished-only-when-it-s-on-the-screen-but/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [Coaching a football player is the same as directing an actor. The guy has to follow orders and be able to perform skillfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/coaching-a-football-player-is-the-same-as-directing-an-actor-the-guy/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [The act of directing myself as an actor, deciding where my body went, and then everyone in the crew and cast supporting that decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/the-act-of-directing-myself-as-an-actor-deciding-where-my-body-went/) [Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/) > [It's natural for any actor that segues into directing to be an actor's director. You know how to relate to the actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/it-s-natural-for-any-actor-that-segues-into-directing-to-be-an-actor/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [You're not directing an actor toward a thing they can't achieve. Because direction is elusive. When directors hold respect for the various craftsmen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/you-re-not-directing-an-actor-toward-a-thing-they-can-t-achieve/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [The first film I directed (Explicit Ills), I did when I was like 27 years old. I had been an actor for a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-webber/the-first-film-i-directed-explicit-ills-i-did-when-i-was-like-27/) [Mark Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-webber/) > [The good part is once I start directing, I can choose the songs I want to do. I'm just selective now when it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remo-d-souza/the-good-part-is-once-i-start-directing-i-can-choose-the-songs-i-want/) [Remo D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remo-d-souza/) > [I would consider directing. I think directing myself would be tough, but I'm definitely interested in directing. I might start off directing a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/i-would-consider-directing-i-think-directing-myself-would-be-tough/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [Directing is such a crucial part of the writing process; you start directing and you see what does not work. "Oh, God, what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcpherson/directing-is-such-a-crucial-part-of-the-writing-process-you-start/) [Conor McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcpherson/) > [I'm 64 years old, and I've been acting now for 42 years. Only recently have I thought to myself, 'Hmmm, it may be interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suchet/i-m-64-years-old-and-i-ve-been-acting-now-for-42-years-only-recently/) [David Suchet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suchet/) ## More by David Morrissey > [If it was making me miserable, I'd get out, but it doesn't! It fuels me! That's why I'm taking on more things, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/if-it-was-making-me-miserable-i-d-get-out-but-it-doesn-t-it-fuels-me/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [I think when you don't know where you stand with someone, they can surprise you in their goodness and their badness, and that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/i-think-when-you-don-t-know-where-you-stand-with-someone-they-can/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [When I discovered acting, I decided that's what I wanted to do above everything else. It was the first time I was passionate about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/when-i-discovered-acting-i-decided-that-s-what-i-wanted-to-do-above/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [The biggest difference between British TV and American TV is money. But what money doesn't do on American TV, which I thought it would,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/the-biggest-difference-between-british-tv-and-american-tv-is-money/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [My conversations with my wife tend to revolve around who's picking up the kids. Although for years I was aware of some sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/my-conversations-with-my-wife-tend-to-revolve-around-who-s-picking-up/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [When you are an actor, rejection and disappointment are an occupational hazard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/when-you-are-an-actor-rejection-and-disappointment-are-an/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [Savannah is amazing with the town squares and the hanging moss and the French Colonial houses. It's brutally romantic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/savannah-is-amazing-with-the-town-squares-and-the-hanging-moss-and/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [It's always good to find out what you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/it-s-always-good-to-find-out-what-you-don-t-want-to-do/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [The difficulty for me is green screen, trying to create a relationship with something that isn't there. It's just a man holding a scaffolding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/the-difficulty-for-me-is-green-screen-trying-to-create-a-relationship/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [I'd really like to get on a Greyhound bus and go backpacking across America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/i-d-really-like-to-get-on-a-greyhound-bus-and-go-backpacking-across/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [It's amazing meeting someone who grew up in LA. It's like meeting someone from a mining town when you know nothing about mining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/it-s-amazing-meeting-someone-who-grew-up-in-la-it-s-like-meeting/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [You want people to identify with the person on the screen or in the theater, but you don't want them to identify with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/you-want-people-to-identify-with-the-person-on-the-screen-or-in-the/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [When I told my parents I wanted to be an actor, it was like saying I wanted to be an astronaut. Not because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/when-i-told-my-parents-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-it-was-like-saying-i/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [My house is very clean apart from a very small part of it that looks as if we've been burgled, which is my office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/my-house-is-very-clean-apart-from-a-very-small-part-of-it-that-looks/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [I always work from back-story, that's what I always do, so you get a character, and you think 'OK, who's this guy, before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/i-always-work-from-back-story-that-s-what-i-always-do-so-you-get-a/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) [Explore all 61 David Morrissey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [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/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The reason I wanted to start directing is that as an actor I felt I came into a job late. There's a whole team of people who have been working on it for months before you start. You have this really intense period of filming and then you leave it, knowing that the director will work on it for another few months. 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