August Quote by Denzel Washington
![“In 2009, Scott Rudin sent me August's [Wilson] original screenplay [Fences] and asked me what I wanted to do with it. He wanted to know if I wanted to act in it, direct it or produce it. I said, "Well, let me read it first."” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c2b/denzel-washington-1345_august_in-2009-scott-rudin-sent-me-august-s-wil_1954686.jpg)
“In 2009, Scott Rudin sent me August's [Wilson] original screenplay [Fences] and asked me what I wanted to do with it. He wanted to know if I wanted to act in it, direct it or produce it. I said, "Well, let me read it first."”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2009 conversation with Scott Rudin, reported in Variety, 2009
A filmmaker offered a script and asked which role the actor wanted, prompting a thoughtful, cautious approach before committing.
In simple terms: Consider options before committing to a project.
Key Takeaway
Ask before you act.
Themes
career decisions
creative process
decision making
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
advice
reflective
When to use this quote
- film casting
- career planning
- script evaluation
Key Concepts
agency
risk assessment
artistic integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- What information do you need before deciding?
- How does patience affect creative choices?
A Different Perspective
Choosing a role without understanding the material can lead to misaligned expectations.
![“It just happened that we did [Fences] seven years ago on Broadway. Scott Rudin brought me August Wilson's original screenplay for it, and I realized I hadn't read the play. So I read it. Then I realized that Troy (my character) was 53 - and I was 55 at the time. I realized I better hurry up! I…” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c64/denzel-washington-1345_august_it-just-happened-that-we-did-fences-seve_1828104.jpg)
![“We just had to stay out-of-the-way [in Fences]. [August Wilson] already wrote a masterpiece. And you really don't know how it's going to work until you get it in front of an audience.” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/474/denzel-washington-1345_audience_we-just-had-to-stay-out-of-the-way-in-fe_2351915.jpg)
![“The time came where I was able to write an original screenplay [Allied], and it would be read and noticed. I had a meeting with Brad [Pitt], just around the time that he was making World War Z. I basically told him the story and said, "This is what I want to do," and he really responded, so that…” quote by Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0e8/steven-knight-2205_able_the-time-came-where-i-was-able-to-write_1110760.jpg)
![“I always thought it would never happen. And then, it became possible. In between commissions, I wrote it as an original screenplay [Allied].” quote by Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ec/steven-knight-2205_happens_i-always-thought-it-would-never-happen-a_932011.jpg)
![“I read that Hollywood wanted to film Fences years ago with a white director, but [August] Wilson refused. He thought that the director needed to have lived the culture of black Americans.” quote by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cce/kareem-abdul-jabbar-1909_august_i-read-that-hollywood-wanted-to-film-fen_2057534.jpg)
![“[Rose from "Fences"] couldn't just jump out there. Not just because of economic reasons but because how she was looked at in society at the time. There were a lot of factors that made you stay I guess.” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/967/denzel-washington-1345_economic_rose-from-fences-couldn-t-just-jump-out_1082420.jpg)
![“I'll be working with Ridley's [Scott] brother, Tony, again, someone who needless to say we've had a great amount of success together. I trust him - so I won't have to think about it or I'll try not to.” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/740/denzel-washington-1345_amount_i-ll-be-working-with-ridley-s-scott-brot_41793.jpg)
![“It [August 10th 1792] was the bloodiest day of the Revolution so far, but also one of the most decisive.” quote by William Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d89/william-doyle-68265_august_it-august-10th-1792-was-the-bloodiest-da_77206.jpg)
