--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had the kid [on \"Fences\" ] who…" description: "\"I had the kid [on \"Fences\" ] who understudied me so I could stand back and think about shots so he had to learn the blocking and everything. I'd come i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/denzel-washington-1345_actors_i-had-the-kid-on-fences-who-understudied_855342.jpg" --- # I had the kid \[on "Fences" \] who understudied me so I… ![“I had the kid [on "Fences" ] who understudied me so I could stand back and think about shots so he had to learn the blocking and everything. I'd come in early sometimes, and they 'd be in there rehearsing and working on their stuff. I didn't want them to feel like, "Oh these are people who can't…” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/denzel-washington-1345_actors_i-had-the-kid-on-fences-who-understudied_855342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/denzel-washington-1345_actors_i-had-the-kid-on-fences-who-understudied_855342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/denzel-washington-1345_actors_i-had-the-kid-on-fences-who-understudied_855342.jpg) > “I had the kid \[on "Fences" \] who understudied me so I could stand back and think about shots so he had to learn the blocking and everything. I'd come in early sometimes, and they 'd be in there rehearsing and working on their stuff. I didn't want them to feel like, "Oh these are people who can't be touched." We're all working actors; we're all trying to get better.” [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes collaborative rehearsal where actors learn each other's movements to improve performance and avoid dehumanizing roles. **In simple terms:** Actors should practice together to understand each other's space and improve. Key Takeaway Practice together, respect each other's space. Themes collaboration respect acting learning Mood focused professional Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film sets - acting workshops - coaching sessions Key Concepts method acting team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does shared rehearsal affect character authenticity? - What boundaries are needed to keep rehearsal productive? A Different Perspective May limit spontaneity if over‑rehearsed; actors can become too self‑conscious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [A play is much easier to maintain your personal life with because if you're rehearsing, you're working like from 11 to 6 or 11…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-gyllenhaal/a-play-is-much-easier-to-maintain-your-personal-life-with-because-if/) [Maggie Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-gyllenhaal/) > [There is nothing to compare with the instantaneous feedback a singer gets from the people sitting in front of him. 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It's my time with the actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-anderson/i-love-working-with-actors-that-s-what-the-set-really-is-for-me-it-s/) [Wes Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-anderson/) > [It's really easy to finish a movie and sort of immediately dive into the next one, because I love working with actors so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-swanberg/it-s-really-easy-to-finish-a-movie-and-sort-of-immediately-dive-into/) [Joe Swanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-swanberg/) > [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/) ## More by Denzel Washington > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. 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