--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good director's not sure when he gets…" description: "\"A good director's not sure when he gets on the set what he's going to do.\" — Elia Kazan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/elia-kazan-6753_cinema_a-good-director-s-not-sure-when-he-gets_2547777.jpg" --- # A good director's not sure when he gets on the set what… ![“A good director's not sure when he gets on the set what he's going to do.” quote by Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/elia-kazan-6753_cinema_a-good-director-s-not-sure-when-he-gets_2547777.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/elia-kazan-6753_cinema_a-good-director-s-not-sure-when-he-gets_2547777.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/elia-kazan-6753_cinema_a-good-director-s-not-sure-when-he-gets_2547777.jpg) > “A good director's not sure when he gets on the set what he's going to do.” [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Directors often enter a set without a fixed plan, relying on spontaneity and adaptation to shape the production. **In simple terms:** Directors work flexibly, adapting as they go. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility in creative work. Themes creativity leadership uncertainty Mood dynamic pragmatic Type motivational insightful When to use this quote - theatre production - film set - live performance - project kickoff Key Concepts film studies management Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle unexpected changes? - What strategies aid improvisation? A Different Perspective Lack of planning can cause chaos. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Director Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-sure-1492564/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Gets Set](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gets-set-1492565/) [Good director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-director/) [Not sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-sure/) [Set Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-going-726731/) ## Related quotes > [These days what's not worth saying gets set to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-beaumarchais/these-days-what-s-not-worth-saying-gets-set-to-music/) [Pierre Beaumarchais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-beaumarchais/) > [I enjoy the acting, but I didn't plan on that. It fell into my lap, and I'm having a lot of fun with it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-labrava/i-enjoy-the-acting-but-i-didn-t-plan-on-that-it-fell-into-my-lap-and/) [David Labrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-labrava/) > [Krishna Vamsi is a very good director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-charan/krishna-vamsi-is-a-very-good-director/) [Ram Charan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-charan/) > [If the project has good writing and is something I get excited about, then I'll do the role. And if it's for TV, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gbenga-akinnagbe/if-the-project-has-good-writing-and-is-something-i-get-excited-about/) [Gbenga Akinnagbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gbenga-akinnagbe/) > [I didn't know I was a good director, and I mean that sincerely. I had done a film a long time ago called 'Cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-didn-t-know-i-was-a-good-director-and-i-mean-that-sincerely-i-had/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Good is the director who lets you do what you have to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ribot/good-is-the-director-who-lets-you-do-what-you-have-to-do/) [Marc Ribot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ribot/) > [It is true that I got recognition. But however good the comedies are, nobody will accept a good comedy director as a good director.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyadarshan/it-is-true-that-i-got-recognition-but-however-good-the-comedies-are/) [Priyadarshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyadarshan/) > [After all these years, I'm starting to learn what a good director does, and I know what a good one does with actors: help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-geraghty/after-all-these-years-i-m-starting-to-learn-what-a-good-director-does/) [Brian Geraghty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-geraghty/) > [A good director makes a playground and allows you to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/a-good-director-makes-a-playground-and-allows-you-to-play/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [Directors know nothing. I never had the privilege of working with any good director. Except Satyen Bose and Bimal Roy, no one even knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-kumar/directors-know-nothing-i-never-had-the-privilege-of-working-with-any/) [Kishore Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-kumar/) > [Due to God's grace and a good director, I became successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajinikanth/due-to-god-s-grace-and-a-good-director-i-became-successful/) [Rajinikanth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajinikanth/) > [I don't go out there and think 'Oh, I'm gonna go out there and just play ugly,' I go with the mind-set I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hart/i-don-t-go-out-there-and-think-oh-i-m-gonna-go-out-there-and-just/) [Josh Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hart/) > [“Conversationally, I am like a clockwork toy. I have to be set going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/conversationally-i-am-like-a-clockwork-toy-i-have-to-be-set-going/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [When you're doing a live-action movie, you have your day set up and you're going to do this shot and this shot, and eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-anderson/when-you-re-doing-a-live-action-movie-you-have-your-day-set-up-and/) [Wes Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-anderson/) > [“I have my work and my house, and now I have you here too. If I can keep you, I’m set, so I’m going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-calmes/i-have-my-work-and-my-house-and-now-i-have-you-here-too-if-i-can-keep/) [Mary Calmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-calmes/) ## More by Elia Kazan > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I didn't have the problem of finding myself at 45 on the wrong course - I always wanted to be a film director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-didn-t-have-the-problem-of-finding-myself-at-45-on-the-wrong-course/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [Never underestimate the narcissism of a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/never-underestimate-the-narcissism-of-a-writer/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [What's called a difficult decision is a difficult decision because either way you go there are penalties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/what-s-called-a-difficult-decision-is-a-difficult-decision-because/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [You can't just sit there and do the lines. You have to do something revealing or unusual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-can-t-just-sit-there-and-do-the-lines-you-have-to-do-something/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I'm small, but I'm neither compliant nor agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-m-small-but-i-m-neither-compliant-nor-agreeable/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [If you're going to play a cowboy, show up with the horse at the audition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/if-you-re-going-to-play-a-cowboy-show-up-with-the-horse-at-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I value peace, too, when it is not bought at the price of fundamental decencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-value-peace-too-when-it-is-not-bought-at-the-price-of-fundamental/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [You have no idea how fragile an actor's self-worth is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s-self-worth-is/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [There was no doubt that there was a vast organization which was making fools of all the liberals in Hollywood and taking their money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/there-was-no-doubt-that-there-was-a-vast-organization-which-was/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [The makers of entertainment must try, in our field, to be honest and grown-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-makers-of-entertainment-must-try-in-our-field-to-be-honest-and/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I'm very pro-America, but I feel it necessary to keep in touch with Europe to maintain a perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-m-very-pro-america-but-i-feel-it-necessary-to-keep-in-touch-with/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [It's difficult, if not impossible, to get away with anything false before the camera. That instrument penetrates the husk of the actor; it reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/it-s-difficult-if-not-impossible-to-get-away-with-anything-false/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [For years after I resigned, I was still faithful to their way of thinking. But not in the American Communists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/for-years-after-i-resigned-i-was-still-faithful-to-their-way-of/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [You've got to keep fighting; you've got to risk your life every six months to stay alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-ve-got-to-keep-fighting-you-ve-got-to-risk-your-life-every-six/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) [Explore all 97 Elia Kazan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) ## 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": "A good director's not sure when he gets on the set what he's going to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elia Kazan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/a-good-director-s-not-sure-when-he-gets-on-the-set-what-he-s-going-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/a-good-director-s-not-sure-when-he-gets-on-the-set-what-he-s-going-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/elia-kazan-6753_cinema_a-good-director-s-not-sure-when-he-gets_2547777.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/elia-kazan-6753_cinema_a-good-director-s-not-sure-when-he-gets_2547777.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/elia-kazan-6753_cinema_a-good-director-s-not-sure-when-he-gets_2547777.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A good director's not sure when he gets on the set what he's going to do.” — Elia Kazan", "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": "Elia Kazan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A good director's not sure when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/a-good-director-s-not-sure-when-he-gets-on-the-set-what-he-s-going-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/a-good-director-s-not-sure-when-he-gets-on-the-set-what-he-s-going-to/#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 } } ] } ```