--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing you should do with an…" description: "\"The first thing you should do with an actor is not sign a contract with him. Take him to dinner. And take him for a walk afterwards.\" — Elia Kazan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/elia-kazan-6753_actors_the-first-thing-you-should-do-with-an-ac_1116142.jpg" --- # The first thing you should do with an actor is not sign a… ![“The first thing you should do with an actor is not sign a contract with him. Take him to dinner. And take him for a walk afterwards.” quote by Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/elia-kazan-6753_actors_the-first-thing-you-should-do-with-an-ac_1116142.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/elia-kazan-6753_actors_the-first-thing-you-should-do-with-an-ac_1116142.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/elia-kazan-6753_actors_the-first-thing-you-should-do-with-an-ac_1116142.jpg) > “The first thing you should do with an actor is not sign a contract with him. Take him to dinner. And take him for a walk afterwards.” [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. Building rapport with actors through informal settings fosters trust and better collaboration. **In simple terms:** Get to know actors personally. Key Takeaway Start with a dinner and walk. Themes collaboration trust leadership Mood practical encouraging Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - casting process - team building - creative workshops Key Concepts theatre psychology communication Questions to Reflect On - How does informal bonding affect performance? - When is formality preferable? A Different Perspective May not suit all personalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Sign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-sign-1063218/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Contract Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contract-dinner-2997640/) [Contracts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contracts/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sign Contract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sign-contract-592553/) [Thing Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-actor/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) ## Related quotes > [Make no mistake about it: once a band has signed a letter of intent, they will either eventually sign a contract that suits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-albini/make-no-mistake-about-it-once-a-band-has-signed-a-letter-of-intent/) [Steve Albini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-albini/) > [If they ask you to sign a contract up front or for money, that's usually a bad sign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-frampton/if-they-ask-you-to-sign-a-contract-up-front-or-for-money-that-s/) [Dia Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-frampton/) > [You get the part, sign the contract and start to realize millions of people follow this guy and know more about your character than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hemsworth/you-get-the-part-sign-the-contract-and-start-to-realize-millions-of-2/) [Chris Hemsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hemsworth/) > [I'm not willing to sign a contract. They want everything. They want the rights to do the movie and everything else they can think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-m-not-willing-to-sign-a-contract-they-want-everything-they-want-the/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [The way I see it, when you put the uniform on, in effect you sign a contract. And you don't back out of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-barker/the-way-i-see-it-when-you-put-the-uniform-on-in-effect-you-sign-a/) [Pat Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-barker/) > [I don't believe in marriage. It's bloody impractical. 'To love, honor, and obey.' If it weren't, you wouldn't have to sign a contract.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-don-t-believe-in-marriage-it-s-bloody-impractical-to-love-honor-and/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Being an actor, when you sign onto a project - whether it's good, bad, or indifferent - you kind of fall in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/being-an-actor-when-you-sign-onto-a-project-whether-it-s-good-bad-or/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [When I met Harrison Ford I just kept thinking: "At what point do I break out my Star Wars memorabilia? When is it OK…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-wilson/when-i-met-harrison-ford-i-just-kept-thinking-at-what-point-do-i/) [Patrick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-wilson/) > [Most television shows are going to require an actor sign up from four to six years, but an anthology show really amounts to five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-pizzolatto/most-television-shows-are-going-to-require-an-actor-sign-up-from-four/) [Nic Pizzolatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nic-pizzolatto/) > [You see, in America, it's quite standard for an actor to sign, at the beginning of a series, for five or seven years. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/you-see-in-america-it-s-quite-standard-for-an-actor-to-sign-at-the/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [When you sign a contract, you must respect that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-espirito-santo/when-you-sign-a-contract-you-must-respect-that/) [Nuno Espirito Santo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-espirito-santo/) > [You sign a contract, and you abide by the contract. And sometimes my turn would come around on Sunday. Even though I didn't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-law/you-sign-a-contract-and-you-abide-by-the-contract-and-sometimes-my/) [Vernon Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-law/) > [I feel lucky that I was able to sign a contract for an extended period of time with a no-trade clause. I don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/i-feel-lucky-that-i-was-able-to-sign-a-contract-for-an-extended/) [Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/) > [“You don't know with who you are having to deal with... you just sign the contract to die”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/you-don-t-know-with-who-you-are-having-to-deal-with-you-just-sign-the/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [When you sign a contract, that's your deal. Everyone has different deals anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/when-you-sign-a-contract-that-s-your-deal-everyone-has-different/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) ## 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 Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [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/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first thing you should do with an actor is not sign a contract with him. Take him to dinner. 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