--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I still see acting, writing and directing…" description: "\"I still see acting, writing and directing as the same impulse: How can you help each story to the best of your ability?\" — Fred Hechinger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/fred-hechinger-5659_acting_i-still-see-acting-writing-and-directing_2681654.jpg" --- # I still see acting, writing and directing as the same… ![“I still see acting, writing and directing as the same impulse: How can you help each story to the best of your ability?” quote by Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/fred-hechinger-5659_acting_i-still-see-acting-writing-and-directing_2681654.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/fred-hechinger-5659_acting_i-still-see-acting-writing-and-directing_2681654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/fred-hechinger-5659_acting_i-still-see-acting-writing-and-directing_2681654.jpg) > “I still see acting, writing and directing as the same impulse: How can you help each story to the best of your ability?” [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting, writing, and directing share a core drive: to serve each story as fully as possible. **In simple terms:** All storytelling arts aim to support the narrative. Key Takeaway Prioritize the story over personal ego. Themes collaboration storytelling artistic purpose multidisciplinary Mood enthusiastic focused Type creative inspirational When to use this quote - film production - theatre - screenwriting - directorial workshops Key Concepts narrative theory creative process empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What limits does story‑first thinking impose? - How can personal voice coexist with story service? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on story may suppress personal expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-writing/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-impulse-2585981/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-directing/) ## Related quotes > [I went to film school so I have a writing and directing background, and I think a lot of the material I'm interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/i-went-to-film-school-so-i-have-a-writing-and-directing-background/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [I really have very little aspirations about acting because I think that probably the best things have come and gone. I would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-really-have-very-little-aspirations-about-acting-because-i-think/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Directing a movie precludes me from being involved in any greater way. But, the job was never to do more, it was always to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/directing-a-movie-precludes-me-from-being-involved-in-any-greater-way/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [As far as writing and directing, I'm very focused on the thriller genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/as-far-as-writing-and-directing-i-m-very-focused-on-the-thriller-genre/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [I love writing, directing and photography; if I could figure out a way to put the three things together, that's what I would love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-love-writing-directing-and-photography-if-i-could-figure-out-a-way/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I'm going to be writing and directing my own videos, and performing in them too, and I'm super-excited about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-day/i-m-going-to-be-writing-and-directing-my-own-videos-and-performing-in/) [Mikey Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-day/) > [Acting is the most pure fun as far as jobs go, but it can be limiting in terms of freedom of expression. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/acting-is-the-most-pure-fun-as-far-as-jobs-go-but-it-can-be-limiting/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [I think I'll always want to write and direct. I'm interested in producing and helping other people tell stories. But I'm still in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-think-i-ll-always-want-to-write-and-direct-i-m-interested-in/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I spent most of my 20s working as an actor. I started writing and directing because I was frustrated with the types of roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-spent-most-of-my-20s-working-as-an-actor-i-started-writing-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I certainly was an actor and then I drifted more towards writing and directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-certainly-was-an-actor-and-then-i-drifted-more-towards-writing-and/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [The things I want to focus on are music, writing, directing, and developing stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/the-things-i-want-to-focus-on-are-music-writing-directing-and/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [Writing and directing just sort of fell into my lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/writing-and-directing-just-sort-of-fell-into-my-lap/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I was a standup comedian, which is kind of like writing and directing yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/i-was-a-standup-comedian-which-is-kind-of-like-writing-and-directing/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [ All these teachers and \[screenwriting\] books mean you see movies that have been worked over by more committees wielding more rules, that all originality… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/all-these-teachers-and-screenwriting-books-mean-you-see-movies-that/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [Developing projects of my own and producing and writing and directing is something that's very interesting to me, but you know, one step at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tye-sheridan/developing-projects-of-my-own-and-producing-and-writing-and-directing/) [Tye Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tye-sheridan/) ## More by Fred Hechinger > [I always want to surprise audiences and tell stories that are entertaining and challenging at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-always-want-to-surprise-audiences-and-tell-stories-that-are/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [There's a lot of writing that breaks the mold of a veteran being one thing instead of every single person being their own full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/there-s-a-lot-of-writing-that-breaks-the-mold-of-a-veteran-being-one/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [I always want to be taking big swings. I want to keep making things that are entertaining and challenging at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-always-want-to-be-taking-big-swings-i-want-to-keep-making-things/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [Even if you're in a committed relationship or have a full family, there are parts of ourselves that we carry alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/even-if-you-re-in-a-committed-relationship-or-have-a-full-family/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [We're all human and everyone should be treated as full humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/we-re-all-human-and-everyone-should-be-treated-as-full-humans/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [Every period piece is made in the context of the moment, always equally trying to capture something about now through then. But as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/every-period-piece-is-made-in-the-context-of-the-moment-always/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [I think any character you play, you find your ways to love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-think-any-character-you-play-you-find-your-ways-to-love-them/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [When you're first on the call sheet, people look to you for guidance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/when-you-re-first-on-the-call-sheet-people-look-to-you-for-guidance/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [Something that bothers me is when legacy overwhelms presence, right? People that are, myself included, too concerned with some idea of yourself than what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/something-that-bothers-me-is-when-legacy-overwhelms-presence-right/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [When I was younger, loneliness was really scary - it felt like an absence - and now I feel human beings are incredibly connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/when-i-was-younger-loneliness-was-really-scary-it-felt-like-an/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [I think about the filmmakers that I've loved working with, and the ones that I want to work with, and I think of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-think-about-the-filmmakers-that-i-ve-loved-working-with-and-the/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [If Tom Hanks was, like, secretly a tyrant, it would be totally demoralizing - I would quit. I'd be like, what's the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/if-tom-hanks-was-like-secretly-a-tyrant-it-would-be-totally/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [It's kind of a perfect mix, Ridley and Denzel, because you have a filmmaker who builds an entire universe in 360, and then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/it-s-kind-of-a-perfect-mix-ridley-and-denzel-because-you-have-a/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [I've always found it comforting to acknowledge and remember that no one is a fixed personality; no one is just one thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-ve-always-found-it-comforting-to-acknowledge-and-remember-that-no/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [That moment where you feel like you are really, really present and really alive, and really outside of your head and with someone else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/that-moment-where-you-feel-like-you-are-really-really-present-and/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) [Explore all 100 Fred Hechinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I still see acting, writing and directing as the same impulse: How can you help each story to the best of your ability?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fred Hechinger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-still-see-acting-writing-and-directing-as-the-same-impulse-how-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-still-see-acting-writing-and-directing-as-the-same-impulse-how-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/fred-hechinger-5659_acting_i-still-see-acting-writing-and-directing_2681654.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/fred-hechinger-5659_acting_i-still-see-acting-writing-and-directing_2681654.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/fred-hechinger-5659_acting_i-still-see-acting-writing-and-directing_2681654.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I still see acting, writing and directing as the same impulse: How can you help each story to the best of…” — Fred Hechinger", "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": "Fred Hechinger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I still see acting, writing and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-still-see-acting-writing-and-directing-as-the-same-impulse-how-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-still-see-acting-writing-and-directing-as-the-same-impulse-how-can/#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 } } ] } ```