--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The timing for directing is usually…" description: "\"The timing for directing is usually because it takes that long to develop a piece and then do pre-production and then post-production. It takes at leas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/george-clooney-1132_couple_the-timing-for-directing-is-usually-beca_3107015.jpg" --- # The timing for directing is usually because it takes that… ![“The timing for directing is usually because it takes that long to develop a piece and then do pre-production and then post-production. It takes at least a couple of years. I prefer directing to doing other things. Directing and writing seem to be infinitely more creative” quote by George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/george-clooney-1132_couple_the-timing-for-directing-is-usually-beca_3107015.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/george-clooney-1132_couple_the-timing-for-directing-is-usually-beca_3107015.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/george-clooney-1132_couple_the-timing-for-directing-is-usually-beca_3107015.jpg) > “The timing for directing is usually because it takes that long to develop a piece and then do pre-production and then post-production. It takes at least a couple of years. I prefer directing to doing other things. Directing and writing seem to be infinitely more creative” [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Directing demands long‑term commitment and offers deep creative control compared to other tasks. **In simple terms:** Directing takes years but feels more creative. Key Takeaway Choose projects that allow sustained creative involvement. Themes patience creativity leadership Mood determined optimistic Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - film development - pre‑production planning - post‑production oversight - career planning Key Concepts film production project management Questions to Reflect On - Are you prepared for the years‑long process? - What supports help maintain creative energy? A Different Perspective Long timelines can cause financial strain and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Post production](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/post-production/) [Timing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Now I'm kind of established as a director, I much prefer directing to writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/now-i-m-kind-of-established-as-a-director-i-much-prefer-directing-to/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [On the set, I visit the set for a lot of the rehearsals, and there's always a writer on set. And then I'm involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-weiner/on-the-set-i-visit-the-set-for-a-lot-of-the-rehearsals-and-there-s/) [Matthew Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-weiner/) > [I prefer directing to acting. There is huge freedom that comes from being behind the camera. It brings a lot of responsibilities as well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-prefer-directing-to-acting-there-is-huge-freedom-that-comes-from/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I can make a better living as an actor than I can as a director. Though I certainly would prefer to be directing movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/i-can-make-a-better-living-as-an-actor-than-i-can-as-a-director/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [I definitely prefer directing, hands down. I'm a lazy writer and it wasn't until I got into directing that I now have a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coley-sohn/i-definitely-prefer-directing-hands-down-i-m-a-lazy-writer-and-it/) [Coley Sohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coley-sohn/) > [Given a choice, I prefer directing a play to a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play-to-a-film/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I prefer directing to producing as it is far more satisfying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikramaditya-motwane/i-prefer-directing-to-producing-as-it-is-far-more-satisfying/) [Vikramaditya Motwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikramaditya-motwane/) > [I prefer directing to acting. There is huge freedom that comes from being behind the camera. It brings a lot of responsibilities as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-prefer-directing-to-acting-there-is-huge-freedom-that-comes-from-2/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I've always had a flare for the dramatic. I thought about being an actor and I thought about directing, but writing truly became something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marti-noxon/i-ve-always-had-a-flare-for-the-dramatic-i-thought-about-being-an/) [Marti Noxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marti-noxon/) > [I love acting, but directing and writing have always been just as important. I started to write so many things when I was even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-laurent/i-love-acting-but-directing-and-writing-have-always-been-just-as/) [Melanie Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-laurent/) > [Writing is a totally different brain than directing, at least for me. With writing, you're trying your best to foresee all the problems before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zobel/writing-is-a-totally-different-brain-than-directing-at-least-for-me/) [Craig Zobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zobel/) > [I never go to the monitor. I just look at the camera monitor and my favorite part of all of the directing, except for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-gluck/i-never-go-to-the-monitor-i-just-look-at-the-camera-monitor-and-my/) [Will Gluck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-gluck/) > [I always say I want to eventually shift my career to directing and writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-always-say-i-want-to-eventually-shift-my-career-to-directing-and/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I see myself directing, writing, doing my own TV shows and movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsai-martin/i-see-myself-directing-writing-doing-my-own-tv-shows-and-movies/) [Marsai Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsai-martin/) > [I think directing and writing are very different jobs. Obviously, directing is a more social and managerial job. The other thing about directing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-think-directing-and-writing-are-very-different-jobs-obviously/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) ## More by George Clooney > [I was very lucky to get well known much later in life. You need to have flopped quite a few times to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-was-very-lucky-to-get-well-known-much-later-in-life-you-need-to/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [I enjoy going on motorcycle trips and stopping in small towns and enjoying drinks with the locals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-enjoy-going-on-motorcycle-trips-and-stopping-in-small-towns-and/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [The people I've respected most in the industry over the years - Paul Newman, for instance. I just loved the way he handled growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-people-i-ve-respected-most-in-the-industry-over-the-years-paul/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [I watch 'Batman & Robin' from time to time. 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