--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing that you learn in directing is…" description: "\"The thing that you learn in directing is that when you're on the floor, no matter how complex the shooting is...you have to remain absolutely sensitive..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/irvin-kershner-38121_behavior_the-thing-that-you-learn-in-directing-is_2711917.jpg" --- # The thing that you learn in directing is that when you're… ![“The thing that you learn in directing is that when you're on the floor, no matter how complex the shooting is...you have to remain absolutely sensitive to every nuance of the behavior of the people around you. Because, ultimately, if you don't keep in mind the overall humanity, then the machine…” quote by Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/irvin-kershner-38121_behavior_the-thing-that-you-learn-in-directing-is_2711917.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/irvin-kershner-38121_behavior_the-thing-that-you-learn-in-directing-is_2711917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/irvin-kershner-38121_behavior_the-thing-that-you-learn-in-directing-is_2711917.jpg) > “The thing that you learn in directing is that when you're on the floor, no matter how complex the shooting is...you have to remain absolutely sensitive to every nuance of the behavior of the people around you. Because, ultimately, if you don't keep in mind the overall humanity, then the machine takes over and suddenly all you have are technically fine shots, technically good performances. The story's being told, but something's lacking, something mysterious, indefinable.” [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A director must stay attuned to human nuance, otherwise technical perfection lacks emotional depth. **In simple terms:** Focus on humanity over technicality. Key Takeaway Prioritize empathy in visual storytelling. Themes empathy humanity film directing balance Mood reflective inspired thoughtful Type instructional philosophical When to use this quote - film set - theatre production - creative leadership - team collaboration Key Concepts cinematography performance storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure emotional truth in a complex shoot? - What practices keep you grounded in humanity? A Different Perspective Technical skill alone cannot convey feeling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Complex Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complex-shooting-2814815/) [Complexes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexes/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Floor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-floor-2814814/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Good Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-performances-830139/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Indefinable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indefinable/) [Lacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lacking/) [Lacking something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lacking-something-103402/) [Learn Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-directing-996520/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mysterious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysterious/) [Nuance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuance/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Sensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitive/) [Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting/) [Shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shots/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [I think so many times we feel like we're lacking something in our lives and we try to fill it with the wrong things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacie-orrico/i-think-so-many-times-we-feel-like-we-re-lacking-something-in-our/) [Stacie Orrico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacie-orrico/) > [Consistent motivation usually comes from a consuming desire to be able to perform at your best under pressure, namely, the pressure produced by tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/consistent-motivation-usually-comes-from-a-consuming-desire-to-be/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [When you feel yourself lacking something, send your thoughts towards your Intimate and search for the Divinity that lives within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/when-you-feel-yourself-lacking-something-send-your-thoughts-towards/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Well, they just don't know anything else except that one form of their business, acting, and they don't really want to learn any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-cooper/well-they-just-don-t-know-anything-else-except-that-one-form-of-their/) [Jackie Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-cooper/) > [If I'm directing actors, I learn about acting that way. If I'm acting, I learn about directing that way. Producing is just something that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/if-i-m-directing-actors-i-learn-about-acting-that-way-if-i-m-acting-i/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [It seems to me the big weakness in most films is the writing. You can learn directing, but you can't learn writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/it-seems-to-me-the-big-weakness-in-most-films-is-the-writing-you-can/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [Searching out directors you respect and that you can learn from that's always the dream. That's the goal. 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I don't think you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-argento/having-been-a-child-actor-i-remember-how-directors-would-trick-me-to/) [Asia Argento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-argento/) > [All actresses give good performances, but everybody doesn't get the right roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-shetty/all-actresses-give-good-performances-but-everybody-doesn-t-get-the/) [Anushka Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-shetty/) > [I just want to have good performances and score goals - that's what makes me happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demba-ba/i-just-want-to-have-good-performances-and-score-goals-that-s-what/) [Demba Ba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demba-ba/) > [To do well at a new competition, you need a lot of good performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/to-do-well-at-a-new-competition-you-need-a-lot-of-good-performances/) [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/) > [The burning desire and drive that gave me though at United probably helped me produce good performances and stay there as long as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-fletcher/the-burning-desire-and-drive-that-gave-me-though-at-united-probably/) [Darren Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-fletcher/) > [The only power I have, in reality, is to keep producing good performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demba-ba/the-only-power-i-have-in-reality-is-to-keep-producing-good/) [Demba Ba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demba-ba/) > [You can't rest on six months of good performances because as soon as you have a blip, there is always another player to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/you-can-t-rest-on-six-months-of-good-performances-because-as-soon-as/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [The only criticism heard with any frequency of Elton John's first American album, 'Elton John,' was that the production was too grandiose. The melodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-landau/the-only-criticism-heard-with-any-frequency-of-elton-john-s-first/) [Jon Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-landau/) ## More by Irvin Kershner > [I have not given much credence to reviews of my films. Sometimes they're wrong, but it didn't matter to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/i-have-not-given-much-credence-to-reviews-of-my-films-sometimes-they/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [In the last ten years of watching films I have found that some of the foreign films I saw affected me most. 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You could have moments of happiness, moments of joy. But life is very difficult. Unless you're a total idiot. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/nobody-can-be-happy-you-could-have-moments-of-happiness-moments-of/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [I love my early movies, but naturalism is an artist's early style. Now I want to deal with feelings, dreams, an acceptance of irrationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/i-love-my-early-movies-but-naturalism-is-an-artist-s-early-style-now/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [We had an electronic head and arm for Threepio, and I manipulated the mechanism with a joystick. But it wasn't working. The propman said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/we-had-an-electronic-head-and-arm-for-threepio-and-i-manipulated-the/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [Film is a window to the real world but a lie that makes you believe the unbelievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/film-is-a-window-to-the-real-world-but-a-lie-that-makes-you-believe/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [It's a matter of pride to me to get the film done fast, to get it done well. I understand the need for compromise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/it-s-a-matter-of-pride-to-me-to-get-the-film-done-fast-to-get-it-done/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) [Explore all 12 Irvin Kershner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) [Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/) > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. 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Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing that you learn in directing is that when you're on the floor, no matter how complex the shooting is...you have to remain absolutely sensitive to every nuance of the behavior of the people around you. Because, ultimately, if you don't keep in mind the overall humanity, then the machine takes over and suddenly all you have are technically fine shots, technically good performances. 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