--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real trick for me as a director is to…" description: "\"The real trick for me as a director is to make sure that people don't start pushing because the harder you push as a perform the less funny it becomes...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/ivan-reitman-15779_cinema_the-real-trick-for-me-as-a-director-is-t_2119094.jpg" --- # The real trick for me as a director is to make sure that… ![“The real trick for me as a director is to make sure that people don't start pushing because the harder you push as a perform the less funny it becomes.” quote by Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/ivan-reitman-15779_cinema_the-real-trick-for-me-as-a-director-is-t_2119094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/ivan-reitman-15779_cinema_the-real-trick-for-me-as-a-director-is-t_2119094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/ivan-reitman-15779_cinema_the-real-trick-for-me-as-a-director-is-t_2119094.jpg) > “The real trick for me as a director is to make sure that people don't start pushing because the harder you push as a perform the less funny it becomes.” [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) ## 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 avoid over‑pushing actors, as excessive pressure reduces comedic effect. **In simple terms:** Too much pressure kills comedy. Key Takeaway Balance guidance with freedom. Themes directing comedy performance pressure Mood pragmatic advisory Type instructional creative When to use this quote - film sets - improv comedy - rehearsals Key Concepts creative control actor autonomy Questions to Reflect On - When is pressure beneficial for performance? - How to gauge the right level of direction? A Different Perspective Some actors thrive under pressure; one size may not fit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“The harder I push, the further I fall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashboard-confessional/the-harder-i-push-the-further-i-fall/) [Dashboard Confessional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashboard-confessional/) > [Here's to the dancers who love being inspired by others to dance harder and push themselves more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/here-s-to-the-dancers-who-love-being-inspired-by-others-to-dance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm going to have ups and downs and what I have to do is work that much harder and push through the tough parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auston-matthews/i-m-going-to-have-ups-and-downs-and-what-i-have-to-do-is-work-that/) [Auston Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auston-matthews/) > [Sometimes you start a little further back from the starting line. And you're going to have to work a little bit harder, and push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-newell/sometimes-you-start-a-little-further-back-from-the-starting-line-and/) Nick Newell > [The more in shape you are, the harder you can push yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bisping/the-more-in-shape-you-are-the-harder-you-can-push-yourself/) [Michael Bisping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bisping/) > [From time to time there will be some complaints that we are pushing our people too hard. I don't give a good Goddamn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/from-time-to-time-there-will-be-some-complaints-that-we-are-pushing/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [You just keep pushing yourself harder and harder to achieve more and more - I don't think it's ever quite as glamorous as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-parker/you-just-keep-pushing-yourself-harder-and-harder-to-achieve-more-and/) [Sean Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-parker/) > [“You don’t heal by pushing harder. You heal by learning to pause, gently and consistently, even while your brain tries to talk you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronen-dancziger/you-don-t-heal-by-pushing-harder-you-heal-by-learning-to-pause-gently/) [Ronen Dancziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronen-dancziger/) > [Simply pushing harder within the old boundaries will not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-e-weick/simply-pushing-harder-within-the-old-boundaries-will-not-do/) [Karl E. Weick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-e-weick/) > [I love to train hard. My only answer to setbacks was pushing harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-soderling/i-love-to-train-hard-my-only-answer-to-setbacks-was-pushing-harder/) [Robin Soderling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-soderling/) > [My coach is pushing me harder than ever to make sure I stay at a good level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usain-bolt/my-coach-is-pushing-me-harder-than-ever-to-make-sure-i-stay-at-a-good/) [Usain Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usain-bolt/) > [Go for the gold! Get your ass in gear by pushing yourself harder to get your goal accomplished..and then...keep going! Health always matters!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/go-for-the-gold-get-your-ass-in-gear-by-pushing-yourself-harder-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The compulsive, obsessive, high-end, achieving people, those are the ones that keep pushing harder. I'll name you the greatest players I ever coached, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urban-meyer/the-compulsive-obsessive-high-end-achieving-people-those-are-the-ones/) [Urban Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urban-meyer/) > [Another mistake a director can make is not to be prepared, so you get there on the day to shoot the scene, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/another-mistake-a-director-can-make-is-not-to-be-prepared-so-you-get/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [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/) ## More by Ivan Reitman > [I remember when first, Stripes, and then Animal House came out - which I was really proud of, even though it was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/i-remember-when-first-stripes-and-then-animal-house-came-out-which-i/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [It's sort of the most important thing for acting, is to listen to the person you're dealing with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/it-s-sort-of-the-most-important-thing-for-acting-is-to-listen-to-the/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [Much of romantic relationships today have to do when the people are not in the same room. Whether it’s texting or emailing or Facebooking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/much-of-romantic-relationships-today-have-to-do-when-the-people-are/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [My sense is, I think it's okay for directors to do movies that speak to other work in their career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/my-sense-is-i-think-it-s-okay-for-directors-to-do-movies-that-speak/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [We watch movies about all sorts of things that we don't know anything about, but we do get caught up in the human drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/we-watch-movies-about-all-sorts-of-things-that-we-don-t-know-anything/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [We got some devastating reviews on Animal House at the start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/we-got-some-devastating-reviews-on-animal-house-at-the-start/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [I don't think there will be another Ghostbusters. I think we're all too old to do it. I think we've done it a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/i-don-t-think-there-will-be-another-ghostbusters-i-think-we-re-all/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [The hardest thing for everyone, for the writer, for the director and certainly for the actors, is not to panic when they're doing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/the-hardest-thing-for-everyone-for-the-writer-for-the-director-and/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [I don't think my sense of humor has changed at all; I was born with this, for better or for worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/i-don-t-think-my-sense-of-humor-has-changed-at-all-i-was-born-with/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [Movies either work or they don't work and they're either funny or they're not and we work very hard. To achieve that kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/movies-either-work-or-they-don-t-work-and-they-re-either-funny-or/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [I'd always been a science fiction enthusiast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/i-d-always-been-a-science-fiction-enthusiast/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [My first student film was Orientation, which was basically the set-up for Animal House. There are a couple of scenes that we later borrowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/my-first-student-film-was-orientation-which-was-basically-the-set-up/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [I believe that improvisation is really just a directorial tool. It's a writing tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/i-believe-that-improvisation-is-really-just-a-directorial-tool-it-s-a/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [I never like to do parodies. I never do. It's just not my style of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/i-never-like-to-do-parodies-i-never-do-it-s-just-not-my-style-of/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) > [I'm not sure I agree with the thesis, because I think that even though something grotesque or gross has been part of film since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/i-m-not-sure-i-agree-with-the-thesis-because-i-think-that-even-though/) [Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) [Explore all 42 Ivan Reitman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/) ## 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 > [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": "The real trick for me as a director is to make sure that people don't start pushing because the harder you push as a perform the less funny it becomes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ivan Reitman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/the-real-trick-for-me-as-a-director-is-to-make-sure-that-people-don-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/the-real-trick-for-me-as-a-director-is-to-make-sure-that-people-don-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/ivan-reitman-15779_cinema_the-real-trick-for-me-as-a-director-is-t_2119094.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/ivan-reitman-15779_cinema_the-real-trick-for-me-as-a-director-is-t_2119094.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/ivan-reitman-15779_cinema_the-real-trick-for-me-as-a-director-is-t_2119094.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The real trick for me as a director is to make sure that people don't start pushing because the harder you…” — Ivan Reitman", "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": "Ivan Reitman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The real trick for me as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/the-real-trick-for-me-as-a-director-is-to-make-sure-that-people-don-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/the-real-trick-for-me-as-a-director-is-to-make-sure-that-people-don-t/#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 } } ] } ```