--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never been difficult to anybody or…" description: "\"I've never been difficult to anybody or with anybody on a picture. Especially when you're in that nice status of hierarchy of actors and actresses who ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/james-caan-10458_actors_i-ve-never-been-difficult-to-anybody-or_2754585.jpg" --- # I've never been difficult to anybody or with anybody on a… ![“I've never been difficult to anybody or with anybody on a picture. Especially when you're in that nice status of hierarchy of actors and actresses who get to approve directors. Because once you make that choice, it's my belief that the director's boss.” quote by James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/james-caan-10458_actors_i-ve-never-been-difficult-to-anybody-or_2754585.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/james-caan-10458_actors_i-ve-never-been-difficult-to-anybody-or_2754585.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a6/james-caan-10458_actors_i-ve-never-been-difficult-to-anybody-or_2754585.jpg) > “I've never been difficult to anybody or with anybody on a picture. Especially when you're in that nice status of hierarchy of actors and actresses who get to approve directors. Because once you make that choice, it's my belief that the director's boss.” [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power dynamics in creative collaborations require mutual respect and shared authority. **In simple terms:** Respect and shared authority matter. Key Takeaway Treat collaborators as equals. Themes collaboration authority respect Mood reflective professional Type advice industry insight When to use this quote - film production - team meetings - contract negotiations Key Concepts hierarchy creative control Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance authority with collaboration? - What safeguards protect creative voices? A Different Perspective If hierarchy dominates, creative input may suffer. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors and actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-and-actresses/) [Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Approve Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approve-directors-3124301/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult Anybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-anybody-3124300/) [Director Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-boss-876209/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Directors Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-make-313749/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Hierarchy Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy-actors-3124302/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) ## Related quotes > [People wonder why first-time directors can make a brilliant picture, then suck on the second one. It's because they're a little terrified the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/people-wonder-why-first-time-directors-can-make-a-brilliant-picture/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I view the director as my boss. I'm the pawn on the chess board. I don't say something to the director easily, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/i-view-the-director-as-my-boss-i-m-the-pawn-on-the-chess-board-i-don/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [As an actor, you have to give up all control to the director. He's the boss, and has all the power. I'm a control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebon-moss-bachrach/as-an-actor-you-have-to-give-up-all-control-to-the-director-he-s-the-2/) [Ebon Moss-Bachrach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebon-moss-bachrach/) > [The director is the boss on the set. We don't take away anyone's creative freedom. There are many production houses which get into creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhushan-kumar/the-director-is-the-boss-on-the-set-we-don-t-take-away-anyone-s/) [Bhushan Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhushan-kumar/) > [If I'm intimidated, I shouldn't be directing a movie. I gotta treat 'em as characters, not as stars. It's hard to not treat Marlon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-oz/if-i-m-intimidated-i-shouldn-t-be-directing-a-movie-i-gotta-treat-em/) [Frank Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-oz/) > [When I do a film, usually I work from my director. That's my boss. The director is interpreting the writer's vision, and we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-lewis/when-i-do-a-film-usually-i-work-from-my-director-that-s-my-boss-the/) [Juliette Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-lewis/) > [As an actor, you have to give up all control to the director. He's the boss and has all the power. I'm a control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebon-moss-bachrach/as-an-actor-you-have-to-give-up-all-control-to-the-director-he-s-the/) [Ebon Moss-Bachrach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebon-moss-bachrach/) > [The most nurturing of directors can make you feel too comfortable, and you don't really push for that extra whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/the-most-nurturing-of-directors-can-make-you-feel-too-comfortable-and/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [All directors make films in individual ways. But the classical kind of view of filmmaking is that you have a script and it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/all-directors-make-films-in-individual-ways-but-the-classical-kind-of/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [You hear it said time and time again by successful directors: You have to make a movie for yourself. Don't make it for anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/you-hear-it-said-time-and-time-again-by-successful-directors-you-have/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [I'm not a trained actor. I surrender to my directors, and they make me act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sai-pallavi/i-m-not-a-trained-actor-i-surrender-to-my-directors-and-they-make-me/) [Sai Pallavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sai-pallavi/) > [Nobody cares for the product I, and a host of other horror directors, make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/nobody-cares-for-the-product-i-and-a-host-of-other-horror-directors/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [Most directors make films with their eyes; I make films with my testicles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/most-directors-make-films-with-their-eyes-i-make-films-with-my/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [It's not often I get to do a film that turns out good. Plus, there just aren't that many great directors out there. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-wareham/it-s-not-often-i-get-to-do-a-film-that-turns-out-good-plus-there-just/) [Dean Wareham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-wareham/) > [All great directors - however, they do it - make you want to be good. I hope I do it. It's like being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-reinking/all-great-directors-however-they-do-it-make-you-want-to-be-good-i/) [Ann Reinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-reinking/) ## More by James Caan > [I loved 'Funny Lady' for whatever reason. People say they didn't know I could sing and dance. Well, nobody ever asks me - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-loved-funny-lady-for-whatever-reason-people-say-they-didn-t-know-i/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [It's hard to tell writers, especially in movies, that words are secondary. Behavior is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/it-s-hard-to-tell-writers-especially-in-movies-that-words-are/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I never saw my dad cry. My son saw me cry. My dad never told me he loved me, and consequently I told Scott…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-never-saw-my-dad-cry-my-son-saw-me-cry-my-dad-never-told-me-he/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I have nothing against these big CGI movies, but there are not enough of the other ones - the ones with stories about character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-have-nothing-against-these-big-cgi-movies-but-there-are-not-enough/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I don't think silicone makes a girl good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-don-t-think-silicone-makes-a-girl-good-or-bad/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I play a guy who believes he's a king. He's the most common man in the world; in fact his family, like his suits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-play-a-guy-who-believes-he-s-a-king-he-s-the-most-common-man-in-the/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I'm an ultra-conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-m-an-ultra-conservative/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [Unless I love something or hate it, I don't want to deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/unless-i-love-something-or-hate-it-i-don-t-want-to-deal-with-it/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [To get over my divorce, I got a prescription to live at the Playboy Mansion for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/to-get-over-my-divorce-i-got-a-prescription-to-live-at-the-playboy/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [Showing up every day isn't enough. There are a lot of guys who show up every day who shouldn't have showed up at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/showing-up-every-day-isn-t-enough-there-are-a-lot-of-guys-who-show-up/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [A lot of young actors look up to me, and I wouldn't trade that for any money in the world. I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/a-lot-of-young-actors-look-up-to-me-and-i-wouldn-t-trade-that-for-any/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [One night I went over to get some dope from some Hollywood tough guy. After I left, my son Scott, who was only fifteen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/one-night-i-went-over-to-get-some-dope-from-some-hollywood-tough-guy/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [It's always more interesting to play the villain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/it-s-always-more-interesting-to-play-the-villain/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [What's the difference between sex and love? I have four wives and five kids. I apparently don't know the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/what-s-the-difference-between-sex-and-love-i-have-four-wives-and-five/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I lost my passion for work. No, that's a negative statement. I just had a bigger passion for something else, for my son, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-lost-my-passion-for-work-no-that-s-a-negative-statement-i-just-had/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) [Explore all 65 James Caan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [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/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [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/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never been difficult to anybody or with anybody on a picture. 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