--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a director can't figure out what they…" description: "\"If a director can't figure out what they might get from me or whether he or she wants to work with me based on what I've done, then I can't tell them a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/jeffrey-wright-14855_cinema_if-a-director-can-t-figure-out-what-they_3006146.jpg" --- # If a director can't figure out what they might get from me… ![“If a director can't figure out what they might get from me or whether he or she wants to work with me based on what I've done, then I can't tell them anything more than what they don't know already.” quote by Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/jeffrey-wright-14855_cinema_if-a-director-can-t-figure-out-what-they_3006146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/jeffrey-wright-14855_cinema_if-a-director-can-t-figure-out-what-they_3006146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/jeffrey-wright-14855_cinema_if-a-director-can-t-figure-out-what-they_3006146.jpg) > “If a director can't figure out what they might get from me or whether he or she wants to work with me based on what I've done, then I can't tell them anything more than what they don't know already.” [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He says if a director can’t assess his value from past work, he can’t provide new insight beyond what they already know. **In simple terms:** If they can’t gauge his worth, he can’t add more info. Key Takeaway Clarify value early. Themes collaboration communication career professionalism expectations assessment Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type professional strategic When to use this quote - audition - networking - project pitching Key Concepts value proposition relationship building career strategy Questions to Reflect On - What information could better showcase his strengths? - How can directors more accurately evaluate talent? A Different Perspective Assumes prior work fully represents ability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Director Figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-figure-4795956/) [Don Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-know/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) [Wants Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants-work/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Every artist wants his or her work to connect with someone. I think that's why people make art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/every-artist-wants-his-or-her-work-to-connect-with-someone-i-think/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [You know, it cuts both ways... no one wants to lose a job, but everybody wants to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/you-know-it-cuts-both-ways-no-one-wants-to-lose-a-job-but-everybody/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [Every new HubSpot employee has to go through training to learn how to use the software. That's a good idea, and it also keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/every-new-hubspot-employee-has-to-go-through-training-to-learn-how-to/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [I think when somebody wants to work diligently, when somebody wants to take away the cobwebs and see where attention is needed, to fix…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/i-think-when-somebody-wants-to-work-diligently-when-somebody-wants-to/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) > [ \[God\] wants us to work with Him, honey. Not for Him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-austin/god-wants-us-to-work-with-him-honey-not-for-him/) [Lynn Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-austin/) > [Two-point-seven percent unemployment equates to -- everybody who wants to work is working. It equates to full employment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-williams/two-point-seven-percent-unemployment-equates-to-everybody-who-wants/) [Betty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-williams/) > [I'm still an actor who wants to work all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-amell/i-m-still-an-actor-who-wants-to-work-all-the-time/) [Stephen Amell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-amell/) > [When somebody wants to work and believes in something, it doesn't matter if you're well known or rich or whatever it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manolo-blahnik/when-somebody-wants-to-work-and-believes-in-something-it-doesn-t/) [Manolo Blahnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manolo-blahnik/) > [I'd like to see a reality where, if someone wants to work when they turn 18 to help support their family, and they learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/i-d-like-to-see-a-reality-where-if-someone-wants-to-work-when-they/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [I am a simple man who knows how to act and wants to work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-singh/i-am-a-simple-man-who-knows-how-to-act-and-wants-to-work-hard/) [Sunny Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunny-singh/) > [Everyone wants to work with the big new producer or the hot new singer. The key is to find them before they're hot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbaland/everyone-wants-to-work-with-the-big-new-producer-or-the-hot-new/) [Timbaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timbaland/) > [Nobody really wants to work anymore. Nobody has the dedication to say, "It's going to take me ten years to get through this thing."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-ashcroft-nowicki/nobody-really-wants-to-work-anymore-nobody-has-the-dedication-to-say/) [Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-ashcroft-nowicki/) > [Unfortunately in our industry, as soon as you win a Bafta everyone suddenly wants to work with you. But you're still the same guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asim-chaudhry/unfortunately-in-our-industry-as-soon-as-you-win-a-bafta-everyone/) [Asim Chaudhry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asim-chaudhry/) > [I think that if you run a big company, you've got to, four or five times a year, just say, 'Hey team, look, here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-immelt/i-think-that-if-you-run-a-big-company-you-ve-got-to-four-or-five/) [Jeffrey R. Immelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-immelt/) > [In storytelling, the audience actually wants to work for their meal, they just don't want to know that they're doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/in-storytelling-the-audience-actually-wants-to-work-for-their-meal/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) ## More by Jeffrey Wright > [The line between being a nurturing parent and an over-bearing, damaging parent is one that's very delicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/the-line-between-being-a-nurturing-parent-and-an-over-bearing/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [For me, an actor is a person who makes characters like a cobbler makes shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/for-me-an-actor-is-a-person-who-makes-characters-like-a-cobbler-makes/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [Having been born and raised in Washington, D.C., you kind of absorb politics when you grow up. And it continues to be a focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/having-been-born-and-raised-in-washington-d-c-you-kind-of-absorb/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I do a little Reddit, yeah! I pop in every now and again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-do-a-little-reddit-yeah-i-pop-in-every-now-and-again/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I like to do theater and hopefully be effective. Most actors, at least contemporary actors of my generation, can't do it. They don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-like-to-do-theater-and-hopefully-be-effective-most-actors-at-least/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I find that the work I do as an actor that's most challenging commands an athleticism or, certainly, a physicality. And also a rigor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-find-that-the-work-i-do-as-an-actor-that-s-most-challenging/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I do have characters who are more well known than I am, which suits me fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-do-have-characters-who-are-more-well-known-than-i-am-which-suits-me/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [Some of my earliest heroes were congresswomen like Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/some-of-my-earliest-heroes-were-congresswomen-like-shirley-chisholm/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I started acting when I was at Amherst my junior year, and my lacrosse career kind of started to flop sideways after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-started-acting-when-i-was-at-amherst-my-junior-year-and-my-lacrosse/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I like New York because you're kind of forced to smell everybody else's funk. So it keeps you biologically attached to the world around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-like-new-york-because-you-re-kind-of-forced-to-smell-everybody-else/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I'm gonna be on the Hawaiian beaches when I'm old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-m-gonna-be-on-the-hawaiian-beaches-when-i-m-old/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [New York is the greatest character actor ever. Any film that is shot in New York is elevated by the city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/new-york-is-the-greatest-character-actor-ever-any-film-that-is-shot/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I'm not sure whether Los Angeles borders on the ocean or on oblivion. I always feel that I'm two steps away from the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-m-not-sure-whether-los-angeles-borders-on-the-ocean-or-on-oblivion/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [Some musicians play blues, others classical jazz or bluegrass. I like to play political roles because I can merge my political interests with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/some-musicians-play-blues-others-classical-jazz-or-bluegrass-i-like/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [Shaft was a pop culture figure along t he lines of, I guess, Dirty Harry - except that he wasn't as much of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/shaft-was-a-pop-culture-figure-along-t-he-lines-of-i-guess-dirty/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) [Explore all 45 Jeffrey Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "If a director can't figure out what they might get from me or whether he or she wants to work with me based on what I've done, then I can't tell them anything more than what they don't know already.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeffrey Wright" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/if-a-director-can-t-figure-out-what-they-might-get-from-me-or-whether/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/if-a-director-can-t-figure-out-what-they-might-get-from-me-or-whether/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/jeffrey-wright-14855_cinema_if-a-director-can-t-figure-out-what-they_3006146.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/jeffrey-wright-14855_cinema_if-a-director-can-t-figure-out-what-they_3006146.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/jeffrey-wright-14855_cinema_if-a-director-can-t-figure-out-what-they_3006146.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a director can't figure out what they might get from me or whether he or she wants to work with me based…” — Jeffrey Wright", "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": "Jeffrey Wright", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If a director can't figure out...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/if-a-director-can-t-figure-out-what-they-might-get-from-me-or-whether/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/if-a-director-can-t-figure-out-what-they-might-get-from-me-or-whether/#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 } } ] } ```