--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I meet a good actor, I would like to…" description: "\"When I meet a good actor, I would like to be a director. When I meet a good director, I would like to be an actor. When there is a good script, I would..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/jiang-wen-23000_actor_when-i-meet-a-good-actor-i-would-like-to_726312.jpg" --- # When I meet a good actor, I would like to be a director… ![“When I meet a good actor, I would like to be a director. When I meet a good director, I would like to be an actor. When there is a good script, I would like to be both a director and an actor. The switch is very natural, not intentional.” quote by Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/jiang-wen-23000_actor_when-i-meet-a-good-actor-i-would-like-to_726312.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/jiang-wen-23000_actor_when-i-meet-a-good-actor-i-would-like-to_726312.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/jiang-wen-23000_actor_when-i-meet-a-good-actor-i-would-like-to_726312.jpg) > “When I meet a good actor, I would like to be a director. When I meet a good director, I would like to be an actor. When there is a good script, I would like to be both a director and an actor. The switch is very natural, not intentional.” [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The desire to switch roles between acting and directing arises naturally when encountering talent in each. **In simple terms:** Talent inspires role swapping between actor and director. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility in creative collaborations. Themes creativity collaboration film industry Mood analytical inquisitive Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - film sets - theatre productions - creative workshops Key Concepts role fluidity artistic vision Questions to Reflect On - When is it best to specialize? - How does role switching affect project cohesion? A Different Perspective Balancing both roles can dilute focus and quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Good director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-director/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I'd like to be able to be like a director, like Richard Brooks, say. And be able to say, 'I did my best, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-be-like-a-director-like-richard-brooks-say-and/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [I just don't want to be bored. That's the only criteria I have when I choose a role to play. I like it if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-giamatti/i-just-don-t-want-to-be-bored-that-s-the-only-criteria-i-have-when-i/) [Paul Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-giamatti/) > [I suppose a good director is like a teacher. I think that someone like David Cronenberg was very much like a teacher, because there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-suppose-a-good-director-is-like-a-teacher-i-think-that-someone-like/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [A good director is like a good coach. You want to play for him. You want to really show him your good stuff. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/a-good-director-is-like-a-good-coach-you-want-to-play-for-him-you/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I think that the most important thing for me is, how is the character that I would be reading for? Is it interesting? Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/i-think-that-the-most-important-thing-for-me-is-how-is-the-character/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [There are definitely reasons to do certain things, but I like to stick to good director, good actor, good script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seyfried/there-are-definitely-reasons-to-do-certain-things-but-i-like-to-stick/) [Amanda Seyfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seyfried/) > [Also a good director and good dialogue. That's very important because you're bringing the words to life. So it's very important for an actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/also-a-good-director-and-good-dialogue-that-s-very-important-because/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [If you do well as an actor, a good director will pick up on it, and keep it in the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/if-you-do-well-as-an-actor-a-good-director-will-pick-up-on-it-and/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [Matching character and actor is what a good director does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-dumont/matching-character-and-actor-is-what-a-good-director-does/) [Bruno Dumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-dumont/) > [Sometimes I think being an actor is like being a dog for a director; it's like they throw a stick, and you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/sometimes-i-think-being-an-actor-is-like-being-a-dog-for-a-director/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I feel like what Director Bong is so amazing at is taking so many things and presenting them to you - never telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/i-feel-like-what-director-bong-is-so-amazing-at-is-taking-so-many/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [I always like being a director in terms of giving acting notes and punching up on the fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-always-like-being-a-director-in-terms-of-giving-acting-notes-and/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [Directors know nothing. I never had the privilege of working with any good director. Except Satyen Bose and Bimal Roy, no one even knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-kumar/directors-know-nothing-i-never-had-the-privilege-of-working-with-any/) [Kishore Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-kumar/) > [Due to God's grace and a good director, I became successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajinikanth/due-to-god-s-grace-and-a-good-director-i-became-successful/) [Rajinikanth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajinikanth/) > [It is true that I got recognition. But however good the comedies are, nobody will accept a good comedy director as a good director.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyadarshan/it-is-true-that-i-got-recognition-but-however-good-the-comedies-are/) [Priyadarshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyadarshan/) ## More by Jiang Wen > [I've also shot plenty of films with very small audiences - 'The Sun Also Rises.' I love that film, but I didn't capture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-ve-also-shot-plenty-of-films-with-very-small-audiences-the-sun-also/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [Changing people's preconceptions is something you have to do in order to search for truth. Of course normally, that's not done because it also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/changing-people-s-preconceptions-is-something-you-have-to-do-in-order/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I personally don't distinguish between artistic and commercial films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-personally-don-t-distinguish-between-artistic-and-commercial-films/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I turned to historical films because they pass censors more easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-turned-to-historical-films-because-they-pass-censors-more-easily/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I'm especially keen to work with good scriptwriters on stories we have developed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-m-especially-keen-to-work-with-good-scriptwriters-on-stories-we/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [From 1911 to 1928, the country was officially called Republic of China, but in reality, it was actually split between different warlords. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/from-1911-to-1928-the-country-was-officially-called-republic-of-china/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I think that as a director, especially when it comes to writing the script, which I also do, and I'm also the first one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-think-that-as-a-director-especially-when-it-comes-to-writing-the/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [As a director, what I'm trying to do is to create interesting stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/as-a-director-what-i-m-trying-to-do-is-to-create-interesting-stories/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I never control a film. The film controls me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-never-control-a-film-the-film-controls-me/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [From now on, I will work with other people's material if it fits where I want to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/from-now-on-i-will-work-with-other-people-s-material-if-it-fits-where/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [Painters who do self-portraits are engaging in a form of narcissism. But it doesn't work like that in movies. A truly narcissistic person wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/painters-who-do-self-portraits-are-engaging-in-a-form-of-narcissism/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I think that as a Chinese person, nobody will forget that in China's history, there was a war against the Japanese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-think-that-as-a-chinese-person-nobody-will-forget-that-in-china-s/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [Other people's films are like a cocktail, a little alcohol with water and juice. My films are like pure vodka.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/other-people-s-films-are-like-a-cocktail-a-little-alcohol-with-water/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [No matter how lofty a film is, it becomes a product after entering the market. It has a price. I think no matter what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/no-matter-how-lofty-a-film-is-it-becomes-a-product-after-entering-the/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [It's not easy for a film to tell a story of the experiences of an entire society. However, from an individual's perspective, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/it-s-not-easy-for-a-film-to-tell-a-story-of-the-experiences-of-an/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) [Explore all 26 Jiang Wen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [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/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! 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I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I meet a good actor, I would like to be a director. When I meet a good director, I would like to be an actor. When there is a good script, I would like to be both a director and an actor. 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