--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd like to work more as a director. It's…" description: "\"I'd like to work more as a director. It's distracting being an actor, because - there's a lot of reasons. You find out you're going to work about six m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/jodie-foster-2055_cinema_i-d-like-to-work-more-as-a-director-it-s_703738.jpg" --- # I'd like to work more as a director. It's distracting… ![“I'd like to work more as a director. It's distracting being an actor, because - there's a lot of reasons. You find out you're going to work about six months before you start shooting, and then there's prep and there's post afterward, and there's stuff to do, and then suddenly you've gone a year…” quote by Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/jodie-foster-2055_cinema_i-d-like-to-work-more-as-a-director-it-s_703738.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/jodie-foster-2055_cinema_i-d-like-to-work-more-as-a-director-it-s_703738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/jodie-foster-2055_cinema_i-d-like-to-work-more-as-a-director-it-s_703738.jpg) > “I'd like to work more as a director. It's distracting being an actor, because - there's a lot of reasons. You find out you're going to work about six months before you start shooting, and then there's prep and there's post afterward, and there's stuff to do, and then suddenly you've gone a year without directing. There's a part of me that has to not be tempted by that in order to commit more to the directing. Honestly, the big reason for me to act is to observe other directors and learn from them. That seems to be the biggest draw.” [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She wants to shift focus from acting to directing, seeing acting as a learning phase but is challenged by the long, fragmented production cycles that pull her away from directing. **In simple terms:** She aims to become a director, using acting to learn, but production timelines distract her. Key Takeaway Prioritize directing projects and set clear boundaries with acting commitments. Themes career ambition creative growth discipline Mood determined reflective Type aspirational practical When to use this quote - film production planning - seeking mentorship - balancing multiple roles - scheduling - career transition Key Concepts directorial vision learning through observation time management Questions to Reflect On - How can you structure your acting work to support directing goals? - What strategies help maintain creative focus during production downtimes? A Different Perspective Long gaps between directing jobs can stall momentum and skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I had the experience last year of directing my first feature while I had a 1-year-old son and while I was also pregnant, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/i-had-the-experience-last-year-of-directing-my-first-feature-while-i/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [There are so many factors that go into directing. It's honestly a logistical nightmare for a lead to direct themselves in an episode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-scrofano/there-are-so-many-factors-that-go-into-directing-it-s-honestly-a/) [Melanie Scrofano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-scrofano/) > [Working in film, if you work with great directors, you learn that after every take you must let go. Sitting with my wife at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/working-in-film-if-you-work-with-great-directors-you-learn-that-after/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [It's great to have a good relationship with the directors and learn about things you do with cameras, and how you direct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaten-matarazzo/it-s-great-to-have-a-good-relationship-with-the-directors-and-learn/) [Gaten Matarazzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaten-matarazzo/) > [I really just want to work with good directors and learn as much as I possibly can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-o-brien/i-really-just-want-to-work-with-good-directors-and-learn-as-much-as-i/) [Dylan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-o-brien/) > [You work with great directors and terrible directors, and so you learn; you take what you think will work for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-heslov/you-work-with-great-directors-and-terrible-directors-and-so-you-learn/) [Grant Heslov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-heslov/) > [I had a certain career as an actor that I think was quite personal as well, and had a lot of integrity, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-had-a-certain-career-as-an-actor-that-i-think-was-quite-personal-as/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Although it's pretty rare that I'll get completed, finished lyrics to a song and feel like it's done, and then decide that it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-britt-daniel/although-it-s-pretty-rare-that-i-ll-get-completed-finished-lyrics-to/) [John Britt Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-britt-daniel/) > [I can't cultivate a relationship with my child if it's between takes. I tried that on a movie and realized, 'This is not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-heigl/i-can-t-cultivate-a-relationship-with-my-child-if-it-s-between-takes/) [Katherine Heigl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-heigl/) > [I have a theory about marriage, Monsieur Boustouler. And it's that nearly always you will know within two weeks if it's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-have-a-theory-about-marriage-monsieur-boustouler-and-it-s-that/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [I'll joke all day, but once I get in the gym, I'm going to work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-howard/i-ll-joke-all-day-but-once-i-get-in-the-gym-i-m-going-to-work-hard/) [Dwight Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-howard/) > [When you hire me, you hire a nut who is going to work 24 hours a day for you and never, ever burn his audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stern/when-you-hire-me-you-hire-a-nut-who-is-going-to-work-24-hours-a-day/) [Howard Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stern/) > [In my heart of hearts, I know that whatever I do is going to have integrity, and I'm going to work really hard, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-my-heart-of-hearts-i-know-that-whatever-i-do-is-going-to-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Working at home is hard. It tends to give you bad habits. It feels more like you're going to work when you get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beaton/working-at-home-is-hard-it-tends-to-give-you-bad-habits-it-feels-more/) [Kate Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beaton/) > [Donald Trump so far is sending a signal that he's going to run the government like his business and maybe that's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/donald-trump-so-far-is-sending-a-signal-that-he-s-going-to-run-the/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) ## More by Jodie Foster > [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/) > [I spent a lot of time not in school, so I didn't have deep relationships with kids my own age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-not-in-school-so-i-didn-t-have-deep/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Let how you live your life stand for something, no matter how small and incidental it may seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/let-how-you-live-your-life-stand-for-something-no-matter-how-small/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Look, it's terrible, I know, but weakness really, really bugs me, to the point that if there is a wounded bird on the sidewalk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/look-it-s-terrible-i-know-but-weakness-really-really-bugs-me-to-the/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I want to be inspiring to myself, to my kids, my family, and my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-want-to-be-inspiring-to-myself-to-my-kids-my-family-and-my-friends/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Well, I certainly was exposed to and learned to appreciate the work of great directors early on. As a kid, my mother used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/well-i-certainly-was-exposed-to-and-learned-to-appreciate-the-work-of/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Sometimes, you really don't understand why something is important to you until you get halfway through the movie - or maybe even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/sometimes-you-really-don-t-understand-why-something-is-important-to/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I think I missed all of the wonderful things ... I missed the control that you have in film, and I missed getting it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-think-i-missed-all-of-the-wonderful-things-i-missed-the-control/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [But the reason I became, why I wanted to be in the business was because there was Midnight Cowboy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/but-the-reason-i-became-why-i-wanted-to-be-in-the-business-was/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I'm a technician. I don't go for the get-into-the-role stuff. I read the lines and play the scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-m-a-technician-i-don-t-go-for-the-get-into-the-role-stuff-i-read/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Casting is a long process for me. I take a lot of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/casting-is-a-long-process-for-me-i-take-a-lot-of-time/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago in the stone age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-already-did-my-coming-out-about-a-thousand-years-ago-in-the-stone/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Where I have problems is when I am in the midst of doing something that I am completely focused on, and then I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/where-i-have-problems-is-when-i-am-in-the-midst-of-doing-something/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I was one of those avid moviegoers as a kid, and we didn't have video, so we went to see everything five times. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-was-one-of-those-avid-moviegoers-as-a-kid-and-we-didn-t-have-video/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [When I go into the stores, I pet the saddles. Until security comes and takes me away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/when-i-go-into-the-stores-i-pet-the-saddles-until-security-comes-and/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) [Explore all 189 Jodie Foster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) ## 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": "I'd like to work more as a director. It's distracting being an actor, because - there's a lot of reasons. You find out you're going to work about six months before you start shooting, and then there's prep and there's post afterward, and there's stuff to do, and then suddenly you've gone a year without directing. There's a part of me that has to not be tempted by that in order to commit more to the directing. Honestly, the big reason for me to act is to observe other directors and learn from them. 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