--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rip Torn had, like, lessons in everything…" description: "\"Rip Torn had, like, lessons in everything he said, and one of them was, \"I know that an actor can undermine anything a director tells him to do by maki..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/john-heard-29955_fun_rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything_1276413.jpg" --- # Rip Torn had, like, lessons in everything he said, and one… ![“Rip Torn had, like, lessons in everything he said, and one of them was, "I know that an actor can undermine anything a director tells him to do by making fun of it." And he thought that that's what I did.” quote by John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/john-heard-29955_fun_rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything_1276413.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/john-heard-29955_fun_rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything_1276413.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/john-heard-29955_fun_rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything_1276413.jpg) > “Rip Torn had, like, lessons in everything he said, and one of them was, "I know that an actor can undermine anything a director tells him to do by making fun of it." And he thought that that's what I did.” [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor can subvert a director’s vision by mocking it, highlighting tension between creative control and performance. **In simple terms:** Actors may undermine directors by making fun of directions. Key Takeaway Balance respect and creativity on set. Themes acting creative control collaboration Mood reflective cautious Type professional advisory When to use this quote - film set - rehearsals - director‑actor meetings - workshop - creative brainstorming Key Concepts Power dynamics artistic integrity communication Questions to Reflect On - When is humor constructive? - How to address disagreements respectfully? A Different Perspective Risk of damaging professional relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Making fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-fun/) ## Related quotes > [Rip Torn thought I was being a wise guy, and one afternoon he got pretty angry with me after telling me to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/rip-torn-thought-i-was-being-a-wise-guy-and-one-afternoon-he-got/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [“When Rip Torn dies - heaven forbid - but when he dies, you'll only have to write RIP Torn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregor-collins/when-rip-torn-dies-heaven-forbid-but-when-he-dies-you-ll-only-have-to/) [Gregor Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregor-collins/) > [This is not a tough job. You read a script. If you like the part and the money is O.K., you do it. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-script-if-you-like-the-part-and/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [I think I've learned a lot working with actors as experienced as Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. They taught me that whatever happens during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-blue-richards/i-think-i-ve-learned-a-lot-working-with-actors-as-experienced-as/) [Dakota Blue Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-blue-richards/) > [It all depends on the directors. Working closely with a director is the main job of a film composer. Interpreting what he perceives as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-elfman/it-all-depends-on-the-directors-working-closely-with-a-director-is/) [Danny Elfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-elfman/) > [The director is the one who tells the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-kapoor/the-director-is-the-one-who-tells-the-story/) [Harshvardhan Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-kapoor/) > [Everyone can do a character the way they want to do it, unless the director tells them not to, which isn't very common. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barret-oliver/everyone-can-do-a-character-the-way-they-want-to-do-it-unless-the/) Barret Oliver > [They walked to school, talking about how much they were longing for the summer holidays. "Oh, I am planning things," said Jamie. "Great, great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/they-walked-to-school-talking-about-how-much-they-were-longing-for/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [And how many hours a day did you do lessons?' said Alice, in a hurry to change the subject. Ten hours the first day,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/and-how-many-hours-a-day-did-you-do-lessons-said-alice-in-a-hurry-to/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Etienne gave me lessons. Three of them. Then he said I was a menace and refused to teach me anything more for fear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/etienne-gave-me-lessons-three-of-them-then-he-said-i-was-a-menace-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I remember someone once saying, "Pete, you know you really should take voice lessons." And I said, "Well, if I could find any voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/i-remember-someone-once-saying-pete-you-know-you-really-should-take/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [No one ever said 'no' to me about anything. No one ever told me anything was wrong. Never. No one ever said, 'You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-jacobs/no-one-ever-said-no-to-me-about-anything-no-one-ever-told-me-anything/) [Marc Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-jacobs/) > [“Tell Tutor I won't be to lessons," she said. "Invent some sort of disease.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/tell-tutor-i-won-t-be-to-lessons-she-said-invent-some-sort-of-disease/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [That's like making fun of a maniac because his brain isn't completely right, because he isn't in the norm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/that-s-like-making-fun-of-a-maniac-because-his-brain-isn-t-completely/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [My brothers and sister and me grew up making fun of each other, the way we'd speak or move. When we get together, everyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/my-brothers-and-sister-and-me-grew-up-making-fun-of-each-other-the/) [Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/) ## More by John Heard > [The look of the movie and the music, which was by Jack Nitzsche, is what really stands out to me. I don't know if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/the-look-of-the-movie-and-the-music-which-was-by-jack-nitzsche-is/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [Cutter's Way was a real test of my stupidity. Every day, it was like, who did I think I was? But people put up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/cutter-s-way-was-a-real-test-of-my-stupidity-every-day-it-was-like/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [I remember one afternoon when we were out on a golf course somewhere, and Lauren Bacall, James Garner, and Jack Lemmon were sitting there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/i-remember-one-afternoon-when-we-were-out-on-a-golf-course-somewhere/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [Denzel Washington was so great at The Great Debaters, so focused and talented. That was just an honor to be cast in that, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/denzel-washington-was-so-great-at-the-great-debaters-so-focused-and/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [That show, The Sopranos put HBO on the map. So there I was - and then there I wasn't. Too bad. The same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/that-show-the-sopranos-put-hbo-on-the-map-so-there-i-was-and-then/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [Paul Schrader, he's a... son of a gun. He's a very feisty, very straightforward guy. He's your auteur director. He sent me to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/paul-schrader-he-s-a-son-of-a-gun-he-s-a-very-feisty-very/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [Nastassja Kinski is a sweetie. She's very quiet. But smart. I hung out with her mother more than Nastassja. I think Nastassja was more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/nastassja-kinski-is-a-sweetie-she-s-very-quiet-but-smart-i-hung-out/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [When my agent called me up and said, "Do you want to be in a movie called Sharknado?" I said, "What is it about?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/when-my-agent-called-me-up-and-said-do-you-want-to-be-in-a-movie/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [There were a lot of things in it that were important at the time to me. Cutter's Way movie was very relevant. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/there-were-a-lot-of-things-in-it-that-were-important-at-the-time-to/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [I did a film about child abuse with the great producer-director Richard Donner, Radio Flyer. Again, I was replacing somebody, but Lorraine Bracco was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/i-did-a-film-about-child-abuse-with-the-great-producer-director/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [Martin Scorsese was very much the actor's director. We were all very in awe of Martin Scorsese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/martin-scorsese-was-very-much-the-actor-s-director-we-were-all-very/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [They killed me in The Sopranos. I went to David Chase, and I said, "Why me? I'm a detective! You can use me forever!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/they-killed-me-in-the-sopranos-i-went-to-david-chase-and-i-said-why/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [Television is fast and loose. You have two or three takes to get your part right, and if you have a problem, well, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/television-is-fast-and-loose-you-have-two-or-three-takes-to-get-your/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [After The Sopranos, my mother said, "Couldn't there be some raft floating under the bridge when you jumped? Or couldn't you have a twin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/after-the-sopranos-my-mother-said-couldn-t-there-be-some-raft/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [Griffin Dunne and I were both terrified that Martin Scorsese didn't think we were very good - and if he didn't think we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/griffin-dunne-and-i-were-both-terrified-that-martin-scorsese-didn-t/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) [Explore all 18 John Heard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) ## More Film quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [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/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [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 started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) [Browse all 32,254 Film quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rip Torn had, like, lessons in everything he said, and one of them was, \"I know that an actor can undermine anything a director tells him to do by making fun of it.\" And he thought that that's what I did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Heard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything-he-said-and-one-of-them-was-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Film" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything-he-said-and-one-of-them-was-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/john-heard-29955_fun_rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything_1276413.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/john-heard-29955_fun_rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything_1276413.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/john-heard-29955_fun_rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything_1276413.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rip Torn had, like, lessons in everything he said, and one of them was, \"I know that an actor can undermine…” — John Heard", "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": "John Heard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Rip Torn had, like, lessons in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything-he-said-and-one-of-them-was-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything-he-said-and-one-of-them-was-i/#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 } } ] } ```