--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you put someone in a room with no…" description: "\"If you put someone in a room with no script to direct, they're just going to sit there. Writing scripts is the execution for a show. Then the director ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/john-patrick-shanley-13888_bricks_if-you-put-someone-in-a-room-with-no-scr_1386919.jpg" --- # If you put someone in a room with no script to direct… ![“If you put someone in a room with no script to direct, they're just going to sit there. Writing scripts is the execution for a show. Then the director takes that and hires people. It's like trying to build a house without any bricks.” quote by John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/john-patrick-shanley-13888_bricks_if-you-put-someone-in-a-room-with-no-scr_1386919.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/john-patrick-shanley-13888_bricks_if-you-put-someone-in-a-room-with-no-scr_1386919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/john-patrick-shanley-13888_bricks_if-you-put-someone-in-a-room-with-no-scr_1386919.jpg) > “If you put someone in a room with no script to direct, they're just going to sit there. Writing scripts is the execution for a show. Then the director takes that and hires people. It's like trying to build a house without any bricks.” [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating without a script leaves a project directionless; scripts provide structure, then directors assemble talent, similar to building a house with bricks. **In simple terms:** Scripts give direction; directors organize talent. Key Takeaway Use scripts to guide creative work. Themes creativity structure leadership Mood reflective analytical Type instructional inspirational When to use this quote - film production - theatre rehearsals - team building - content creation Key Concepts screenwriting direction project management Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance structure with improvisation? - When is a script unnecessary? A Different Perspective Scripts may limit spontaneous creativity if too rigid. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Screenwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriting/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing scripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-scripts/) ## Related quotes > [If you put someone in a room with no script to direct, they're just going to sit there. Writing scripts is the execution for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/if-you-put-someone-in-a-room-with-no-script-to-direct-they-re-just-2/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [If you put someone in a room with no script to direct, they're just going to sit there. Writing scripts is the execution for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/if-you-put-someone-in-a-room-with-no-script-to-direct-they-re-just-3/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [“I was always bad at reading scripts. Back then, I’d be offered millions of dollars to do movies and barely crack the first few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-perry/i-was-always-bad-at-reading-scripts-back-then-i-d-be-offered-millions/) [Matthew Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-perry/) > [I learned that you really don't have any control as a writer. Waah, waah, waah. Big deal. Unless you're the director on the movie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/i-learned-that-you-really-don-t-have-any-control-as-a-writer-waah/) [Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/) > [In film school, I knew I wanted to be a director, but I found out pretty damn quickly that nobody was just going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/in-film-school-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-a-director-but-i-found-out/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [Whatever you do in terms of telling a story, the most important thing that you can define is who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/whatever-you-do-in-terms-of-telling-a-story-the-most-important-thing/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I've been working with a lot of people out in Hollywood on writing scripts, screenplays, directing, producing, and making music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enzo-amore/i-ve-been-working-with-a-lot-of-people-out-in-hollywood-on-writing/) [Enzo Amore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enzo-amore/) > [Back in the 1990s, I had an opportunity to make a film. But I realized that it is better for me to go in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-kapur/back-in-the-1990s-i-had-an-opportunity-to-make-a-film-but-i-realized/) [Pankaj Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-kapur/) > [As a kid, I was just writing scripts and taking whatever film classes I could in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/as-a-kid-i-was-just-writing-scripts-and-taking-whatever-film-classes/) [Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/) > [I explained to Amazon that I don't like outlining or projecting what something's going to be. I like to allow a story to arise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/i-explained-to-amazon-that-i-don-t-like-outlining-or-projecting-what/) [Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/) > [I used to do so much writing and fill my scripts with thoughts and monologues and ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-used-to-do-so-much-writing-and-fill-my-scripts-with-thoughts-and/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [For years I was doing the excruciating weightlifting of writing scripts - but then I stayed thin and someone else got all the muscles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/for-years-i-was-doing-the-excruciating-weightlifting-of-writing/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [I spent as much time writing proposals in '98 and '99 as I did writing scripts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-millar/i-spent-as-much-time-writing-proposals-in-98-and-99-as-i-did-writing/) [Mark Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-millar/) > [In writing scripts now, having made a film, I'm much more conscious of what it means to shoot and edit a movie, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/in-writing-scripts-now-having-made-a-film-i-m-much-more-conscious-of/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [I remember that when I got to NYU, everyone was writing scripts. But I was 18 at the time, and when you write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/i-remember-that-when-i-got-to-nyu-everyone-was-writing-scripts-but-i/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) ## More by John Patrick Shanley > [Women consume, and they must be directed what to consume, or they may identify you as lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/women-consume-and-they-must-be-directed-what-to-consume-or-they-may/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I did 'Doubt' as a film, a play and an opera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-did-doubt-as-a-film-a-play-and-an-opera/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [“i don't know what your situation is but i wanted you to know what mine is not just to explain some rude behavior, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-don-t-know-what-your-situation-is-but-i-wanted-you-to-know-what/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I'd like to thank everybody who ever punched or kissed me in my life and everybody who I ever punched or kissed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-d-like-to-thank-everybody-who-ever-punched-or-kissed-me-in-my-life/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [It wasn't until I was 35 or 36, when I wrote 'Danny and the Deep Blue Sea,' that I began to get some notoriety,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/it-wasn-t-until-i-was-35-or-36-when-i-wrote-danny-and-the-deep-blue/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [dear god, whose name i do not know. thank you for my life. i forgot... how BIG... thank you. thank you for my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/dear-god-whose-name-i-do-not-know-thank-you-for-my-life-i-forgot-how/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I became a playwright and screenwriter. Italian-Americans were my particular specialty. I liked the way they talked. There was something free in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-became-a-playwright-and-screenwriter-italian-americans-were-my/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I'm Irish as hell: Kelly on one side, Shanley on the other. My father had been born on a farm in the Irish Midlands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-m-irish-as-hell-kelly-on-one-side-shanley-on-the-other-my-father/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Monogamy is like a 40-watt bulb. It works, but its not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/monogamy-is-like-a-40-watt-bulb-it-works-but-its-not-enough/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [People ask me if I believe in things: in God, in astrology, and I say, absolutely! 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When you go to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/back-when-you-were-doing-plays-like-the-miracle-worker-you-had-20-25/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Where the terror is, you must go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/where-the-terror-is-you-must-go/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > ['The Miracle Worker' is just such an incredibly powerful play on stage, and is so kinetic, and athletic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/the-miracle-worker-is-just-such-an-incredibly-powerful-play-on-stage/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [Conscience is the most dangerous thing you possess. If you wake it up, it may destroy you. 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If I cannot, and I know I cannot, get the literary and scientific bigwigs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/i-am-the-enfant-terrible-of-literature-and-science-if-i-cannot-and-i/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [The Brick House was one of the toughest joints I ever played in ... Guys would drink and fight one another like circle saws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-brick-house-was-one-of-the-toughest-joints-i-ever-played-in-guys/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [I am always really buzzed after each performance, and at around one in the morning, Ill hit a brick wall and need to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hattie-morahan/i-am-always-really-buzzed-after-each-performance-and-at-around-one-in/) [Hattie Morahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hattie-morahan/) > [“Savannah gray bricks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/savannah-gray-bricks/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [I still have the desire to do the job of acting. 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Hill Jr > [“Two bricks, parallel and horizontal, equals an equal sign. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/two-bricks-parallel-and-horizontal-equals-an-equal-sign/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Didn’t every new thing you did become a part of you, one of your bricks?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/didn-t-every-new-thing-you-did-become-a-part-of-you-one-of-your-bricks/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) Browse all 587 Bricks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you put someone in a room with no script to direct, they're just going to sit there. Writing scripts is the execution for a show. Then the director takes that and hires people. 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