--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you feel like you're doing terrible in…" description: "\"If you feel like you're doing terrible in a scene, that usually means that you're not listening because you're too preoccupied with yourself... you're ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/julia-garner-19803_camera_if-you-feel-like-you-re-doing-terrible-i_2819026.jpg" --- # If you feel like you're doing terrible in a scene, that… ![“If you feel like you're doing terrible in a scene, that usually means that you're not listening because you're too preoccupied with yourself... you're not listening to your scene partner. If you listen, you're naturally going to get that response that the camera's going to pick up because you just…” quote by Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/julia-garner-19803_camera_if-you-feel-like-you-re-doing-terrible-i_2819026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/julia-garner-19803_camera_if-you-feel-like-you-re-doing-terrible-i_2819026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/julia-garner-19803_camera_if-you-feel-like-you-re-doing-terrible-i_2819026.jpg) > “If you feel like you're doing terrible in a scene, that usually means that you're not listening because you're too preoccupied with yourself... you're not listening to your scene partner. If you listen, you're naturally going to get that response that the camera's going to pick up because you just react.” [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poor performance often stems from self‑absorption; listening to scene partners restores genuine reaction. **In simple terms:** Bad acting comes from focusing on yourself, not listening. Key Takeaway Listen to others to improve performance. Themes acting mindfulness collaboration focus communication Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film sets - improv workshops - directed scenes - live performances Key Concepts Empathy presence craftsmanship Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance self‑awareness with attentiveness? - What techniques help you stay present on stage? A Different Perspective Focusing too much on listening may cause hesitation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Listening Preoccupied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening-preoccupied-3576271/) [Listening Scene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening-scene-3576272/) [Means Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-listening-1467096/) [Preoccupied Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preoccupied-listening-3576273/) [React](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/react/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [Mama says it's okay to be on the quiet side—if quiet means you're listening, watching, taking it all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/mama-says-it-s-okay-to-be-on-the-quiet-side-if-quiet-means-you-re/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [“You asked me whether I was afraid, but to be afraid or sad doesn't mean one is making a mistake. it just means one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-maufroy/you-asked-me-whether-i-was-afraid-but-to-be-afraid-or-sad-doesn-t/) [Muriel Maufroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-maufroy/) > [You see, faith means listening to your heart, not just your heard. It's not about ignoring facts; it's about being willing to see around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-miller/you-see-faith-means-listening-to-your-heart-not-just-your-heard-it-s/) [Kirsten Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-miller/) > [Leadership to me means duty, honor, country. It means character, and it means listening from time to time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/leadership-to-me-means-duty-honor-country-it-means-character-and-it/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“I sing without knowing what my song means, and whether the listening world is amazed or wounded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margarita-engle/i-sing-without-knowing-what-my-song-means-and-whether-the-listening/) [Margarita Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margarita-engle/) > [Communication of the HEART means listening to what is being said and hearing what isn't being said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/communication-of-the-heart-means-listening-to-what-is-being-said-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Love means listening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-schneider/love-means-listening/) [J.A. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-schneider/) > [“Deep listening simply means listening with compassion. Even if the other person is full of wrong perceptions, discrimination, blaming, judging, and criticizing, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/deep-listening-simply-means-listening-with-compassion-even-if-the/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [The Thick of It' is not 'Spitting Image,' mocking recognisable establishment figures of the day. 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They don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rendon/seeing-how-the-kids-react-to-you-is-pretty-awesome-not-necessarily/) [Anthony Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rendon/) > [You know, there's a tremendous amount of genetic propensity not necessarily for what TV shows you like but for literally how you view the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayim-bialik/you-know-there-s-a-tremendous-amount-of-genetic-propensity-not/) [Mayim Bialik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayim-bialik/) > [Maybe there's some kind of modeling that can be tedious, like catalogue modeling, but there's a kind of modeling, with runways or working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/maybe-there-s-some-kind-of-modeling-that-can-be-tedious-like/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [When you screw with somebody's sense of ownership of something, that's when they react.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murray/when-you-screw-with-somebody-s-sense-of-ownership-of-something-that-s/) [James Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murray/) ## More by Julia Garner > [I just want to continue to learn as an actor and as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/i-just-want-to-continue-to-learn-as-an-actor-and-as-a-person/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [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/) > [I remember my mom being very scared the first few auditions. My parents are very supportive, but they're also very realistic, which is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/i-remember-my-mom-being-very-scared-the-first-few-auditions-my/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [I think Matthew Rhys is great. I think he's a phenomenal actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/i-think-matthew-rhys-is-great-i-think-he-s-a-phenomenal-actor/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [I hate rodents. I cannot stand rodents. 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And I like imitating people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/i-loved-old-movies-and-i-like-imitating-people/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [People are intrigued but also scared about things that are uneasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/people-are-intrigued-but-also-scared-about-things-that-are-uneasy/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [I'm very good in letting things go; there's always new things, and I'm a big believer in 'everything happens for a reason' kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/i-m-very-good-in-letting-things-go-there-s-always-new-things-and-i-m/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [Every part that I do has to be different from the last part that I did so I don't become a stereotype.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/every-part-that-i-do-has-to-be-different-from-the-last-part-that-i/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [I started taking acting classes when I was 14. That's when I knew I wanted to try it professionally. Before that, I watched movies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/i-started-taking-acting-classes-when-i-was-14-that-s-when-i-knew-i/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [I'm from Manhattan. I'm some Jewish girl from the Upper West Side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/i-m-from-manhattan-i-m-some-jewish-girl-from-the-upper-west-side/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [I go wherever the good story is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/i-go-wherever-the-good-story-is/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) [Explore all 32 Julia Garner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) ## More Camera quotes > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [When I made my debut as an actor in 'Rock On!' I was confident to get in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farhan-akhtar/when-i-made-my-debut-as-an-actor-in-rock-on-i-was-confident-to-get-in/) [Farhan Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farhan-akhtar/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) [Mitra Farahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitra-farahani/) > [To be honest, I don't know... something about the camera like turns me into such a diva. Like when it's on and I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bretman-rock/to-be-honest-i-don-t-know-something-about-the-camera-like-turns-me/) [Bretman Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bretman-rock/) > [When the camera is on, I am an actor; otherwise, I am an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/when-the-camera-is-on-i-am-an-actor-otherwise-i-am-an-ordinary-person/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [“A camera is an opening in a box: that is the best emblem of the fact that a camera holding an object is holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-cavell/a-camera-is-an-opening-in-a-box-that-is-the-best-emblem-of-the-fact/) [Stanley Cavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-cavell/) > [It's such a weird thing, because you have a whole crew of people standing over there, on the other side. There's a camera pointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/it-s-such-a-weird-thing-because-you-have-a-whole-crew-of-people/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [“The camera lets me see things in a different way. It's like I finally have perspective. I can't always say stuff right in words.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/the-camera-lets-me-see-things-in-a-different-way-it-s-like-i-finally/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [I was so green, and my background was mostly in theater. 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