--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know it sounds earnest, but I do really…" description: "\"I know it sounds earnest, but I do really feel in my bones that acting is just a small part of the equation when you are making a movie. The director r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/julia-stiles-10034_acting_i-know-it-sounds-earnest-but-i-do-really_703616.jpg" --- # I know it sounds earnest, but I do really feel in my bones… ![“I know it sounds earnest, but I do really feel in my bones that acting is just a small part of the equation when you are making a movie. The director really is in charge. Actors are as important or unimportant as the rest of the people around them.” quote by Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/julia-stiles-10034_acting_i-know-it-sounds-earnest-but-i-do-really_703616.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/julia-stiles-10034_acting_i-know-it-sounds-earnest-but-i-do-really_703616.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/julia-stiles-10034_acting_i-know-it-sounds-earnest-but-i-do-really_703616.jpg) > “I know it sounds earnest, but I do really feel in my bones that acting is just a small part of the equation when you are making a movie. The director really is in charge. Actors are as important or unimportant as the rest of the people around them.” [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The director holds primary creative control; actors contribute but are not the sole drivers of a film. **In simple terms:** Directors lead, actors support. Key Takeaway Respect the director’s vision. Themes film production collaboration creative hierarchy Mood reflective professional balanced Type observational insightful When to use this quote - film sets - independent productions - casting decisions - creative disagreements Key Concepts leadership artistic vision role importance Questions to Reflect On - How does a director’s style shape a film’s tone? - When can an actor’s performance shift a director’s vision? A Different Perspective Actors may have limited influence on overall storytelling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [You have to have the essential pleasure of making a movie. It's such a huge factor and adventure for a director because you really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/you-have-to-have-the-essential-pleasure-of-making-a-movie-it-s-such-a/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) > [When you're making a movie, you feel like a very small part of something that you really don't have much influence upon. You roll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-coolidge/when-you-re-making-a-movie-you-feel-like-a-very-small-part-of/) [Jennifer Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-coolidge/) > [I'm an actor. And like a lot of actors, it's very important that everybody loves you all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romola-garai/i-m-an-actor-and-like-a-lot-of-actors-it-s-very-important-that/) [Romola Garai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romola-garai/) > [For some reason, being on time in this industry can be a lost art form, especially for actors! It's important to remember that other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-tobin/for-some-reason-being-on-time-in-this-industry-can-be-a-lost-art-form/) Becca Tobin > [The idea the actors are the most important people on a film set I think is very stupid. Actors are the most replaceable people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/the-idea-the-actors-are-the-most-important-people-on-a-film-set-i/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [In theatre, there's the director, the writer, and below them the actor. In film, it's the actors who are most important. That goes against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-duff/in-theatre-there-s-the-director-the-writer-and-below-them-the-actor/) [Anne-Marie Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-duff/) > [Actors should never be important. Only directors should have power and place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-w-griffith/actors-should-never-be-important-only-directors-should-have-power-and/) [D. W. Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-w-griffith/) > [I want to keep doing different things. I'd like to do a more personal, dramatic movie next, I think. But as long as it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-goldwyn/i-want-to-keep-doing-different-things-i-d-like-to-do-a-more-personal/) [Tony Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-goldwyn/) > [Actors are the most important. Performance is what matters. Nothing matters more than the actors; they have to perform. No one else can give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/actors-are-the-most-important-performance-is-what-matters-nothing/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [An actors most important responsibility is to know lines well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-morgan/an-actors-most-important-responsibility-is-to-know-lines-well/) [Harry Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-morgan/) > [For the actors, there's something very important about that first showing of the scene to the crew, becomes like a little performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/for-the-actors-there-s-something-very-important-about-that-first/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [When someone who is known as a comedic actor goes to drama, it often doesn't work out, because they really just chose wrong, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/when-someone-who-is-known-as-a-comedic-actor-goes-to-drama-it-often/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [As a director, I have to feel realism from actors, and they can't be plastic. The words for me are secondary, but the chemistry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/as-a-director-i-have-to-feel-realism-from-actors-and-they-can-t-be/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [ What I love about the filmmakers that I mentioned \[Danny Boyle,Leo Carax\], is that it's visual but it's also, you see that the characters… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-bond/what-i-love-about-the-filmmakers-that-i-mentioned-danny-boyle-leo/) [Fredrik Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-bond/) > [What I do quite honestly and seriously and not in any way being humble is not as important as what the garbage collector does.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/what-i-do-quite-honestly-and-seriously-and-not-in-any-way-being/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) ## More by Julia Stiles > [Bill Pullman is older than Aaron Eckhart - although I was older too - and the age difference changes the play. My perspective on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/bill-pullman-is-older-than-aaron-eckhart-although-i-was-older-too-and/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [The only thing that gets me through any type of pain, emotional or physical, is to make it worthwhile by putting it into my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/the-only-thing-that-gets-me-through-any-type-of-pain-emotional-or/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [I think women get caught up too much in having a plan - 'I'm going to get married at this age I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/i-think-women-get-caught-up-too-much-in-having-a-plan-i-m-going-to/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [Education is huge for me. 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Or work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/i-am-forever-a-romantic-i-try-to-bring-that-into-my-work-i-try-not-to/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [Education is huge for me. I went to public school until I turned thirteen, and was lucky enough to afford college once I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/education-is-huge-for-me-i-went-to-public-school-until-i-turned-2/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [I always feel like a goofy little kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/i-always-feel-like-a-goofy-little-kid/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [I think I was born an artist. But the key is that I have a mom that encouraged and supported my artistic side. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/i-think-i-was-born-an-artist-but-the-key-is-that-i-have-a-mom-that/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [I wear everything from hip-hop baggy pants to beautiful Armani dresses. I also like to mix vintage clothing with designer pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/i-wear-everything-from-hip-hop-baggy-pants-to-beautiful-armani/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [We can become very short-sighted in terms of objectives. The first thing to go during times of economic crisis and budget cuts is funding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/we-can-become-very-short-sighted-in-terms-of-objectives-the-first/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [So I am happy to have fans, especially if it enables me to keep working. And I am really grateful when people respond to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/so-i-am-happy-to-have-fans-especially-if-it-enables-me-to-keep/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [In my early career, I look at that time as a series of trial and error and learning as I go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/in-my-early-career-i-look-at-that-time-as-a-series-of-trial-and-error/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [If I'm gong out to a club I like to have fun with it. I'll use blue or red sparkly eyeliners and glittery eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/if-i-m-gong-out-to-a-club-i-like-to-have-fun-with-it-i-ll-use-blue-or/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) [Explore all 68 Julia Stiles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. 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Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. 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