--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The good thing about directing a…" description: "\"The good thing about directing a screenplay that you've written is that you see the film in your head as you're writing it and then you see those decis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/leigh-whannell-4824_directing_the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenp_405737.jpg" --- # The good thing about directing a screenplay that you've… ![“The good thing about directing a screenplay that you've written is that you see the film in your head as you're writing it and then you see those decisions through to the end.” quote by Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/leigh-whannell-4824_directing_the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenp_405737.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/leigh-whannell-4824_directing_the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenp_405737.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/leigh-whannell-4824_directing_the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenp_405737.jpg) > “The good thing about directing a screenplay that you've written is that you see the film in your head as you're writing it and then you see those decisions through to the end.” [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing a screenplay in your mind while writing helps align vision with final product, ensuring decisions stay consistent throughout production. **In simple terms:** Visualizing the film guides consistent choices. Key Takeaway Keep your mental picture clear while writing. Themes creativity vision consistency Mood focused determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - screenplay drafting - film production - creative collaboration Key Concepts storytelling directing visualization Questions to Reflect On - How does visualizing affect your writing process? - What steps keep your vision aligned during production? A Different Perspective If the mental image is vague, decisions may drift. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Screenplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplay/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I can't imagine any director directing a screenplay of mine, because the great directors all have very personal styles, and the ones that don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-can-t-imagine-any-director-directing-a-screenplay-of-mine-because/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. The main thing about directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/anybody-can-direct-a-picture-once-they-know-the-fundamentals/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [The main thing about directing is: photograph the people's eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/the-main-thing-about-directing-is-photograph-the-people-s-eyes/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [I would have to say the most challenging thing about directing is the sheer stamina because... as a director, you're always doing something. Someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-urie/i-would-have-to-say-the-most-challenging-thing-about-directing-is-the/) [Michael Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-urie/) > [I think directing and writing are very different jobs. Obviously, directing is a more social and managerial job. The other thing about directing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-think-directing-and-writing-are-very-different-jobs-obviously/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [There are people who've told me cinema is a visual medium and you don't need to say so much. When I write the script,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/there-are-people-who-ve-told-me-cinema-is-a-visual-medium-and-you-don/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [I'd love to have written a film and it to be regarded as good. I'd just like to be doing things that are good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-corden/i-d-love-to-have-written-a-film-and-it-to-be-regarded-as-good-i-d/) [James Corden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-corden/) > [I could, of course, have written about the film world and the jealousy there and the frequent belief that others don't have talent. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-thewlis/i-could-of-course-have-written-about-the-film-world-and-the-jealousy/) [David Thewlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-thewlis/) > [Having written for film and television, I had little interest in turning 'The Good Father' into a Hollywood thriller. I was writing a novel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/having-written-for-film-and-television-i-had-little-interest-in/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [Novels written with film contracts in mind have a faint but unmistakable, and ruinous, odor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/novels-written-with-film-contracts-in-mind-have-a-faint-but/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [If you have written something that the film people want, like a book, it does give you a way in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/if-you-have-written-something-that-the-film-people-want-like-a-book/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [The only music I've ever written was for a film called Frank, and the idea was that it was the worst music in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-only-music-i-ve-ever-written-was-for-a-film-called-frank-and-the/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [When you've written a film and directed it and it comes out exactly as you imagined it, it's pretty boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mcquarrie/when-you-ve-written-a-film-and-directed-it-and-it-comes-out-exactly/) [Christopher McQuarrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mcquarrie/) > [The great, rewarding thing about directing is that you're overseeing the whole thing. When you're an actor, you're just one department.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/the-great-rewarding-thing-about-directing-is-that-you-re-overseeing/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [It's a very stressful thing, directing a movie. You have the budget, you have the schedule, you are in certain confines, and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/it-s-a-very-stressful-thing-directing-a-movie-you-have-the-budget-you/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) ## More by Leigh Whannell > [I will say that when it comes to the horror genre, for me, the scariest thing is when something is actually in the frame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-will-say-that-when-it-comes-to-the-horror-genre-for-me-the-scariest/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I do try and keep my scripts quite economical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-do-try-and-keep-my-scripts-quite-economical/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I couldn't believe that people went to see 'Saw,' that people actually lined up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-couldn-t-believe-that-people-went-to-see-saw-that-people-actually/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [After 'Saw,' we got offered every horror remake under the sun, and I was just always thinking, 'I don't see how this could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/after-saw-we-got-offered-every-horror-remake-under-the-sun-and-i-was/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I loved 'The Conjuring' so much. It's really scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-loved-the-conjuring-so-much-it-s-really-scary/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [If you chose to be an actor, if you take that baton and say 'OK, this is what I want to do with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/if-you-chose-to-be-an-actor-if-you-take-that-baton-and-say-ok-this-is/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [When I directed the third 'Insidious' film I loved it so much that I decided this is what I want to do from now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/when-i-directed-the-third-insidious-film-i-loved-it-so-much-that-i/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I'm not actually terrified of technology. Though I'm certainly not an early adopter, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-m-not-actually-terrified-of-technology-though-i-m-certainly-not-an/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I found myself in this conundrum of loving acting, but not liking the path that you have to take to do it. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-found-myself-in-this-conundrum-of-loving-acting-but-not-liking-the/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [Saw' definitely had an edge to it that wasn't American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/saw-definitely-had-an-edge-to-it-that-wasn-t-american/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [If you look back at a film like 'Dawn of the Dead' - You can either watch it as a straight-up genre film and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/if-you-look-back-at-a-film-like-dawn-of-the-dead-you-can-either-watch/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [You might not have the biggest budget or resources or cast, but if you have a great story, people will latch onto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/you-might-not-have-the-biggest-budget-or-resources-or-cast-but-if-you/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [The movies sort of tell you what they want to be as you're writing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-movies-sort-of-tell-you-what-they-want-to-be-as-you-re-writing/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [When 'Psycho' came out back in 1960, it was seen as an abomination and as this really gory thing. We all watch 'Psycho' today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/when-psycho-came-out-back-in-1960-it-was-seen-as-an-abomination-and/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [Writing a screenplay is an act of faith. First, that it's interesting enough that anyone would want to make it. Secondly, that anybody would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/writing-a-screenplay-is-an-act-of-faith-first-that-it-s-interesting/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) [Explore all 106 Leigh Whannell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) ## More Directing quotes > [Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. The main thing about directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/anybody-can-direct-a-picture-once-they-know-the-fundamentals/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I took on the role of CEO, which involves directing the Management Team and overall day-to-day operations of 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/i-took-on-the-role-of-ceo-which-involves-directing-the-management/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [When I see my movies on the editing table, I do think I could have done them a certain way. The satisfaction is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/when-i-see-my-movies-on-the-editing-table-i-do-think-i-could-have/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [For me the dream is the freedom to make all the crazy ideas I have in my head into movies. I truly love directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-ozeki/for-me-the-dream-is-the-freedom-to-make-all-the-crazy-ideas-i-have-in/) [Nicholas Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-ozeki/) > [The producing thing has come quite naturally to me. I feel like for directing, I would like to be more technically-savvy. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/the-producing-thing-has-come-quite-naturally-to-me-i-feel-like-for/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I'm addicted to directing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-m-addicted-to-directing/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [Making a movie and not directing the little moments is like drinking a soda and leaving the little slurp puddle for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/making-a-movie-and-not-directing-the-little-moments-is-like-drinking/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Directing films is easier said than done. The job needs a lot of sensibility to put many things in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/directing-films-is-easier-said-than-done-the-job-needs-a-lot-of/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-starred-in-a-broadway-play-that-was-sidney-poitier-s-first/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. It's not like acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-don-t-get-nervous-when-i-m-directing-a-play-it-s-not-like-acting/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [My dad's a prominent theatre director in Toronto, so I grew up in that world, directing and producing theater since I was a teenager.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gass-donnelly/my-dad-s-a-prominent-theatre-director-in-toronto-so-i-grew-up-in-that/) [Ed Gass-Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gass-donnelly/) > [The hardest part about directing is getting everyone on the same page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/the-hardest-part-about-directing-is-getting-everyone-on-the-same-page/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) Browse all 1,163 Directing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The good thing about directing a screenplay that you've written is that you see the film in your head as you're writing it and then you see those decisions through to the end.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leigh Whannell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenplay-that-you-ve-written-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Directing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenplay-that-you-ve-written-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/leigh-whannell-4824_directing_the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenp_405737.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/leigh-whannell-4824_directing_the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenp_405737.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/leigh-whannell-4824_directing_the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenp_405737.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The good thing about directing a screenplay that you've written is that you see the film in your head as…” — Leigh Whannell", "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": "Leigh Whannell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The good thing about directing a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenplay-that-you-ve-written-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenplay-that-you-ve-written-is/#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 } } ] } ```