--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're directing, you look around…" description: "\"When you're directing, you look around and you think, everything I see is my responsibility. From the catering being on time to whether the clouds are ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/marielle-heller-7174_directing_when-you-re-directing-you-look-around-an_3115612.jpg" --- # When you're directing, you look around and you think… ![“When you're directing, you look around and you think, everything I see is my responsibility. From the catering being on time to whether the clouds are moving the way I need them to move to whether this actor is giving the performance I want to whether the costumes are what they should be.” quote by Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/marielle-heller-7174_directing_when-you-re-directing-you-look-around-an_3115612.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/marielle-heller-7174_directing_when-you-re-directing-you-look-around-an_3115612.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/marielle-heller-7174_directing_when-you-re-directing-you-look-around-an_3115612.jpg) > “When you're directing, you look around and you think, everything I see is my responsibility. From the catering being on time to whether the clouds are moving the way I need them to move to whether this actor is giving the performance I want to whether the costumes are what they should be.” [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A director must accept total accountability for every element that shapes a production, from logistics to artistic details. **In simple terms:** Directors own all aspects of a project. Key Takeaway Embrace full responsibility for your work. Themes leadership accountability creativity collaboration Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - film set - theater production - event planning - team management Key Concepts film direction holistic oversight artistic vision Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance control with trusting your team? - What aspects can you realistically delegate? A Different Perspective Limited resources can hinder perfect control, requiring delegation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-look-1089735/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Giving Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-performance-610956/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Think Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-responsibility/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When I'm directing, I can look at something that I wrote and say, "This doesn't make sense." There's a lot more intuition and gut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-zobel/when-i-m-directing-i-can-look-at-something-that-i-wrote-and-say-this/) [Craig Zobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-zobel/) > [When you recite you're giving a performance, in the way that an actor or a singer performs, and some poets are not interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur/when-you-recite-you-re-giving-a-performance-in-the-way-that-an-actor/) [James Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur/) > [I love showing up and giving a performance without the benefit of a lot of rehearsal or dissection. It's fun to me to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-love-showing-up-and-giving-a-performance-without-the-benefit-of-a/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Being in front of a class full of kids, you are giving a performance. You have to get their attention. You've got to awaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-wade/being-in-front-of-a-class-full-of-kids-you-are-giving-a-performance/) [Jeremy Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-wade/) > [If my voice can resonate that way with kids, maybe it will resonate through 'Planes' as well, and they'll hear that little something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/if-my-voice-can-resonate-that-way-with-kids-maybe-it-will-resonate/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [Yes, there is plenty of hard work for them in addition to that which they do when they appear, smiling and happy, when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florenz-ziegfeld/yes-there-is-plenty-of-hard-work-for-them-in-addition-to-that-which/) [Florenz Ziegfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florenz-ziegfeld/) > [I'm increasingly conscious of the fact that, even when we know a lot, there's an element of blind faith. For things to work well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/i-m-increasingly-conscious-of-the-fact-that-even-when-we-know-a-lot/) [Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/) > [Becoming a writer, and then a director, was taking my creative life in my own hands, and wanting to have stories that I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/becoming-a-writer-and-then-a-director-was-taking-my-creative-life-in/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [Being a good actor is incredibly difficult. But the amount of responsibility is so much less on your shoulders than directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/being-a-good-actor-is-incredibly-difficult-but-the-amount-of/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I spent most of my 20s working as an actor. I started writing and directing because I was frustrated with the types of roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-spent-most-of-my-20s-working-as-an-actor-i-started-writing-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [In acting, you are fulfilled if you give justice to your role... if you are able to do a credible performance and touch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/in-acting-you-are-fulfilled-if-you-give-justice-to-your-role-if-you/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [As an artist, I used to think that my responsibility was to do good work. But I had to learn from the '70s on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-an-artist-i-used-to-think-that-my-responsibility-was-to-do-good/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I think the responsibility lies with the fashion world as a collective. We have to demand more variety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevyn-aucoin/i-think-the-responsibility-lies-with-the-fashion-world-as-a/) [Kevyn Aucoin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevyn-aucoin/) > [I think it's the responsibility of every human being, not just those who wear the identity of poet, activist, voter, religious person... it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/i-think-it-s-the-responsibility-of-every-human-being-not-just-those/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [After the oil spill, I had this strong feeling that if I ever were to be blessed in having children, I never wanted my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-milano/after-the-oil-spill-i-had-this-strong-feeling-that-if-i-ever-were-to/) [Alyssa Milano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-milano/) ## More by Marielle Heller > [I think there used to be more respect toward young people in movies. John Hughes really respects his characters and they're given their emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-think-there-used-to-be-more-respect-toward-young-people-in-movies/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I remember my grandmother's husband dying. But I think I was older. I think I was 7 or 8 when he died. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-remember-my-grandmother-s-husband-dying-but-i-think-i-was-older-i/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [My normal way of filming something is, like, one camera, very well planned out, knowing exactly how we're going to get each shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/my-normal-way-of-filming-something-is-like-one-camera-very-well/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I like working in TV, but my real love is making movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-like-working-in-tv-but-my-real-love-is-making-movies/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [You live in an apartment in New York, and you think all the time about like, 'I don't even know who's living above me.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/you-live-in-an-apartment-in-new-york-and-you-think-all-the-time-about/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I spent most of my 20s working as an actor. I started writing and directing because I was frustrated with the types of roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-spent-most-of-my-20s-working-as-an-actor-i-started-writing-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I'm getting more and more used to the fact that being a director and being a woman are two things that everyone wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-m-getting-more-and-more-used-to-the-fact-that-being-a-director-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I don't really believe that all theater needs to be filmed - for some things, the special part of live theater is that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-don-t-really-believe-that-all-theater-needs-to-be-filmed-for-some/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I do think there's probably a little more opportunity to direct in television, because there are just so many TV shows. In movies, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-do-think-there-s-probably-a-little-more-opportunity-to-direct-in/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [One of the boring tricks about capturing Broadway onscreen, actually, is just about all the different unions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/one-of-the-boring-tricks-about-capturing-broadway-onscreen-actually/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [Why do so many women drop out of the workforce at this age, in our late 30s, early 40s? Well, often it's because we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/why-do-so-many-women-drop-out-of-the-workforce-at-this-age-in-our/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I just have no interest in making a biopic. No offence to biopics, it's just not where my mind goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-just-have-no-interest-in-making-a-biopic-no-offence-to-biopics-it-s/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [As women we are very accustomed to putting ourselves in the shoes of male leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/as-women-we-are-very-accustomed-to-putting-ourselves-in-the-shoes-of/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I remember the first time somebody classified me as a feminist. I was in fourth grade. And I remember thinking, 'Oh, is that what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-remember-the-first-time-somebody-classified-me-as-a-feminist-i-was/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [Just make things, and find people you love working with. If you're working on something you truly love and are passionate about, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/just-make-things-and-find-people-you-love-working-with-if-you-re/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) [Explore all 94 Marielle Heller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you're directing, you look around and you think, everything I see is my responsibility. 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