--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always like being a director in terms…" description: "\"I always like being a director in terms of giving acting notes and punching up on the fly.\" — Matt Besser" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/matt-besser-11252_acting_i-always-like-being-a-director-in-terms_54791.jpg" --- # I always like being a director in terms of giving acting… ![“I always like being a director in terms of giving acting notes and punching up on the fly.” quote by Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/matt-besser-11252_acting_i-always-like-being-a-director-in-terms_54791.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/matt-besser-11252_acting_i-always-like-being-a-director-in-terms_54791.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/matt-besser-11252_acting_i-always-like-being-a-director-in-terms_54791.jpg) > “I always like being a director in terms of giving acting notes and punching up on the fly.” [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker enjoys the spontaneous, collaborative nature of directing, especially improvising and refining performances in real time. **In simple terms:** Directing is dynamic and improvisational. Key Takeaway Embrace real‑time creative input. Themes creativity collaboration improvisation leadership performance Mood energetic playful Type observational instructional When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film set directing - improv comedy workshops - live broadcast production Key Concepts directing acting notes on‑the‑fly decisions Practical Applications - enhancing actor performance - streamlining creative decision‑making Questions to Reflect On - How does on‑the‑fly direction affect actor confidence? - When is pre‑planning preferable to improvisation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ## Related quotes > [I was never a good student. But I wrote acting notes every day and prepared for my next shoots diligently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/son-ye-jin/i-was-never-a-good-student-but-i-wrote-acting-notes-every-day-and/) [Son Ye-jin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/son-ye-jin/) > [My dad said, 'If no one was giving me acting work, I'd have to be prepared to create it myself.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/my-dad-said-if-no-one-was-giving-me-acting-work-i-d-have-to-be/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [I'm just looking for interesting roles and giving acting the respect it deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/i-m-just-looking-for-interesting-roles-and-giving-acting-the-respect/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [I'm giving up acting. . . . I'm 66 and there are a number of celebrations I've got to get down on paper, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/i-m-giving-up-acting-i-m-66-and-there-are-a-number-of-celebrations-i/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [I'm not giving up acting, I'm definitely not going to stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-west/i-m-not-giving-up-acting-i-m-definitely-not-going-to-stop/) [Shane West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-west/) > [My parents reckoned it was worth giving acting a go, so I dropped out of college a few months in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-llewellyn/my-parents-reckoned-it-was-worth-giving-acting-a-go-so-i-dropped-out/) [Dylan Llewellyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-llewellyn/) > [I feel like what Director Bong is so amazing at is taking so many things and presenting them to you - never telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/i-feel-like-what-director-bong-is-so-amazing-at-is-taking-so-many/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [I'd like to be a director who gives my actors complete freedom while collaborating with them to find performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holland/i-d-like-to-be-a-director-who-gives-my-actors-complete-freedom-while/) [Tom Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holland/) > [When I meet a good actor, I would like to be a director. 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You feel like it's you, the director and other actors and you really feel like you have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/independent-film-making-is-very-collaborative-you-feel-like-it-s-you/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [As a director, I wouldn't like me as an actor. As an actor, I wouldn't like me as a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/as-a-director-i-wouldn-t-like-me-as-an-actor-as-an-actor-i-wouldn-t/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Sometimes what you lose in the time it takes to let an actor do something that you don't like as a director, you gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/sometimes-what-you-lose-in-the-time-it-takes-to-let-an-actor-do/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [It's a weird partnership. For me and Patrick, if you've met him, we're not very much alike. But we bring such different tools to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-farmer/it-s-a-weird-partnership-for-me-and-patrick-if-you-ve-met-him-we-re/) [Todd Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-farmer/) ## More by Matt Besser > [I got really depressed when Sidney Moncrief lost to Larry Bird. That really depressed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-got-really-depressed-when-sidney-moncrief-lost-to-larry-bird-that/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [I really enjoyed doing stand-up. Andy Kaufman was a big hero of mine. I tried to do conceptual stuff like he tried to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-really-enjoyed-doing-stand-up-andy-kaufman-was-a-big-hero-of-mine-i/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [I'd been involved with stand-up before improv, so I already thought highly of myself as being a funny person. I never thought I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-d-been-involved-with-stand-up-before-improv-so-i-already-thought/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [I guess that I was always considered a little too weird for the standup clubs and probably too jokey for doing performance art and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-guess-that-i-was-always-considered-a-little-too-weird-for-the/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [I can't stand USC. They get such media attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-can-t-stand-usc-they-get-such-media-attention/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [“My name is Matt Besser, and I'm an Arkansas Razorback. 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I've got enough real secrets I have to keep:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/don-t-invite-me-to-a-surprise-birthday-party-i-don-t-have-room-for/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [Right after college, a buddy of mine was moving to Boulder for some summer program, and he was like, 'Come live with me.' And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/right-after-college-a-buddy-of-mine-was-moving-to-boulder-for-some/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [There's a creative vibe at U.C.B., and to maintain it, we can't pay people. If you pay, then you have to assign worth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/there-s-a-creative-vibe-at-u-c-b-and-to-maintain-it-we-can-t-pay/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [For all you Joe Besser haters who claim that he was the worst Stooge, that's not true - Curly Joe DeRita was the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/for-all-you-joe-besser-haters-who-claim-that-he-was-the-worst-stooge/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [Every funny story has at least one unusual thing in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/every-funny-story-has-at-least-one-unusual-thing-in-it/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [There's something about the Razorbacks that's unique to Arkansas - I don't know how many states have just one team that the entire state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/there-s-something-about-the-razorbacks-that-s-unique-to-arkansas-i/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [So many comedians, if you asked them, 'What's your priority in standup?' it's probably gonna be to make people laugh or to entertain them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/so-many-comedians-if-you-asked-them-what-s-your-priority-in-standup/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) [Explore all 61 Matt Besser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. 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. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! 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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