--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Neil Mahoney was definitely the visionary…" description: "\"Neil Mahoney was definitely the visionary in taking 'Freak Dance' from stage to screen. He made it more cinematic. He brought the choreography, all the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/matt-besser-11252_camera_neil-mahoney-was-definitely-the-visionar_1165122.jpg" --- # Neil Mahoney was definitely the visionary in taking 'Freak… ![“Neil Mahoney was definitely the visionary in taking 'Freak Dance' from stage to screen. He made it more cinematic. He brought the choreography, all the ways to shoot that. I was more the director of actors. I was in front of the camera directing, and he was behind the camera directing.” quote by Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/matt-besser-11252_camera_neil-mahoney-was-definitely-the-visionar_1165122.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/matt-besser-11252_camera_neil-mahoney-was-definitely-the-visionar_1165122.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/matt-besser-11252_camera_neil-mahoney-was-definitely-the-visionar_1165122.jpg) > “Neil Mahoney was definitely the visionary in taking 'Freak Dance' from stage to screen. He made it more cinematic. He brought the choreography, all the ways to shoot that. I was more the director of actors. I was in front of the camera directing, and he was behind the camera directing.” [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. Neil Mahoney transformed a stage dance into a cinematic experience by focusing on visual storytelling and camera work. **In simple terms:** He made the dance look like a film. Key Takeaway Embrace collaboration and play to strengths. Themes collaboration creativity visual storytelling film adaptation Mood enthusiastic inspired Type motivational insightful When to use this quote - producing a music video - directing a stage performance for film - teaching dance in a visual medium Key Concepts cinematography choreography direction stage-to-screen transition Questions to Reflect On - How can you leverage others’ expertise to enhance your project? - What visual elements can turn a live performance into a film? A Different Perspective Success depends on both vision and execution; without clear direction, ideas may not translate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brought Choreography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brought-choreography-3352737/) [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Freak Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freak-dance-3352735/) [Mahoney Definitely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mahoney-definitely-3352736/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Taking Freak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-freak-3352738/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think 'Freak Dance' is a parody; it's more reference than anything. People don't think of 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-don-t-think-freak-dance-is-a-parody-it-s-more-reference-than/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [I thought the musical aspect of 'Freak Dance' was a good contrast to how dancers always try to come off as really tough in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-thought-the-musical-aspect-of-freak-dance-was-a-good-contrast-to/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [I'm not a militant, drug-taking freak! I'm sensitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-homme/i-m-not-a-militant-drug-taking-freak-i-m-sensitive/) [Joshua Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-homme/) > [I'd grab the camera and tell people what to do, and when I was 14, someone told me that it was called directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/i-d-grab-the-camera-and-tell-people-what-to-do-and-when-i-was-14/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [I can't sit on my bum very long in a movie theater seat, and when I'm directing, I always want to move the camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/i-can-t-sit-on-my-bum-very-long-in-a-movie-theater-seat-and-when-i-m/) [Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/) > [I have been trying to retire to the back of the camera for quite a few years, and in 1970, when I first started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/i-have-been-trying-to-retire-to-the-back-of-the-camera-for-quite-a/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 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/) > [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/) ## 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 always like being a director in terms of giving acting notes and punching up on the fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-always-like-being-a-director-in-terms-of-giving-acting-notes-and/) [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. My father is a Jew from Little Rock, Ark., my mother was a Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/my-name-is-matt-besser-and-i-m-an-arkansas-razorback-my-father-is-a/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [Many improv groups give off the same positive annoying vibe that I associate with Christian Young Life groups with shows that more resemble children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/many-improv-groups-give-off-the-same-positive-annoying-vibe-that-i/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [I'm more comfortable doing a character than being myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-m-more-comfortable-doing-a-character-than-being-myself/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [Don't invite me to a surprise birthday party. I don't have room for that secret. 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/) [Explore all 61 Matt Besser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) ## 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. 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