--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because of the way that I work with the…" description: "\"Because of the way that I work with the actors and because a scene is not in this rigid and literal interpretation of something written, I can constant..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/mike-leigh-9087_action_because-of-the-way-that-i-work-with-the_1674338.png" --- # Because of the way that I work with the actors and because… ![“Because of the way that I work with the actors and because a scene is not in this rigid and literal interpretation of something written, I can constantly change stuff, which means I can get a scene absolutely perfect, and then when we go to shoot it, the requirements of the shot mean it would be…” quote by Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/mike-leigh-9087_action_because-of-the-way-that-i-work-with-the_1674338.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/mike-leigh-9087_action_because-of-the-way-that-i-work-with-the_1674338.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/mike-leigh-9087_action_because-of-the-way-that-i-work-with-the_1674338.png) > “Because of the way that I work with the actors and because a scene is not in this rigid and literal interpretation of something written, I can constantly change stuff, which means I can get a scene absolutely perfect, and then when we go to shoot it, the requirements of the shot mean it would be useful to extend the dialogue or take a line out or swap things around. So the camera doesn't serve the action. The action serves the camera. That's important. So it becomes more and more organic and integrated.” [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The camera should capture the organic flow of performance, not dictate it; action guides cinematography. **In simple terms:** Action guides the camera. Key Takeaway Let performance shape filming. Themes filmmaking creativity collaboration Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical instructional When to use this quote - film sets - rehearsals - directing - editing Key Concepts organic storytelling camera dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can directors maintain spontaneity under tight schedules? - What role does the camera play in storytelling? A Different Perspective Budget constraints may limit flexibility in shooting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a firm believer that if you're nervous before you go into a scene, it means the scene is going to be good, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-sprouse/i-m-a-firm-believer-that-if-you-re-nervous-before-you-go-into-a-scene/) [Cole Sprouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-sprouse/) > [For me, the brand of the camera is not the most important thing. I think you can take good pictures with the camera on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anja-niedringhaus/for-me-the-brand-of-the-camera-is-not-the-most-important-thing-i/) [Anja Niedringhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anja-niedringhaus/) > [If we had an audience to play to, the performance would have gotten too big. Sizing our performances to the camera was an important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/if-we-had-an-audience-to-play-to-the-performance-would-have-gotten/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [In order to emote in front of the camera, it is important to understand the language and deliver the lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-cassandra/in-order-to-emote-in-front-of-the-camera-it-is-important-to/) [Regina Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-cassandra/) > [The camera is the least important element in photography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-shulman/the-camera-is-the-least-important-element-in-photography/) [Julius Shulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-shulman/) > [Actors have to learn that they are as important to a movie as the camera is, as important as the sound is, and less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/actors-have-to-learn-that-they-are-as-important-to-a-movie-as-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [It's not just the actor in front of the camera. And it's important to have respect for all those people that work behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacre-montgomery/it-s-not-just-the-actor-in-front-of-the-camera-and-it-s-important-to/) [Dacre Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacre-montgomery/) > [I always carry a camera because it is so important to me to take pictures and document all the incredible things and places I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karlie-kloss/i-always-carry-a-camera-because-it-is-so-important-to-me-to-take/) [Karlie Kloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karlie-kloss/) > [As a model you have to convey something with one look - and actors will have a scene and they can sort of do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gandy/as-a-model-you-have-to-convey-something-with-one-look-and-actors-will/) [David Gandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gandy/) > [I think the key that differentiates the good actors from the mediocre ones that are still trying to come up, is that the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/i-think-the-key-that-differentiates-the-good-actors-from-the-mediocre/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [One of the things I tried to do is to kind of talk my actors through the scene, but at the same time let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/one-of-the-things-i-tried-to-do-is-to-kind-of-talk-my-actors-through/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [As an actor, I like as much time with the material as possible and given the opportunity, time spent with the other actors in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-piazza/as-an-actor-i-like-as-much-time-with-the-material-as-possible-and/) [Vincent Piazza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-piazza/) > [When I was working on The Wire with the other actors, scene after scene after scene, I felt like we were singing together. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-reddick/when-i-was-working-on-the-wire-with-the-other-actors-scene-after/) [Lance Reddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-reddick/) > [I like to go off the other actors in the scene, which kind of stinks when you're acting with someone who's not that great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-lynch/i-like-to-go-off-the-other-actors-in-the-scene-which-kind-of-stinks/) [Ross Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-lynch/) > [A lot of young actors will do a scene and then run off and look at themselves. I don't believe in that at all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rampling/a-lot-of-young-actors-will-do-a-scene-and-then-run-off-and-look-at/) [Charlotte Rampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rampling/) ## More by Mike Leigh > [The main problem is that the Hollywood system has already made the film before the director shoots a single frame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/the-main-problem-is-that-the-hollywood-system-has-already-made-the/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [The delineation between the actor and his part is a practical matter. When the camera runs, you want the actor to be the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/the-delineation-between-the-actor-and-his-part-is-a-practical-matter/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [Films are made all over the world all the time and only a thin slice of that product is Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/films-are-made-all-over-the-world-all-the-time-and-only-a-thin-slice/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [I think it's important that nobody forgets that although Hollywood commercially dominates the world cinema, in fact what comes out of the filmmaking here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/i-think-it-s-important-that-nobody-forgets-that-although-hollywood/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [Life is about luck and it's about circumstances and socioeconomic conditions and all the rest of it, but you know, you can also make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/life-is-about-luck-and-it-s-about-circumstances-and-socioeconomic/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [I hope I make films where you walk away . . . with work to do, arguments to have, things to worry about, things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/i-hope-i-make-films-where-you-walk-away-with-work-to-do-arguments-to/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [It's an unhealthy habit to say that life is what you make of it, and if you want to be happy, then you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/it-s-an-unhealthy-habit-to-say-that-life-is-what-you-make-of-it-and/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [You will find hardly any improvising on camera anywhere in my films. It's very structured, but it's all worked out from elaborate improvisations over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/you-will-find-hardly-any-improvising-on-camera-anywhere-in-my-films/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [I take no notice of the trends. It has never concerned me at all. My job is to deal with what I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/i-take-no-notice-of-the-trends-it-has-never-concerned-me-at-all-my/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [A lot of the reasons that I'm resistant to making films in the U.S. have nothing to do with not doing a film in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/a-lot-of-the-reasons-that-i-m-resistant-to-making-films-in-the-u-s/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [But films should be voyeuristic. What else is a film if you're not snooping into somebody else's lives?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/but-films-should-be-voyeuristic-what-else-is-a-film-if-you-re-not/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [I try and create for the audience something that relates to real-life experience. When you're meeting somebody for the first time, all you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/i-try-and-create-for-the-audience-something-that-relates-to-real-life/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [People have been very resistant to giving me more than the standard amount of money. So I keep making films on a similar scale.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/people-have-been-very-resistant-to-giving-me-more-than-the-standard/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [But actually I make films that I think are extremely sophisticated and cinematic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/but-actually-i-make-films-that-i-think-are-extremely-sophisticated/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [My work requires acting at its most committed - it demands actors of enormous resilience, but also intelligence and wit. It doesn't work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/my-work-requires-acting-at-its-most-committed-it-demands-actors-of/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) [Explore all 75 Mike Leigh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Because of the way that I work with the actors and because a scene is not in this rigid and literal interpretation of something written, I can constantly change stuff, which means I can get a scene absolutely perfect, and then when we go to shoot it, the requirements of the shot mean it would be useful to extend the dialogue or take a line out or swap things around. So the camera doesn't serve the action. The action serves the camera. That's important. So it becomes more and more organic and integrated.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Leigh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/because-of-the-way-that-i-work-with-the-actors-and-because-a-scene-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/because-of-the-way-that-i-work-with-the-actors-and-because-a-scene-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/mike-leigh-9087_action_because-of-the-way-that-i-work-with-the_1674338.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/mike-leigh-9087_action_because-of-the-way-that-i-work-with-the_1674338.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/mike-leigh-9087_action_because-of-the-way-that-i-work-with-the_1674338.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Because of the way that I work with the actors and because a scene is not in this rigid and literal…” — Mike Leigh", "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": "Mike Leigh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Because of the way that I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/because-of-the-way-that-i-work-with-the-actors-and-because-a-scene-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/because-of-the-way-that-i-work-with-the-actors-and-because-a-scene-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 } } ] } ```