--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Given a choice, I prefer directing a play…" description: "\"Given a choice, I prefer directing a play to a film.\" — Naseeruddin Shah" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/naseeruddin-shah-5603_choice_given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play_2311979.jpg" --- # Given a choice, I prefer directing a play to a film. ![“Given a choice, I prefer directing a play to a film.” quote by Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/naseeruddin-shah-5603_choice_given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play_2311979.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/naseeruddin-shah-5603_choice_given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play_2311979.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/naseeruddin-shah-5603_choice_given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play_2311979.jpg) > “Given a choice, I prefer directing a play to a film.” [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preferring theater over film reflects a desire for live, collaborative storytelling and immediate audience feedback. **In simple terms:** He likes stage more than movies. Key Takeaway Value live collaboration. Themes art creativity performance Mood thoughtful artistic Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - stage productions - acting workshops - creative workshops Key Concepts theatre vs film directorial preference collaboration Questions to Reflect On - What does live audience feedback provide? - How does directing a play differ from a film? A Different Perspective Live theater limits reach compared to film’s broader audience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Prefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-prefer-3566533/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-play-427860/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-film-1677839/) [Prefer Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer-directing-1545899/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [I definitely prefer directing, hands down. I'm a lazy writer and it wasn't until I got into directing that I now have a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coley-sohn/i-definitely-prefer-directing-hands-down-i-m-a-lazy-writer-and-it/) [Coley Sohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coley-sohn/) > [Now I'm kind of established as a director, I much prefer directing to writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/now-i-m-kind-of-established-as-a-director-i-much-prefer-directing-to/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I prefer directing to producing as it is far more satisfying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikramaditya-motwane/i-prefer-directing-to-producing-as-it-is-far-more-satisfying/) [Vikramaditya Motwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikramaditya-motwane/) > [I prefer directing to acting. There is huge freedom that comes from being behind the camera. It brings a lot of responsibilities as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-prefer-directing-to-acting-there-is-huge-freedom-that-comes-from-2/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I prefer directing to acting. There is huge freedom that comes from being behind the camera. It brings a lot of responsibilities as well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-prefer-directing-to-acting-there-is-huge-freedom-that-comes-from/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [If I have any choice I would prefer Western Troops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buford/if-i-have-any-choice-i-would-prefer-western-troops/) [John Buford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buford/) > [I don't hate being an actor. But if there's a choice, I prefer to direct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chow/i-don-t-hate-being-an-actor-but-if-there-s-a-choice-i-prefer-to-direct/) [Stephen Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chow/) > [Directing an opera is similar to directing a play. The singing must not get in the way of the drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/directing-an-opera-is-similar-to-directing-a-play-the-singing-must/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [I would consider directing. I think directing myself would be tough, but I'm definitely interested in directing. I might start off directing a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/i-would-consider-directing-i-think-directing-myself-would-be-tough/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [ It was really interesting to be editing the film \[Trust\] in New York and directing the play in Chicago, and one definitely informed the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/it-was-really-interesting-to-be-editing-the-film-trust-in-new-york/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [I think directing is part play, part work, not just all work, because I think you always have to play. I think that's ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-forster/i-think-directing-is-part-play-part-work-not-just-all-work-because-i/) [Marc Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-forster/) > [Every director is always directing around the play. If you have an actor who really doesn't get the character well enough, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nilo-cruz/every-director-is-always-directing-around-the-play-if-you-have-an/) [Nilo Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nilo-cruz/) > [I can make a better living as an actor than I can as a director. Though I certainly would prefer to be directing movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/i-can-make-a-better-living-as-an-actor-than-i-can-as-a-director/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [The timing for directing is usually because it takes that long to develop a piece and then do pre-production and then post-production. It takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-timing-for-directing-is-usually-because-it-takes-that-long-to/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) ## More by Naseeruddin Shah > [Hindi cinema has only one religion, and that's money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/hindi-cinema-has-only-one-religion-and-that-s-money/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [To me, the most important elements in a theatre are the actors and the texts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/to-me-the-most-important-elements-in-a-theatre-are-the-actors-and-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [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/) > [I do what work I get. I'm disappointed half the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-do-what-work-i-get-i-m-disappointed-half-the-time/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [The film industry does not interest me greatly. The people, I don't mingle with them much. I meet them when I have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/the-film-industry-does-not-interest-me-greatly-the-people-i-don-t/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [When I was 14 and went on the stage for the first time, it stimulated me so much that I was convinced that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/when-i-was-14-and-went-on-the-stage-for-the-first-time-it-stimulated/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I don't want any memorials or a grave which my children would have to look after or feel guilty about. I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-don-t-want-any-memorials-or-a-grave-which-my-children-would-have-to/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I think our cinema has stayed in its adolescent stage largely because of our obsession with and our dependence upon stars to make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-think-our-cinema-has-stayed-in-its-adolescent-stage-largely-because/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I never go to film festivals. I am allergic to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-never-go-to-film-festivals-i-am-allergic-to-them/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [It was the '70s when mediocrity came in Hindi films. That's when the actor called Rajesh Khanna joined the industry. For all his success,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/it-was-the-70s-when-mediocrity-came-in-hindi-films-that-s-when-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [When I first dreamt of becoming a movie star, I wanted to be a Gary Cooper: I wanted to be rich and famous, living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/when-i-first-dreamt-of-becoming-a-movie-star-i-wanted-to-be-a-gary/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I am hard put to think of a single positive thing that commercial Hindi cinema has achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-am-hard-put-to-think-of-a-single-positive-thing-that-commercial/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I don't scoff at the desire to make good movies. I scoff at the quality at poseurs masquerading as masters of the medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-don-t-scoff-at-the-desire-to-make-good-movies-i-scoff-at-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I realise that I have made quite a few of the same mistakes with my kids that my dad made: not so much in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-realise-that-i-have-made-quite-a-few-of-the-same-mistakes-with-my/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [It would be impossible to find an actor to portray Om Puri, so I wouldn't even attempt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/it-would-be-impossible-to-find-an-actor-to-portray-om-puri-so-i/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) [Explore all 100 Naseeruddin Shah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Given a choice, I prefer directing a play to a film.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Naseeruddin Shah" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play-to-a-film/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play-to-a-film/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/naseeruddin-shah-5603_choice_given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play_2311979.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/naseeruddin-shah-5603_choice_given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play_2311979.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/naseeruddin-shah-5603_choice_given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play_2311979.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Given a choice, I prefer directing a play to a film.” — Naseeruddin Shah", "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": "Naseeruddin Shah", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Given a choice, I prefer directing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play-to-a-film/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/given-a-choice-i-prefer-directing-a-play-to-a-film/#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 } } ] } ```