--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always think once you have the lead…" description: "\"I always think once you have the lead protagonist, you cast around that character.\" — Nicolas Winding Refn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/nicolas-winding-refn-1480_cast_i-always-think-once-you-have-the-lead-pr_3031764.jpg" --- # I always think once you have the lead protagonist, you… ![“I always think once you have the lead protagonist, you cast around that character.” quote by Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/nicolas-winding-refn-1480_cast_i-always-think-once-you-have-the-lead-pr_3031764.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/nicolas-winding-refn-1480_cast_i-always-think-once-you-have-the-lead-pr_3031764.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/nicolas-winding-refn-1480_cast_i-always-think-once-you-have-the-lead-pr_3031764.jpg) > “I always think once you have the lead protagonist, you cast around that character.” [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lead character defines the story’s focus, so casting revolves around that central figure. **In simple terms:** Casting centers on the main character. Key Takeaway Prioritize casting for the protagonist. Themes casting storytelling character focus Mood creative strategic Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - film production - audition process - character development Key Concepts film direction narrative structure Questions to Reflect On - How does a strong lead shape a film? - What risks arise from over‑emphasizing one character? A Different Perspective If the lead is weak, the whole film suffers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Protagonist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protagonist/) [Protagonists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protagonists/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [What helped me a lot was that I chose an American lead protagonist, because that liberated a lot from my own knowledge. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-bajaj/what-helped-me-a-lot-was-that-i-chose-an-american-lead-protagonist/) [Karan Bajaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-bajaj/) > [I was never really a character actor - I was a leading man who was always cast as a character. I wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shaw/i-was-never-really-a-character-actor-i-was-a-leading-man-who-was/) [Robert Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shaw/) > [If somebody is excited to cast me in a character that is surprising even for me to play, that is something I'll be looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milind-soman/if-somebody-is-excited-to-cast-me-in-a-character-that-is-surprising/) [Milind Soman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milind-soman/) > [It was Benny P Nayarambalam who first cast me in a character which made people laugh, in 'Marykkundoru Kunjadu.' Then 'Seniors' happened, followed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biju-menon/it-was-benny-p-nayarambalam-who-first-cast-me-in-a-character-which/) [Biju Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biju-menon/) > [“Confession: I don't want everybody to be beautiful, not in that unlined, creaseless, symmetrical way. 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If you have a female protagonist she is going to be looking after her mum when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-mina/crime-is-a-very-hard-genre-to-feminise-if-you-have-a-female/) [Denise Mina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-mina/) > [You look like a protagonist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-look-like-a-protagonist/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I always find something in common with my protagonist, particularly when I write in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-always-find-something-in-common-with-my-protagonist-particularly/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [Mindi Scott has a real talent for getting inside her protagonist's head. She sketches out Coley's story in grand swathes, and then paints in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-benson/mindi-scott-has-a-real-talent-for-getting-inside-her-protagonist-s/) [Amber Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-benson/) > [We tend to think of orphans as being the protagonist of stories we read when we're kids, and yet here you are: you're an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/we-tend-to-think-of-orphans-as-being-the-protagonist-of-stories-we/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) ## More by Nicolas Winding Refn > [L.A. is, on one hand, very mysterious; it's very modern. It's a mysterious place - it's a haunting place - and everything in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/l-a-is-on-one-hand-very-mysterious-it-s-very-modern-it-s-a-mysterious/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [The digital revolution is forever. They put importance on that option as well. With Amazon, you're getting the best of both worlds, with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/the-digital-revolution-is-forever-they-put-importance-on-that-option/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [I think the Internet is the greatest invention since women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-think-the-internet-is-the-greatest-invention-since-women/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [I've always felt that I was from the future because the future is really not about what you make but what you stand for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-ve-always-felt-that-i-was-from-the-future-because-the-future-is/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [Art thrives on obstacles. The bigger the obstacle, the better the drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/art-thrives-on-obstacles-the-bigger-the-obstacle-the-better-the-drama/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [ Elle Fanning was fifteen when we started \[The Neon Demon\]. She turned seventeen during the shoot. Four weeks before Cannes, she turned eighteen. She… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/elle-fanning-was-fifteen-when-we-started-the-neon-demon-she-turned/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [The casting of any film is around 60% of the film, but it's also about the right casting insight. It's a bit like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/the-casting-of-any-film-is-around-60-of-the-film-but-it-s-also-about/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [How can creativity be bad? 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I think he's absolutely extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-m-a-huge-admirer-of-keanu-i-think-he-s-absolutely-extraordinary/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [Sometimes I just play the theme from Arthur. It reminds me of my childhood in New York and I just love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/sometimes-i-just-play-the-theme-from-arthur-it-reminds-me-of-my/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [The greatest artists were in a situation where they had to pay their bills. That's a very convenient way to get very creative very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/the-greatest-artists-were-in-a-situation-where-they-had-to-pay-their/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [I sometimes play different kinds of music to see where the performers end up. I play one genre. Then something else when I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-sometimes-play-different-kinds-of-music-to-see-where-the-performers/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [The greater the darkness, the better the drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/the-greater-the-darkness-the-better-the-drama/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) [Explore all 237 Nicolas Winding Refn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) ## More Cast quotes > [So, in the last year, the whole cast sued for release from our contracts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/so-in-the-last-year-the-whole-cast-sued-for-release-from-our-contracts/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-bullet-that-will-kill-me-is-not-yet-cast/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A film is a chain of very difficult decisions, and I think one of them is to choose an accurate cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-camara/a-film-is-a-chain-of-very-difficult-decisions-and-i-think-one-of-them/) [Javier Camara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-camara/) > [I don't know what it is about me that gets cast in specific roles. Some people would say, 'You're just a pretty face,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-park/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-about-me-that-gets-cast-in-specific-roles/) [Grace Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-park/) > [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/) > [“Don’t miss CAST IN HONOR!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sagara/don-t-miss-cast-in-honor/) [Michelle Sagara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sagara/) > [Growing up as a singer, and a cast member, and now as an adult, a songwriter, I get the luxury of choosing the kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/growing-up-as-a-singer-and-a-cast-member-and-now-as-an-adult-a/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The cast of 'Parks & Rec' is just a group of unbelievably nice, humble, down to earth, hilarious friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/the-cast-of-parks-rec-is-just-a-group-of-unbelievably-nice-humble/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I think whenever you cast someone, someone's going to be critical about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-sanders/i-think-whenever-you-cast-someone-someone-s-going-to-be-critical/) [Rupert Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-sanders/) > [My experience with 'Last Resort' is very different from most of the cast. While they are next to a mountain, I'm always within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessy-schram/my-experience-with-last-resort-is-very-different-from-most-of-the/) [Jessy Schram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessy-schram/) > [The religious imagery and fairytales that formed our shared cultural references have been replaced by the cult of celebrity. Marilyn is the sex goddess,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/the-religious-imagery-and-fairytales-that-formed-our-shared-cultural/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [I love playing Jim. I love working with this cast and the opportunity to come back and work with them again was just way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-biggs/i-love-playing-jim-i-love-working-with-this-cast-and-the-opportunity/) [Jason Biggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-biggs/) > [The stance I took was there is no room for racial bias anywhere in sports. I believe that was basically all I said about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-larkin/the-stance-i-took-was-there-is-no-room-for-racial-bias-anywhere-in/) [Barry Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-larkin/) > [What's interesting about Stephen Baldwin is that me and Dana Gould were originally cast for 'Bio-Dome' - but Pauly Shore and Baldwin ended up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/what-s-interesting-about-stephen-baldwin-is-that-me-and-dana-gould/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [If you get the right cast, half your work is done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vetrimaaran/if-you-get-the-right-cast-half-your-work-is-done/) [Vetrimaaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vetrimaaran/) Browse all 562 Cast quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always think once you have the lead protagonist, you cast around that character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicolas Winding Refn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-always-think-once-you-have-the-lead-protagonist-you-cast-around/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cast" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-always-think-once-you-have-the-lead-protagonist-you-cast-around/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/nicolas-winding-refn-1480_cast_i-always-think-once-you-have-the-lead-pr_3031764.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/nicolas-winding-refn-1480_cast_i-always-think-once-you-have-the-lead-pr_3031764.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/nicolas-winding-refn-1480_cast_i-always-think-once-you-have-the-lead-pr_3031764.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always think once you have the lead protagonist, you cast around that character.” — Nicolas Winding Refn", "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": "Nicolas Winding Refn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always think once you have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-always-think-once-you-have-the-lead-protagonist-you-cast-around/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-always-think-once-you-have-the-lead-protagonist-you-cast-around/#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 } } ] } ```