--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Movie directing is a perfect refuge for…" description: "\"Movie directing is a perfect refuge for the mediocre.\" — Orson Welles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/orson-welles-1628_directing_movie-directing-is-a-perfect-refuge-for_2323004.jpg" --- # Movie directing is a perfect refuge for the mediocre. ![“Movie directing is a perfect refuge for the mediocre.” quote by Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/orson-welles-1628_directing_movie-directing-is-a-perfect-refuge-for_2323004.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/orson-welles-1628_directing_movie-directing-is-a-perfect-refuge-for_2323004.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/orson-welles-1628_directing_movie-directing-is-a-perfect-refuge-for_2323004.jpg) > “Movie directing is a perfect refuge for the mediocre.” [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mediocre creators may find refuge in directing because it offers control without demanding artistic excellence. **In simple terms:** Directing can be an easy escape for the average. Key Takeaway Use directing to develop skill, not hide mediocrity. Themes creativity mediocrity control Mood critical reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - film projects - indie productions - personal art - career pivots Key Concepts artistic integrity self‑deception creative process Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to pursue directing despite limitations? - How can one grow beyond mediocrity through directing? A Different Perspective The statement undervalues the discipline and learning inherent in directing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Refuge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuge/) ## Related quotes > [Making a movie and not directing the little moments is like drinking a soda and leaving the little slurp puddle for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/making-a-movie-and-not-directing-the-little-moments-is-like-drinking/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [As a producer, I learned not to declare anything about a movie I'm not directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/as-a-producer-i-learned-not-to-declare-anything-about-a-movie-i-m-not/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [ Much of directing \[a movie\] is not directing but just listening and being present in the moment and just keeping your eyes open. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rian-johnson/much-of-directing-a-movie-is-not-directing-but-just-listening-and/) [Rian Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rian-johnson/) > [As a storyteller, when you're writing a movie and when you're directing, you want to keep people entertained. That's the whole point, right? It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fede-alvarez/as-a-storyteller-when-you-re-writing-a-movie-and-when-you-re/) [Fede Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fede-alvarez/) > [I mean time management is a big factor in my life. I'm a very organized person. You can only do one thing at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-banks/i-mean-time-management-is-a-big-factor-in-my-life-i-m-a-very/) [Elizabeth Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-banks/) > [It doesn't seem weird to me, at all. I'm in Baton Rouge getting ready to direct a movie for Sony, and I'm in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/it-doesn-t-seem-weird-to-me-at-all-i-m-in-baton-rouge-getting-ready/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I think with any movie, directing is more in the preparation. You just have to prepare for everything that's going to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/i-think-with-any-movie-directing-is-more-in-the-preparation-you-just/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [Producers don't like the director who ignores their opinion - but I always try not to be the nicest person when making a movie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuhei-kitamura/producers-don-t-like-the-director-who-ignores-their-opinion-but-i/) [Ryuhei Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuhei-kitamura/) > [I was haunted always by my other life-my drab room in the Bronx, my square foot of the subway, my fixation upon the day's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-was-haunted-always-by-my-other-life-my-drab-room-in-the-bronx-my/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [To the distracting occupations belong especially my lecture courses which I am holding this winter for the first time, and which now cost much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-friedrich-gauss/to-the-distracting-occupations-belong-especially-my-lecture-courses/) [Carl Friedrich Gauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-friedrich-gauss/) > [To run with the majority during the race of life is to be mediocre all of the time and wrong most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-smith/to-run-with-the-majority-during-the-race-of-life-is-to-be-mediocre/) [Len Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-smith/) > [We create a standard for how we want to do things and everybody's got to buy into that standard or you really can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/we-create-a-standard-for-how-we-want-to-do-things-and-everybody-s-got/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Preserve your energy - do not waste it on mediocre activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-wilde/preserve-your-energy-do-not-waste-it-on-mediocre-activity/) [Stuart Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-wilde/) > [Finding patterns is easy in any kind of data-rich environment; that's what mediocre gamblers do. The key is in determining whether the patterns represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/finding-patterns-is-easy-in-any-kind-of-data-rich-environment-that-s/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [I want to be involved in things I can be really proud of. There's a lot of bad films being made and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisling-loftus/i-want-to-be-involved-in-things-i-can-be-really-proud-of-there-s-a/) [Aisling Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisling-loftus/) ## More by Orson Welles > [The two things you cannot do effectively on stage are pray and copulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/the-two-things-you-cannot-do-effectively-on-stage-are-pray-and/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [There are a thousand ways of playing a good classic. If it were effective, I would play Hamlet on a trapeze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/there-are-a-thousand-ways-of-playing-a-good-classic-if-it-were/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I am essentially a hack, a commercial person. If I had a hobby, I would immediately make money on it or abandon it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-am-essentially-a-hack-a-commercial-person-if-i-had-a-hobby-i-would/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [The essential is to excite the spectators. If that means playing Hamlet on a flying trapeze or in an aquarium, you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/the-essential-is-to-excite-the-spectators-if-that-means-playing/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [There are three intolerable things in life - cold coffee, lukewarm champagne, and overexcited women...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/there-are-three-intolerable-things-in-life-cold-coffee-lukewarm/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I'm extremely surprised to learn that a story, which has become familiar to children through the medium of comic strips and many succeeding novels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-m-extremely-surprised-to-learn-that-a-story-which-has-become/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I hate women, hate them generally, not in particular but in an abstract way. I hate them because one never really learns anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-hate-women-hate-them-generally-not-in-particular-but-in-an-abstract/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [When television came along, I'd already done more than 10 years of radio work and I thought everyone would want me. I sat around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/when-television-came-along-i-d-already-done-more-than-10-years-of/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [Look at the real prodigies, and I look like nothing compared to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/look-at-the-real-prodigies-and-i-look-like-nothing-compared-to-them/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [The laws and the stage, both are a form of exhibitionism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/the-laws-and-the-stage-both-are-a-form-of-exhibitionism/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [In the theater there are 1,500 cameras rolling at the same time - in the cinema, only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/in-the-theater-there-are-1-500-cameras-rolling-at-the-same-time-in/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [In Italy, for 30 years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/in-italy-for-30-years-under-the-borgias-they-had-warfare-terror/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I would rather be on the set than doing anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-would-rather-be-on-the-set-than-doing-anything/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I prefer people who rock the boat to people who jump out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-prefer-people-who-rock-the-boat-to-people-who-jump-out/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [If I don't like somebody's looks, I don't like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/if-i-don-t-like-somebody-s-looks-i-don-t-like-them/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) [Explore all 218 Orson Welles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) ## More Directing quotes > [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/) > [“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/) > [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 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Making a movie and not directing the little moments is like drinking a soda and leaving the little slurp puddle for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/making-a-movie-and-not-directing-the-little-moments-is-like-drinking/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Directing films is easier said than done. The job needs a lot of sensibility to put many things in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/directing-films-is-easier-said-than-done-the-job-needs-a-lot-of/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [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/) > [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/) > [My dad's a prominent theatre director in Toronto, so I grew up in that world, directing and producing theater since I was a teenager.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gass-donnelly/my-dad-s-a-prominent-theatre-director-in-toronto-so-i-grew-up-in-that/) [Ed Gass-Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gass-donnelly/) > [The hardest part about directing is getting everyone on the same page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/the-hardest-part-about-directing-is-getting-everyone-on-the-same-page/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) Browse all 1,163 Directing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Movie directing is a perfect refuge for the mediocre.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Orson Welles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/movie-directing-is-a-perfect-refuge-for-the-mediocre/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Directing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/movie-directing-is-a-perfect-refuge-for-the-mediocre/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/orson-welles-1628_directing_movie-directing-is-a-perfect-refuge-for_2323004.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/orson-welles-1628_directing_movie-directing-is-a-perfect-refuge-for_2323004.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/orson-welles-1628_directing_movie-directing-is-a-perfect-refuge-for_2323004.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Movie directing is a perfect refuge for the mediocre.” — Orson Welles", "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": "Orson Welles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Movie directing is a perfect refuge...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/movie-directing-is-a-perfect-refuge-for-the-mediocre/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/movie-directing-is-a-perfect-refuge-for-the-mediocre/#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 } } ] } ```