--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Film is definitely a director's medium…" description: "\"Film is definitely a director's medium. They're responsible for the look and everything, and you're a part of that process as an actor, and you try to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/141/owen-wilson-10973_actors_film-is-definitely-a-director-s-medium-t_403059.jpg" --- # Film is definitely a director's medium. They're… ![“Film is definitely a director's medium. They're responsible for the look and everything, and you're a part of that process as an actor, and you try to contribute to the story. But I think it might sound a little pretentious for me to say I think of myself as an artist. I think of myself as a…” quote by Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/141/owen-wilson-10973_actors_film-is-definitely-a-director-s-medium-t_403059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/141/owen-wilson-10973_actors_film-is-definitely-a-director-s-medium-t_403059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/141/owen-wilson-10973_actors_film-is-definitely-a-director-s-medium-t_403059.jpg) > “Film is definitely a director's medium. They're responsible for the look and everything, and you're a part of that process as an actor, and you try to contribute to the story. But I think it might sound a little pretentious for me to say I think of myself as an artist. I think of myself as a creative person.” [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A director shapes a film's visual identity, while actors contribute creatively without claiming artistic superiority. **In simple terms:** Directors lead visuals; actors add creativity. Key Takeaway Embrace collaboration, stay humble. Themes collaboration humility creativity film-making Mood reflective professional Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - film set - acting workshops - creative brainstorming - team meetings Key Concepts visual storytelling actor contribution creative identity Questions to Reflect On - How can actors support a director’s vision? - What does being a creative person mean in film? A Different Perspective Actors may overestimate their artistic influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-person/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Pretentious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretentious/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Films are a director's medium. We're all stemming from the director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/films-are-a-director-s-medium-we-re-all-stemming-from-the-director/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [They say that theater is the actor's medium, television is the writer's medium and film is the director's medium, and it's really true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/they-say-that-theater-is-the-actor-s-medium-television-is-the-writer/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [TV is more the director's medium. You can be edited right out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/tv-is-more-the-director-s-medium-you-can-be-edited-right-out/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I am a director's actor. It is a director's medium, definitely. That doesn't mean I stop using my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmapriya-janakiraman/i-am-a-director-s-actor-it-is-a-director-s-medium-definitely-that/) [Padmapriya Janakiraman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmapriya-janakiraman/) > [Movies are great fun and wonderful when they're good. But you never get to see them till six months after they're finished. So you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/movies-are-great-fun-and-wonderful-when-they-re-good-but-you-never/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [I view filmmaking as a director's medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-view-filmmaking-as-a-director-s-medium/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [Film is such a director's medium; you're really in their hands in terms of the real storytelling. As an actor, you can give a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/film-is-such-a-director-s-medium-you-re-really-in-their-hands-in/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [Cinema is a director's medium; it's his story and his vision. If it's a good story, people will connect to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-kaushal/cinema-is-a-director-s-medium-it-s-his-story-and-his-vision-if-it-s-a/) [Vicky Kaushal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicky-kaushal/) > [I think the wonderful thing about doing theater is that it's more of an actor's medium. I think that film is more of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/i-think-the-wonderful-thing-about-doing-theater-is-that-it-s-more-of/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [Film’s thought of as a director’s medium because the director creates the end product that appears on the screen. It’s that stupid auteur theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/film-s-thought-of-as-a-director-s-medium-because-the-director-creates/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I think film and television are really a director's medium, whereas theatre is the actor's medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/i-think-film-and-television-are-really-a-director-s-medium-whereas/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [I think movies are a director's medium in the end. Theater is the actor's medium. Theater is fast, and enjoyable, and truly rewarding. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-mendes/i-think-movies-are-a-director-s-medium-in-the-end-theater-is-the/) [Sam Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-mendes/) > [Movie making is really, it's a director's medium, it's not even so much an actor's medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-romijn/movie-making-is-really-it-s-a-director-s-medium-it-s-not-even-so-much/) [Rebecca Romijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-romijn/) > [I've come to a point where I just want to do movies that I just believe in. I have come to an understanding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-ve-come-to-a-point-where-i-just-want-to-do-movies-that-i-just/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [The truth is that filmmaking is not really an actor's medium; it's really a director's medium, so all I can really control is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/the-truth-is-that-filmmaking-is-not-really-an-actor-s-medium-it-s/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) ## More by Owen Wilson > [That's the thing about friendship, it's a lot rarer than love, because there is nothing in it for any body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/that-s-the-thing-about-friendship-it-s-a-lot-rarer-than-love-because/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [I always think about Katharine Graham - she was the publisher of The Washington Post. In her autobiography she talks about the way her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/i-always-think-about-katharine-graham-she-was-the-publisher-of-the/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [We didn't know what the reception was going to be when we walked out on the runway, but it felt like we were in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/we-didn-t-know-what-the-reception-was-going-to-be-when-we-walked-out/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [You know how they say we only use 10 percent of our brains? I think we only use 10 percent of our hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/you-know-how-they-say-we-only-use-10-percent-of-our-brains-i-think-we/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [Movies I liked growing up were like Francis Ford Coppolla movies and Scorsese movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/movies-i-liked-growing-up-were-like-francis-ford-coppolla-movies-and/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [I have never taken myself that seriously as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/i-have-never-taken-myself-that-seriously-as-an-actor/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [And James L. Brooks then sort of became our mentor, brought us out to Los Angeles and worked on the script for a year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/and-james-l-brooks-then-sort-of-became-our-mentor-brought-us-out-to/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [There's what is on screen and then for us, it's if you get along with the people and enjoy showing up at work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/there-s-what-is-on-screen-and-then-for-us-it-s-if-you-get-along-with/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [You can't get too attached to any one shampoo. And conditioner, also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/you-can-t-get-too-attached-to-any-one-shampoo-and-conditioner-also/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [Being in a bathtub with Jackie Chan, I don't know, it has a way of bonding you I'll tell you that. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/being-in-a-bathtub-with-jackie-chan-i-don-t-know-it-has-a-way-of/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [Hansel is certainly about comfort, while still sort of having a peacock principle of wanting to attract attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/hansel-is-certainly-about-comfort-while-still-sort-of-having-a/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [I love Francis Bacon. I just saw a great Jackson Pollock exhibit at the Dallas Museum when I was home for Thanksgiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/i-love-francis-bacon-i-just-saw-a-great-jackson-pollock-exhibit-at/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [The Australian accent just a very lovely accent and it doesn't have the pretention maybe of an English accent, but yet seems a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/the-australian-accent-just-a-very-lovely-accent-and-it-doesn-t-have/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [My roommate in college in Austin, Texas, was Wes Anderson. Wes always wanted to be a director. I was an English major in college,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/my-roommate-in-college-in-austin-texas-was-wes-anderson-wes-always/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [I think the way it works is that when you're casting a movie, you usually want to work with people that you believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/i-think-the-way-it-works-is-that-when-you-re-casting-a-movie-you/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) [Explore all 62 Owen Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Film is definitely a director's medium. 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