Design Quote by Paul Schrader
“There's something wrong - the performance, the weather, the set design, the lighting. Something is not working. And so you say, "Give me 10 minutes." When you're first directing, you're terrified. But when you've been in that situation enough times, you know that under pressure, it will come to you.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Film Director Talk, 1995
When a production faces many issues, a brief pause lets the director regroup and trust their experience to solve problems under pressure.
In simple terms: A short break helps a director handle chaos using experience.
Key Takeaway
Pause, trust your skill, act under pressure.
Themes
leadership
creativity
stress management
Mood
focused
determined
reflective
Type
advice
motivational
When to use this quote
- live theater
- film set
- tight deadlines
- crisis management
Key Concepts
film directing
problem solving
experience
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance urgency with the need for a break?
- What cues tell you it's time to pause?
A Different Perspective
If the pause is too long, momentum may be lost.
![“All these teachers and [screenwriting] books mean you see movies that have been worked over by more committees wielding more rules, that all originality and authorship is lost. That's why you're seeing superstars like Brad Pitt in THE FIGHT CLUB and Tom Cruise in MAGNOLIA. They're desperately…” quote by Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e40/paul-schrader-14587_authorship_all-these-teachers-and-screenwriting-boo_176880.jpg)
