--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I need to work with great directors and…" description: "\"I need to work with great directors and actors, people who are better than me, so that I am challenged. It is like playing sports - surfing, basketball..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/paul-walker-6575_acting_i-need-to-work-with-great-directors-and_1046865.png" --- # I need to work with great directors and actors, people who… ![“I need to work with great directors and actors, people who are better than me, so that I am challenged. It is like playing sports - surfing, basketball, it doesn't matter what it is, if you play with people who are better than you, then you get better too. It is the same thing with acting.” quote by Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/paul-walker-6575_acting_i-need-to-work-with-great-directors-and_1046865.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/paul-walker-6575_acting_i-need-to-work-with-great-directors-and_1046865.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/paul-walker-6575_acting_i-need-to-work-with-great-directors-and_1046865.png) > “I need to work with great directors and actors, people who are better than me, so that I am challenged. It is like playing sports - surfing, basketball, it doesn't matter what it is, if you play with people who are better than you, then you get better too. It is the same thing with acting.” [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He likens working with superior talent to sports, emphasizing that surrounding oneself with better peers drives personal improvement. **In simple terms:** Being around better people pushes you to improve. Key Takeaway Seek out higher‑skill collaborators. Themes growth collaboration excellence Mood motivational determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - film sets - workshops - sports teams - creative projects Key Concepts learning theory mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle feeling outmatched? - What steps can you take to join higher‑level groups? A Different Perspective Finding such peers can be challenging and may cause intimidation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-people/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Better than you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-than-you/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Directors Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-actors-982112/) [Get better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-better/) [Great Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-directors/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playing sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-sports/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Surfing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surfing/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I think that I just need to work with great directors and actors, people who are better than me, so that I am challenged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/i-think-that-i-just-need-to-work-with-great-directors-and-actors/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [Directors and actors are people whose career spans are very short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-singh/directors-and-actors-are-people-whose-career-spans-are-very-short/) [Sunny Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunny-singh/) > [There are so many great directors and actors, like Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Rakeysh Ompraskash Mehra, Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Basu - the list is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sobhita-dhulipala/there-are-so-many-great-directors-and-actors-like-dibakar-banerjee/) [Sobhita Dhulipala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sobhita-dhulipala/) > [I'm working with great directors and actors, and I'm getting to learn so much about the process of acting. I'm extremely grateful for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-malhotra/i-m-working-with-great-directors-and-actors-and-i-m-getting-to-learn/) [Sanya Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-malhotra/) > [I really enjoy the process of making movies. The only thing that really concerns me is working with great directors and actors, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/i-really-enjoy-the-process-of-making-movies-the-only-thing-that/) [Tony Leung Chiu Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/) > [Whenever you're playing sports with people who are better than you are, it makes you rise to the occasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/whenever-you-re-playing-sports-with-people-who-are-better-than-you/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [According to the American Psychological Association, the most effective stress-relief strategies are exercising or playing sports, praying or attending a religious service, reading, listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/according-to-the-american-psychological-association-the-most/) [Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/) > [If you play with people who are better than you, then you get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/if-you-play-with-people-who-are-better-than-you-then-you-get-better/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [I care a lot about who I'm working with as directors and other actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-care-a-lot-about-who-i-m-working-with-as-directors-and-other-actors/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I just want character-actor-driven stories and directors that are actors' directors, which is what everyone says.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-thatcher/i-just-want-character-actor-driven-stories-and-directors-that-are/) [Sophie Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-thatcher/) > [No, I don't think it is required for casting directors to be actors too. My mentor Gautam Kishanchandani cannot act to save his life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-banerjee/no-i-don-t-think-it-is-required-for-casting-directors-to-be-actors/) [Abhishek Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-banerjee/) > [Look, a lot of directors were actors, even if they were unsuccessful actors which I think is helpful. I think it's a really helpful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-heslov/look-a-lot-of-directors-were-actors-even-if-they-were-unsuccessful/) [Grant Heslov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-heslov/) > [I'm so lucky to have the opportunity to work with some directors and some actors I wouldn't have dared to think I would work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-m-so-lucky-to-have-the-opportunity-to-work-with-some-directors-and/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [The beautiful thing about it is that no two directors or actors work the same way. You also learn not to be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/the-beautiful-thing-about-it-is-that-no-two-directors-or-actors-work/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [There's no director or actor that I want to work with more than anyone else, other then maybe Johnny Depp, who I really would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callan-mcauliffe/there-s-no-director-or-actor-that-i-want-to-work-with-more-than/) [Callan McAuliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callan-mcauliffe/) ## More by Paul Walker > [Taking chances for the people you care most about is easy. It's hard to take chances that might mean making bad decisions. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/taking-chances-for-the-people-you-care-most-about-is-easy-it-s-hard/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [People are often talking when they are not supposed to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/people-are-often-talking-when-they-are-not-supposed-to-be/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [I remember when I first came around, the computer-generated stuff was pretty wicked. I was like, 'Wow!' but I feel like then for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/i-remember-when-i-first-came-around-the-computer-generated-stuff-was/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [Usually I like to make my movies from start to finish in chronological order. As a filmmaker it lets me be able to direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/usually-i-like-to-make-my-movies-from-start-to-finish-in/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [It's not about working anymore, its about doing work I can be proud of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/it-s-not-about-working-anymore-its-about-doing-work-i-can-be-proud-of/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [I like being surrounded by great people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/i-like-being-surrounded-by-great-people/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [My perfect weekend... anything to do with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/my-perfect-weekend-anything-to-do-with-nature/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [I believe in fate, that films happen when they are supposed to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/i-believe-in-fate-that-films-happen-when-they-are-supposed-to/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [I never thought I was going to be an actor. And I never really thought of myself as one. Even though I keep working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/i-never-thought-i-was-going-to-be-an-actor-and-i-never-really-thought/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [Michelle Rodriguez is like the most original person on the planet. She's so straight up, uncensored all the time. Be ready. I love her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/michelle-rodriguez-is-like-the-most-original-person-on-the-planet-she/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [What I find really difficult is making career decisions. Normally it will take me two weeks, until the very last minute and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/what-i-find-really-difficult-is-making-career-decisions-normally-it/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [I've always wanted to race cars, ever since I was a young boy, as I think a lot of guys have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/i-ve-always-wanted-to-race-cars-ever-since-i-was-a-young-boy-as-i/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [Some people say that you should go to all the parties, to the nightclubs, the Viper Room, and make contacts. And I look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/some-people-say-that-you-should-go-to-all-the-parties-to-the/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [Who couldn't believe there's a God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/who-couldn-t-believe-there-s-a-god/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [I don't go for the flash and panache.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/i-don-t-go-for-the-flash-and-panache/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) [Explore all 98 Paul Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I need to work with great directors and actors, people who are better than me, so that I am challenged. It is like playing sports - surfing, basketball, it doesn't matter what it is, if you play with people who are better than you, then you get better too. 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