--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I direct as an actor. Many times, I will…" description: "\"I direct as an actor. Many times, I will say, 'Let me try this.' And I'll walk the scene through and see what I can tell the actor about it. I don't kn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/peter-bogdanovich-17576_actor_i-direct-as-an-actor-many-times-i-will-s_1903213.jpg" --- # I direct as an actor. Many times, I will say, 'Let me try… ![“I direct as an actor. Many times, I will say, 'Let me try this.' And I'll walk the scene through and see what I can tell the actor about it. I don't know what to tell him until I've actually tried it and seen what the problem is.” quote by Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/peter-bogdanovich-17576_actor_i-direct-as-an-actor-many-times-i-will-s_1903213.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/peter-bogdanovich-17576_actor_i-direct-as-an-actor-many-times-i-will-s_1903213.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/peter-bogdanovich-17576_actor_i-direct-as-an-actor-many-times-i-will-s_1903213.jpg) > “I direct as an actor. Many times, I will say, 'Let me try this.' And I'll walk the scene through and see what I can tell the actor about it. I don't know what to tell him until I've actually tried it and seen what the problem is.” [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) ## 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 must experience a scene personally to discover insights that guide actors effectively. **In simple terms:** Directors learn by doing the scene themselves. Key Takeaway Try the role yourself before coaching. Themes directing learning empathy Mood analytical curious Type educational practical When to use this quote - film rehearsal - stage rehearsal - workshop teaching - creative problem solving Key Concepts method acting collaborative discovery problem solving Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to rely on actor expertise? - How do you balance personal trial with actor autonomy? A Different Perspective Time constraints may limit personal experimentation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When you're doing a play and you're afraid of a scene, that's the scene you should embrace, because that's the scene that will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-esparza/when-you-re-doing-a-play-and-you-re-afraid-of-a-scene-that-s-the/) Raul Esparza > [Though all actors do not make good directors, Dhanush is really one of the finest. He knows exactly how to direct an actor to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditi-rao-hydari/though-all-actors-do-not-make-good-directors-dhanush-is-really-one-of/) [Aditi Rao Hydari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditi-rao-hydari/) > [Allow the emptiness inherent within actions and experiences to guide and shape your choices. 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It's really clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-katzenberg/you-can-tell-when-an-actor-or-actress-cares-about-their-work-it-s/) [Jeffrey Katzenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-katzenberg/) > [I don't need a critic to tell me I'm an actor. I make my own way. Nobody's my boss. Nobody's ever been my boss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-don-t-need-a-critic-to-tell-me-i-m-an-actor-i-make-my-own-way/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [You can always tell an actor by the bored look in their eye whenever someone else is talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-leggero/you-can-always-tell-an-actor-by-the-bored-look-in-their-eye-whenever/) [Natasha Leggero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-leggero/) > [It doesn't matter if a character is a lawyer, a cop or a geography teacher. 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I just thought they were terribly funny. None of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-had-been-an-abject-fan-of-martin-and-lewis-when-i-was-a-kid-i-just/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I loved Keaton. In fact, when I made the chase sequence in 'What's Up, Doc,' I said, 'This is a Buster Keaton chase.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-loved-keaton-in-fact-when-i-made-the-chase-sequence-in-what-s-up/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [There are no “old” movies-only movies you have already seen and ones you haven't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/there-are-no-old-movies-only-movies-you-have-already-seen-and-ones/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [During the Hollywood studio system, they looked for people who were unusual. The stars had peculiarities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/during-the-hollywood-studio-system-they-looked-for-people-who-were/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I think one of the reasons younger people don't like older films, films made say before the '60s, is that they've never seen them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-think-one-of-the-reasons-younger-people-don-t-like-older-films/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [If filmmakers are ignorant of the past, they laborto re-invent the wheel in every picture. You sit and think, 'Well,we're back to 1903 here.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/if-filmmakers-are-ignorant-of-the-past-they-laborto-re-invent-the/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [Drama is easy. Comedy's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/drama-is-easy-comedy-s-hard/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [Love is a lot more complicated than people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/love-is-a-lot-more-complicated-than-people-think/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I started acting in 'The Sopranos' around 1999 and 2000. I did that for six years. That was quite a job, and I loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/i-started-acting-in-the-sopranos-around-1999-and-2000-i-did-that-for/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [Comedy is the hardest thing to get right. 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