--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know anything about directing…" description: "\"I don't know anything about directing, but if you love actors, know your story and hire a great company, then anyone can direct a film.\" — Peter Hedges" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/peter-hedges-5212_actors_i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-bu_1630920.jpg" --- # I don't know anything about directing, but if you love… ![“I don't know anything about directing, but if you love actors, know your story and hire a great company, then anyone can direct a film.” quote by Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/peter-hedges-5212_actors_i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-bu_1630920.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/peter-hedges-5212_actors_i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-bu_1630920.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/peter-hedges-5212_actors_i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-bu_1630920.jpg) > “I don't know anything about directing, but if you love actors, know your story and hire a great company, then anyone can direct a film.” [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker suggests that love for actors, story knowledge, and a strong team enable anyone to direct a film, despite lacking formal training. **In simple terms:** Passion and teamwork can compensate for lack of experience. Key Takeaway Build a strong team and know your story. Themes creativity leadership collaboration Mood encouraging practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - film production - acting workshops Key Concepts Film direction team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What skills are essential for a director? - How do you choose your team? A Different Perspective Inexperience can hinder execution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-know-307105/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-love-482534/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Great company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-company/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Know Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-directing-482533/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Love Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-actors-278764/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [One of the things I love about directing is I love actors, because no matter how complex they are, once you get down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brolin/one-of-the-things-i-love-about-directing-is-i-love-actors-because-no/) [James Brolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brolin/) > [Directing is my first love; turning an actor was rather accidental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dileesh-pothan/directing-is-my-first-love-turning-an-actor-was-rather-accidental/) [Dileesh Pothan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dileesh-pothan/) > [I love directing. I love creating things that I don't necessarily even have to be in. I like creating worlds. So I'm getting into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-cipes/i-love-directing-i-love-creating-things-that-i-don-t-necessarily-even/) [Greg Cipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-cipes/) > [Everybody's on their toes and focused on what we're about to do, and then there's this moment where you relax because you see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/everybody-s-on-their-toes-and-focused-on-what-we-re-about-to-do-and/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [Directing ain't about drawing a neat little picture and showing it to the cameraman. I didn't want to go to film school. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/directing-ain-t-about-drawing-a-neat-little-picture-and-showing-it-to/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [To write, you have to know how to act and know about directing. To act, you also need to know how to write and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-taylor/to-write-you-have-to-know-how-to-act-and-know-about-directing-to-act/) [Tate Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-taylor/) > [For many years I thought, "Well, I need to know a lot more to direct." But I looked around and watched all the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-foner-gyllenhaal/for-many-years-i-thought-well-i-need-to-know-a-lot-more-to-direct-but/) [Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-foner-gyllenhaal/) > [I don't want to sound arrogant and say that I know everything about directing and I've got it cracked, but it was just all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/i-don-t-want-to-sound-arrogant-and-say-that-i-know-everything-about/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [“Your love is so pure, so deep, so universal, expressed to the whole of creation, that directing your love to one single person often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevan-v-nikolic/your-love-is-so-pure-so-deep-so-universal-expressed-to-the-whole-of/) [Stevan V. Nikolic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevan-v-nikolic/) > [I seem to gravitate toward the dark side of things when it comes to directing. I love action, but I love the drama as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-maclaren/i-seem-to-gravitate-toward-the-dark-side-of-things-when-it-comes-to/) [Michelle MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-maclaren/) > [I've done a little directing, but I love acting more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/i-ve-done-a-little-directing-but-i-love-acting-more/) [Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/) > [I pretty much know that directing means that you have to answer about a thousand questions every day and you have to answer them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hanks/i-pretty-much-know-that-directing-means-that-you-have-to-answer-about/) [Colin Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hanks/) > [I don't know why directing is not something I'm interested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-know-why-directing-is-not-something-i-m-interested-in/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I like acting better than anything else, but, you know, directing's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-like-acting-better-than-anything-else-but-you-know-directing-s-good/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [But I didn't know much about directing a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-alexander/but-i-didn-t-know-much-about-directing-a-movie/) [Jason Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-alexander/) ## More by Peter Hedges > [There was a part of me that wanted to take my place next to, you know, Debra Granik. She's such a hero for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/there-was-a-part-of-me-that-wanted-to-take-my-place-next-to-you-know/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [Ultimately what I try to do is work on stories I love with people I admire, and sometimes they get made and sometimes they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/ultimately-what-i-try-to-do-is-work-on-stories-i-love-with-people-i/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [I want to make a series of films of contemporary America that feel urgent and deal with sometimes-topical matters, but hopefully in a universal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-want-to-make-a-series-of-films-of-contemporary-america-that-feel/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [Let the story lead you. If the story needs to be dark, let it go dark. If it's a sweet, good-for-the-world story, that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/let-the-story-lead-you-if-the-story-needs-to-be-dark-let-it-go-dark/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [GOOD AS NEW was born out of the idea of writing a play where the stakes were high and the collisions were of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/good-as-new-was-born-out-of-the-idea-of-writing-a-play-where-the/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [There are sections of the film that I don't love. There are moments that really lift and elevate, and then there are parts that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/there-are-sections-of-the-film-that-i-don-t-love-there-are-moments/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [I'm looking, often, towards younger people, listening to how they're working, at least they're trying, and some of the old greats, too. Just to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-m-looking-often-towards-younger-people-listening-to-how-they-re/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [I don't want to write my life. I live my life. I want to make up a new world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-don-t-want-to-write-my-life-i-live-my-life-i-want-to-make-up-a-new/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [I once heard a story, it's probably apocryphal, but I love the notion. That a car had flipped over and the baby was trapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-once-heard-a-story-it-s-probably-apocryphal-but-i-love-the-notion/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [“A man who works all day, every day and loves each apple he uncrates, who cherishes each can of soup - a man like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/a-man-who-works-all-day-every-day-and-loves-each-apple-he-uncrates/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [Everything good in my life can be traced back to my mother's sobriety. She showed me that broken people can - with the help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/everything-good-in-my-life-can-be-traced-back-to-my-mother-s-sobriety/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [Writing a really good screenplay is not easy. It can be a very punishing form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/writing-a-really-good-screenplay-is-not-easy-it-can-be-a-very/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [It's not easy to be a good or wise parent. You do the best you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/it-s-not-easy-to-be-a-good-or-wise-parent-you-do-the-best-you-can/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [The kinds of movies I make are not easy to get made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/the-kinds-of-movies-i-make-are-not-easy-to-get-made/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [When I was a young lad just out of college at the North Carolina School of the Arts, I directed several plays that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/when-i-was-a-young-lad-just-out-of-college-at-the-north-carolina/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) [Explore all 102 Peter Hedges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) ## 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": "I don't know anything about directing, but if you love actors, know your story and hire a great company, then anyone can direct a film.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Hedges" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-but-if-you-love-actors-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-but-if-you-love-actors-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/peter-hedges-5212_actors_i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-bu_1630920.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/peter-hedges-5212_actors_i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-bu_1630920.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/peter-hedges-5212_actors_i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-bu_1630920.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't know anything about directing, but if you love actors, know your story and hire a great company…” — Peter Hedges", "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": "Peter Hedges", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't know anything about directing,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-but-if-you-love-actors-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-don-t-know-anything-about-directing-but-if-you-love-actors-know/#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 } } ] } ```