--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did all my directing when I wrote the…" description: "\"I did all my directing when I wrote the screenplay. It was probably harder for a regular director. He probably had to read the script the night before ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/preston-sturges-31720_directing_i-did-all-my-directing-when-i-wrote-the_2550844.jpg" --- # I did all my directing when I wrote the screenplay. It was… ![“I did all my directing when I wrote the screenplay. It was probably harder for a regular director. He probably had to read the script the night before shooting started.” quote by Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/preston-sturges-31720_directing_i-did-all-my-directing-when-i-wrote-the_2550844.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/preston-sturges-31720_directing_i-did-all-my-directing-when-i-wrote-the_2550844.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/preston-sturges-31720_directing_i-did-all-my-directing-when-i-wrote-the_2550844.jpg) > “I did all my directing when I wrote the screenplay. It was probably harder for a regular director. He probably had to read the script the night before shooting started.” [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He wrote and directed his own scripts, a task harder than for a director who must learn the script quickly. **In simple terms:** Writing and directing his own work was challenging. Key Takeaway Plan early to ease directing. Themes creative control screenplay directing challenge Mood pragmatic reflective Type professional creative When to use this quote - independent filmmaking - script revisions - director preparation Key Concepts film screenwriting production Questions to Reflect On - How does dual role affect creative vision? - What strategies aid quick script familiarization? A Different Perspective Even with control, time constraints persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Did Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-directing-1519553/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-wrote-1519552/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Screenplay Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplay-probably-1519554/) [Screenplays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplays/) [Scripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripts/) [Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting/) [Shooting star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting-star/) [Wrote Screenplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-screenplay-846128/) ## Related quotes > [I directed my first music video for Sara Bareilles. I like writing and directing. I co-wrote '21 Jump Street' and I'm in that. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-directed-my-first-music-video-for-sara-bareilles-i-like-writing-and/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I started writing stories when I was 9 or 10. I wrote my first screenplay-type document when I was 14.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/i-started-writing-stories-when-i-was-9-or-10-i-wrote-my-first/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [To be honest, I don't usually do very much research, especially if I'm working with a director who also wrote the screenplay. They've usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/to-be-honest-i-don-t-usually-do-very-much-research-especially-if-i-m/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Never take no for an answer. It took me 20 years between the time I wrote my first screenplay and the time I actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-delpy/never-take-no-for-an-answer-it-took-me-20-years-between-the-time-i/) [Julie Delpy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-delpy/) > [I've always been kind of drawn to the extremities of human nature. I wrote my first screenplay when I was 16. The initial idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veena-sud/i-ve-always-been-kind-of-drawn-to-the-extremities-of-human-nature-i/) [Veena Sud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veena-sud/) > [I wrote a screenplay for a 'Sweet Valley High' adaptation, and it's really amazing to me how many women who are my age have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/i-wrote-a-screenplay-for-a-sweet-valley-high-adaptation-and-it-s/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [I wrote my first screenplay on a lark, because it was a storytelling format that felt like a familiar shorthand - we all watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-wrote-my-first-screenplay-on-a-lark-because-it-was-a-storytelling/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [I wrote the screenplay for 'This Is Where I Leave You' - all 40 drafts of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/i-wrote-the-screenplay-for-this-is-where-i-leave-you-all-40-drafts-of/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [When there wasn't a lot of work, I wrote a screenplay, 'What Lies Beneath,' which got noticed and got me more acting jobs. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gregg/when-there-wasn-t-a-lot-of-work-i-wrote-a-screenplay-what-lies/) [Clark Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gregg/) > [I wanted to make a movie once at Lake of the Woods, where my parents had a cabin, which I now have. We actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-wanted-to-make-a-movie-once-at-lake-of-the-woods-where-my-parents/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [I wrote the screenplay for 'Water Lilies' while I was studying screenwriting at La Femis film school in Paris, and the director Xavier Beauvois,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-sciamma/i-wrote-the-screenplay-for-water-lilies-while-i-was-studying/) [Celine Sciamma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-sciamma/) > [I wrote 'Yellow Submarine' for the Beatles. I wrote the screenplay for 'The Games,' about the Olympic Games. I wrote 'Love Story,' both the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-segal/i-wrote-yellow-submarine-for-the-beatles-i-wrote-the-screenplay-for/) [Erich Segal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-segal/) > [Right when I moved to L.A., I started writing. I wrote some screenplay. I'm sure it's terrible. But I wrote a screenplay by myself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/right-when-i-moved-to-l-a-i-started-writing-i-wrote-some-screenplay-i/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [I wrote a screenplay for 'The Witches,' which Alfonso Cuaron was producing, but we couldn't get it made! The studio just wouldn't greenlight that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/i-wrote-a-screenplay-for-the-witches-which-alfonso-cuaron-was/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [I'm a big fan of Woody Allen. I used to love the fact that he wrote his own screenplay and acted in the movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-lauren/i-m-a-big-fan-of-woody-allen-i-used-to-love-the-fact-that-he-wrote/) [Ralph Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-lauren/) ## More by Preston Sturges > [After I saw a couple of pictures put out by my fellow comedy-directors, which seemed to have abandoned the fun in favor of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/after-i-saw-a-couple-of-pictures-put-out-by-my-fellow-comedy/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [When the last dime is gone, I'll sit on the curb outside with a pencil and a ten cent notebook and start the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/when-the-last-dime-is-gone-i-ll-sit-on-the-curb-outside-with-a-pencil/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [I suppose they're like the I.R.S. You move once and they never send you your refund check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/i-suppose-they-re-like-the-i-r-s-you-move-once-and-they-never-send/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [“JEAN I need him like the axe needs the turkey. HARRINGTON Don't be vulgar, Jean. Let us be crooked, but never common.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/jean-i-need-him-like-the-axe-needs-the-turkey-harrington-don-t-be/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [Now I've laid me down to die I pray my neighbors not to pry Too deeply into sins that I Not only cannot here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/now-i-ve-laid-me-down-to-die-i-pray-my-neighbors-not-to-pry-too/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [Film is the greatest educational medium the world has ever known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/film-is-the-greatest-educational-medium-the-world-has-ever-known/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [“You know, Maude . . . somebody meeting you for the first time -- not knowing you were cracked -- might get the wrong impression of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/you-know-maude-somebody-meeting-you-for-the-first-time-not-knowing/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [The most incredible thing about my career is that I had one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/the-most-incredible-thing-about-my-career-is-that-i-had-one/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [“GERRY I would step on your face! HACKENSACKER That's quite all right, I rather enjoyed it. GERRY Twice! HACKENSACKER You made quite an impression. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/gerry-i-would-step-on-your-face-hackensacker-that-s-quite-all-right-i/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [“THE POLITICIAN If it wasn't for graft, you'd get a very low type of people in politics. Men without ambition. Jellyfish! CATHERINE Especially since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/the-politician-if-it-wasn-t-for-graft-you-d-get-a-very-low-type-of/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [A pretty girl is better than a plain one. A leg is better than an arm. A bedroom is better than a living room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/a-pretty-girl-is-better-than-a-plain-one-a-leg-is-better-than-an-arm/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [You can't go around the theatres handing out cards saying, 'It isn't my fault'. You go onto the next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/you-can-t-go-around-the-theatres-handing-out-cards-saying-it-isn-t-my/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [I should have had the pickle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/i-should-have-had-the-pickle/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [“JEAN Boy, would I like to see you give some old harpie the three in one! COLONEL Don't be vulgar, Jane. Let us be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/jean-boy-would-i-like-to-see-you-give-some-old-harpie-the-three-in/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) > [“This is the story of two men who met in a banana republic. One of them never did anything dishonest in his life except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-sturges/this-is-the-story-of-two-men-who-met-in-a-banana-republic-one-of-them/) [Preston Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) [Explore all 16 Preston Sturges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-sturges/) ## More Directing quotes > [Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. The main thing about directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/anybody-can-direct-a-picture-once-they-know-the-fundamentals/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I took on the role of CEO, which involves directing the Management Team and overall day-to-day operations of 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/i-took-on-the-role-of-ceo-which-involves-directing-the-management/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [When I see my movies on the editing table, I do think I could have done them a certain way. The satisfaction is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/when-i-see-my-movies-on-the-editing-table-i-do-think-i-could-have/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [For me the dream is the freedom to make all the crazy ideas I have in my head into movies. I truly love directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-ozeki/for-me-the-dream-is-the-freedom-to-make-all-the-crazy-ideas-i-have-in/) [Nicholas Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-ozeki/) > [The producing thing has come quite naturally to me. I feel like for directing, I would like to be more technically-savvy. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/the-producing-thing-has-come-quite-naturally-to-me-i-feel-like-for/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I'm addicted to directing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-m-addicted-to-directing/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [Making a movie and not directing the little moments is like drinking a soda and leaving the little slurp puddle for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/making-a-movie-and-not-directing-the-little-moments-is-like-drinking/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Directing films is easier said than done. The job needs a lot of sensibility to put many things in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/directing-films-is-easier-said-than-done-the-job-needs-a-lot-of/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-starred-in-a-broadway-play-that-was-sidney-poitier-s-first/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. It's not like acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-don-t-get-nervous-when-i-m-directing-a-play-it-s-not-like-acting/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [My dad's a prominent theatre director in Toronto, so I grew up in that world, directing and producing theater since I was a teenager.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gass-donnelly/my-dad-s-a-prominent-theatre-director-in-toronto-so-i-grew-up-in-that/) [Ed Gass-Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gass-donnelly/) > [The hardest part about directing is getting everyone on the same page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/the-hardest-part-about-directing-is-getting-everyone-on-the-same-page/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) [Browse all 1,163 Directing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I did all my directing when I wrote the screenplay. 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