--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Performance is made in the editing room…" description: "\"Performance is made in the editing room, and I've come to see the truth in that - the idea that they say performances are usually made in the editing r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/ralph-fiennes-7066_actors_performance-is-made-in-the-editing-room_1847861.jpg" --- # Performance is made in the editing room, and I've come to… ![“Performance is made in the editing room, and I've come to see the truth in that - the idea that they say performances are usually made in the editing room because what you film is the raw material. I think just going through the process of saying, "Which take do we use? Why is that the take we…” quote by Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/ralph-fiennes-7066_actors_performance-is-made-in-the-editing-room_1847861.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/ralph-fiennes-7066_actors_performance-is-made-in-the-editing-room_1847861.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/ralph-fiennes-7066_actors_performance-is-made-in-the-editing-room_1847861.jpg) > “Performance is made in the editing room, and I've come to see the truth in that - the idea that they say performances are usually made in the editing room because what you film is the raw material. I think just going through the process of saying, "Which take do we use? Why is that the take we want? I want that take can you edit again, I'm not sure that's the one, I think it's this one." And just because you go through that process, I think somehow it's made me sort of more open about the \[actor's\] possibilities.” [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The editing process shapes a performance, revealing possibilities through careful selection of takes. **In simple terms:** Editing refines raw footage into a final performance. Key Takeaway Embrace editing to discover deeper actor potential. Themes acting editing creativity collaboration Mood reflective inquisitive Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - rehearsal - film editing - director‑actor workshops - post‑production review Key Concepts film production performance theory decision making Questions to Reflect On - How does editing influence your creative choices? - What risks are you willing to take in the editing room? A Different Perspective Editing can limit spontaneity if over‑controlled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [The bottom line is that your performance is made in the editing room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-sexton/the-bottom-line-is-that-your-performance-is-made-in-the-editing-room/) [Brent Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-sexton/) > [When you are acting in a film, you have no idea what scene the editor is going to choose. For instance, after you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/when-you-are-acting-in-a-film-you-have-no-idea-what-scene-the-editor/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [When I edit the poems - and I do edit, which some people don't mean when they use the term "stream of consciousness" -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zucker/when-i-edit-the-poems-and-i-do-edit-which-some-people-don-t-mean-when/) [Rachel Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zucker/) > [I'm a fierce editor! I don't edit out things that I began by saying, usually. The editing is on the micro level - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-m-a-fierce-editor-i-don-t-edit-out-things-that-i-began-by-saying/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [Once I'm in the editing room, forget about what I intended to shoot. I take a cold, hard look at what I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/once-i-m-in-the-editing-room-forget-about-what-i-intended-to-shoot-i/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [I go through periods, usually when I'm editing and shooting, of seeing only old films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/i-go-through-periods-usually-when-i-m-editing-and-shooting-of-seeing/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [When you get into the edit you'll understand what making a film is. You'll see all the things you missed and all the possibilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/when-you-get-into-the-edit-you-ll-understand-what-making-a-film-is/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [The actor shouldn't edit themselves or be anxious. And the actors that I admire are always the ones who are inventive and their imaginative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/the-actor-shouldn-t-edit-themselves-or-be-anxious-and-the-actors-that/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [And I watch all the dailies and I grade the jokes or the moments, you know, on a scale from... so I know exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-stoller/and-i-watch-all-the-dailies-and-i-grade-the-jokes-or-the-moments-you/) [Nicholas Stoller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-stoller/) > [I used to get so worried that if a scene didn't go a certain way, then it was horrible. But then I realized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/i-used-to-get-so-worried-that-if-a-scene-didn-t-go-a-certain-way-then/) [Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/) > [How do you deal with giving yourself the options in the editing room for dealing with problems that come up from a shifting tone?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-requa/how-do-you-deal-with-giving-yourself-the-options-in-the-editing-room/) [John Requa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-requa/) > [In the editing room, 20 percent of the time you're using stuff from before the actor knew the camera was rolling or you're taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/in-the-editing-room-20-percent-of-the-time-you-re-using-stuff-from/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [Sometimes you just create a joke out of thin air in the editing room. I'm really glad I've had that experience. It gives me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/sometimes-you-just-create-a-joke-out-of-thin-air-in-the-editing-room/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [I mean, in the editing room, you sit there, and you're so happy about a lot of it. You've got these great actors, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-messina/i-mean-in-the-editing-room-you-sit-there-and-you-re-so-happy-about-a/) [Chris Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-messina/) > [Once you sign on as an actor, you know, you don't go to the editing room, you don't see how they cut, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/once-you-sign-on-as-an-actor-you-know-you-don-t-go-to-the-editing/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) ## More by Ralph Fiennes > [The film depends on the audience's belief in this relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/the-film-depends-on-the-audience-s-belief-in-this-relationship/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [Unicef wants to encourage a sense of stability for a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/unicef-wants-to-encourage-a-sense-of-stability-for-a-child/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [I think I feel more like you're an actor for hire and you take the jobs you want to take, obviously, and some pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/i-think-i-feel-more-like-you-re-an-actor-for-hire-and-you-take-the/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [Having gone through editing process, I can see that in actor's faces there's point where they're not managing their performance and that's, I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/having-gone-through-editing-process-i-can-see-that-in-actor-s-faces/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [I've never felt fallow in the sense that there's been no work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/i-ve-never-felt-fallow-in-the-sense-that-there-s-been-no-work/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [Gardeners are good at nurturing, and they have a great quality of patience, they're tender. They have to be persistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/gardeners-are-good-at-nurturing-and-they-have-a-great-quality-of/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [When she was younger, my mother was quite committed to Roman Catholicism. But she got disillusioned with it and moved closer to something like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/when-she-was-younger-my-mother-was-quite-committed-to-roman/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [The tensions between authority and the people need to be heard, especially when they are suffering and they can't eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/the-tensions-between-authority-and-the-people-need-to-be-heard/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [Going to the movies was a big event in my youth. My father would be the initiator - he'd have me put on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/going-to-the-movies-was-a-big-event-in-my-youth-my-father-would-be/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [There is a tension in relationships between wanting to return to the womb, but also wanting to be free. Because sometimes the woman's attentions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/there-is-a-tension-in-relationships-between-wanting-to-return-to-the/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [I don't feel I'm playing villains all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/i-don-t-feel-i-m-playing-villains-all-the-time/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [I'm interested in the spirits of people. In the theatre, there's the acting part of acting - and I'm not saying that can't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/i-m-interested-in-the-spirits-of-people-in-the-theatre-there-s-the/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [Most films are rooted in a book or a comic strip, but I don't go out there saying I want to do adaptations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/most-films-are-rooted-in-a-book-or-a-comic-strip-but-i-don-t-go-out/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [When you meet women, don't pretend to be anything that you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/when-you-meet-women-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-that-you-re-not/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [I don't plan a career. That doesn't work for me. I just have to go with my gut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/i-don-t-plan-a-career-that-doesn-t-work-for-me-i-just-have-to-go-with/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) [Explore all 95 Ralph Fiennes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) ## 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": "Performance is made in the editing room, and I've come to see the truth in that - the idea that they say performances are usually made in the editing room because what you film is the raw material. I think just going through the process of saying, \"Which take do we use? Why is that the take we want? 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