--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You never know what you do that could be…" description: "\"You never know what you do that could be totally out of left field, which actually might work and give something fresh to the whole scene, to the chara..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/robert-de-niro-3745_character_you-never-know-what-you-do-that-could-be_2296492.jpg" --- # You never know what you do that could be totally out of… ![“You never know what you do that could be totally out of left field, which actually might work and give something fresh to the whole scene, to the character, whatever. If you have that with a director who then knows how to shape it, either in the direction, in the moment, or in the editing, then…” quote by Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/robert-de-niro-3745_character_you-never-know-what-you-do-that-could-be_2296492.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/robert-de-niro-3745_character_you-never-know-what-you-do-that-could-be_2296492.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/robert-de-niro-3745_character_you-never-know-what-you-do-that-could-be_2296492.jpg) > “You never know what you do that could be totally out of left field, which actually might work and give something fresh to the whole scene, to the character, whatever. If you have that with a director who then knows how to shape it, either in the direction, in the moment, or in the editing, then that's good.” [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative ideas that seem unrelated can become valuable when guided by a skilled director, shaping them during production or editing. **In simple terms:** Unusual ideas can succeed with good direction. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected concepts and collaborate with strong leaders. Themes creativity collaboration filmmaking Mood excited optimistic Type insightful practical When to use this quote - screenwriting - directing - post‑production - brainstorming Key Concepts innovation direction editing Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify which wild ideas are worth pursuing? - What role does editing play in refining unconventional concepts? A Different Perspective If the director lacks vision, the idea may remain incoherent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) ## Related quotes > [“The editing of a good piece of writing is like the editing of one's life: never quite complete; rendering all, ultimately, unfinished works when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kc-woodworth/the-editing-of-a-good-piece-of-writing-is-like-the-editing-of-one-s/) KC Woodworth > [I loved working with Stephen Frears. He's a really fantastic director. He knows what he wants and how to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/i-loved-working-with-stephen-frears-he-s-a-really-fantastic-director/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) > [I used to sit on the editing table to see where I may have gone wrong because after editing, only the good parts go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/i-used-to-sit-on-the-editing-table-to-see-where-i-may-have-gone-wrong/) [Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/) > [The best songwriting comes from being as creative as you can and editing it down to the good bits, essentially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kapranos/the-best-songwriting-comes-from-being-as-creative-as-you-can-and/) [Alex Kapranos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kapranos/) > [I'm all for art-house foreign directors - I think they make terrific films - and I'm also for the bigger budget movies. It just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-goth/i-m-all-for-art-house-foreign-directors-i-think-they-make-terrific/) [Mia Goth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-goth/) > [I think that's what makes David Ayer really interesting. He likes to make a tough-y movie, but actually he's a character director. He's fascinated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-enos/i-think-that-s-what-makes-david-ayer-really-interesting-he-likes-to/) [Mireille Enos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireille-enos/) > [When you can find a strong character and a director that does want to protect the integrity of all characters, female and male, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/when-you-can-find-a-strong-character-and-a-director-that-does-want-to/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [Each director is different. Clint Eastwood and Chris Nolan are completely different, and I need to adjust to the story and character and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-watanabe/each-director-is-different-clint-eastwood-and-chris-nolan-are/) [Ken Watanabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-watanabe/) > [I'm looking for challenges, and as always, what matters is the script, the character and the director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahar-rahim/i-m-looking-for-challenges-and-as-always-what-matters-is-the-script/) [Tahar Rahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahar-rahim/) > [Actors always direct themselves. A good actor shows up onset ready, especially in television, and you've done your homework and you know your character.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-emmerich/actors-always-direct-themselves-a-good-actor-shows-up-onset-ready/) [Noah Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-emmerich/) > [I don't care if you hate me or if you like me, as long as somebody gives me a character that is really a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/i-don-t-care-if-you-hate-me-or-if-you-like-me-as-long-as-somebody/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [What gets yme excited about a project and character is the director, the script, who's involved in the movie, and the character. Those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/what-gets-yme-excited-about-a-project-and-character-is-the-director/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [When I was a kid, I'd create my own movies at home. I'd record myself doing a scene, then stop the camera, change my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meagan-tandy/when-i-was-a-kid-i-d-create-my-own-movies-at-home-i-d-record-myself/) [Meagan Tandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meagan-tandy/) > [I love scoring. Putting music to picture is a rewarding challenge and one that relies on interpretation of emotion - as in, what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-phair/i-love-scoring-putting-music-to-picture-is-a-rewarding-challenge-and/) [Liz Phair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-phair/) > [Even one word, or certainly one sentence, should be able to describe the basic characteristic that the scene has, or the character has, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/even-one-word-or-certainly-one-sentence-should-be-able-to-describe/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) ## More by Robert De Niro > [In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/in-the-casino-the-cardinal-rule-is-to-keep-them-playing-and-to-keep/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I guess the only thing to do now is meet his parents. I'm sure they're decent people. I mean they gotta be if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-guess-the-only-thing-to-do-now-is-meet-his-parents-i-m-sure-they-re/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I like to visit L.A., but I wouldn't want to live there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-like-to-visit-l-a-but-i-wouldn-t-want-to-live-there/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [You don't need words to express feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/you-don-t-need-words-to-express-feelings/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [You don't just play a part. You've got to earn the right to play it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/you-don-t-just-play-a-part-you-ve-got-to-earn-the-right-to-play-it/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I've been in so many movies that I automatically know what's happening on the set. Things that I don't even remember consciously I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-ve-been-in-so-many-movies-that-i-automatically-know-what-s/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [There is a certain combination of anarchy and discipline in the way I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/there-is-a-certain-combination-of-anarchy-and-discipline-in-the-way-i/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [The hardest thing about being famous is that ... in a conversation everybody's agreeing with what you're saying. ... You need people who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/the-hardest-thing-about-being-famous-is-that-in-a-conversation/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I mean, the actors that I admired were Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, an actress named Barbara Harris. And Greta Garbo. They were great actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-mean-the-actors-that-i-admired-were-marlon-brando-montgomery-clift/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [It's important not to indicate. People don't try to show their feelings, they try to hide them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/it-s-important-not-to-indicate-people-don-t-try-to-show-their/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I hurt someone's feelings once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-hurt-someone-s-feelings-once/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [As I get older, I think that things have been pre-determined for me, whether I liked it or wanted it, wished for it, whatever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/as-i-get-older-i-think-that-things-have-been-pre-determined-for-me/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [New York is more exciting, I guess, than even Paris or London. New York's the center of something; I don't know what, really -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/new-york-is-more-exciting-i-guess-than-even-paris-or-london-new-york/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I'm not a big football person at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-m-not-a-big-football-person-at-all/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I will not hesitate. Not for a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-will-not-hesitate-not-for-a-second/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) [Explore all 123 Robert De Niro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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