--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think one of the major things a…" description: "\"I think one of the major things a director has to do is to know his subject matter, the subject matter of his script, know the truth and the reality of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/robert-wise-37360_cinema_i-think-one-of-the-major-things-a-direct_1086366.jpg" --- # I think one of the major things a director has to do is to… ![“I think one of the major things a director has to do is to know his subject matter, the subject matter of his script, know the truth and the reality of it. That's very important.” quote by Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/robert-wise-37360_cinema_i-think-one-of-the-major-things-a-direct_1086366.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/robert-wise-37360_cinema_i-think-one-of-the-major-things-a-direct_1086366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/robert-wise-37360_cinema_i-think-one-of-the-major-things-a-direct_1086366.jpg) > “I think one of the major things a director has to do is to know his subject matter, the subject matter of his script, know the truth and the reality of it. That's very important.” [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) ## 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 deeply understand the story and its reality to convey truth effectively. **In simple terms:** Know your subject fully. Key Takeaway Study the script’s core truth. Themes authenticity storytelling leadership Mood analytical inspirational Type professional advice When to use this quote - film production - script analysis - team communication Key Concepts cinema narrative theory Questions to Reflect On - What truth does your project need to reveal? - How does deep knowledge influence direction? A Different Perspective Risk of over‑analysis stalling creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [As an actor, most of the time, you only have so much say in how, what and where things go. 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I'll adapt to any director…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/i-ve-never-like-had-a-system-or-a-program-i-always-think-that-i-don-t/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [In the film industry you never really know if all the various ingredients will come together - sometimes they do, and sometimes they don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/in-the-film-industry-you-never-really-know-if-all-the-various/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [The funniest thing is that all the things every director goes through, I thought I could shortcut, but there was no getting around those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-funniest-thing-is-that-all-the-things-every-director-goes-through/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [To me, one of the main things that a director does is create the tone of his movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sarsgaard/to-me-one-of-the-main-things-that-a-director-does-is-create-the-tone/) [Peter Sarsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sarsgaard/) > [As a director, I only know how to do it one way, is to pour my heart and soul into everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nutter/as-a-director-i-only-know-how-to-do-it-one-way-is-to-pour-my-heart/) [David Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nutter/) > [As a director, you have to know what actors are doing. You're the one telling them what to do. The actors' job is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/as-a-director-you-have-to-know-what-actors-are-doing-you-re-the-one/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [Whenever I really want a part, I'm not sure what to do. How do I let the director know how obsessed I am and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/whenever-i-really-want-a-part-i-m-not-sure-what-to-do-how-do-i-let/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [As a director, I know everybody's job, and I know how to do it. I can smell bullshit when someone's telling me it can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-matheson/as-a-director-i-know-everybody-s-job-and-i-know-how-to-do-it-i-can/) [Tim Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-matheson/) > [It's important for me to work with a strong director because I know I can go to some really deep places, I just need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-mendes/it-s-important-for-me-to-work-with-a-strong-director-because-i-know-i/) [Eva Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-mendes/) > [When I gave a direction to an actor in the show, I know their whole journey better than a guest director could know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-shor/when-i-gave-a-direction-to-an-actor-in-the-show-i-know-their-whole/) [Miriam Shor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-shor/) > [I feel like, if I'm being honest with myself, my biggest skill set is as a writer 'cause I can do that quickly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-duplass/i-feel-like-if-i-m-being-honest-with-myself-my-biggest-skill-set-is/) [Mark Duplass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-duplass/) > [I feel fine, I don't care who the director is. All you have to do is know what your doing - all of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-feel-fine-i-don-t-care-who-the-director-is-all-you-have-to-do-is/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) ## More by Robert Wise > [I've always been proud of being a Hoosier. When I talk to people, I tell them that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/i-ve-always-been-proud-of-being-a-hoosier-when-i-talk-to-people-i/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) > [Of all the stars whom I worked with, I think Steve knew better what worked for him on the screen than any other. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/of-all-the-stars-whom-i-worked-with-i-think-steve-knew-better-what/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) > [You know, people always think if you start out as a film editor, you shoot less footage. Actually, just the opposite is true. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/you-know-people-always-think-if-you-start-out-as-a-film-editor-you/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) > [As I've always said, preproduction is so important. When you cast the actors, you've done much of the work. Now, you may need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/as-i-ve-always-said-preproduction-is-so-important-when-you-cast-the/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) > [A reflection of my feelings about the space program is found in a quotation from Charles A. Lindbergh's "Autobiography of Values." It reads, "Whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/a-reflection-of-my-feelings-about-the-space-program-is-found-in-a/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) > [You look back on films sometimes and if they have not been as all-out successful as you anticipated you try to find reasons why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/you-look-back-on-films-sometimes-and-if-they-have-not-been-as-all-out/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) > [A Mac is a closed box, so Apple can make decisions about things that they don't include. That makes, it in some ways, simpler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/a-mac-is-a-closed-box-so-apple-can-make-decisions-about-things-that/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) > [You can't tell any kind of a story without having some kind of a theme, something to say between the lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/you-can-t-tell-any-kind-of-a-story-without-having-some-kind-of-a/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) > [My three Ps: passion, patience, perseverance. You have to do this if you've got to be a filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/my-three-ps-passion-patience-perseverance-you-have-to-do-this-if-you/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) > [The Sand Pebbles has always been one of my favorite films, I suppose because its the most difficult film - from a physical and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/the-sand-pebbles-has-always-been-one-of-my-favorite-films-i-suppose/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) > [You look back on films sometimes and if they have not been as all-out successful as you anticipated you try to find reasons why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wise/you-look-back-on-films-sometimes-and-if-they-have-not-been-as-all-out-2/) [Robert Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) [Explore all 12 Robert Wise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wise/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [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/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [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/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think one of the major things a director has to do is to know his subject matter, the subject matter of his script, know the truth and the reality of it. 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