--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I enjoy directing more when I don't have…" description: "\"I enjoy directing more when I don't have to direct myself. I like when I can just be the director.\" — Salli Richardson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/salli-richardson-42525_cinema_i-enjoy-directing-more-when-i-don-t-have_1382364.jpg" --- # I enjoy directing more when I don't have to direct myself… ![“I enjoy directing more when I don't have to direct myself. I like when I can just be the director.” quote by Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/salli-richardson-42525_cinema_i-enjoy-directing-more-when-i-don-t-have_1382364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/salli-richardson-42525_cinema_i-enjoy-directing-more-when-i-don-t-have_1382364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/salli-richardson-42525_cinema_i-enjoy-directing-more-when-i-don-t-have_1382364.jpg) > “I enjoy directing more when I don't have to direct myself. I like when I can just be the director.” [Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She finds greater satisfaction directing when she can fully embody the role without self‑directing, highlighting the freedom of external focus. **In simple terms:** Directing is easier when not self‑directed. Key Takeaway Embrace collaboration and trust others. Themes creative process leadership self‑awareness Mood inspirational thoughtful Type creative leadership When to use this quote - film sets - creative workshops - leadership training Key Concepts directorial autonomy team dynamics personal growth Questions to Reflect On - When does delegating direction hinder personal expression? - How to balance self‑direction with collaboration? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on external direction may limit personal artistic voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ## Related quotes > [I enjoy directing. I don't know whether it's improving or not, but it's certainly evolving in different directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-enjoy-directing-i-don-t-know-whether-it-s-improving-or-not-but-it-s/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [You have to know everything. You have to know how to light a scene. You have to know all this technical stuff about directing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/you-have-to-know-everything-you-have-to-know-how-to-light-a-scene-you/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [What I enjoy most about directing is the chance of working things out with the writer, plus I need their approval and I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/what-i-enjoy-most-about-directing-is-the-chance-of-working-things-out/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [I enjoy directing, but I really like acting more. The idea of controlling the whole thing is not something that really appeals to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-keach/i-enjoy-directing-but-i-really-like-acting-more-the-idea-of/) [Stacy Keach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-keach/) > [I really enjoy directing television because you get to work in so many different genres and with different people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-goldwyn/i-really-enjoy-directing-television-because-you-get-to-work-in-so/) [Tony Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-goldwyn/) > [I enjoy doing my more intimate and less commercial pictures and also I enjoy directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-enjoy-doing-my-more-intimate-and-less-commercial-pictures-and-also/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [I guess what I enjoy most is directing, because it incorporates all aspects of filmmaking. Directing is in the same line as acting -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-guess-what-i-enjoy-most-is-directing-because-it-incorporates-all/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [I truly enjoy directing. I enjoy looking at the words on the paper and visualizing how to make them come to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-ribeiro/i-truly-enjoy-directing-i-enjoy-looking-at-the-words-on-the-paper-and/) [Alfonso Ribeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-ribeiro/) > [I want to act and direct like Jodie Foster. I admire her because she went to college and she is still doing the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-lohan/i-want-to-act-and-direct-like-jodie-foster-i-admire-her-because-she/) [Lindsay Lohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-lohan/) > [I think everyone likes direct. They might not like it in a specific moment, but... I'm always gonna push 'em to do more. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-flores/i-think-everyone-likes-direct-they-might-not-like-it-in-a-specific/) [Brian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-flores/) > [I don't think I'd ever want to direct. I don't think I have as much discipline to direct as I would like to have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liana-liberato/i-don-t-think-i-d-ever-want-to-direct-i-don-t-think-i-have-as-much/) [Liana Liberato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liana-liberato/) > [I don't miss directing at all, and I don't miss screenwriting either because somebody's always telling you to do something different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/i-don-t-miss-directing-at-all-and-i-don-t-miss-screenwriting-either/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [I never had any master plan about directing, and I don't really write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-never-had-any-master-plan-about-directing-and-i-don-t-really-write/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [An acting career usually has about a shelf life of ten years before people get sick of seeing you. It's a good thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/an-acting-career-usually-has-about-a-shelf-life-of-ten-years-before/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [I enjoy co-directing or even being there just for support because you get to see your script come to aural life in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/i-enjoy-co-directing-or-even-being-there-just-for-support-because-you/) [Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/) ## More by Salli Richardson > [Indies are always an extra challenge. The time is shorter because you have less money to spend and fewer days to shoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salli-richardson/indies-are-always-an-extra-challenge-the-time-is-shorter-because-you/) [Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) > [When youre in N.Y.C. and they shut down one of the bridges, this is a movie!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salli-richardson/when-youre-in-n-y-c-and-they-shut-down-one-of-the-bridges-this-is-a/) [Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) > [I never thought I wanted to direct. I love the control of it. I love to dream of scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salli-richardson/i-never-thought-i-wanted-to-direct-i-love-the-control-of-it-i-love-to/) [Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) > [I just really want to do good work and work with some great people, people who challenge me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salli-richardson/i-just-really-want-to-do-good-work-and-work-with-some-great-people/) [Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) > [You don't pass up roles that give you the opportunity to stretch and to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salli-richardson/you-don-t-pass-up-roles-that-give-you-the-opportunity-to-stretch-and/) [Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) > [When you're in N.Y.C. and they shut down one of the bridges, this is a movie!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salli-richardson/when-you-re-in-n-y-c-and-they-shut-down-one-of-the-bridges-this-is-a/) [Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) > [When a loved one passes, there are mixed emotions, and a thirst to live one's own life more deeply can certainly be among them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salli-richardson/when-a-loved-one-passes-there-are-mixed-emotions-and-a-thirst-to-live/) [Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) > ['I Will Follow' is a celebration of life. Sometimes when you lose something, you understand its value more than when you had it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salli-richardson/i-will-follow-is-a-celebration-of-life-sometimes-when-you-lose/) [Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) > [There were certain films where I went, 'Oh, my God, I'm doing a movie.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salli-richardson/there-were-certain-films-where-i-went-oh-my-god-i-m-doing-a-movie/) [Salli Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) [Explore all 10 Salli Richardson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salli-richardson/) ## 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 enjoy directing more when I don't have to direct myself. 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