--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good actor always sets you straight. If…" description: "\"A good actor always sets you straight. If you've written a false moment and thought it was probably pretty great, the actor's gonna show you when he ge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/sam-shepard-2232_actor_a-good-actor-always-sets-you-straight-if_709830.jpg" --- # A good actor always sets you straight. If you've written a… ![“A good actor always sets you straight. If you've written a false moment and thought it was probably pretty great, the actor's gonna show you when he gets to that moment. They're the great test of the validity of the material.” quote by Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/sam-shepard-2232_actor_a-good-actor-always-sets-you-straight-if_709830.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/sam-shepard-2232_actor_a-good-actor-always-sets-you-straight-if_709830.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/sam-shepard-2232_actor_a-good-actor-always-sets-you-straight-if_709830.jpg) > “A good actor always sets you straight. If you've written a false moment and thought it was probably pretty great, the actor's gonna show you when he gets to that moment. They're the great test of the validity of the material.” [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor can reveal flaws in a script by delivering a scene honestly, exposing any pretensions or falsehoods. **In simple terms:** Actors expose script weaknesses. Key Takeaway Trust actors to test your material. Themes authenticity craft truth testing Mood critical reflective Type analytical insightful When to use this quote - playwriting - film production - rehearsals - script revisions Key Concepts dramatic integrity performance honesty script evaluation Questions to Reflect On - How does an actor’s honesty affect your writing? - What scenes benefit most from this test? A Different Perspective Actors may lack the insight to improve material, leading to misinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Gonna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-gonna-5601631/) [Actor Sets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-sets-5601632/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-actor/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-actor/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Test](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Validity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/validity/) ## Related quotes > [Ever since I was maybe nine or 10 years old, I'd say, 'I'm gonna be an actor, and I'm gonna go to Julliard, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/ever-since-i-was-maybe-nine-or-10-years-old-i-d-say-i-m-gonna-be-an/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [As an actor on sets, I've always clocked how hard the crew works, how much longer their days are, how much lesser their glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-westfeldt/as-an-actor-on-sets-i-ve-always-clocked-how-hard-the-crew-works-how/) [Jennifer Westfeldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-westfeldt/) > [To be a good actor, you have to be very smart. 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I like the physical endeavors that go with the farm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/farm-country-you-know-hay-horses-cattle-it-s-the-ideal-situation-for/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [I think comedy's harder to pull off on the screen than on the stage, anyway. 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