--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The strange thing about directing, for…" description: "\"The strange thing about directing, for me, was that opportunities arose; I'd had some nice roles as an actor, but it just never happened with any kind ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/sean-mathias-34428_actor_the-strange-thing-about-directing-for-me_2321626.jpg" --- # The strange thing about directing, for me, was that… ![“The strange thing about directing, for me, was that opportunities arose; I'd had some nice roles as an actor, but it just never happened with any kind of ease. So directing seemed like serendipity.” quote by Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/sean-mathias-34428_actor_the-strange-thing-about-directing-for-me_2321626.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/sean-mathias-34428_actor_the-strange-thing-about-directing-for-me_2321626.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/sean-mathias-34428_actor_the-strange-thing-about-directing-for-me_2321626.jpg) > “The strange thing about directing, for me, was that opportunities arose; I'd had some nice roles as an actor, but it just never happened with any kind of ease. So directing seemed like serendipity.” [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He found directing through chance after acting roles failed to bring ease, seeing it as serendipity. **In simple terms:** Directing came by chance after acting didn't work smoothly. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected paths. Themes career serendipity creativity Mood reflective optimistic Type inspirational career When to use this quote - film industry - career transition - creative projects Key Concepts chance opportunity career shift Questions to Reflect On - How can you prepare for unexpected opportunities? - What skills can you develop now? A Different Perspective Success may still require deliberate skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-like-385094/) [Directing Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-opportunities-2182824/) [Ease Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ease-directing-5551720/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Serendipity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serendipity/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thing Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-directing-257316/) ## Related quotes > [My directing opportunities have been awesome, and my acting opportunities, some have been great and some have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milana-vayntrub/my-directing-opportunities-have-been-awesome-and-my-acting/) [Milana Vayntrub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milana-vayntrub/) > [Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. The main thing about directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/anybody-can-direct-a-picture-once-they-know-the-fundamentals/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [I think directing and writing are very different jobs. Obviously, directing is a more social and managerial job. The other thing about directing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-think-directing-and-writing-are-very-different-jobs-obviously/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [The good thing about directing a screenplay that you've written is that you see the film in your head as you're writing it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenplay-that-you-ve-written-is/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I would have to say the most challenging thing about directing is the sheer stamina because... as a director, you're always doing something. Someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-urie/i-would-have-to-say-the-most-challenging-thing-about-directing-is-the/) [Michael Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-urie/) > [The main thing about directing is: photograph the people's eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/the-main-thing-about-directing-is-photograph-the-people-s-eyes/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [I think there's an aspect of my soul, of my personality, that's very suited to directing. I like being in the room with actors;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-think-there-s-an-aspect-of-my-soul-of-my-personality-that-s-very/) [George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/) > [Directing is like putting together a collage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/directing-is-like-putting-together-a-collage/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [Directing is like looking at the stars on a cloudless night. You get away from all light sources, and you look up, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-crowe/directing-is-like-looking-at-the-stars-on-a-cloudless-night-you-get/) [Russell Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-crowe/) > [Directing is like guitar playing. That's a unique mind-set and talent, unto itself. I like the idea of putting everything together to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slash/directing-is-like-guitar-playing-that-s-a-unique-mind-set-and-talent/) [Slash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slash/) > [The producing thing has come quite naturally to me. I feel like for directing, I would like to be more technically-savvy. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/the-producing-thing-has-come-quite-naturally-to-me-i-feel-like-for/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [The great, rewarding thing about directing is that you're overseeing the whole thing. When you're an actor, you're just one department.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/the-great-rewarding-thing-about-directing-is-that-you-re-overseeing/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [It's a very stressful thing, directing a movie. You have the budget, you have the schedule, you are in certain confines, and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/it-s-a-very-stressful-thing-directing-a-movie-you-have-the-budget-you/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [The cool thing about directing is, whatever cool thing works in the scene, it's still making the episode be a great story, and everyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gregg/the-cool-thing-about-directing-is-whatever-cool-thing-works-in-the/) [Clark Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gregg/) > [The good thing about directing yourself is that you get over yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-slattery/the-good-thing-about-directing-yourself-is-that-you-get-over-yourself/) [John Slattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-slattery/) ## More by Sean Mathias > [If I feel I've missed out something, it's properly running a theatre. That would be thrilling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/if-i-feel-i-ve-missed-out-something-it-s-properly-running-a-theatre/) [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) > [Waiting for Godot' is not an easy play to discover. It is a play that makes us face our own fragile existence. And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/waiting-for-godot-is-not-an-easy-play-to-discover-it-is-a-play-that/) [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) > [In your 20s, 30s, early 40s, you work with such a lot of different people, and then suddenly you just can't retain all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/in-your-20s-30s-early-40s-you-work-with-such-a-lot-of-different/) [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) > [I love putting a show together, because it's like the chase - I think my masculine side enjoys it most, the aggression of putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/i-love-putting-a-show-together-because-it-s-like-the-chase-i-think-my/) [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) > [I think it's the duty of the artist to run away from home. 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It's about getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/i-m-fascinated-by-what-lies-beneath-the-surface-if-you-manage-to-put/) [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) > [Directing 'Two Plays in Rep' has brought me the greatest professional satisfaction I have ever known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/directing-two-plays-in-rep-has-brought-me-the-greatest-professional/) [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) > [Working in New York, even when the reception has been less than sunny, has always brought me great fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/working-in-new-york-even-when-the-reception-has-been-less-than-sunny/) [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) > [The first American show I did was on Broadway, which was quite a good start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-broadway-which-was-quite-a-good/) [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) > [I didn't go to university. I don't have an academic background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/i-didn-t-go-to-university-i-don-t-have-an-academic-background/) [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) [Explore all 14 Sean Mathias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. 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Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [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/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. 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