--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Action is drama. If we cannot make the…" description: "\"Action is drama. If we cannot make the audience laugh, smile or cry with us, we are not actors.\" — Sonny Chiba" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/sonny-chiba-102760_action_action-is-drama-if-we-cannot-make-the-au_1827947.jpg" --- # Action is drama. If we cannot make the audience laugh… ![“Action is drama. If we cannot make the audience laugh, smile or cry with us, we are not actors.” quote by Sonny Chiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/sonny-chiba-102760_action_action-is-drama-if-we-cannot-make-the-au_1827947.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/sonny-chiba-102760_action_action-is-drama-if-we-cannot-make-the-au_1827947.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/sonny-chiba-102760_action_action-is-drama-if-we-cannot-make-the-au_1827947.jpg) > “Action is drama. If we cannot make the audience laugh, smile or cry with us, we are not actors.” [Sonny Chiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-chiba/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Performance must evoke genuine emotion; otherwise the actor fails to connect. **In simple terms:** Acting needs emotional impact. Key Takeaway Create authentic emotional moments. Themes performance emotion authenticity audience theatre Mood dramatic inspirational Type performance:0 emotion:0 authenticity:0 audience:0 theatre:0 When to use this quote - stage shows - film - improv - public speaking - teaching Key Concepts dramatic theory psychology of humor Questions to Reflect On - How do you gauge audience response? - What techniques deepen emotional connection? A Different Perspective Audience reaction is unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-drama-848240/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-laugh-314392/) [Cannot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannot/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-make-980232/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [We cannot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/we-cannot/) ## Related quotes > [The drama is make-believe. It does not deal with truth but with effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-drama-is-make-believe-it-does-not-deal-with-truth-but-with-effect/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [In terms of making TV drama, not everything has to make sense. In cinema, you usually strive for reality and a natural environment, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-miike/in-terms-of-making-tv-drama-not-everything-has-to-make-sense-in/) [Takashi Miike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-miike/) > [That's the best advice I can give - when you're trying to write a comedy, first write a drama, and then make it funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-segel/that-s-the-best-advice-i-can-give-when-you-re-trying-to-write-a/) [Jason Segel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-segel/) > [The only way you can write about a happy family in a drama is to make them unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jewell/the-only-way-you-can-write-about-a-happy-family-in-a-drama-is-to-make/) [Lisa Jewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jewell/) > [People tend to create drama and make things far worse than they are in reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/people-tend-to-create-drama-and-make-things-far-worse-than-they-are/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [Whether I'm acting or making it, at the end of the day it's telling the story; action, drama. You want the audience to feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/whether-i-m-acting-or-making-it-at-the-end-of-the-day-it-s-telling/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I love action films. I'd love to do an action drama. I'm always looking to give my character something action-oriented to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-lautner/i-love-action-films-i-d-love-to-do-an-action-drama-i-m-always-looking/) [Taylor Lautner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-lautner/) > [With every film, I try and give the audiences a little more than the previous film in terms of comedy, action, drama and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khan/with-every-film-i-try-and-give-the-audiences-a-little-more-than-the/) [Salman Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khan/) > [I think I would love to do a role where I completely transform myself and look completely different, act completely different, and do some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-samuels/i-think-i-would-love-to-do-a-role-where-i-completely-transform-myself/) [Skyler Samuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-samuels/) > ['Banshee' is the story of a man who gets out of prison, tracks down his long-lost love, and tries to reclaim what was stolen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-starr/banshee-is-the-story-of-a-man-who-gets-out-of-prison-tracks-down-his/) [Antony Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-starr/) > [I have two dream roles: One would be a biopic of someone I admire and respect and the other one would be some sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ealy/i-have-two-dream-roles-one-would-be-a-biopic-of-someone-i-admire-and/) [Michael Ealy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ealy/) > ['Aurangzeb' for me is a right film, as there is action and drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prithviraj-sukumaran/aurangzeb-for-me-is-a-right-film-as-there-is-action-and-drama/) [Prithviraj Sukumaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prithviraj-sukumaran/) > [For the things that I've been involved in, most of it has really been - it's been a mixture of action and then drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/for-the-things-that-i-ve-been-involved-in-most-of-it-has-really-been/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [While we welcome people of all faiths in America we cannot be so naive as to expect all countries to do the same. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-huffington/while-we-welcome-people-of-all-faiths-in-america-we-cannot-be-so/) [Michael Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-huffington/) > [We cannot stop anyone from criticising us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/we-cannot-stop-anyone-from-criticising-us/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) ## More by Sonny Chiba > [An actor's body should be full of emotions, whether it is happiness or sorrow, pain or joy, enraged or elated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-chiba/an-actor-s-body-should-be-full-of-emotions-whether-it-is-happiness-or/) [Sonny Chiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-chiba/) [Explore all 2 Sonny Chiba quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-chiba/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Action is drama. If we cannot make the audience laugh, smile or cry with us, we are not actors.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sonny Chiba" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-chiba/action-is-drama-if-we-cannot-make-the-audience-laugh-smile-or-cry/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-chiba/action-is-drama-if-we-cannot-make-the-audience-laugh-smile-or-cry/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/sonny-chiba-102760_action_action-is-drama-if-we-cannot-make-the-au_1827947.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/sonny-chiba-102760_action_action-is-drama-if-we-cannot-make-the-au_1827947.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/sonny-chiba-102760_action_action-is-drama-if-we-cannot-make-the-au_1827947.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Action is drama. If we cannot make the audience laugh, smile or cry with us, we are not actors.” — Sonny Chiba", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sonny Chiba", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-chiba/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Action is drama. If we cannot...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-chiba/action-is-drama-if-we-cannot-make-the-audience-laugh-smile-or-cry/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-chiba/action-is-drama-if-we-cannot-make-the-audience-laugh-smile-or-cry/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```