--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I will not ever say that it's good to…" description: "\"I will not ever say that it's good to start with too little preparation, because that's patently not true. But I don't rehearse the way a lot of direct..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/sydney-pollack-2385_good_i-will-not-ever-say-that-it-s-good-to-st_1350595.jpg" --- # I will not ever say that it's good to start with too… ![“I will not ever say that it's good to start with too little preparation, because that's patently not true. But I don't rehearse the way a lot of directors do, to stage a scene in terms of manners and attitudes and lock them in.” quote by Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/sydney-pollack-2385_good_i-will-not-ever-say-that-it-s-good-to-st_1350595.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/sydney-pollack-2385_good_i-will-not-ever-say-that-it-s-good-to-st_1350595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/sydney-pollack-2385_good_i-will-not-ever-say-that-it-s-good-to-st_1350595.jpg) > “I will not ever say that it's good to start with too little preparation, because that's patently not true. But I don't rehearse the way a lot of directors do, to stage a scene in terms of manners and attitudes and lock them in.” [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He rejects excessive rehearsal focused on manners, preferring spontaneous, attitude‑driven performances to keep scenes fresh. **In simple terms:** Less rigid rehearsal, more natural performance. Key Takeaway Embrace spontaneity in directing. Themes directing rehearsal performance authenticity Mood thoughtful instructive Type artistic practical When to use this quote - film set - theatre workshop - acting class Key Concepts improvisation actor trust Questions to Reflect On - How much guidance is optimal? - What techniques foster authentic attitudes? A Different Perspective Some actors may need structure to feel safe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Directors Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-stage-4591913/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Little Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-preparation-4591912/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation/) [Rehearse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rehearse/) [Rehearse Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rehearse-way-4459226/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [Rehearse the same way you plan to perform, that way when you perform its just like rehersal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rehearse-the-same-way-you-plan-to-perform-that-way-when-you-perform/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Just as you can’t rehearse your way to success, you can’t design your way there either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/just-as-you-can-t-rehearse-your-way-to-success-you-can-t-design-your/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [When you rehearse a play, you spend four weeks with one goal in mind - to wean the actor away from you. You want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/when-you-rehearse-a-play-you-spend-four-weeks-with-one-goal-in-mind/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I like to rehearse. We did a lot of rehearsals for 'Moneyball,' but it is really individual to the actor. It's not like, 'Here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bennett-miller/i-like-to-rehearse-we-did-a-lot-of-rehearsals-for-moneyball-but-it-is/) [Bennett Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bennett-miller/) > [Participating in Society in not a thing one can do naturally; one has to rehearse for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/participating-in-society-in-not-a-thing-one-can-do-naturally-one-has/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [When I rehearse, it ends up doing more harm than good. I think I work a little bit better when it's right off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-tahan/when-i-rehearse-it-ends-up-doing-more-harm-than-good-i-think-i-work-a/) [Charlie Tahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-tahan/) > [I don't really rehearse, because I don't really step into action until I'm forced to. The only way I prepare is just by memorizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-zimmer/i-don-t-really-rehearse-because-i-don-t-really-step-into-action-until/) [Constance Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-zimmer/) > [You have to learn how to dress yourself and how to walk into a room and talk to people. Once you're in rehearsal, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/you-have-to-learn-how-to-dress-yourself-and-how-to-walk-into-a-room/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [I personally don't like to rehearse so much. I really trust my instincts. I like to talk and talk and talk until we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carice-van-houten/i-personally-don-t-like-to-rehearse-so-much-i-really-trust-my/) [Carice van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carice-van-houten/) > [When we get together to rehearse, we could write music together all day long - GOOD music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kiedis/when-we-get-together-to-rehearse-we-could-write-music-together-all/) [Anthony Kiedis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kiedis/) > [Other actors like to rehearse on film-they like 30 or 40 takes. When you get an actor like that, it becomes difficult for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/other-actors-like-to-rehearse-on-film-they-like-30-or-40-takes-when/) [Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/) > [I don't rehearse a lot. I try to keep it organic. Even in movies, the less I rehearse, the better I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/i-don-t-rehearse-a-lot-i-try-to-keep-it-organic-even-in-movies-the/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [That's what it is that you rehearse - the making of music, not the playing of notes as abstractions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-caldwell/that-s-what-it-is-that-you-rehearse-the-making-of-music-not-the/) [Sarah Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-caldwell/) > [You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do. It's simple, fantasize, rehearse, then go out into the world and DO IT!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/you-can-t-build-a-reputation-on-what-you-re-going-to-do-it-s-simple/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [There were days on that show where I had to go in and record a song, then I had to rehearse the dance for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-jenner/there-were-days-on-that-show-where-i-had-to-go-in-and-record-a-song/) [Blake Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-jenner/) ## More by Sydney Pollack > [I didn't grow up thinking of movies as film, or art, but as movies, something to do on a Saturday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-of-movies-as-film-or-art-but-as-movies/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [It's my job to motivate the audience to believe. I have to get them to suspend their judgment in favor of involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/it-s-my-job-to-motivate-the-audience-to-believe-i-have-to-get-them-to/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [The marketing of anything is full of exploitation and lies and hype.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/the-marketing-of-anything-is-full-of-exploitation-and-lies-and-hype/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [Burt Lancaster was largely responsible for me becoming a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/burt-lancaster-was-largely-responsible-for-me-becoming-a-director/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [People sense when you're pretending, when you're worried about your own ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/people-sense-when-you-re-pretending-when-you-re-worried-about-your/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I personally have never made a movie in Hollywood, because I don't want to get up in my own bed and then go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-personally-have-never-made-a-movie-in-hollywood-because-i-don-t/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [Every film I've made has a kind of frustrated love story in the center of it. They were people who saw life from opposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/every-film-i-ve-made-has-a-kind-of-frustrated-love-story-in-the/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [You mustn't regret decisions that you make. Because the decisions are made out of your gut in a way and you have to stick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/you-mustn-t-regret-decisions-that-you-make-because-the-decisions-are/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [When you're shooting a feature that costs $200,000 a day with a crew of 250, you don't want accidents; you want to know exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/when-you-re-shooting-a-feature-that-costs-200-000-a-day-with-a-crew/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [What makes architecture extraordinary is that you're looking at the building, but your peripheral vision is also seeing how it fits within a space.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/what-makes-architecture-extraordinary-is-that-you-re-looking-at-the/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I don't get nervous talking about my films, but if I'm the subject, it's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-don-t-get-nervous-talking-about-my-films-but-if-i-m-the-subject-it/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [You are not an active creator of the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/you-are-not-an-active-creator-of-the-film/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [All films are political, whether they mean to be or not. Star Wars is political. As soon as you have conflict, which is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/all-films-are-political-whether-they-mean-to-be-or-not-star-wars-is/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [There will be people who are sensitive about seeing the American point of view presented as less than sympathetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/there-will-be-people-who-are-sensitive-about-seeing-the-american/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I don't consider myself a teacher of moral and political positions. I don't want to be that. I can't help but have a point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-teacher-of-moral-and-political-positions-i/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) [Explore all 169 Sydney Pollack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) ## More Good quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [Today I didn't even have to even use my A.K ! I got to say it was a good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/today-i-didn-t-even-have-to-even-use-my-a-k-i-got-to-say-it-was-a/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [If you want to edit your photos and make yourself look different, go for it. That is up to you, but in my opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/if-you-want-to-edit-your-photos-and-make-yourself-look-different-go/) [Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/) > [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. He told me I could approach him whenever I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-met-rajini-sir-after-jigarthanda-and-he-said-he-liked-my-film-he/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Eric Clapton's scales - when he comes off a high note and it's time for a refrain or a little bit of a rest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/eric-clapton-s-scales-when-he-comes-off-a-high-note-and-it-s-time-for/) [Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. 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