--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a character and relationship guy, and…" description: "\"I'm a character and relationship guy, and even with the 'Saw' films, it's special-effects people's jobs to create these scary things. It's not my job. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/tobin-bell-17755_bring_i-m-a-character-and-relationship-guy-and_2082427.jpg" --- # I'm a character and relationship guy, and even with the… ![“I'm a character and relationship guy, and even with the 'Saw' films, it's special-effects people's jobs to create these scary things. It's not my job. My job is to bring some sense of humanity to the character, no matter how evil he may be. The script is going to take me there.” quote by Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/tobin-bell-17755_bring_i-m-a-character-and-relationship-guy-and_2082427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/tobin-bell-17755_bring_i-m-a-character-and-relationship-guy-and_2082427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/tobin-bell-17755_bring_i-m-a-character-and-relationship-guy-and_2082427.jpg) > “I'm a character and relationship guy, and even with the 'Saw' films, it's special-effects people's jobs to create these scary things. It's not my job. My job is to bring some sense of humanity to the character, no matter how evil he may be. The script is going to take me there.” [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) ## 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’s role is to humanize even the most evil characters, focusing on their humanity rather than special effects. **In simple terms:** Actors bring humanity to villains. Key Takeaway Prioritize character depth over spectacle. Themes acting humanity character development Mood reflective analytical Type artistic dramatic When to use this quote - theatre - film production - character workshops - script analysis Key Concepts empathy narrative focus Questions to Reflect On - How do you find empathy for a villain? - What limits does genre impose on character nuance? A Different Perspective Balancing humanity with audience expectations of horror can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Scary things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary-things/) [Special effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-effects/) ## Related quotes > [I'm very happy to be a part of a very successful piece of art, as the 'Saw' films have been. One gets into this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/i-m-very-happy-to-be-a-part-of-a-very-successful-piece-of-art-as-the/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [I like shows that are ensemble-based, that explore the humanity of every character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracie-thoms/i-like-shows-that-are-ensemble-based-that-explore-the-humanity-of/) [Tracie Thoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracie-thoms/) > [My approach is always the same. I try to be as honest as possible. Find the real honesty and humanity in the character because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldis-hodge/my-approach-is-always-the-same-i-try-to-be-as-honest-as-possible-find/) [Aldis Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldis-hodge/) > [I love all the Hollywood women. I saw all the films when I was a teenager. Jack Smith's "Flaming Creatures".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-love-all-the-hollywood-women-i-saw-all-the-films-when-i-was-a/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [I think I've had a lot of experience with watching other people shepherd my ideas with the 'Saw' films. They made four 'Saw' movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-think-i-ve-had-a-lot-of-experience-with-watching-other-people/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [During the war, I saw many films that made me fall in love with the cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-truffaut/during-the-war-i-saw-many-films-that-made-me-fall-in-love-with-the/) [Francois Truffaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-truffaut/) > [I think you have to find the humanity in the character and then the deterioration is a part of the process - the journey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-think-you-have-to-find-the-humanity-in-the-character-and-then-the/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [I wasn't a fan of horror movies before 'Saw,' but through these films, I have definitely become a big fan and really come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawnee-smith/i-wasn-t-a-fan-of-horror-movies-before-saw-but-through-these-films-i/) [Shawnee Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawnee-smith/) > [At the end of the day, you have to find the humanity in you in each character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-hornsby/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-have-to-find-the-humanity-in-you-in-each/) [Russell Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-hornsby/) > [It's always an interesting experience with the 'Saw' films, when a sequel comes out that I didn't have anything to do with, creatively, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/it-s-always-an-interesting-experience-with-the-saw-films-when-a/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [“A person needs a basic trust of life and humanity in order to allow all this to happen, to believe more in human goodness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-ten-rose/a-person-needs-a-basic-trust-of-life-and-humanity-in-order-to-allow/) [Doug "Ten" Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-ten-rose/) > [I don't think I've ever seen him in a movie theater! I've only seen him on TV. Wow, that's so silly of me! We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-seen-him-in-a-movie-theater-i-ve-only-seen/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [The bottom line always remains the same: What is the basic humanity of the character? How do I make them resonate with the reader?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-wein/the-bottom-line-always-remains-the-same-what-is-the-basic-humanity-of/) [Len Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-wein/) > [They said that Seven was a former Borg who had been human and had been assimilated. She was regaining her humanity. I had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-ryan/they-said-that-seven-was-a-former-borg-who-had-been-human-and-had/) [Jeri Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-ryan/) > [That's what I love doing - understanding another person's perspective that's really different from mine. To me, it's like an emotional puzzle, trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-shor/that-s-what-i-love-doing-understanding-another-person-s-perspective/) [Miriam Shor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-shor/) ## More by Tobin Bell > [The only thing worse than working acting in an airplane is working in a prison - they're cold, and the clanging and the noise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/the-only-thing-worse-than-working-acting-in-an-airplane-is-working-in/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [Halloween is fun, but it wasn't always my favorite holiday. I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/halloween-is-fun-but-it-wasn-t-always-my-favorite-holiday-i-think/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [One never wants to do anything that's going to break that 'sculpture of the character' that's been done so far, or make anything that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/one-never-wants-to-do-anything-that-s-going-to-break-that-sculpture/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [All I can do is do my best work, try to create the best kind of moment to moment reality that I can do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/all-i-can-do-is-do-my-best-work-try-to-create-the-best-kind-of-moment/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [Actors have seven tracks going in their minds: They've got all the research they've done for the part, then they have whatever the director…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/actors-have-seven-tracks-going-in-their-minds-they-ve-got-all-the/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [An actor puts himself in the hands of a director. And the director's first responsibility, obviously, is to tell the story, but the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/an-actor-puts-himself-in-the-hands-of-a-director-and-the-director-s/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [I've worked with multiple directors throughout the 'Saw' series with a lot of conversations as they bring their particular installment to the screen. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/i-ve-worked-with-multiple-directors-throughout-the-saw-series-with-a/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [One of the interesting things about 'Saw' is that you don't find out about things in sequential or linear order. One of the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/one-of-the-interesting-things-about-saw-is-that-you-don-t-find-out/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [What's interesting is that you can have a set that's very calm, very smooth, very cooperative... and end up with a terrible movie. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/what-s-interesting-is-that-you-can-have-a-set-that-s-very-calm-very/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > ['Saw VI' has a really interesting theme about the ripple effect. Everything you do affects the guy next to you, which affects the guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/saw-vi-has-a-really-interesting-theme-about-the-ripple-effect/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [Im an actor. The fact that Im involved in Jigsaw, I dont approach Jigsaw any differently than I approached The Nordic in The Firm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/im-an-actor-the-fact-that-im-involved-in-jigsaw-i-dont-approach/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [No matter what kind of significance leads you do, you learn a lot from doing schlock. The setup's the same, only you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/no-matter-what-kind-of-significance-leads-you-do-you-learn-a-lot-from/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > ['Saw' is a particularly popular film with 14-30 year olds, so I'll be at a playground and meet six or 10 skateboarders who just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/saw-is-a-particularly-popular-film-with-14-30-year-olds-so-i-ll-be-at/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [There's the moment in 'Saw' where I get up off of the floor at the end. That was shocking, because no one expects it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/there-s-the-moment-in-saw-where-i-get-up-off-of-the-floor-at-the-end/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [Halloween is fun, but it wasnt always my favorite holiday. I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/halloween-is-fun-but-it-wasnt-always-my-favorite-holiday-i-think/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) [Explore all 36 Tobin Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) ## More Bring quotes > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I bring a lot of myself to my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-yorke/i-bring-a-lot-of-myself-to-my-work/) [Helene Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-yorke/) > [You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-would-not-exist-if-you-did-not-have-something-to-bring-to-the/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Because when I arrive I, I'll bring the fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudolf/because-when-i-arrive-i-i-ll-bring-the-fire/) [Kevin Rudolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudolf/) > [The only person that can bring you happiness is you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-that-can-bring-you-happiness-is-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've been working with a holistic specialist, trying to bring my body into balance, and part of making that happen is putting my mom's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/i-ve-been-working-with-a-holistic-specialist-trying-to-bring-my-body/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [“Be Kind - If not, Bring No Harm”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-r-west/be-kind-if-not-bring-no-harm/) Bianca R. West > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [People know that the Samajwadi Party will bring back Goonda Raj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayawati/people-know-that-the-samajwadi-party-will-bring-back-goonda-raj/) [Mayawati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayawati/) > [I teach my children that in life, there is no control of what tomorrow is going to bring. There really isn't. But in whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-winans/i-teach-my-children-that-in-life-there-is-no-control-of-what-tomorrow/) [BeBe Winans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-winans/) > ['Forever Evil' is my love letter to DC super villains. It's my chance to take all of the villains I've worked with and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/forever-evil-is-my-love-letter-to-dc-super-villains-it-s-my-chance-to/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [“Don't let someone bring you down they're already lower then you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-someone-bring-you-down-they-re-already-lower-then-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I watched Sean Penn, you know, bring Harvey Milk to life. I was on the set every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-watched-sean-penn-you-know-bring-harvey-milk-to-life-i-was-on-the/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [The reality is that the work I do is not private work. I bring all my secrets, my life, to my work. Anybody who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-garcia/the-reality-is-that-the-work-i-do-is-not-private-work-i-bring-all-my/) [Andy Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-garcia/) Browse all 1,874 Bring quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a character and relationship guy, and even with the 'Saw' films, it's special-effects people's jobs to create these scary things. It's not my job. My job is to bring some sense of humanity to the character, no matter how evil he may be. 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