Actor Quote by Todd Phillips
“The worst thing you can do as a comedy director is be on set and think of something ridiculous, or an actor comes up to you with something ridiculous, and you say 'No, no that's too much.' Let's not worry if that's too much, let's shoot it, and then decide if that's too much when we see it.”
About This Quote
Source Film: The Hangover, 2009
A comedy director should embrace absurdity on set rather than censoring it, trusting the final edit to decide its value.
In simple terms: Embrace absurdity, edit later.
Key Takeaway
Let it happen, evaluate later.
Themes
creativity
risk
collaboration
Mood
playful
adventurous
Type
advice
creative
When to use this quote
- film production
- live performance
- script revisions
- improvisational comedy
Key Concepts
improvisation
creative freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you know when absurdity enhances a scene?
- When should you intervene?
A Different Perspective
Too much absurdity can alienate audiences if not balanced.
![“You know, I don't want to be offensive. But 'Infinite Jest' [regarded by many as Wallace's masterpiece] is just awful. It seems ridiculous to have to say it. He can't think, he can't write. There's no discernible talent.” quote by Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/129/harold-bloom-3350_awful_you-know-i-don-t-want-to-be-offensive-bu_754760.jpg)
