--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Directors sometimes have good ideas that…" description: "\"Directors sometimes have good ideas that I wished I'd had, not on rewriting but simply on staging.\" — Tom Stoppard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/tom-stoppard-437_directors_directors-sometimes-have-good-ideas-that_3162337.png" --- # Directors sometimes have good ideas that I wished I'd had… ![“Directors sometimes have good ideas that I wished I'd had, not on rewriting but simply on staging.” quote by Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/tom-stoppard-437_directors_directors-sometimes-have-good-ideas-that_3162337.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/tom-stoppard-437_directors_directors-sometimes-have-good-ideas-that_3162337.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/tom-stoppard-437_directors_directors-sometimes-have-good-ideas-that_3162337.png) > “Directors sometimes have good ideas that I wished I'd had, not on rewriting but simply on staging.” [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Directors often conceive staging ideas that a playwright wishes they had, showing the collaborative tension between writing and production. **In simple terms:** Directors have staging ideas playwright wish they had. Key Takeaway Embrace collaboration to enhance theatrical vision. Themes theatre collaboration creative process author‑director dynamics Mood thoughtful inspired Type reflective professional When to use this quote - rehearsals - workshop productions - script development - director meetings Key Concepts dramaturgy stagecraft artistic vision Questions to Reflect On - How can playwrights and directors balance vision? - What compromises improve a production? A Different Perspective The comment may undervalue the playwright’s original intent and constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Directors Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-good-411112/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Wished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-wished-5721712/) [Rewriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewriting/) [Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simply/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Wished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wished/) [Wished Rewriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wished-rewriting-5721711/) ## Related quotes > [Rewriting isn't just about dialogue, it's the order of the scenes, how you finish a scene, how you get into a scene. All these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/rewriting-isn-t-just-about-dialogue-it-s-the-order-of-the-scenes-how-2/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Rewriting isn't just about dialogue; it's the order of the scenes, how you finish a scene, how you get into a scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/rewriting-isn-t-just-about-dialogue-it-s-the-order-of-the-scenes-how/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [And I just want to work with good directors and good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/and-i-just-want-to-work-with-good-directors-and-good-people/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [It's hard for new directors to find good tracks because we don't usually get to choose good music by good artists. I honestly think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-gavras/it-s-hard-for-new-directors-to-find-good-tracks-because-we-don-t/) [Romain Gavras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-gavras/) > [When I think back on it, of course I got lucky and got great directors and good breaks but all that was the physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-think-back-on-it-of-course-i-got-lucky-and-got-great-directors/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I write a project, it might be something that I want to do and then when I look at it, I'm actually like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-clarke/when-i-write-a-project-it-might-be-something-that-i-want-to-do-and/) [Noel Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-clarke/) > [On a simple level, you need directors who are good at action and can choreograph an action scene, but you need them to also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-hodges/on-a-simple-level-you-need-directors-who-are-good-at-action-and-can/) [Adrian Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-hodges/) > [Directors have good and bad movies. My father also made some flop movies, and he had bigger hits, too. That should not determine anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-dhawan/directors-have-good-and-bad-movies-my-father-also-made-some-flop/) [Varun Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-dhawan/) > [I just want to work with good directors and good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-just-want-to-work-with-good-directors-and-good-people/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I guarantee you that two directors that are any good can take the same story, change the name of the characters, change the name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/i-guarantee-you-that-two-directors-that-are-any-good-can-take-the/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [Our job as composers becomes easy when directors have a good knowledge of music and know exactly what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-janya/our-job-as-composers-becomes-easy-when-directors-have-a-good/) [Arjun Janya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-janya/) > [I've worked alongside some very good directors and some not so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldie-hawn/i-ve-worked-alongside-some-very-good-directors-and-some-not-so-good/) [Goldie Hawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldie-hawn/) > [I do not come from the industry. But I have realized that it's very important to work with senior directors and good production houses.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payal-rohatgi/i-do-not-come-from-the-industry-but-i-have-realized-that-it-s-very/) [Payal Rohatgi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/payal-rohatgi/) > [Yes, I will probably concentrate on solo roles, but I would not say no to multi-starrers if they come from good directors and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditya-roy-kapur/yes-i-will-probably-concentrate-on-solo-roles-but-i-would-not-say-no/) [Aditya Roy Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditya-roy-kapur/) > [It is true that I got recognition. But however good the comedies are, nobody will accept a good comedy director as a good director.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyadarshan/it-is-true-that-i-got-recognition-but-however-good-the-comedies-are/) [Priyadarshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyadarshan/) ## More by Tom Stoppard > [If I wanted to change the world, the last thing I would do is write a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-i-wanted-to-change-the-world-the-last-thing-i-would-do-is-write-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [If you want to change something by Tuesday, theater is no good. Journalism is what does that. But, if you want to just alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-want-to-change-something-by-tuesday-theater-is-no-good/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [After all these years, I definitely associate having a pen in my hand with having an ashtray just out of eye line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/after-all-these-years-i-definitely-associate-having-a-pen-in-my-hand/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [The universe is deterministic all right, just like Newton said, I mean it's trying to be, but the only thing going wrong is people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/the-universe-is-deterministic-all-right-just-like-newton-said-i-mean/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For me, human rights simply endorse a view of life and a set of moral values that are perfectly clear to an eight-year-old child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-me-human-rights-simply-endorse-a-view-of-life-and-a-set-of-moral/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“What is an artist? For every thousand people there's nine hundred doing the work, ninety doing well, nine doing good, and one lucky bastard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-is-an-artist-for-every-thousand-people-there-s-nine-hundred/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Dying is not romantic, and death is not a game which will soon be over... Death is not anything... death is not... It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/dying-is-not-romantic-and-death-is-not-a-game-which-will-soon-be-over/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I'm not interested in clothes; I just like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-not-interested-in-clothes-i-just-like-them/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For 10 years of my life, 3 times a day, I thanked the Lord for what I was about to receive and thanked him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-10-years-of-my-life-3-times-a-day-i-thanked-the-lord-for-what-i/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [You should not translate for more than two hours at a time. After that, you lose your edge, the language becomes clumsy, rigid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/you-should-not-translate-for-more-than-two-hours-at-a-time-after-that/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [No matter how imperfect things are, if you've got a free press everything is correctable, and without it everything is concealable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/no-matter-how-imperfect-things-are-if-you-ve-got-a-free-press/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the word for it. Before we know that there are words. Out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-must-be-born-with-an-intuition-of-mortality-before-we-know-the/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Eternity's a terrible thought. I mean, where's it all going to end?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/eternity-s-a-terrible-thought-i-mean-where-s-it-all-going-to-end/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [There is truth and falsehood in a comma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/there-is-truth-and-falsehood-in-a-comma/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) [Explore all 559 Tom Stoppard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## More Directors quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [A successful director is someone who has the combination of skills that you can learn, but there's also an intuitive sensibility that they bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-heinrichs/a-successful-director-is-someone-who-has-the-combination-of-skills/) [Rick Heinrichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-heinrichs/) > [When you're the director and the writer, you never have to remember your lines, and there's no one to call you on it. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/when-you-re-the-director-and-the-writer-you-never-have-to-remember/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [David Cronenberg is the most provocative, original, and consistently excellent North American director of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hoberman/david-cronenberg-is-the-most-provocative-original-and-consistently/) [J. Hoberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-hoberman/) > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) > [I was in good shape from Divergent. Damien Chazelle, the director of Whiplash told me, ‘Stop Working Out! Don’t go outside!’ He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-was-in-good-shape-from-divergent-damien-chazelle-the-director-of/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [I'm seen as a little risky to the industry, I think. All my favorite directors are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-m-seen-as-a-little-risky-to-the-industry-i-think-all-my-favorite/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [Music and language are a vital element. We, as actors and directors, offer it to people who want to experience it. Sometimes the actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/music-and-language-are-a-vital-element-we-as-actors-and-directors/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) > [There was always a part of me that wanted to be an old-time director. But I couldn't do that. I'm not a pro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/there-was-always-a-part-of-me-that-wanted-to-be-an-old-time-director/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [I was focused on The Hunger Games movie with my director, with the studio, and with the cast and crew. We all just focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-was-focused-on-the-hunger-games-movie-with-my-director-with-the/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [If the director's a communist, whatever, he's a communist. All I care is that he directs. For the actor, the same thing. All you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/if-the-director-s-a-communist-whatever-he-s-a-communist-all-i-care-is/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) [Browse all 4,068 Directors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Directors sometimes have good ideas that I wished I'd had, not on rewriting but simply on staging.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Stoppard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/directors-sometimes-have-good-ideas-that-i-wished-i-d-had-not-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Directors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/directors-sometimes-have-good-ideas-that-i-wished-i-d-had-not-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/tom-stoppard-437_directors_directors-sometimes-have-good-ideas-that_3162337.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/tom-stoppard-437_directors_directors-sometimes-have-good-ideas-that_3162337.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/tom-stoppard-437_directors_directors-sometimes-have-good-ideas-that_3162337.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Directors sometimes have good ideas that I wished I'd had, not on rewriting but simply on staging.” — Tom Stoppard", "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": "Tom Stoppard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Directors sometimes have good ideas that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/directors-sometimes-have-good-ideas-that-i-wished-i-d-had-not-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/directors-sometimes-have-good-ideas-that-i-wished-i-d-had-not-on/#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 } } ] } ```