--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good director is very well prepared…" description: "\"A good director is very well prepared, and knows exactly how he's going to cut the film, so the shooting is as efficient as possible.\" — William H. Macy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85d/william-h-macy-3931_cinema_a-good-director-is-very-well-prepared-an_1758500.jpg" --- # A good director is very well prepared, and knows exactly… ![“A good director is very well prepared, and knows exactly how he's going to cut the film, so the shooting is as efficient as possible.” quote by William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85d/william-h-macy-3931_cinema_a-good-director-is-very-well-prepared-an_1758500.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85d/william-h-macy-3931_cinema_a-good-director-is-very-well-prepared-an_1758500.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85d/william-h-macy-3931_cinema_a-good-director-is-very-well-prepared-an_1758500.jpg) > “A good director is very well prepared, and knows exactly how he's going to cut the film, so the shooting is as efficient as possible.” [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective directors plan meticulously, knowing precisely how to edit, which makes filming efficient. **In simple terms:** Good directors plan cuts to keep shooting smooth. Key Takeaway Plan edits before shooting. Themes filmmaking planning efficiency editing leadership Mood analytical pragmatic inspirational Type professional instructional When to use this quote - film production - budget management - crew coordination Key Concepts pre‑visualization workflow optimization creative decision‑making Questions to Reflect On - How much flexibility should be left on set? - What are the risks of rigid pre‑planning? A Different Perspective Over‑planning can stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Cut Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cut-film-463570/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Director Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-prepared-1670823/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Efficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficient/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-shooting-703515/) [Good director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-director/) [Good directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-directors/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting/) [Shooting Efficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting-efficient-1670824/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [A good actor's director, first of all, is prepared, so there's not an exorbitant amount of wasted footage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/a-good-actor-s-director-first-of-all-is-prepared-so-there-s-not-an/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [ It was a fabulous experience shooting \[in the Aviator\], working with Leo \[DiCaprio\] and Danny Huston in the scene. It was great. I think… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/it-was-a-fabulous-experience-shooting-in-the-aviator-working-with-leo/) [Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/) > [Matching character and actor is what a good director does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-dumont/matching-character-and-actor-is-what-a-good-director-does/) [Bruno Dumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-dumont/) > [Any good director creates a playground. That's what they do. They hire the right actor, open the door and let them play because stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/any-good-director-creates-a-playground-that-s-what-they-do-they-hire/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [Really good director sometimes will kind of see what the actors are doing and then get in there. Because there's the realization that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-livingston/really-good-director-sometimes-will-kind-of-see-what-the-actors-are/) [Ron Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-livingston/) > [I don't think I'd be a good director because people would ask me, you know, "What is it? What's going on here? Where should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/i-don-t-think-i-d-be-a-good-director-because-people-would-ask-me-you/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [Having a good director is very important. It's crucial. When you do good work with a certain director, you want to work with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/having-a-good-director-is-very-important-it-s-crucial-when-you-do/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [ It's always the script first choosing roles. \[Then\] whoever else is attached. I never like to be the first person attached, because I don't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mintz-plasse/it-s-always-the-script-first-choosing-roles-then-whoever-else-is/) [Christopher Mintz-Plasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mintz-plasse/) > [I depend on good editors and a good director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-varma/i-depend-on-good-editors-and-a-good-director/) [Indira Varma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-varma/) > [There are some directors I should have worked with. I'd like to have worked with Robert Altman - I turned him down a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/there-are-some-directors-i-should-have-worked-with-i-d-like-to-have/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [There are directors that I want to work with and that I admire. You can love a script, but if it doesn't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/there-are-directors-that-i-want-to-work-with-and-that-i-admire-you/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [It's incredibly easy as a director to be egotistical. Of course, it is because you have 200 people on set every day listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mazer/it-s-incredibly-easy-as-a-director-to-be-egotistical-of-course-it-is/) [Dan Mazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mazer/) > [Also a good director and good dialogue. That's very important because you're bringing the words to life. So it's very important for an actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-garner/also-a-good-director-and-good-dialogue-that-s-very-important-because/) [Julia Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-garner/) > [There's a paraphrase about Orson Welles saying: "Great films are made by great directors and the rest are made by everyone else." I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/there-s-a-paraphrase-about-orson-welles-saying-great-films-are-made/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [I think the mark of a good director is that they surround themselves with good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-gadon/i-think-the-mark-of-a-good-director-is-that-they-surround-themselves/) [Sarah Gadon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-gadon/) ## More by William H. Macy > [Here are the good things about independent films: They do the more interesting, chancy scripts. They're run by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/here-are-the-good-things-about-independent-films-they-do-the-more/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [Another mistake a director can make is not to be prepared, so you get there on the day to shoot the scene, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/another-mistake-a-director-can-make-is-not-to-be-prepared-so-you-get/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [I don't know if it's fair to say that it's a bad time for movies. It seems to me that throughout the entire history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-fair-to-say-that-it-s-a-bad-time-for-movies-it/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [I do want to do TV, but I'm looking to be a creator, writer, and producer, and perhaps I could be a recurring character.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/i-do-want-to-do-tv-but-i-m-looking-to-be-a-creator-writer-and/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [We all want to be 20 again and have that first sense of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/we-all-want-to-be-20-again-and-have-that-first-sense-of-love/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [It’s a shame...you just don’t see young people doing anything outside these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/it-s-a-shame-you-just-don-t-see-young-people-doing-anything-outside/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [Talk about putting your money where your mouth is. It's not right. Someone's gotta say it. They said it. I applaud them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/talk-about-putting-your-money-where-your-mouth-is-it-s-not-right/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [I think what all actors share is that, somewhere down in your solar plexus, there's this fear that you're not going to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/i-think-what-all-actors-share-is-that-somewhere-down-in-your-solar/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [I don't watch rushes. My whole thing is to try to stay in the moment with the other actor, and to let it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/i-don-t-watch-rushes-my-whole-thing-is-to-try-to-stay-in-the-moment/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [One of the things I did early on in film was over-enunciate and talk too loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/one-of-the-things-i-did-early-on-in-film-was-over-enunciate-and-talk/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [If I like the story and it's well written, and it's a character I want to play and they'll pay me, then I decide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/if-i-like-the-story-and-it-s-well-written-and-it-s-a-character-i-want/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [The emotions will take care of themselves. You don't have to prod them along. As a matter of fact, you get in trouble when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/the-emotions-will-take-care-of-themselves-you-don-t-have-to-prod-them/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [Ninety percent of the preparation we do as actors is just jive. It doesn't do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/ninety-percent-of-the-preparation-we-do-as-actors-is-just-jive-it/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [When Fargo came out, I hired a publicist for the first time in my life. I thought, if ever I was going to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/when-fargo-came-out-i-hired-a-publicist-for-the-first-time-in-my-life/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [That's pretty much what every scene is about, getting people to see your point of view. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/that-s-pretty-much-what-every-scene-is-about-getting-people-to-see/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) [Explore all 119 William H. Macy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A good director is very well prepared, and knows exactly how he's going to cut the film, so the shooting is as efficient as possible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William H. 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