--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best directing style is the one that…" description: "\"The best directing style is the one that lets me do whatever I want. Seriously though, I like to be challenged and I like to collaborate. I love findin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/zach-gilford-32612_fine-line_the-best-directing-style-is-the-one-that_558021.jpg" --- # The best directing style is the one that lets me do… ![“The best directing style is the one that lets me do whatever I want. Seriously though, I like to be challenged and I like to collaborate. I love finding the medium between what I think and what a director does. I hate when a director uses the "my way or the highway" approach. But it also sucks…” quote by Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/zach-gilford-32612_fine-line_the-best-directing-style-is-the-one-that_558021.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/zach-gilford-32612_fine-line_the-best-directing-style-is-the-one-that_558021.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/zach-gilford-32612_fine-line_the-best-directing-style-is-the-one-that_558021.jpg) > “The best directing style is the one that lets me do whatever I want. Seriously though, I like to be challenged and I like to collaborate. I love finding the medium between what I think and what a director does. I hate when a director uses the "my way or the highway" approach. But it also sucks when they tell you everything you do is great and offer no input. It's a fine line a director has to walk. It is a hard job.” [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective directing balances artistic freedom with constructive guidance, avoiding authoritarian or overly permissive extremes. **In simple terms:** Good directors give freedom but also useful feedback. Key Takeaway Seek collaboration, not control. Themes collaboration leadership creativity communication Mood reflective professional balanced Type advice insightful practical When to use this quote - film sets - theatre productions - advertising shoots - music video projects Key Concepts artistic autonomy feedback loops creative tension Questions to Reflect On - How can a director give feedback without dominating? - What practices foster mutual respect on set? A Different Perspective Too much control stifles creativity; too little leaves direction vague. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Fine line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-line/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [What I think happens, and that you have to acknowledge though, is that a director uses a book as a launching pad for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunn/what-i-think-happens-and-that-you-have-to-acknowledge-though-is-that/) [Katherine Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunn/) > [My directing style is long takes. The longer take I can do, the more I can think of not doing it in cuts, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/my-directing-style-is-long-takes-the-longer-take-i-can-do-the-more-i/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [Somebody who doesn't understand my directing style could be pretty taken aback by it if I start going off the schedule and focusing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/somebody-who-doesn-t-understand-my-directing-style-could-be-pretty/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [If I see that everything the director does is motivated by trying to achieve the best, I can accept anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sarbh/if-i-see-that-everything-the-director-does-is-motivated-by-trying-to/) [Jim Sarbh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sarbh/) > [To me, one of the main things that a director does is create the tone of his movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sarsgaard/to-me-one-of-the-main-things-that-a-director-does-is-create-the-tone/) [Peter Sarsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sarsgaard/) > [The director does not have anyone to blame but himself. He or she cannot hide behind anybody. If a film is a hit, everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-bhatt/the-director-does-not-have-anyone-to-blame-but-himself-he-or-she/) [Pooja Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-bhatt/) > [I surrender to my directors. I do that because I respect them immensely. In fact, a director's talent scares me. I admit that they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/i-surrender-to-my-directors-i-do-that-because-i-respect-them/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [When I went to Jamia, I thought I wanted to be a cinematographer or photographer because I liked telling stories in pictures, but my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-rao/when-i-went-to-jamia-i-thought-i-wanted-to-be-a-cinematographer-or/) [Kiran Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-rao/) > [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/) > [To be a great director, what does it mean exactly? It's not only about a great director, but also about being able to rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-huppert/to-be-a-great-director-what-does-it-mean-exactly-it-s-not-only-about/) [Isabelle Huppert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-huppert/) > [Everything a director does must help the story and the performances. Otherwise, it is useless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wyler/everything-a-director-does-must-help-the-story-and-the-performances/) [William Wyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wyler/) > [Listen, there are some movies that are set in stone and the writer or the director does not want to change, but I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/listen-there-are-some-movies-that-are-set-in-stone-and-the-writer-or/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [Film is mostly a visual medium, and so the director has much more control in terms of painting pictures and painting a performance. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay-abaire/film-is-mostly-a-visual-medium-and-so-the-director-has-much-more/) [David Lindsay-Abaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay-abaire/) > [As a director who does not like to write, I am always looking for scripts that I can contribute to through directing. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-mcgowan/as-a-director-who-does-not-like-to-write-i-am-always-looking-for/) Jen McGowan > [After all these years, I'm starting to learn what a good director does, and I know what a good one does with actors: help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-geraghty/after-all-these-years-i-m-starting-to-learn-what-a-good-director-does/) Brian Geraghty ## More by Zach Gilford > [I really have no preference between TV and film. I think that each individual project is its own thing and has a very different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/i-really-have-no-preference-between-tv-and-film-i-think-that-each/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [James DeMonaco is one of my favorite directors I’ve ever worked with. I think he shoots really well and all that, but the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/james-demonaco-is-one-of-my-favorite-directors-i-ve-ever-worked-with/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [I never had any film training. I went to Northwestern. I studied education and theater. So it was all theater training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/i-never-had-any-film-training-i-went-to-northwestern-i-studied/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [I hate when a movie just sort of ends and is so open-ended you feel like it wasn't finished. I appreciate leaving things up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/i-hate-when-a-movie-just-sort-of-ends-and-is-so-open-ended-you-feel/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [I think my strength is always been in being very natural. I think Shakespeare and things like that would be more a stretch for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/i-think-my-strength-is-always-been-in-being-very-natural-i-think/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [It is exhausting to be running around pretending to be scared at night - It sounds so wussy actory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/it-is-exhausting-to-be-running-around-pretending-to-be-scared-at/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [I definitely prefer real-life endings. But I do like having an ending. I hate when a movie just sort of ends and is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/i-definitely-prefer-real-life-endings-but-i-do-like-having-an-ending/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [When we have that scene where I shoot that huge machine gun, my first thought was "Why does anybody want this? What is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/when-we-have-that-scene-where-i-shoot-that-huge-machine-gun-my-first/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [I'm compulsively on time. It drives me insane when people are late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/i-m-compulsively-on-time-it-drives-me-insane-when-people-are-late/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [There is a little bit of me in every part I do... I'm not really good enough to completely construct an all-new character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/there-is-a-little-bit-of-me-in-every-part-i-do-i-m-not-really-good/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [I used to like the word of the day and when I read, highlight words that I didn't know and look them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/i-used-to-like-the-word-of-the-day-and-when-i-read-highlight-words/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [There’s definitely times when you’re frustrated for whatever reason, but that happens on fifty million dollar movies when you have a huge trailer, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/there-s-definitely-times-when-you-re-frustrated-for-whatever-reason/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [I really have no preference between TV and film. I think that each individual project is its own thing and has a very different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/i-really-have-no-preference-between-tv-and-film-i-think-that-each-2/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) > [I wanted to be an actor when I saw the movie 'Die Hard.' I saw Bruce Willis shooting guns and blowing stuff up, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-gilford/i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-when-i-saw-the-movie-die-hard-i-saw-bruce/) [Zach Gilford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) [Explore all 15 Zach Gilford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-gilford/) ## More Directing quotes > [Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. The main thing about directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/anybody-can-direct-a-picture-once-they-know-the-fundamentals/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I took on the role of CEO, which involves directing the Management Team and overall day-to-day operations of 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/i-took-on-the-role-of-ceo-which-involves-directing-the-management/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [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/) > [When I see my movies on the editing table, I do think I could have done them a certain way. The satisfaction is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/when-i-see-my-movies-on-the-editing-table-i-do-think-i-could-have/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [For me the dream is the freedom to make all the crazy ideas I have in my head into movies. I truly love directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-ozeki/for-me-the-dream-is-the-freedom-to-make-all-the-crazy-ideas-i-have-in/) [Nicholas Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-ozeki/) > [The producing thing has come quite naturally to me. I feel like for directing, I would like to be more technically-savvy. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/the-producing-thing-has-come-quite-naturally-to-me-i-feel-like-for/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I'm addicted to directing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-m-addicted-to-directing/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [Making a movie and not directing the little moments is like drinking a soda and leaving the little slurp puddle for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/making-a-movie-and-not-directing-the-little-moments-is-like-drinking/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Directing films is easier said than done. The job needs a lot of sensibility to put many things in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/directing-films-is-easier-said-than-done-the-job-needs-a-lot-of/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-starred-in-a-broadway-play-that-was-sidney-poitier-s-first/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. It's not like acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-don-t-get-nervous-when-i-m-directing-a-play-it-s-not-like-acting/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [My dad's a prominent theatre director in Toronto, so I grew up in that world, directing and producing theater since I was a teenager.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gass-donnelly/my-dad-s-a-prominent-theatre-director-in-toronto-so-i-grew-up-in-that/) [Ed Gass-Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gass-donnelly/) > [The hardest part about directing is getting everyone on the same page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/the-hardest-part-about-directing-is-getting-everyone-on-the-same-page/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) Browse all 1,163 Directing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best directing style is the one that lets me do whatever I want. 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