Quotes by Director | Beyond Motive 36/67

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Quotes by Director

"One movie is only one movie. I want to have a lifetime of making films."

"One movie is only one movie. I want to have a lifetime of making films."

Sam Mendes, British Director

44

"I've met people who will go to a movie that I can't stand and they say that they saw that movie ten times. There's something they like and identified in that movie, and I don't see it."

"I've met people who will go to a movie that I can't stand and they say that they saw that movie ten times. There's something they like and identified in that movie, and I don't see it."

Oliver Stone, American Director

44

"I don't try to guess what a million people will like. It's hard enough to know what I like."

"I don't try to guess what a million people will like. It's hard enough to know what I like."

John Huston, American Director

44

"It was progressively more difficult to find work in the theatre, as well."

"It was progressively more difficult to find work in the theatre, as well."

Andrzej Wajda, Polish Director

44

"I don't like to think that maybe I'm just getting old. I'm not too excited about watching a huge explosion. I'm more interested in people and characters."

"I don't like to think that maybe I'm just getting old. I'm not too excited about watching a huge explosion. I'm more interested in people and characters."

Norman Jewison, Canadian Director

44

"Sometimes you have to lie. One often has to distort a thing to catch its true spirit."

"Sometimes you have to lie. One often has to distort a thing to catch its true spirit."

Robert J. Flaherty, American Director

44

"The director is the only person who knows what the film is about."

"The director is the only person who knows what the film is about."

Satyajit Ray, Indian Director

44

"If you make a movie about Elizabeth I, how much of the dialogue is her real words? Audiences know when they go see a movie that it is fiction."

"If you make a movie about Elizabeth I, how much of the dialogue is her real words? Audiences know when they go see a movie that it is fiction."

Jean-Jacques Annaud, French Director

Elizabeth, Audiences, Fiction, Words

44

"Coming Home had been made before and Apocalypse Now and Deer Hunter, different kinds of movies."

"Coming Home had been made before and Apocalypse Now and Deer Hunter, different kinds of movies."

Oliver Stone, American Director

Home, Movies, Now

44

"After The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, the audience would like to know where, when, and who arrests Hannibal Lecter for the first time. This is the story of Red Dragon."

"After The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, the audience would like to know where, when, and who arrests Hannibal Lecter for the first time. This is the story of Red Dragon."

Dino De Laurentiis, Italian Director

Time, First, Silence

44

"In this age of consumerism film criticism all over the world - in America first but also in Europe - has become something that caters for the movie industry instead of being a counterbalance."

"In this age of consumerism film criticism all over the world - in America first but also in Europe - has become something that caters for the movie industry instead of being a counterbalance."

Wim Wenders, German Director

Age, America, Being, Criticism

44

"My mom took me to see Carnal Knowledge and The Wild Bunch and all these kind of movies when I was a kid."

"My mom took me to see Carnal Knowledge and The Wild Bunch and all these kind of movies when I was a kid."

Quentin Tarantino, American Director

Family, Mom, Movies, Knowledge

44

"I'm not impressed by someone's degree... I'm impressed by them making movies."

"I'm not impressed by someone's degree... I'm impressed by them making movies."

Richard King, American Director

44

"He was a psychotic. He was a borderline psychotic. He was a terrific, sensational actor, with a magical screen presence, you couldn't keep your eyes off him, but he was paranoid. He was sure everybody was out to get him."

"He was a psychotic. He was a borderline psychotic. He was a terrific, sensational actor, with a magical screen presence, you couldn't keep your eyes off him, but he was paranoid. He was sure everybody was out to get him."

Mark Rydell, American Director

44

"Rock Hudson was not an educated man, but that very beautiful body of his was putty in my hands."

"Rock Hudson was not an educated man, but that very beautiful body of his was putty in my hands."

Douglas Sirk, German Director

44

"I have always felt that this story is universal. When I began to understand the details of the history, I felt that the most compelling aspect was not what happened, but what continues to happen and how it is denied."

"I have always felt that this story is universal. When I began to understand the details of the history, I felt that the most compelling aspect was not what happened, but what continues to happen and how it is denied."

Atom Egoyan, Canadian Director

44

"That's why I have always admired documentaries, because they open windows that can make you understand much better where you come from, much better than fiction, I think."

"That's why I have always admired documentaries, because they open windows that can make you understand much better where you come from, much better than fiction, I think."

Walter Salles, Brazilian Director

Fiction, Open, Windows

44

"I thought that the AIVD was there to protect citizens like me."

"I thought that the AIVD was there to protect citizens like me."

Theo Van Gogh, Dutch Director

44

"There are so many effects and so many things that are done digitally now that it's so hard for the director to really control the process, because there are more and more experts that come in."

"There are so many effects and so many things that are done digitally now that it's so hard for the director to really control the process, because there are more and more experts that come in."

John Frankenheimer, American Director

Control, Experts, Now

44

"You can work, shop, do everything from home, and I find this unsettling."

"You can work, shop, do everything from home, and I find this unsettling."

Patrice Leconte, French Director

44

"Miller didn't write Death of a Salesman. He released it. It was there inside him, waiting to be turned loose. That's the measure of its merit."

"Miller didn't write Death of a Salesman. He released it. It was there inside him, waiting to be turned loose. That's the measure of its merit."

Elia Kazan, American Director

Death, Measure, Merit, Waiting

44

"I even agree with the new digital ways of filmmaking, where you don't even have physical film in the camera, but to be honest, I wouldn't want to use it."

"I even agree with the new digital ways of filmmaking, where you don't even have physical film in the camera, but to be honest, I wouldn't want to use it."

J. Lee Thompson, British Director

44

"Never in the history of cinema has a medium entertained an audience. It's what you do with the medium."

"Never in the history of cinema has a medium entertained an audience. It's what you do with the medium."

John Lasseter, American Director

History, Cinema

44

"I was taken in by what might be called the Hard Times version of the Communists' advertising or recruiting technique."

"I was taken in by what might be called the Hard Times version of the Communists' advertising or recruiting technique."

Elia Kazan, American Director

44

"You are faced with the choice: either my integrity remains intact and this is the work that ends up on the screen, or I have to leave, and I have to be known to have left."

"You are faced with the choice: either my integrity remains intact and this is the work that ends up on the screen, or I have to leave, and I have to be known to have left."

Trevor Nunn, English Director

Work, Integrity

44

"I grew up within Italian-American neighborhoods, everybody was coming into the house all the time, kids running around, that sort of stuff, so when I finally got into my own area, so to speak, to make films, I still carried on."

"I grew up within Italian-American neighborhoods, everybody was coming into the house all the time, kids running around, that sort of stuff, so when I finally got into my own area, so to speak, to make films, I still carried on."

Martin Scorsese, American Director

Time, Kids, Running

44

"The influences in my life were all kind of politically, socially implanted. And then there was Watergate."

"The influences in my life were all kind of politically, socially implanted. And then there was Watergate."

Tobe Hooper, American Director

44

"We thought about it, what we want to tell, and I didn't want to move it directly into the Nazi times. I thought it's much more interesting to see how BloodRayne became BloodRayne."

"We thought about it, what we want to tell, and I didn't want to move it directly into the Nazi times. I thought it's much more interesting to see how BloodRayne became BloodRayne."

Uwe Boll, German Director

44

"I think movies are a director's medium in the end. Theater is the actor's medium. Theater is fast, and enjoyable, and truly rewarding. I believe in great live performance."

"I think movies are a director's medium in the end. Theater is the actor's medium. Theater is fast, and enjoyable, and truly rewarding. I believe in great live performance."

Sam Mendes, British Director

Movies, Performance, Actor, End

44

"But I don't think there has ever been anything written on the nature of violent man as deep and as thorough as Shakespeare's Titus. I think it puts all modern movies and modern exploitations of violence to shame."

"But I don't think there has ever been anything written on the nature of violent man as deep and as thorough as Shakespeare's Titus. I think it puts all modern movies and modern exploitations of violence to shame."

Julie Taymor, American Director

Movies, Nature, Deep, Man

44

"Since the days of slavery, if you were a good singer or dancer, it was your job to perform for the master after dinner."

"Since the days of slavery, if you were a good singer or dancer, it was your job to perform for the master after dinner."

Spike Lee, American Director

44

"Though I am still very vulnerable to audiences - and it happens all the time - where for some reason the energy doesn't connect and, since the film is very personal, obviously I am made to feel very vulnerable by that."

"Though I am still very vulnerable to audiences - and it happens all the time - where for some reason the energy doesn't connect and, since the film is very personal, obviously I am made to feel very vulnerable by that."

Atom Egoyan, Canadian Director

Time, Audiences, Energy, Film

44

"What the Dalai Lama had to resolve was whether to stay in Tibet or leave. He wanted to stay, but staying would have meant the total destruction of Tibet, because he would have died and that would have ripped the heart out of his people."

"What the Dalai Lama had to resolve was whether to stay in Tibet or leave. He wanted to stay, but staying would have meant the total destruction of Tibet, because he would have died and that would have ripped the heart out of his people."

Martin Scorsese, American Director

People, Heart, Destruction

44

"My philosophy is very simple. To feel young, you must work as long as you can."

"My philosophy is very simple. To feel young, you must work as long as you can."

Dino De Laurentiis, Italian Director

Work, Philosophy

44

"I question the value of stars. I think they're overrated. They get too much money, too much praise."

"I question the value of stars. I think they're overrated. They get too much money, too much praise."

Elia Kazan, American Director

Money, Praise, Question, Stars

44

"So if I get these actors for 30% of their price by coming in so late with an offer when they know they are not getting another offer then I do it this way."

"So if I get these actors for 30% of their price by coming in so late with an offer when they know they are not getting another offer then I do it this way."

Uwe Boll, German Director

44

"I decided that, somehow, I had to get out of there and go to Hollywood. I had never been to America."

"I decided that, somehow, I had to get out of there and go to Hollywood. I had never been to America."

Renny Harlin, Finnish Director

Experience, America, Hollywood

44

"The Company of Wolves is about how society teaches young women to look at themselves, and what to be afraid of. It's about a girl learning that the world of sensuality and the unknown is not to be feared, that it's worth getting your teeth into."

"The Company of Wolves is about how society teaches young women to look at themselves, and what to be afraid of. It's about a girl learning that the world of sensuality and the unknown is not to be feared, that it's worth getting your teeth into."

Neil Jordan, Irish Director

Society, Women, Company, Learning

44

"There were not fifteen people in the story department and twenty-five producers and stuff. And Roger had produced 1,000 movies and directed a couple of hundred, and their comments were always very, very specific."

"There were not fifteen people in the story department and twenty-five producers and stuff. And Roger had produced 1,000 movies and directed a couple of hundred, and their comments were always very, very specific."

John Sayles, American Director

44

"The stuff that I got in trouble for, the casting for The Godfather or the flag scene in Patton, was the stuff that was remembered, and was considered the good work."

"The stuff that I got in trouble for, the casting for The Godfather or the flag scene in Patton, was the stuff that was remembered, and was considered the good work."

Francis Ford Coppola, American Director

44

"I used to spend most of my time straining to be a nice guy so people would like me."

"I used to spend most of my time straining to be a nice guy so people would like me."

Elia Kazan, American Director

44

"I was at college doing performing arts, and just spending all my time mucking about, and the lecturers thought I would be pretty good at stand-up, so I gave it a whirl."

"I was at college doing performing arts, and just spending all my time mucking about, and the lecturers thought I would be pretty good at stand-up, so I gave it a whirl."

Allan Carr, British Director

Time, Thought, College, Pretty

44

"I really took filmmaking very seriously... It was an honor and then a crutch also, because at a young age, I was like, I guess I'm a serious filmmaker. I never set out to be a serious filmmaker. I just set out to make movies."

"I really took filmmaking very seriously... It was an honor and then a crutch also, because at a young age, I was like, I guess I'm a serious filmmaker. I never set out to be a serious filmmaker. I just set out to make movies."

John Singleton, American Director

Movies, Age, Honor

44

"I'm not afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens."

"I'm not afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens."

Woody Allen, American Director

44

"I can be very reserved about things. My business side isn't shy. I can be like a general. But I've got a shy side. I'm also a lot deeper than people think, and a lot more sensitive. But I don't let people in too much.'"

"I can be very reserved about things. My business side isn't shy. I can be like a general. But I've got a shy side. I'm also a lot deeper than people think, and a lot more sensitive. But I don't let people in too much.'"

Michael Bay, American Director

Business, People

44

"If I can say one thing for my pictures, it is a certain craftsmanship. A thought which has gone into every angle. There is nothing there without an optical reason."

"If I can say one thing for my pictures, it is a certain craftsmanship. A thought which has gone into every angle. There is nothing there without an optical reason."

Douglas Sirk, German Director

Thought, Nothing, Reason

44

"On the other track I got to talk with Jon Poll, my editor, and we go into more detail about the decisions we made in both the production and the post-production. So I hope the combination becomes something worth collecting."

"On the other track I got to talk with Jon Poll, my editor, and we go into more detail about the decisions we made in both the production and the post-production. So I hope the combination becomes something worth collecting."

Jay Roach, American Director

Hope, Decisions, Detail, Post

44

"There are moments when television systems are young and haven't formed properly, and there's room for lots of original stuff. Then things become more and more top-heavy with executives who are trying to guarantee the success of things."

"There are moments when television systems are young and haven't formed properly, and there's room for lots of original stuff. Then things become more and more top-heavy with executives who are trying to guarantee the success of things."

Terry Gilliam, American Director

Success, Moments, Television, Trying

44

"It's just about going out and getting the shot, so I have a great understanding of how to execute it, so that really helps me, and also having a good understanding of all the action that I'm shooting, it helps me in determining how I'm going to capture it."

"It's just about going out and getting the shot, so I have a great understanding of how to execute it, so that really helps me, and also having a good understanding of all the action that I'm shooting, it helps me in determining how I'm going to capture it."

David R. Ellis, American Director

Action, Understanding

44

"One might have thought that the most significant change in the film industry that would come about with a transition from the communist economy to capitalism would fundamentally concern the sources of funding."

"One might have thought that the most significant change in the film industry that would come about with a transition from the communist economy to capitalism would fundamentally concern the sources of funding."

Andrzej Wajda, Polish Director

Change, Thought, Capitalism, Concern

44

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