David MacKenzie Quotes

Directing is creating a whole. You're able to combine different elements and create a film that is unique and true to your vision.

For me, the most important thing is the writing - and certainly the director. But if the writing isn't there, it doesn't matter who the director is!

I think I'm drawn to films more as a director with a directorial mind even as an actor. I make movies to make the films, not to act.

I think you've got to talk to the director, see the director's films and recognise that it's important that the work fits right in and see if as part of the movie.

I'd made these experimental films but I thought the major chore of a filmmaker was to relate to actors.

I truly enjoy directing. I enjoy looking at the words on the paper and visualizing how to make them come to life.

What I notice about people who are gifted in filmmaking is that they're great thinkers. They engage with big ideas and they engage with people.

As a filmmaker, I'm a collaborator first.

I'm not the guy who does slo-mo, or I'm not the guy who does splashing rain or doves flying or anything; that's not me. Every film, I try and make it the way I see it in my head, and it really just depends on the script and the people I'm working with or whatever interests me at that particular time.

As a filmmaker, the only way that I understand how to make a film is holistically.

I am interested in all aspects of filmmaking, so I have an opinion on every aspect, so sound design, score, cinematography, editing - all that stuff I have experience doing myself, so I had a very strong idea of what I wanted, and I got, for the most part, people that were able to articulate that idea, which was nice.

I think I had my answers to the questions in 'The Witch,' and I had my answers to the questions in 'The Lighthouse;' I need those in order to write and direct them.

When you are scripting, the scene, the dialogues, everything comes before you, taking final shape. That is truly the most creative aspect of filmmaking and that is what I enjoy the most.

As a director, you try to find what is creative.

For me, I see filmmaking as art.

One day I had an idea for a movie. Everything came after that.

One of the things I've learned as a filmmaker is to have some aspect of the movie be something that I admire greatly, whether that's an actor I'm working with, the subject matter, or a book.

Being a director is almost like being another sort of character, but you're out of view.

There are many aspects to directing that have a romantic place in people's minds.

The technology available for film-making now is incredible, but I am a big believer that it's all in the story.

I guess what I enjoy most is directing, because it incorporates all aspects of filmmaking. Directing is in the same line as acting - both are popularity contests, and in both you're trying to tell a story through the film as a medium.

Directing was easy for me because I was a writer director and did all my directing when I wrote the screenplay.

Directing is a very long process, and I have to be in love with it if I want to give up two years of my life and live with it from beginning to end!

You ought to have a perspective when you're making a film.

On a very small scale, I kind of understand why the directors that I work with do certain things. I don't consider myself an incredible director. I'm not ready to do movies by any means. But, I feel like I can be a better actress now that I've been on the other side and kind of understand the process and more of the technical aspects of it.