Actor Autonomy Quotes

I believe in giving actors the freedom to express themselves, and adding more to whatever is written.

I always love to do my own stunts when they let me, right?

I'd like to be a director who gives my actors complete freedom while collaborating with them to find performances.

In the theatre, the actor is in total control. The director wasn't in the house last night, the designer wasn't there, the author's dead. It's just us and the audience.

I never try to show an actor what to do or what to say. He has to find out for himself. The role of the director is to guide him to that state, and then to implement it.

Bad directors are the ones who want to tell you every move, and think they're a better actor than you.

I can't stand directors who try to micro-manage everything. When it happens these days I just walk off set, saying if they don't like the way I'm doing it they can get someone else.

An actor has so much less space and responsibility. Sometimes you come on, and there are already tape marks for where you are supposed to stand, and the dialogue is already decided on. If you want to make a change and contribute something, it has to be approved by a number of people.

When I do 'Sweet Tooth,' really, whatever I want to do with the characters kind of goes. I'm sort of in charge.

I don't think I make decisions as an actor based on what I think the fans will or will not want at this point.

I get to pick so many things as an actor. Also, I'm a good observer of people and their mannerisms.

I wouldn't say I'm a very controlling person. For instance, when I talk to the actors, I don't tell them exactly what I want because I want them to surprise me. I even encourage them to change some of the verses of the script if they need to.

Don't worry about telling your actor what to do.

If my fans only want me to do a certain kind of films, then 'Naanaku Prematho' would have failed miserably. They've entrusted me with the freedom to select good and different scripts.

It's really important for actors to feel that they're more than something for hire.

Back then, it was more or less we couldn't change a line in our script. We weren't allowed to change lines. Today, actors change everything and won't do parts. It's very different today. Back then, the producers were in charge. Today actors are more in charge.

With 'The Crazy Ones,' we were really encouraged to improv and go off script.

The great thing about 'Justified' is that the writers will craft a scene, but if the actors come up with a great idea, they're 100% for it.

Film's hard when you don't have any relationship with the director at all and you just show up. Then you really are just a gun for hire.

At 'Wicked,' they are really great about letting you make your own choices with the roles.

You've got to understand that in Bollywood, every actor is an instrument, and yet a human being. They come to the set with a set agenda, believing, 'This is who I am, this is what I want, and no, I am not going to become that character you want me to.'

It's strange not to allow the actor some input and breathing room into what was written on the page - it is their job to make it come alive.

From my experience, I think that every actor has to make sure that they're in charge of their own career somehow or other.

Unfortunately, I feel as actors we have to fight for the right to really go in as many directions as possible.

You - as a director, you have to do your job, you have to show things, and you don't have to ask the actors to do it, or the dialogue.