The slightest thing can ruin a scene, but you must be willing to take chances.
William WylerRead
I'm here to make good pictures. If I don't see it, I won't touch it. I may not make a good picture, but I still gotta believe in it!
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of vision and belief in one's work, regardless of the outcome.
William Wyler highlights the artist's commitment to their craft by stating that true creativity stems from a vision. He suggests that even if the final product may not meet expectations, one must have faith in their artistic instinct and the process of creation, reflecting a deep respect for the art form.
In practice
In a presentation about the creative process in filmmaking, I might quote Wyler to express the importance of belief in one's vision.
The slightest thing can ruin a scene, but you must be willing to take chances.
A director must push his actors to the utmost limit to get everything possible out of each scene - without being corny or sentimental or going overboard.
Everything a director does must help the story and the performances. Otherwise, it is useless.
The writer who refuses to explore the darker regions of the heart will never be able to write convincingly about the wonder, the magic and the joy of love for just as goodness cannot be trusted unless it has breathed the same air as evil.
An artist must believe in himself - Possibly not so passionately as Lawrence - but passionately. Your belief is contagious. Others say - He is vain - but they are affected.
I am writing for myself and strangers. This is the only way that I can do it.
A dancer must listen to his body and pay homage to it. Behind the movement lies this terrible, driving passion, this necessity. I won't settle for anything less.
There are many different styles of, and approaches to, tap. My own leans towards a more intellectual view: tap dancing not just for the sake of entertainment but to educate and spark emotion.
All these tales of people sitting down and composing symphonies just as though they were writing a letter are very much exaggerated; at least, it isn't that way in my work.
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