Why, I hold fate Clasped in my fist, and could command the course Of time's eternal motion, hadst thou been One thought more steady than an ebbing sea.
John FordRead
The main thing about directing is: photograph the people's eyes.
Interpretation
Directing is about capturing genuine emotions, particularly through the eyes of the actors.
This quote emphasizes the importance of honest expression in filmmaking. John Ford suggests that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and to convey true emotion and connection in a film, a director must focus on how the actors' eyes communicate feelings and intentions, allowing the audience to connect with the characters on a deeper level.
In practice
In a filmmaking workshop, to emphasize storytelling, a mentor might say, 'Remember, the main thing about directing is: photograph the people's eyes.'
Why, I hold fate Clasped in my fist, and could command the course Of time's eternal motion, hadst thou been One thought more steady than an ebbing sea.
In truth, I never consider the audience for whom I'm writing. I just write what I want to write.
The best camera is the one you have with you.
Struggle to sketch the flow that already exists intact in mind.
It has always seemed to me that so long as you produce your dramatic effect, accuracy of detail matters little. I have never striven for it and I have made some bad mistakes in consequence. What matter if I hold my readers?
I am like a moon that shines on an immense, unknown sea where ships never pass
I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil.
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