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
What this quote means
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.
Themes
DirectingFilmEmotionEyesExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a filmmaking workshop, to emphasize storytelling, a mentor might say, 'Remember, the main thing about directing is: photograph the people's eyes.'
More from John Ford
All quotes βSimilar quotes
Work is what you do for others, liebchen. Art is what you do for yourself.
Stephen SondheimRead
For what is a poem but a hazardous attempt at self-understanding: it is the deepest part of autobiography.
Robert Penn WarrenRead
Silver and ermine and red faces full of port wine.
John BetjemanRead
The job of the writer is to take a close and uncomfortable look at the world they inhabit, the world we all inhabit, and the job of the novel is to make the corpse stink.
Walter MosleyRead
I believe in the nobility of entertaining people and I take great, great pride that people are willing to give me two or three hours of their busy lives.
John LasseterRead
Anyone who understands Jazz knows that you can't understand it. It's too complicated. That's what's so simple about it.
Yogi BerraRead