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.
Poetry reveals that there is no empty space.
Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways.
What makes me write is the rhythm of the world around me - the rhythms of the language, of course, but also of the land, the wind, the sky, other lives. Before the words comes the rhythm - that seems to me to be of the essence.
Every now and then I read a poem that does touch something in me, but I never turn to poetry for solace or pleasure in the way that I throw myself into prose.
My whole theory about art is the disparity that exists between form, masses and movement.
Music and comedy are so linked. The rhythm of comedy is connected to the rhythm of music. They’re both about creating tension and knowing when to let it go. I’m always surprised when somebody funny is not musical.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.