Jake Gyllenhaal Quotes

Jeff Bridges taught me a lot about how to keep a scene fresh.

I've figured out what to do so far, but it's always the next thing you come to where the man with the bucket of ice cold water is waiting - whoosh! in your face. That's why you work with directors who know what to tell you to do.

I got Michael Caine's book, Acting In Film, and I read it on the plane, desperately trying to glean information from him about how to adapt my craft, which was actually very helpful.

I remember something Clint Eastwood told me early on. I don't remember how old I was when you told me this, Dad. But you said, "As an actor, I never went back to my trailer. I always hung out on set and learned." That stuck with me.

When you act in a film, you're inevitably surrounded by people you didn't choose, right down to the set painter. I like being able to pick the family I'm waking up to in the morning that's going to make this group effort to tell a story that applies to what's interesting to me at that stage in my life.

Being an actor helps me direct a little bit, when I do that, which I haven't been able to do that much, but I plan to in the future. There are a lot of reasons for that, but certainly because I feel like you know how to talk to actors, and you know what they need from you if you've been one yourself.

I think that in order to be a film director, one has to be a warrior who shouldn't be defeated by the daily onslaught of problems.

I've got plenty of advice from a number of other actors. Me? I don't give advice.

The camera lens or the television camera is still just a proscenium arch. And as a great old character actor once said to me, wherever you're acting, you reach up and take hold of the proscenium arch, and you pull it down around your shoulders.

I love the entire process of being on the set and being able to create a character. It's so much fun. In 'Think Like a Man,' I have a very small part. They told me it wasn't a big budget, but I don't care about any of that. I'll do it for free simply because I love being on the set with other creative people.

I appreciate my role as an actor much more after I direct because it's just easier.

The way I go about a lovemaking scene is that we will talk about it during the rehearsing time.

With Fellini, the fear dropped out of my work because it was such a happy experience... hanging out with Fellini, having pasta on the set with Fellini, and going out with Fellini!

The best part of making the movies... learning from the pros themselves.

I've been lucky to learn by playing all kinds of roles and watching all kinds of really good cinematographers, actors, and directors for many years before people were even aware of me in terms of audience.

Schepisi is the sort of director who could, would, and frequently did phone me whenever he came across a textual problem.

Working with actors who are directors is magnificent. Because they understand the art form intimately, and they know exactly how everything works.

Sometimes I've done small parts, like with Spike Lee, but it doesn't matter because you want to work with the director.

All those little acting rules you get, one of the interesting ones is, 'Play the opposite. Don't play 'victim.'

I made movies with some very nice people, experienced actors.

My first manager was this lady named Booh Schut. She actually worked with me on my auditions.

I don't offer advice to actors only because I've seen actors become successful through ways that would never even occur to me or that wouldn't work for me. But this has worked for me: Never memorizing a scene.

I remember I had an actor friend - a close friend from college - Anthony Zerbe. He sent me a telegram before I started my first movie, 'Cisco Pike.' It said, 'Have a good time. Ignore the camera.' That was the extent of my training.

After completing 'Aadum Koothu,' I was assigned to act with Cheran again for 'Mayakkannadi.' I learnt a lot working with him.

Working with Subhash Ghai is always a different experience. Subhashji is my mentor. I'm always glad to work with him.