Barry Sonnenfeld Quotes

Arnold and Jamie Lee must have worked over the years with directors that did 50 takes, because I'd get like three takes or so and say, Ok, that's it, we're done.

As an actor I want to do as many takes as I can. I wanna shoot the scene... or shoot the shot 'til they make me quit.

I understand, certain scenes have to have a lot of takes. As an actor, I think it's quite nice to have a handful of takes, because you don't want to do it once or twice; I think once or twice sometimes is quite terrifying because you don't really feel like you've given them what you want.

I remember in Shallow Grave I remember a few times when we'd only have to do one take. But when you did have to do more than one, you'd build on the one you'd done.

It depends who the director is you know, I mean Ken Loach for instance. I've done up to 32 takes with him.

I think the first take is best, as you are spontaneous, and after that, it becomes a mechanical thing. I don't believe in second take at all.

Other than obvious errors like forgetting a line, often I can't see any difference between take one and take 20.

Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat at four o'clock. He liked to direct it. But, to me, directing is tedious. Especially if you're acting in it. And I'm inherently lazy.

I think I might have been a more interesting actor, had more of a career earlier on, if I had more formal preparation. When I see something ten years later that I was in I think, 'Boy, would I love to do that over.'

The best actors are always the ones who've directed as well, as they understand all the problems you face.

In 10 different takes, you can do a scene 10 different ways.

I've done films where we don't rehearse, and I've done films where we heavily rehearse. I like rehearsals.

I never trust anything that can be captured in 2 takes.

When we shoot 24, there are so many things I have to worry about, from the script to technical things to my performance, that I don't have a second to be bored or take anything for granted. We produce 24 hours of film a season, which is like making 12 movies.

I did green screen for the first time! I wouldn't like to do a whole movie of green screen, though. You kind of forget the plot a little - like being in a Broadway play and doing it over and over and forgetting your line halfway through.

I always try to do more than one or two takes if we have the time.

Coming from theater, and having been to acting school, and done little, small Australian independent movies, a lot of the time, it's always about character.

If I did any movies I'd have to take a break from singing, because I'd want it to be really good.

When there's no technical problems, if you did the right casting, and the scene is well written, the actor will give you a strong performance with his intuition right from the start.

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.

When you're doing lots and lots of episodes and you're playing the same character, it's great because you really get to know the character and it becomes a really fast style and you find subtleties in it.

I've never been part of a movie I would watch over and over again, and I'm really proud of it.

I was spooked when I first got the role, as I was afraid I wouldn't have the companionship I need on a shoot, because I'm so into the process itself, not so much the end product.

I had just done a movie prior to 'Employee of the Month' called 'Let's Go to Prison' and Will Arnett got to play the bad guy. I would watch him daily and couldn't wait to get the chance 'til I played a bad guy.

Movie-wise, there is nothing I wouldn't do again. It's not possible to make one perfect movie every time.