Bennett Miller Quotes

Any actor working a long time should know how a shot is set up, where to place themselves, how to handle the lines. I'm a member of the crew, like the best boy, the electrician. What I'm good at is making eyes at the camera.

When I'm on set, I don't really think about what an audience is going to think about a scene. I'm just thinking about how I can make it best. And how I can enjoy myself most.

If a person is in front of a camera, they're acting. It's not possible to live in front of a camera.

You know, the great thing about acting or, indeed, filmmaking in general, is that we're all given a reason to do research. You kind of have to, really, if you want to know what you're doing, but it opens up this whole new understanding.

I love actors. That's my bread and butter, and I got to work with some amazing ones on '12 Years'.

I had done my first picture and I didn't have anything to do for awhile. I was asked to come back to New York and do Bus Stop in the role of the cowboy opposite Kim Stanley.

I like the detail work of telling a story in small pieces, as is done in movie-making, and also the long leap of faith needed to see a theatre performance through each night. Both require focus and self-discipline.

I always used to say, as a director, that I could make anybody good in a movie if you found the right part. It all comes down to casting.

A lot of actors on film sets... very often they're not paying attention to the physical world around them. I think through studying art, I've always had that awareness and that's something that I've wanted to bring in to go beyond acting... As a form of expression, they are intrinsically linked.

In 2005, I had the great honor of playing Shailene Woodley's mother in 'Felicity: An American Girl Adventure.' I was immediately impressed by her work ethic, both on and off set.

I never felt being an actor or making a movie was an easy thing to do.

When you're in front of the camera, for a small budget or a big budget movie, there's no difference.

My approach to 'Eastenders' is the same as my approach to film and the same approach to theatre. Whatever I do, I use the same skills and tools.

With videos, I find I'm better off if I'm playing a role inside of it. The more you do it, the more you understand it.

I've worked for 27 years nonstop in theater and films. That's a lot of work.

You don't really think about 3D when you're acting. As a director, you do.

I have done a lot of theater.

I always envisioned working in film and in theater. Theater and film are not, they're not in any way substitutable. What I love about theater is so different from what I love about film, and I enjoy the craft of both.

Film and television is just a different technique in terms of how to approach the camera but basically the job is the same; but what you learn as a craft in theater, you can then learn to translate that into any mediums.

'Do the Right Thing' was like the first film where I really felt comfortable working with actors.

Acting is all I know; being on a set is all I know.

In films people basically work for the camera, you know, and that's why actors can hate each other and not be speaking to each other and still look as if they're in love because really they're loving the camera loving them.

I gained a great deal from the period during which I worked in theater and I value those things a great deal.

I think theater is a great training ground; I think it's a great opportunity to play.

Of course, if you're gonna make movies, you gotta make movies, and I'm not gonna say no to a good role.