Sam Esmail Quotes

I definitely storyboard, but I only start once I have cast and location. I like to find the world first.

The most creative phase of a film is in shooting, because structure is the defining element of that phase.

You don't want to be starting a film not knowing what you want to do.

I didn't know the technical language of filmmaking, so I said, 'OK, I'm going to do my own storyboard,' because I had to explain to the crew and the technical people what I wanted.

Filmmaking, at the end of the day, is really - in addition to the story and all of the equipment and the actors, it's really about time management. And so the smartest filmmakers are the ones who sort of pre-visualize the film in their head and are literally shooting the shots they need to cut the story together.

A director should be in a position where he is only directing. On the sets, he is only looking at the performances, thinking 'How I am going to shoot this?'

I roughly draw the scene beforehand to be more confident on the set. Instead of talking and explaining certain things, I try to visually communicate the scene to my team with the story board. This is how I work.

It was important on The Shipping News to have my house far enough away from each location so I had this time in the morning to think about my shots and still remain open to surprises once I got to the set.

I don't like to watch playback. But being on the set, watching the way the camera is being moved and the way the light is being used, you do get an idea of it.

On Fantastic Mr. Fox, I got used to working with animated storyboards as a way of planning for the shoot. We did a lot of sequences that way with this movie. Partly as a result of that, I decided to build more sets in order to do certain shots.

I had fun doing it, but acting ain't really my thing. I am more of a production/director type. I would rather be behind the scenes and organizing and putting things together like that.

I like going on location for films.

I really love diving in, head first, with directing and not having to worry about hair, makeup or lines.

When I was in pre-production for Trees Lounge, I was hearing the cinematographer talking with the production designer about colours and this and that, and feeling like I was losing control.

When I make a live-action movie, it's a very physical process. It's like running a marathon.

I think you cannot make films without choosing everything.

I never storyboard. I hate it. I don't understand why so many directors want to make comic strips of their films.

It's more interesting because you get to research the history of the period, and all the different aesthetic elements that make a film, particularly this film, so stunning.

I love directing.

I would like to direct.

As I began making my feature films, it was a great adventure. It was about constructing something I saw in my head or I had designed on storyboards and capturing that on film.

I never thought I wanted to direct. I love the control of it. I love to dream of scenes.

When you're making a film, it's a very technical process. You do things over and over again, and you have to hit your marks and your light and all that stuff.

I took a film course in grade ten that made me want to direct, and I've always been making short films and home videos with my friends, so it's definitely something I wanna pursue as well.

Visual elements are, of course, the director's job.