Jeff Nichols Quotes

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.

Often, you're not quite sure what people have seen you in, but the script lands in your inbox. That was the case with 'The Night Manager.'

'Hotel For Dogs' was fun for my family, but it was kind of hard to get in the audition room for 'Jennifer's Body' after that, you know? But I think the roles find me, in a way.

When you cast somebody, you write to their strengths.

I've never had an audition like that before. They don't let you know about anything on 'Mad Men,' because it's a spoiler for everybody. I thought I was on the right track when I was cracking everybody up.

Actors look for characters. If they read a well-written character, and if they think the director's not an idiot, they're going to sign up and do some acting.

Casting is 65 percent of directing.

People who do not have funny in them are not funny when they read funny lines. Sorry. Just doesn't work that way. Seriously, this is the biggest rule of all. You live and die with your casting decisions. Your actors are the heart and soul of the whole thing. Without brilliant actors, you will not have a brilliant film.

Casting, to me, is always the same. It's a very important part of a director's job. I pick people that I sense I'd like to be in a room with and will enjoy the rehearsal process with because that's the best part.

I landed the role in 'Caddyshack' auditioning, like everybody else. It wasn't a role I thought I'd get, so I had nothing to lose.

When I hire actors I believe in their abilities.

We chose the actors thru a series of auditions when we started the show.

Casting is a long process for me. I take a lot of time.

Martin Jarvis was to have played the part originally but I think I had longer hair or something, I know not.

One of the tricky things about running a TV show is that you just never know how good the guest stars you cast on a weekly basis, how good they're going to be in the episode. Sometimes they surprise you in good ways and sometimes they surprise you in disappointing ways.

I never look at the size of the film when I'm looking for a part.

As a director, it became important to hear that specific role read by that specific actor, and you hear the chemistry, or you don't hear the chemistry. So I'm not so bothered by the audition process anymore; in fact, I use it. It's a time for the actor to actually get to the know the director and the producers a little bit, too.

Because actors don't get to pick movies; movies pick the actors.

I think filmmakers are always interested in getting the best actor that they can find, the person who's the most right for it.

There are a lot of people out there who offer roles to actors because they'll elevate their movie to a place the movie would never reach.

Casting is storytelling.

I keep saying this, but the most important part of directing is casting, and the rest of it is pretty easy.

As I've always said, preproduction is so important. When you cast the actors, you've done much of the work. Now, you may need to guide them a little, take it up or down, have them go faster or slower, but the casting process is crucial.

Sitting down for the actor read when you first get together, it's like the Last Supper because you don't know who will be there for the next read.

It's easy to think you can get discovered on the street, but I developed my chops on the stage - four years of theater in high school, and then another four in college.