Great art direction is NOT the same thing as great film direction!
Working with George Miller was an education. It was eight college degrees in character development and directing all at once.
My partner Dan Ireland wants me to direct, and I read a lot of scripts - some good enough that I could see myself. But then it's like, so what? Who cares? Let someone else direct it.
I don't know much of direction even after acting in so many movies. In fact, I still don't understand some simple things.
After all these years, I'm starting to learn what a good director does, and I know what a good one does with actors: help us navigate finer instincts, help us when we're wrong, encourage us when things are great.
Working with actors who are directors is magnificent. Because they understand the art form intimately, and they know exactly how everything works.
Especially as a director on 'West Wing,' I directed a lot of different things in a lot of different ways and really stretched my wings.
In a huge way, everything that I've done in my life has helped inform my ability to communicate with actors and direct them.
I was a director and dialogue and acting coach.
I can direct breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I take pride in my kitchen, but I'm not going to direct a movie.
You know, I became a director out of necessity. I was writing comedies, and I couldn't find anybody to deliver it correctly.
