“The film [Close Up] made itself, to a large extent. The characters involved were very real, I wasn't directing the actors so much as being directed by them. So it was a very particular film.” MadeRealCharacterFilmActorsParticularInvolved Author:Abbas Kiarostami
“In this type of cinema, whether working with actors or non-actors, as much as you do direct them, if you allow yourself to be directed by them, then the end result will be much more pleasing. The real and individual strengths of the actors is allowed to be expressed and is something that does affect the audience very deeply.” IfsDoeRealEndsActorsIndividualResultsAudienceTypeDirectCinemaVery DeepEnd ResultsIndividual Strength Author:Abbas Kiarostami
“I do think that we are sometimes, as directors, guilty of portraying or asking our actors to behave in certain ways that are perhaps not very morally acceptable. I'm not the only one.” ThinkingWaySometimesCertainActorsDirectorsAskingGuiltyBehaveAcceptablePortraying Author:Abbas Kiarostami
“It's very true that non-actors feel more comfortable in front of a digital camera, without the lights and the large crowd around them, and we arrive at much more intimate moments with them.” FeelsMomentsLightActorsFrontsComfortableCamerasCrowdsIntimateDigitalVery TrueDigital CamerasIntimate MomentsLarge Crowds Author:Abbas Kiarostami
“Therefore, when you see the end result, it's difficult to see who's the director, me or them. Ultimately, everything belongs to the actors - we just manage the situation.” EndsActorsDifficultResultsSituationDirectorsManageEnd Results Author:Abbas Kiarostami
“Using non-actors has its own rules and really requires that you allow them to do their own thing.” Actors Author:Abbas Kiarostami
“In order to be able to cooperate with a child, you have to come down to below their level in order to communicate with them. Actors are also like children.” ChildrenAbleOrderActorsLevelsCommunicate Author:Abbas Kiarostami