“Dustin Hoffman said this one time, that if he hadn't made it as a film star, he would still be happy as a character actor because he was a character actor because of his face from day one, so he would always work in the theater.” IfsMadeSaidStillsCharacterFilmFacesActorsStarsTheaterMade ItOne TimeCharacter ActorsFilm Stars Author:Denis Leary
“There's nothing wrong with an actor that can't improvise, but if you're going to improvise, you gotta make sure you got people that can play the game.” PeopleIfsPlayActorsGames Author:Denis Leary
“I like to give the actors freedom to take what we have on the page and improve on it. And they do that quite a bit.” GivingActorsBitsPages Author:Denis Leary
“I try and shoot as often as I can, I cross shoot. I have at least two cameras rolling at the same time. So I'll have two actors or two sets of actors at a time so everybody's basically on camera. So when they improvise we have everybody's coverage. And you can then go in the editing room and find the energy still stays there.” TryingStillsTwoActorsEnergyRoomsCrossesCamerasRollingEditingCoverage Author:Denis Leary
“The second season is generally easier do because you know the actors better and they know the characters better and if everybody likes each other you can really go all types of places.” IfsKnowsCharacterActorsTypeEasierSeasonsLikes Author:Denis Leary
“I was working with Peter Tolan, who was my writing partner on those two [Rescue Me and The Job], and he did The Larry Sanders Show with Garry Shandling, and he always said that the second season is better because you know the actors.” KnowsWritingSaidTwoShowsJobsActorsSeasonsPartnersPeterRescueLarryRescue Me Author:Denis Leary
“I certainly know guys in comedy, I know some actors, and I definitely know some musicians, who have survived to a certain age and make a good living doing what they do, but nobody knows who they are. They wake up every day and they have the ability to get paid practicing their art, but underneath it all, if you scratched the surface, you still get, "If I only had my own show . . .," or "If I only had my own band . . ." It's what people always do when they want to be their own star.” PeopleIfsKnowsWantArtStillsShowsAgeGuyCertainActorsStarsMy OwnAbilityComedyBandMusicianWake UpPaidSurfaceSurvivedNobody KnowsGood Living Author:Denis Leary
“Every actor thinks he can do comedy, and it's not true.” ThinkingActorsCan DoComedy Author:Denis Leary
“I'd love to do another television series. I really love the writing process, and as an actor I really like how much you get to examine in television.” WritingActorsProcessTelevisionSeriesWriting Process Author:Denis Leary
“Sometimes 'great acting' is just showing off - chewing up scenery and dialogue and other actors - the equivalent of a theatrical sugar rush.” SometimesActorsActingDialogueSugarTheatricalShowing OffSceneryChewing Author:Denis Leary
“Anthony Mackie in 'The Hurt Locker' is everything an actor can hope to be. So rock steady in his portrayal that you immediately forget every performance he may have previously given, and focus only on the character in front of you.” MayCharacterActorsGivenHurtForgetFocusRocksFrontsPerformancesSteadyLockersPortrayalHurt Locker Author:Denis Leary
“For us as writers, it's really important to have songs we believe in - even before sometimes we shoot a scene. If we have a song that's so perfectly designed for a scene on 'Rescue Me,' we'll play it on loud speakers during the shooting. It helps the cameraman and it helps the director, and it helps the actors know what the feel is.” IfsKnowsFeelsBelieveImportantSometimesPlayHelpingSongActorsSceneDirectorsShootingLoudSpeakersRescueCameramanRescue Me Author:Denis Leary
“Good actors, especially when they know their character, will come in and either tell you in advance that they have an idea, or in the middle of the rehearsal or the scene they'll let it loose and you go, "Ah that's great."” KnowsIdeasCharacterActorsMiddleSceneRehearsalGood Actors Author:Denis Leary
“I think it's a shame when you come across young actors and musicians who haven't had the time to learn their craft. It doesn't matter if it's acting or music, you really have to learn how to do it from the bottom up because unless you have a great work ethic... fame is a terrible thing to have.” IfsThinkingMatterYoungActorsActingHavensTerribleFameMusicianEthicsShameBottomCraftsWork EthicGreat WorkTerrible ThingsYoung ActorsGreat Work Ethic Author:Denis Leary
“The first movie I saw where it convinced me I could be an actor was 'Mean Streets,' so whenever I see Robert De Niro and he says, 'Hi, Denis,' it's still a really big deal.” FirstsMeanStillsBigsActorsDealsSawsStreetsConvincedBig DealDe NiroMean Streets Author:Denis Leary
“There are some guys I know for a fact, like Louis C.K., who always talk about how not-great of an actor he is, and he's terrific on his show. But I know Louis would play a fantastic dramatic role in something, too. He just needs somebody to grab him and say, "Come in here and do this."” KnowsNeedsPlayFactsShowsGuyActorsRolesFantasticDramaticTerrific Author:Denis Leary
“With any actor, if you know your character well enough, you'll know pretty much what he would say under any circumstance, or whatever situation might rear its head.” IfsKnowsWellsEnoughCharacterMightActorsSituationCircumstances Author:Denis Leary
“You can have good writing, but a great actor will make it feel and sound like great writing. You can have great writing, and mediocre actors will make it feel mediocre. Without the actors, you have nothing.” FeelsWritingActorsSoundMediocreGood WritingGreat ActorsGreat Writing Author:Denis Leary
