“I'd love to say I made the smart decision of picking projects that became hits, but with 'The Good Wife,' I read the script and something inside me said, 'I love this, I want to do this.'” WantMadeSaidDecisionWifeProjectsSmartScriptsGood WifeSmart Decisions Author:Archie Panjabi
“I've been involved with some huge studio projects that have been bloody awesome. It all starts with a great script, doesn't it?” Has BeensHugeInvolvedProjectsScriptsStudiosBloody Author:Juno Temple
“About a year ago I got really exhausted from reading bad scripts and I know that I am a writer and that I have stories to tell, so I thought, 'Let's do this!' So I'm co-writing a screenplay now with another screenwriter and loving it. Absolutely loving it. And I would like to be the producer on the project and of course the lead is me.” KnowsWritingYearsStoriesCoursesReadingProjectsYears AgoScriptsProducersExhaustedScreenplaysScreenwriters Author:Kerry Washington
“For me acting is a passion and an art, and always will only be that. I don't have any rules when it comes to acting. I'll do anything. But it depends on the script. Either I'll have passion for the project or I won't. It's got to fuel me.” ArtPassionActingDependsProjectsScriptsFuel Author:Shailene Woodley
“In an ideal world, I'd bounce between big projects and no-budget TV dramas with fantastic scripts.” WorldBigsTvsDramaProjectsIdealsScriptsFantasticBudgetsBounceIdeal World Author:David Yates
“I was hired to do this one great script called 'Cap'n Ricky' and that project is up in the air at the moment.” MomentsAirProjectsScriptsCapsUp In The Air Author:David Wain
“I'm living in the moment. I just try to move each of the stories, scripts and projects that I work on forward. And when they're ready and the people are ready to make them, we'll do that.” PeopleTryingMomentsStoriesMovingReadyProjectsScriptsLive In The Moment Author:David Heyman
“Always care for the writing part first. Every good film project starts with good writing. If you have a good script, everything else follows. Writing is crucial.” IfsWritingFirstsCareFilmProjectsVery GoodScriptsCrucialGood WritingGood Films Author:Giovanna Cau
“I'm an impatient guy and tend not to like to stay with one thing for a long time. I'll never be able to write as many scripts as I did for "Felicity" or "Alias" ever again. I'm just too impatient these days. I want to get on to the next project.” WantWritingLongAbleGuyNextOne ThingProjectsLong TimeScriptsThese DaysImpatientFelicityAliases Author:J. J. Abrams
“I've written so many things over the years that I don't want to go back to being just a scriptwriter. I'm in what I consider to be the enviable position of all I have to do is come up with the idea and write an outline that makes it seem like it's a viable idea that will interest people, and then other people write the scripts -- and I become the executive producer or the producer, depending on how much involvement I have, and I get a creative credit and then move on to the next project.” PeopleWantWritingYearsIdeasSeemsMovingNextInterestCreativeWrittenPositionProjectsScriptsCome UpCreditProducersExecutivesInvolvementOutlines Author:Stan Lee
“When I choose projects, I don't stipulate between film or theatre or television. I receive scripts and I read scripts - and when I read a script that's good, I then get married to it and talk to my agent about what happens next.” HappensFilmNextTelevisionProjectsMarriedScriptsTheatreAgents Author:Dominic Monaghan
“I dont think any actor has the luxury of knowing exactly what scripts are going to turn out well and what ones arent. It would be wonderful to have that particular skill, and maybe people like Tom Cruise have it more than most, but you go into each project hoping that a good, if not great, film will come out the other end.” PeopleIfsThinkingWellsEndsWould BeFilmTurnsActorsKnowingWonderfulParticularSkillsProjectsScriptsLuxuryTomsCruiseGreat Film Author:Jonny Lee Miller
“I always keep my options open. I always say, "Make me an offer and send me the script, and if it's something that I can connect to or relate to..." The character has to intrigue me, and the project overall has to intrigue me. And if it all lines up properly, then we can get into the business side of it. But it's always about the creative first.” IfsFirstsI CanCharacterSidesLinesCreativeOffersProjectsScriptsRelateIntrigue Author:Corey Feldman
“I was open to anything. That doesn't mean I would do anything, it just means I was open to anything. I've met for dramas, single camera comedy, multi-camera comedy. I take each script as an individual project.” MeanIndividualComedyDramaMetsProjectsCamerasScripts Author:Skylar Astin
“I'm always sitting down and talking to people that are doing independent features. It depends on the project and the quotient of the people that are involved. There are a lot of different reasons [to do something], like a particular script that resonates with me, in a particular way. It may not so much even be about the part, but what the script has to say.” PeopleWayMayDifferentReasonTalkingParticularDependsInvolvedProjectsSittingDown AndIndependentScriptsFeaturesSitting Down Author:Jimmy Smits
“Whether it's a lower or higher budget project, a TV show or a film, the words on the page are the same to me and I approach the work in the same way. My job is to lift the character from the page, whether it's a TV or film script.” WayCharacterShowsJobsFilmTvsHigherProjectsApproachPagesScriptsLiftsBudgetsTv Shows Author:Michael Eklund
“When you really want a role and you really want a character, you become quite close to the script and the project, and it is sad when it doesn't go your way. But I've found there's always another one, which will be as good if not better. You can't let your failures bring you down when you're an actor, because then you can't get up.” IfsWayWantCharacterActorsFoundRolesProjectsScriptsGet Up Author:Asa Butterfield
“I am not just sitting and reading everything because honestly sometimes the scripts that appeal to me are projects that are not good projects, but I just really like the script or the characters.” SometimesCharacterReadingProjectsSittingScriptsHonestlyAppeals Author:Megan Fox
“Most of the time I've worked with directors who write their own scripts. The story is more important to me than the part. The project of the film has always been more important to me.” WritingImportantStoriesFilmDirectorsProjectsScripts Author:Catherine Deneuve
“I don't consciously seek out Australian projects. I put them on the same table as all the other scripts and I wouldn't ever do a film just because it's been shot at home.” HomeFilmProjectsShotsTablesScriptsAustralian Author:Eric Bana
“Picking projects, it's always director first and then script. Those two things are pretty much head-to-head.” FirstsTwoDirectorsProjectsScriptsTwo Things Author:Cameron Diaz
“As a director, I have to feel realism from actors, and they can't be plastic. The words for me are secondary, but the chemistry between the actors is most important. However, you have to go by the script because it's related to production, otherwise you will not finish your project.” FeelsImportantActorsDirectorsProjectsScriptsProductionsRelatedChemistryPlasticRealism Author:Tommy Wiseau
“I've seen a lot of friends who have a lot of great projects, whether it's a script or a play or whatever, and it is a great project and they have great people involved, and they can't make it.” PeoplePlayInvolvedProjectsScriptsGreat PeopleLots Of Friends Author:Philip Seymour Hoffman
“In the case of my second film The Fish Child (El Niño Pez), I had written the novel about 5 years before I made into a film. In the case of The German Doctor I had published the novel a year before I started writing the script, I even had another project to shoot. But I had this idea of the powerful cinematic language from the novel that I couldn't let go of.” WritingYearsChildrenMadeIdeasFilmLanguagePowerfulCasesNovelWrittenLetting GoProjectsDoctorsScriptsFishesCinematicPez Author:Lucia Puenzo
“When I started writing the script I thought that maybe someone else would direct it, but then I started to fall for it so much that I left the other project and I put all my time on The German Doctor.” WritingFallLeftProjectsDirectDoctorsScriptsMy Time Author:Lucia Puenzo
“What I hope in my ideal world is that with each project, I'll either get to work with a really great script that would force me to grow, or work with a really great actor who will make me better.” WorldActorsForceGrowsProjectsIdealsScriptsReally GreatGreat ActorsIdeal World Author:Laura Linney
“But the script's got to be at a level that makes it worth going back for, because it's a lot of work to make a movie like this and it's a multi-year project. So we've got our writer Jesse Wigutow on it right now writing, and fingers crossed if it all comes together, as we hope it will, there could be another Tron in the next few years, and it's going to be awesome.” IfsWritingYearsTogetherNextLevelsRight NowProjectsFingersScriptsFingers Crossed Author:Joseph Kosinski
“When I want to tackle a story or a subject, I always ask myself three questions: Is it important to talk about that? Will it interest other people than just me? Can I live with that for three or four years because that's how long it takes to do the project, to write the script, and to direct it, and then to do this.” PeopleWantWritingYearsLongImportantStoriesThreeAsksInterestFourSubjectsProjectsDirectScriptsFour Years Author:Philippe Falardeau
“When The Walking Dead officially got greenlit, Frank Darabont called me up and said, "My passion project just got off the ground. There's a role I think you're perfect for. Would you consider the role of Andrea?" And I was like, "Wow, I'd love to take a look at it." So, I read the pilot script and was knocked out.” ThinkingLooksSaidPassionPerfectRolesWalkingProjectsScriptsWowPilotsFrankMy PassionAndreaWalking Dead Author:Laurie Holden
“I came to this project and 'Far from Heaven' from completely different vantage points. 'Heaven' was of course about the Douglas Sirk films of that period, with the very specific cinematic language and style of melodrama. With 'Carol,' it was presented to me already packaged, with Cate Blanchett attached and Phyllis Nagy's script complete - when it came to me it had a long history and pre-history.” LongDifferentFilmCoursesLanguageHeavenStylePeriodsProjectsScriptsCinematicCarolsMelodramaVantage Point Author:Todd Haynes
“I read a script or I read a project or I read a novel and I know that I'm going to spend two to three years of my life with that, exclusively. So you better like it. There better be an honorable, real need to make that movie.” KnowsNeedsYearsTwoRealThreeNovelProjectsScriptsThree YearsHonorable Author:Robert Schwentke
“I was at home waiting for projects. I was on Parenthood and there was one season left, and I was thinking, "What's next?" I'm at this age where I'm trying to write my own script, and they sent this over and I decided to put myself on tape.” ThinkingWritingTryingHomeAgeNextLeftWaitingMy OwnProjectsDecidedSeasonsScriptsParenthoodTape Author:Ray Romano
“In the beginning this was just an idea. Then it was a short story. Then it was a script. Each step was pretty exciting to see people come on board to support the project. It's gratifying to know that more people are seeing my work in this form than my work as a playwright. And it's been fun to hear people's response to seeing it. I've been having some deep conversations with strangers and friends about how much it has made them think about slavery and its impact today.” PeopleThinkingKnowsMadeIdeasStoriesTodayFormFunStepsSupportSeeingConversationProjectsExcitingSlaveryImpactResponseScriptsStrangerBoardsShort StoryPlaywrightStrangers And Friends Author:Steven C. Harper
“I think you have to ask yourself, what is the point of the script? What is the script selling? Because all scripts are political, every story is political. It either challenges or reinforces some schism or stereotype. So what is the project going to say at the end of the day? What does it tell you about the world, or what does it challenge in terms of your world?” ThinkingWorldDoeEndsStoriesPoliticalAsksTermChallengesProjectsScriptsSellingThe End Of The DayStereotypeSchism Author:Susan Sarandon
“I've been with that project [ Sausage Party] since its inception, since they wrote the script. It took them four years to get anyone to make the movie, because it was so filthy and there was this firm belief that there wouldn't be a market for an adult animated film, even though 10 or 15 years prior, South Park [Bigger, Longer, And Uncut] did really well.” YearsWellsFilmBeliefPartyFourProjectsAdultsBiggerSouthScriptsFirmParksFour YearsAnimatedFilthySausageInceptionFirm BeliefsAnimated Films Author:David Krumholtz
“There came [a script called] “Dracula Sucks.” Now, I liked “Dracula Sucks,” but we gotta change [the title]. They said, “If you like that, you’re going to like this: ‘Zorro the Gay Blade.’” I decided I was going to go out and raise the money and develop my own projects. And that’s what I did. I made “Love at First Bite” and I made “Zorro the Gay Blade.” [Script rewriter Hal Dresner] and I put together “Zorro” in about eight weeks.” IfsFirstsMadeSaidTogetherMy OwnWeekGayProjectsDecidedRaisesScriptsEightTitlesBitesThey SaidBladesZorro Author:George Hamilton
“I felt really comfortable [on The Maze Runner]. From day one, I loved the script and the story, and I thought it could be something really cool and interesting and original, in this generation of regurgitated projects and sequels and stuff, so I'm proud to be part of it.” StoriesFeltStuffInterestingGenerationsProudComfortableProjectsOriginalsScriptsRunnersReally CoolSequelsThis GenerationMazesMaze Runner Author:Dylan O'Brien
“I was approached by the filmmakers. I didn't know much about the project ["Selling Isobel"], and the more we talked, the more they started to confide in me. I read the script and thought it was really interesting, and then a week later I discovered that this wasn't just any old script, this was actually Frida's [Farell] story and she was trusting me to tell it. I felt very privileged.” KnowsStoriesFeltInterestingWeekProjectsScriptsSellingFilmmakerPrivilegedReally InterestingFrida Author:Rudolf Buitendach
“I choose projects that resonate with me on some personal level and projects that I'm afraid to do. If I'm afraid to do them, then I usually say yes, because it means that I'm not ready to go there and deal with certain aspects of the script.” IfsMeanCertainLevelsDealsReadyProjectsAspectScriptsNot Ready Author:Octavia Spencer
“I can easily say "no" to a project if the script isn't great, but when the script is good, then I start asking the other questions. Who's going to direct it? Who's the creator? Who are the actors? When are we shooting? Where is it shooting? All that kind of stuff.” IfsKindI CanActorsStuffProjectsDirectAskingScriptsCreatorShooting Author:Dominic Monaghan
“I actually didn't read the book [Fast Food Nation]. I wasn't aware of it. But when I read the script, I thought "Wow." It became a project that was just so exciting to be a part of. Maybe a few times in a career [you] get a chance for a role that really means something, and this was it.” MeanBookNationsChanceCareersRolesProjectsExcitingScriptsWowReally MeanFast FoodFast Food Nation Author:Wilmer Valderrama
“Miranda [Hentoff] is a complete musician. She's a composer, a singer. She writes scripts along - with her projects. And she's a superb teacher. Her teaching pupils have ranged from Itzhak Perlman to Sting.” WritingTeacherTeachingProjectsMusicianScriptsSingersComposerPupilsSuperbMiranda Author:Nat Hentoff
“I feel guilty if I'm not reading books, but I read scripts of movies or things that I know I'm committed to that I'm going to do the project. I tell myself, "I'm going to read this script like six times," and I only read it the initial time.” IfsKnowsFeelsBookReadingSixProjectsScriptsCommittedGuiltyReading BooksInitials Author:Jim Gaffigan
“You always have to speak good about the projects you do and you have to see the beauty in them. Sometimes you see them and you're happy with things, or maybe the process was nice and you enjoyed it, and you were happy with that. But when everything gathers - you liked the scripts from the very beginning, the directors, your friends - but then you see the result and you like it - it's beautiful.” SometimesBeautifulSpeakProcessResultsNiceDirectorsProjectsScriptsEnjoyedYou Like It Author:Miguel Angel Silvestre
“When I saw the script [of The Man], I saw the character and knew I could do the character. It's a relationship movie, which is also what I love to do. That's what attracts me to projects.” MenCharacterSawsHe ManProjectsScripts Author:Samuel L. Jackson