You've got to keep fighting; you've got to risk your life every six months to stay alive.
Elia KazanRead
When you know what an actor has, you can reach in and arouse it. If you don't know what he has, you don't know what the hell is going on.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding an actor's attributes allows one to bring forth their performance, while ignorance leaves one in confusion.
Elia Kazan emphasizes the importance of comprehension in the craft of acting. To effectively guide or stimulate an actor's performance, one must be aware of their skills, feelings, and experiences. Without this knowledge, it becomes difficult to harness the potential of the actor, leading to a lack of direction and clarity in the artistic process.
Themes
ActingUnderstandingPerformanceKnowledgeArt
In practice
Example use cases
In a drama workshop, to emphasize the importance of grasping an actor's skills.
More from Elia Kazan
All quotes βActing... was the biggest charge I ever had. What other artist has it so good? Approval so quick?
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I've come to believe that everything worth achieving is beyond one's capacity - or seems so at first. The thing is to persist, not back off, fight your fight, pay your dues, and carry on. Effort is all; continue and you may get there despite everything.
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A good director's not sure when he gets on the set what he's going to do.
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To be a member of the Communist Party is to have a taste of the police state. It is a diluted taste but it is bitter and unforgettable.
Elia KazanRead
I've lost many of my best friends... I'm going to satisfy myself now, not the critics, not even my friends.
Elia KazanRead
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