As an actor I am always waiting for my luck to run out.
Tom HanksRead
What we're doing with Band of Brothers is trying to put it into human terms, so it is not just a flickering, black and white myth on a screen, it is a resonant story. I want the audience to recognize themselves in these men. They're not just mythic heroes.
Interpretation
Tom Hanks emphasizes the importance of portraying historical figures as relatable humans rather than just legendary icons.
In this quote, Tom Hanks discusses the aim behind the production of 'Band of Brothers'—to capture the humanity of soldiers and make their stories resonate with the audience. He suggests that by portraying these men in a relatable way, viewers can see reflections of themselves in their experiences, thus transforming what could be mere myths into powerful, emotional narratives.
In practice
In a film discussion group, you could use this quote to illustrate the importance of character depth.
As an actor I am always waiting for my luck to run out.
Even the simplest choice can make a jaw-dropping difference in our world.
My kid could get a bad X-ray and I could get a call from the doctor saying I have something growing in my bum and that would change my perspective on everything instantaneously, on what is and what is not important.
Back in World War II, we viewed the Japanese as 'yellow, slant-eyed dogs' that believed in different gods. They were out to kill us because our way of living was different. We, in turn, wanted to annihilate them because they were different. Does that sound familiar, by any chance, to what's going on today?
I think it's better to feel good than to look good.
If you look at romantic comedies as pieces of commerce, the audience is looking for wish fulfillment.
That's another way of writing a song, of course. Just talking to somebody that ain't there. That's the best way. That's the truest way. Then it just becomes a question of how heroic your speech is. To me, it's something to strive after.
The poet does not know - often he will never know - whom he really writes for.
Having been an actor and a writer for so long - 20 years or so - I felt that it would be daft to go to one's grave without having directed. It's a natural extension of writing and acting, and so I knew it would happen one day.
The moment a man sets his thoughts down on paper, however secretly, he is in a sense writing for publication.
In a dancer, there is a reverence for such forgotten things as the miracle of the small beautiful bones and their delicate strength.
There is in true beauty, as in courage, something which narrow souls cannot dare to admire.
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