A film director is not a creator, but a midwife. His business is to deliver the actor of a child that he did not know he had inside him.
Jean RenoirRead
If you write interesting roles, you get interesting people to play them. If you write roles that are full of nuance and contradiction and have interesting dialog, actors are drawn to that.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Engaging roles attract talented actors, as complexity and depth enhance the narrative.
This quote by Paul Schrader emphasizes the importance of crafting multifaceted characters in writing. It suggests that when roles are imbued with depth, nuance, and engaging dialogue, they not only enrich the story but also draw the attention of skilled actors eager to bring such complex characters to life.
Themes
WritingActorsRolesCharactersDialogue
In practice
Example use cases
A playwright can use this quote during a workshop on character development to inspire writers.
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