But you can't emphasize 'beef', that's like his wanting me to emphasize 'in' before 'July'! Come on, fellows, you're losing your heads! I wouldn't direct any living actor like this in Shakespeare! The way you do this, it's impossible!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Welles criticizes unrealistic direction, comparing it to unnatural emphasis in speech.
- In plain terms
- You can't force unnatural emphasis on actors any more than you can stress random words in a sentence.
- What can you take from it?
- Directors should avoid unnatural or impractical instructions for performers.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes direction feel unnatural?
- When should directors break rules?
Another view
Sometimes stylized direction serves a specific artistic vision.
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