I always have a contract with a character. Even when he's unappealing. The contract is to give him his due. To tell his story. And to keep his secrets. Stephen Lang More Quotes by Stephen Lang More Quotes From Stephen Lang My advice to actors? To successful actors, it's, "sock it away," and unsuccessful actors, it's just, "Just keep at it. Don't do it unless you have to do it and if you have to do it, keep you've got to keep your instrument in shape. You just got to keep on getting better. If you're not getting better, you're standing still. Stephen Lang get-better successful advice Acting can be a very reactive profession. Acting is a fantastic thing, and it's my life, but writing is also part of me too, so I did it and in so doing took responsibility for my own life. Stephen Lang acting responsibility writing My job, professionally, is tapping into stuff. We've all got it. But, I just am fortunate enough that, beyond the age of 11, it's what I do professionally. Stephen Lang age stuff jobs I don't think there is a role that I did twenty years ago that I couldn't do better now. Stephen Lang twenties years thinking In a rehearsal room, your real resource as an actor aren't the things around you; your resources are your imagination and your director and the other actors. In those close quarters, your imagination and your skills are what you turn to. Stephen Lang skills real imagination I am very happy acting, and just have never gone at, or been bitten by the directing bug to the extent where I'm willing to put acting aside. If offered the opportunity, I think I could do a good job with the right material. Stephen Lang opportunity jobs thinking You try to go where the great scripts are, if you can, or you go where the not great scripts are, because that's what's being offered to you. Stephen Lang scripts ifs trying I don't believe that being against the war can be equated with being non-supportive of our troops. Stephen Lang supportive war believe The idea of being in a television series is a wonderful one to be considered, but you want to make sure it's the right thing for you because if you are fortunate enough to have something go for a long term, you want to make sure that it's something that you really want to be spending a bulk of your time on. Stephen Lang long television ideas On some level acting is the art of pretend and you have to have a highly cultivated sense of imagination. You have to be able to see things that aren't there no matter what aspect of acting, whether it's green screen, whether it's on stage, whether it's anything else, whether you're working on the radio. Stephen Lang acting imagination art I wouldn't say 'Avatar' changed my life, but it definitely changed my career. Stephen Lang changed-my-life changed careers The truth is, I'm a character guy. That's how I see myself. I always see the role as being far more interesting and important than I am... not all actors approach it that way. Stephen Lang guy character interesting I love scenes that are just emotional give and take. By the same token action sequences are great to do. They have their own unique demands and requirements. So I take it as it comes and hopefully you can get a good balance of all of that stuff. Stephen Lang emotional unique giving I'm always reading plays, and when I find something that I really want to do, then I'll make the time to do it. Stephen Lang reading want play My favorite show from the '60s was 'Combat.' And maybe 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' Stephen Lang my-favorite he-man men I think that war is diplomacy. There have been wars that have been fought for righteous reasons and there are wars that have had to be fought. Indeed, there will continue to be. Stephen Lang reason war thinking I've been into weight training for many, many years and you add to that a good dose of cardio, don't overindulge, and you can do all right. Stephen Lang training add years Your primary tools, as an actor, are observation and imagination. You can pretty much get everything you need from that, and you do. It brings back that element of pretend. Stephen Lang tools imagination needs Occasionally, I have time to go to the theater, and I think for a minute, 'Man, I'd really love to be doing a play right now.' Because I loved doing plays when I was doing them. Then I think, 'I want to do it right now, but will I want to do that Sunday matinee in six weeks?' Stephen Lang sunday men thinking Fortitude, determination... in a way they're things that I idealize myself and am curious about. Stephen Lang fortitude determination way
