I'm small, but I'm neither compliant nor agreeable. Elia Kazan More Quotes by Elia Kazan More Quotes From Elia Kazan 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. Elia Kazan hell actors knows A film director has to get a shot, no matter what he does. We're desperate people. Elia Kazan doe directors people I was taken in by what might be called the Hard Times version of the Communists' advertising or recruiting technique. Elia Kazan hard-times technique taken It's difficult, if not impossible, to get away with anything false before the camera. That instrument penetrates the husk of the actor; it reveals what's truly happening - if anything, if nothing. A close-up demands absolute truth. It's a severe and awesome truth Elia Kazan acting motivational inspirational I wouldn't go up on a stage now if you paid a thousand dollars for one minute of acting. It's a nasty experience. You're up there all by yourself. You're so damn exposed. Elia Kazan dollars nasty acting I've lost many of my best friends... I'm going to satisfy myself now, not the critics, not even my friends. Elia Kazan my-best-friend critics lost The belief that the good in American society will finally win out... I don't believe any more. Elia Kazan usa winning believe I was the true future. I understood Communism better than they did. Elia Kazan understood communism I have no spy stories to tell, because I saw no spies. Nor did I understand, at that time, any opposition between American and Russian national interest. Elia Kazan spy saws stories The world was like a huge red carpet out ahead of me to be walked on. And it stretched on and on, no end. Elia Kazan red-lipstick ends world I would rather do what I did than crawl in front of a ritualistic Left and lie the way those other comrades did betray my own soul. Elia Kazan betrayal soul lying You have to remind people of their own struggles. It's a responsibility. Elia Kazan responsibility struggle people The physical life of the scene is determined by whether the set squeezes people together or whether the set has an escape place in it. Elia Kazan determined together people I want to thank the Academy for its courage and generosity. Elia Kazan academy generosity want You have no idea how fragile an actor's self-worth is. Elia Kazan actors self-worth ideas Criticism- a big bite out of someone's back. Elia Kazan bites bigs criticism Some directors, like Stevens [George Stevens], shoot full circle, 360 degrees, and that's what's right for them. I generally shoot at about a seven to one ratio. But part of that is because I've worked on every screenplay, so I'm further along in the visual concept. Elia Kazan degrees circles directors I left the theater; I literally left to begin a new life. Elia Kazan left theater new-life Truth gets buried, that's why people write autobiographies. Elia Kazan buried writing people I won't go back to the theater. I like some of the things they're doing but it's different now, not something I could do. I'll go on making films the rest of my life. Elia Kazan film different goes-on
