Just expressing contempt for your leaders doesn't really accomplish anything. Harold Ramis More Quotes by Harold Ramis More Quotes From Harold Ramis There's something very edgy about Bill Murray out there improvising. Harold Ramis edgy improvising bills I've never taken a script to the stage or to principal photography and said, "This is perfect. This is as good as it can possibly be." It's not Shakespeare, you know; you know it can probably be better. Harold Ramis photography taken perfect It doesn't take any longer to improvise 10 takes than it takes to shoot 10 takes of the same thing. It turns out to be just as responsible from a business point of view as anything else. Harold Ramis point-of-view responsible views When a director writes, there's a compulsory arbitration. You have a right to challenge any of the arbitrators, but they pick three of four arbitrators who read all the drafts with no names attached and then allocate credit. Harold Ramis challenges names writing The rule of thumb for a director or producer - which prevents them from just sticking their names on everything - is that you have to contribute substantially more than 50 percent of the character dialogue and story. Harold Ramis names character directors I think of myself as a real writer, not just someone who dabbles in it, so I deserve some credit. Harold Ramis credit real thinking If you're doing six takes, instead of doing six variations on the same words, why not just throw out the words and make them up as you go along, if you're comfortable with it? It gives the movies a slightly rangier feeling, and more of an accidental feel, but it also makes them edgier. Harold Ramis why-not feelings giving The times change, and to the extent that comedy captures the spirit of the times, it will enjoy success. Harold Ramis capture comedy spirit I had developed a survival skill of using my wit to score for myself. If a scene was dying, I'd lob in these little bombshell lines that would get me some attention and a laugh without really helping the scene. Harold Ramis survival skills laughing I learned over the years that it's easy to appear smart referencing things that people don't know. Harold Ramis smart people years If people offer me decent roles in good films, of course I'll take it. But I just didn't like the actor lifestyle. You end up focusing all your energy on trying to get parts you don't even want. Harold Ramis energy trying people I was the little guy who knew how to tie a necktie. It came from having absentee parents. They were tremendously loving and caring people who, by circumstance, had to go to work. Harold Ramis ties caring people When you grow up in Chicago, your whole family is counting on you to go to college and do something distinguished. The last thing you're thinking is that you're going to make a career in show business. Harold Ramis growing-up college thinking I loved writing and performing, but the idea of doing it for a living seemed so remote. But I eventually let it devolve to the point where it was the only thing I could do. Harold Ramis performing writing ideas As an actor, you're completely at the mercy of other people. You basically go begging for the opportunity to work. As a writer, at least nobody can tell me what to do. I can write what I want. I might not sell it, but at least I'm in control. Harold Ramis writing opportunity people Memorable, simple, didn't require articles of faith, but completely humanistic in every way that I valued, so I proselytize it without practicing it. Harold Ramis health-news I had a dream cast when Dan first went off and wrote 'Ghostbusters 3' by himself. It was so long ago that my dream cast was Ben Stiller, Chris Farley, and Chris Rock. That would have been cool. Now, a lot of time has passed, and there are a lot of young funny people. Harold Ramis cool time funny people There was a moment when we were casting 'Groundhog Day' when Bill Murray was not at the top of my list. He'd been getting crankier and crankier. By the end of 'Ghostbusters II', he was pretty cranky. I thought, 'Do I want to put up with this for twelve weeks?' Harold Ramis end day thought moment As much as we'd like to believe that our work is great and that we're infallible, we're not. Hollywood movies are made for the audience. These are not small European art films we're making. Harold Ramis great work believe art
