Of course I would change anything if John Cassavetes said so - it's his script. But he was very easy about that. Gena Rowlands More Quotes by Gena Rowlands More Quotes From Gena Rowlands all creative writers need a certain amount of time when they're creating something where nobody should criticize them at all - at all. Even if the criticism is valid or good, they should just shut up, and let that person create. Because at a certain point you have to make it your own - not the world's, but your own. Gena Rowlands creating creative criticism People in independent film have a passion; they're not in it for the money. Gena Rowlands independent passion people You just can't complain about being alive. It's self-indulgent to be unhappy. When asked how she has coped since husband's death. Gena Rowlands husband self death Never in my life have I ever even thought about anything else [ being anything other than an actress]. Gena Rowlands actresses If I have something I like to forget, then I forget it. Gena Rowlands forget-it ifs forget John [Cassavetes] loved actors. He gave them a lot of freedom. So if something came up that a certain actor just felt at the moment and said - that kind of improvisation he would accept. He gave very little direction. Gena Rowlands actors kind littles It was more freedom than I think most people get when they're starting out - or even when they're not starting out. He [John Cassavetes] did his thing and I did whatever I thought. Gena Rowlands starting-out people thinking I love independent filmmaking. I don't agree with a lot of it, but that's the point. Gena Rowlands movie independent actors [John Cassavetes] came backstage afterwards and introduced himself and we talked a bit, and then went for a little coffee at the Russian Tea Room next door. It just...started. Gena Rowlands coffee tea doors I only watch my movies that I make once, so I can just see how it hangs together, but after that, I don't watch them again. A lot of people have disappeared from Earth that you've worked with, and they make me sort of sad once in a while, and there's really no necessity for me to watch them. I've made them, and it's on film and that's that. Gena Rowlands together watches people I'd wanted to be [an actress] all my life. Gena Rowlands actresses wanted John Cassavetes wrote A Woman Under the Influence as a play. He said, "Hey, I wrote you a play." And I said, "Great, let's read it." I read it and I said, "John, I couldn't do this every night and twice on Wednesday and Saturday". Gena Rowlands hey play night I went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, which was in Carnegie Hall, which itself was exciting - just to walk into it. Gena Rowlands carnegie dramatic art I think I have the only parents in the world who would not have said something against become an actress. Gena Rowlands parent world thinking I read the script of [Woman Under the Influence ] 50 times. And I thought about it. And then I did it. Gena Rowlands scripts influence When I went to my parents I was at the University of Wisconsin, and I just couldn't wait anymore to go be an actress. Gena Rowlands wisconsin parent waiting It was a very hard play [Woman Under the Influence] to do every night. And John Cassavetes said, "Don't worry. Don't even think about it, you're right. I hadn't thought of that." He said, "Just forget it." Gena Rowlands play night thinking John Cassavetes was a year ahead of me but we met there. What you do when you are at a school for drama, you do a play as opposed to a final. Anyone who wanted to come could just come. So he came, and I can't remember the name of the play, of course, it was a long time ago. Gena Rowlands drama years school A Woman Under the Influence was my favorite. I loved doing that. And it was challenging. Gena Rowlands my-favorite influence challenges So after the Shadows he acted and directed. And it worked out very nicely. And he wrote, obviously. Gena Rowlands very-nice shadow
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