![“ I love working with directors who deal with the whole process as opposed to just shooting the film. [Soderbergh] never...](https://img3.businesses10.com/684/210/1419717866842102.jpg)
04/04/2026
“ I love working with directors who deal with the whole process as opposed to just shooting the film. [Soderbergh] never looked at the monitor which I thought was a great thing and unusual. He was always watching the action. He was always watching the interaction of the actors.” —Steve Zahn “[Alexander Payne] doesn’t watch the monitor. It’s fun to have a director there when you’re doing it.” —Jack Nicholson “When directors are “a block away [behind the monitors], you’re not sure that they’re seeing what’s really going on, because they’re looking at this little screen. With Steven [Soderbergh] being right there with you, it’s not hard to believe if he says, ? got it,’ or ? didn’t get it.’ You believe him.” —Don Cheadle “[Milos Forman] would sit right next to the lens and completely concentrate on you so that he cut everything else out of the moment but you. And he was that way each day for six and a half months on Amadeus.” —F. Murray Abraham
The director should be realistic about what will and will not work in his case. Use common sense. If these actor-oriented processes are not your cup of tea, perhaps it’s best to be honest, open, and sincere about your limitations and stay out of the actors’ way. They’ll do a better job for you on their own than they ever will if you intrude onto their turf without understanding their craft.
