Audiences aren’t fools – their judgement really is important. And the true heroes of films are the investors. They take the risk, after all.
Stephen Frears
I teach film directing, inasmuch as you can. It’s not really possible to teach film direction, but I sit there as a sort of testimony of experience and know-how, I suppose.
Stephen Frears
I like a lot of takes. I just go on until the actors get it right.
Stephen Frears
I like making films about different cultures. I’m interested in things that I’ve never encountered before. I try to put myself in the audience’s position.
Stephen Frears
The only way you can learn about making films is by making them, by putting your stamp on the thing.
Stephen Frears
To be successful at anything, you need the right to fail, not just occasionally.
Stephen Frears
As a director, my job is to protect. I protect scripts, actors, cameramen, designers.
Stephen Frears
I’m Jewish; I’m not religious at all, and I wouldn’t pretend to know anything about Catholic politics.
Stephen Frears
Truth is quite constricting, in a way. You endlessly see at the start of a film ‘This is a true story’.
Stephen Frears
I’ve always found poverty a source of strength.
Stephen Frears
I remember reading the script for ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ and thinking that I could quite happily spend the rest of my life watching this film; the story and the writing were so wonderful.
Stephen Frears
When I go and teach, it sort of opens me up in some way. And when you’re open, you’re more receptive.
Stephen Frears
I never thought I was very good at developing material. I grew up at the BBC where they sent you scripts.
Stephen Frears
It never crossed my mind to make a film about Muhammad Ali or the Queen or any of them! They just come out of the blue.
Stephen Frears
I have people around me. I have a semi-permanent crew. If I make a film, they just turn up. They don’t even invite themselves. They don’t ask if they can come – they just turn up!
Stephen Frears
I want my films to get audiences. I am not interested in making them just for myself.
Stephen Frears
There’s one thing now that I experience every day when I’m making a film. I get up and think to myself, ‘Am I going to be able to do it today?’ I figure as long as I have that fear, I’ll be alright.
Stephen Frears
I can’t write; I don’t think I’m even particularly good at telling a writer what’s good or what’s missing. So, actually having someone who can do that is a godsend.
Stephen Frears
I never expected to become a director. It never occurred to me to come to America, to Hollywood. It’s all been a wonderful accident. I’m still amazed every time I finish a film.
Stephen Frears
Film schools didn’t exist when I was growing up. I learned by working with clever people. Good writers and cinematographers.
Stephen Frears
I wouldn’t want to make the same film every time. I get easily bored.
Stephen Frears
I’m from the Midlands. I lived in London for 50 years, but I’m not sure that I think of myself as a Londoner. I can see that we’re all metropolitan, whether we are Londoners or not.
Stephen Frears
I don’t generally believe in people being knighted.
Stephen Frears
I’m a Republican, but I like the Queen. Like everyone else, I’m sentimental about the Queen.
Stephen Frears
I had a somewhat charmed life. I was brought up at the BBC. I did meet so many people cleverer than myself in those years. Often, I was slapped down and made to feel not good enough.
Stephen Frears
Oh, I live in London. So, whether I like it or not, I am a member of the metropolitan elite. If I were anywhere else in the country, I’d hate me.
Stephen Frears
There isn’t a route to success. Make a film. If people like it, you’ll be okay. There is no route that I know of.
Stephen Frears
This black hole that people talk about in my career in the ’70s, when I didn’t make any films – in retrospect, what I was doing was learning my job.
Stephen Frears
Cyclists are insane. You’re going through the Alps, climbing up mountains. There’s this circus around them. They’re so tough. When they have a day off, they go out and cycle 100 miles.
Stephen Frears
It’s Marvel movies that get the big audiences.
Stephen Frears
I only watch films in the cinema. I’m old fashioned. I’m a lost cause.
Stephen Frears
When I was young, my family used to go and stay in hotels on the south coast in places like Devon. I loved those holidays because they were with my brothers, who were away at school; I really looked forward to them.
Stephen Frears
I have to travel for my work, so the idea of getting on planes depresses me. They give me frequent-flyer points, and I think, ‘I don’t want them, because I’m sick of flying!’
Stephen Frears
I have never been to Australia, because the flight terrifies me, but I think I would like to go there one day.
Stephen Frears