"A good director's not sure when he gets on the set what he's going to do"

Elia Kazan's quote talks to the value of being open to innovative possibilities when directing a film. He suggests that an excellent director ought to not be too rigid in their method, but rather want to check out different concepts and approaches as they work. This is due to the fact that a director's task is to bring the best out of the product they are working with, and this can just be done if they are open to originalities and methods. By being open to new ideas, a director can produce something really distinct and special. This quote also speaks with the value of collaboration in filmmaking, as a director must be willing to deal with their cast and team to create something genuinely special. Ultimately, Elia Kazan's quote speaks to the value of being open to creative possibilities when directing a film, and the importance of partnership in filmmaking.