"I directed before I was even in television; I directed in the theatre for seven years, so that was my trade anyway. But in the UK, I've given up any hope of being considered a director"

Mel Smith's quote speaks with the problem of being a director in the UK. He acknowledges that he has been directing for seven years in the theatre, however he has quit any hope of being considered a director in the UK. This suggests that the UK is not as open to directors as other nations, which it is tough to be acknowledged as a director in the UK. Smith's quote also suggests that he has actually needed to give up his dream of being a director in the UK, and that he has needed to go for being a star instead. This might be due to the absence of opportunities for directors in the UK, or the lack of acknowledgment for directors in the UK. Smith's quote is a pointer of the troubles of being a director in the UK, and the requirement for more support and recognition for directors in the UK.