"I never direct myself, because I don't like working with me. I would punch me in the mouth if I had to take my direction"
About this Quote
In this quote, Ron Perlman humorously expresses his unwillingness to direct himself in a movie or task setting. At its core, the statement exposes a self-awareness and understanding of his personal working style and personality.
The quote starts with Perlman's admission, "I never direct myself", which straightforwardly states his avoidance of self-direction. This might suggest that he chooses to focus exclusively on acting without the extra responsibilities and pressures that come with directing. By picking not to direct himself, Perlman permits himself to stay totally immersed in his function as a star, without the diversions and divided attention required to supervise an entire production.
The middle part of the quote, "since I do not like working with me", humorously recommends that Perlman might find himself hard to handle or collaborate with, at least from the perspective of a director. This could be a sign of his high standards or the particular needs he makes from himself as a star, which may contravene the objective viewpoint a director need to maintain. He acknowledges that he may not react well to his own direction, hinting at a potential inner dispute or the obstacles of self-critique.
Lastly, Perlman's remark, "I would punch me in the mouth if I had to take my instructions", includes a layer of comical exaggeration to the sentiment. The vivid images of punching himself highlights his belief that he might not follow his own direction effectively, leading to frustration. It also serves to highlight the frequently contradictory nature of self-evaluation, where one's critical inner guide might be at chances with one's actions.
In general, Perlman's quote talks to the intricacy of balancing one's creative identity with imaginative control. It underscores the value of acknowledging personal constraints and choices, opting instead to contribute one's strengths to a collaborative effort in filmmaking.
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