"If they're working in a workshop somewhere, where there is, let's say, uh... only twenty people, or something like that, that's still, when they work and do a scene, that's still working in front of somebody"
About this Quote
The specific intent feels pedagogical, almost gently corrective. Walston is puncturing the beginner fantasy that you can incubate confidence in private and then unveil a polished self later. In his view, the muscle you’re training isn’t just craft, it’s exposure. Twenty people is "only" small until you’re the one trying to be truthful while someone shifts in their chair, suppresses a laugh, or looks away. The subtext: if you can’t handle that room, you can’t handle the job.
Contextually, coming from a working actor known for navigating both stage and screen, the quote echoes an older, pragmatic performance culture: you learn by doing it in front of whoever’s there. There’s also a democratic edge. Walston implies that "somebody" counts. It’s not about crowds or celebrity; it’s about the basic social contract of acting: you offer something vulnerable, and the presence of even one witness changes everything.
Quote Details
| Topic | Movie |
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| Source | Help us find the source |
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Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Walston, Ray. (2026, January 16). If they're working in a workshop somewhere, where there is, let's say, uh... only twenty people, or something like that, that's still, when they work and do a scene, that's still working in front of somebody. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-theyre-working-in-a-workshop-somewhere-where-124912/
Chicago Style
Walston, Ray. "If they're working in a workshop somewhere, where there is, let's say, uh... only twenty people, or something like that, that's still, when they work and do a scene, that's still working in front of somebody." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-theyre-working-in-a-workshop-somewhere-where-124912/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"If they're working in a workshop somewhere, where there is, let's say, uh... only twenty people, or something like that, that's still, when they work and do a scene, that's still working in front of somebody." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-theyre-working-in-a-workshop-somewhere-where-124912/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
