After college, I funded my short films with acting roles in film and TV. I learned my craft through the great opportunities British television gave me as a director.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I studied directing prior to acting and I've done music videos and documentaries and things that were sort of well-received.
I became a director just for the love of movies, because of the power of cinema.
I became a film director, but I wasn't successful with my first couple of films, so I had to turn to becoming a film critic to make a living.
I was a film student. I became an actor, but I thought I'd be pursuing filmmaking originally.
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.
After I left college, I went to work at the Royal Opera House in London, which became a real catalyst for me because it made me realize that I was interested in cinema and in the way life is thrust at you. So I started making films.
I loved cinema while growing up and, for the longest time, wanted to be a director.
I learned my business in the theater and in television, particularly working with the actors. You can learn much more in the theater than directing a movie, because then you have no time when you are shooting a movie to really work with the actors. You have to learn this craft somewhere else.
When I left university I was working for a documentary film company for six or seven years to the great relief of my father whose greatest waking fear was that I would become an actor.
I took myself out of the business to study film at NYU and the School of Visual Arts. I grew up on movie sets and was fascinated with the camera and behind-the-scenes work. I felt it would help my career as an actor if I knew all aspects of film.