Michael Pitt Quotes

I think in some ways you learn more from the things you don't like than the things you do.

Acting is really scary, but it's also challenging, fun, hard work. There's always an element of improvisation with every actor, even when something is really scripted.

If a religious person says "No, no, no" and they won't listen to science, it makes me think that they don't have faith in their own religion.

There are two kinds of directors: There's the kind where two plus two equals four, and you have to help them figure it out. And then there's the kind that throws you in a room, locks the door, sets the house on fire and films it.

So many of us have our asses watching stupid reality shows, desensitizing our brains. Like, "Wow, isn't that dumb, but I'm so entertained right now! That's the stupidest thing I've seen in my life - give me more of it!" You know what I'm talking about. I turn on the television and I'm like, "This is so bad, but I cannot get my fucking eyes off of it." It's not good.

I have fun making films. I love making films. It's the only thing I know how to do. And I do it well.

Right now is a very interesting time because of the digital cameras, and the fact that you can edit anywhere. It's a great time to be a filmmaker, is a great time to be starting off.

I've noticed that sometimes when you keep things a little smaller, it's easier to focus on the creative aspects of what you're doing.

I want my audience to say, "Wow, this is a film I'm benefiting from. I'm benefiting from what this filmmaker is trying to say." I'd always rather learn and be entertained than be entertained and feel myself getting dumber by the moment.

It sounds cliche, but success is your friends, your family, what you do, and if you're happy when you wake up.

You always have nerves. And it's important to respect your nerves and your doubts. And then you have to ultimately overcome them.

I'm always trying to work on scripts. I'm pretty selective. Sometimes maybe too much because I'm broke .

I'm not really equipped to do anything else but making movies. In every other aspect of my life I'm a total failure.

I've worked with a lot great directors who have huge resumes, but I'm really trying to be active in my career in supporting the new generation of cinema. I like taking some time to try to support and be a part of that.

From where I started to where I'm at right now I'm loaded in retrospect to the opportunities that I have. As far as money and the scheme of the world, I don't cash in. I do films because I'm sensitive and maybe stupid, and that I feel like I'm going to have fun on and feel like I'm going to have a good experience with. It's not about punching in and selling soap.

I feel that film, as opposed to theatre, is about capturing that one, real moment.

I needed to stay in the character.

Well, the first thing I wanted to be was a carpenter. Then I wanted to be a painter and then a singer. It was when I first saw 'Lawrence of Arabia' that I wanted to be an actor.

I think that it's important not to take [acting] too seriously. It's all pretend. It's a strange job.

I saw the main character played by Mads Mikkelsen, and he's amazing. Hannibal had that going for it.

Different films have different places in people's lives. I don't get to see a lot of films, so I want to watch films I learn from.

I was really impressed with Naomi [Watts]. She was a producer, and she was doing things that I wasn't really aware of. The way she was able to switch from handling problems to shoot a really difficult scene, I think is a real testament to her true ability.

If I'm able to catch the screening, there's a point in the film where, like clockwork, a portion of the audience gets really emotional and begins to cry. And that's very difficult to make happen.

When people go at war they cheapen things.

Some directors are very free and some directors are very specific. It seemed like doing a play.