Film directing
Subject in TV & Film
Film directing has come up in 2 episodes across 1 podcast in TMT, including SmartLess. 3 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Tom HanksAmerican actor, director and producer
Hanks says he lacks a director's instincts and believes true directors are born into it.
“But I think directors more so than myself as an actor, they're born into it”
SmartLess: "RE-RELEASE: Tom Hanks" (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 43:42
Hanks argues that actors and directors should each try the other's job to understand its difficulty.
“I believe every actor should direct. I think every director should have to act”
SmartLess: "RE-RELEASE: Tom Hanks" (Jun 11, 2026) · Listen from 41:33
Timothy OlyphantAmerican actor known for Deadwood, Justified and Alien: Earth
Olyphant said Steven Soderbergh gave him no notes over three months, with one exchange rating a take.
“On a scale of one to 10, that was a seven, maybe an eight. And I was like, all right, cool”
SmartLess: "Timothy Olyphant" (Jul 20, 2026) · Listen from 45:19
Jason BatemanAmerican actor and director, co-host of SmartLess
Bateman said directing actors is about people skills because an actor who leaves a note session feeling bad gives a worse performance.
“you're going to get a worse performance if you leave that note session with the actor and the actor feels bad”
SmartLess: "Timothy Olyphant" (Jul 20, 2026) · Listen from 43:19
Coverage over time
Podcasts
- SmartLess · 2 episodes
Episodes
"Timothy Olyphant"SmartLess · Jul 20, 2026 · 60 min
SmartLess hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes talk with actor Timothy Olyphant about arrests, acting range, Deadwood, directors' notes and upcoming projects.
- "RE-RELEASE: Tom Hanks"
SmartLess · Jun 11, 2026 · 1 h 4 min
Tom Hanks joins Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes to discuss World War II, Saving Private Ryan, his early career, directing, streaming and loving his work.