Debbie Allen quotes

Debbie Allen is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, and director, acclaimed for her versatility in the performing arts. She gained widespread recognition for her work on the television series "Fame" and her significant contributions to theater, film, and television. She has inspired countless people through her artistry, mentorship, and advocacy for the arts. Here are 28 of her quotes:

I'm always moving forward.

Debbie Allen

Michael Ralph brilliantly plays the street prophet, a West Indian who foreshadows the Harlem riot.

Debbie Allen

Time management is a big part of the director's job.

Debbie Allen

The clothes back in those days were made so much better than clothes are today. They actually took time to make clothes to fit a woman's body. Today they make clothes that fit sizes, so it stretches to fit this and that.

Debbie Allen

I design my shots. I walk the rehearsal as the camera and say 'this is where I want to be... I want this look.

Debbie Allen

You have to examine a scene on the page first. Then you get into the basics of acting: Who are you? Who are you talking to? How do you feel about that person?

Debbie Allen

It goes back to a style of moviemaking I remember seeing as a child, in movies like The Man With The Golden Arm, which I think was shot all on a sound stage.

Debbie Allen

There are some scenes that work beautifully in a moving, sweeping master, which is how I like to work.

Debbie Allen

The radio for these women is like television is for us today, which is really like looking at the radio.

Debbie Allen

As far as pacing the shoot is concerned, I know when I've got it. I don't think there's any reason to take ten takes unless you need them.

Debbie Allen

I didn't need the insurance. I do it again if my DP tells me it didn't look good in the camera or if the actors didn't hit their marks. But if everything was working why do it again?

Debbie Allen

It's kind of dangerous to cut in the camera, but that's the only way I know how to direct.

Debbie Allen

I use something that is a real staple in the directing world. It's called a dance floor. You lay it down so that it's so smooth you can roll around, and you can put furniture on top of it. It's seamless and you don't see it.

Debbie Allen

That's the only way I can control my movie. If you shoot everything, then everything is liable to end up in the movie. If you have a vision, you don't have to cover every scene.

Debbie Allen

(Self-checkout is) negative because more and more retailers are losing the personal touch. People want to do business where people know their name and communicate with them. With a world full of email and more self-service we will begin to start seeking out the basics from retailers who create emotion. There is not emotion out of self-service and most people buy out of emotion.

Debbie Allen

I think a good director casts a film so that the actors bring a lot to the table.

Debbie Allen

As one who loves literature, art, music and history, I've been deeply rooted in the Harlem Renaissance for many years.

Debbie Allen

Everything has to be well thought out - what do you really need, when can you do with less coverage.

Debbie Allen

A director just pushes them a little this way or that way.

Debbie Allen

The biggest challenge was that we had to shoot so quickly and with such a limited budget.

Debbie Allen

But it was not possible to do this movie, in this matter of time, without a solid rehearsal period.

Debbie Allen

The production team's first meeting took place at my house. I had ideas and a color scheme in mind, how I wanted the movie to look, because that has to be a real collaboration.

Debbie Allen