A lot of legendary actors have turned into directors over the course of their careers in Hollywood and most of them have been successful even as a director. Although directing and acting are 2 very different things, most actors like to jump the rope and run and act in the same movie. Clint Eastwood essentially introduced this whole concept where he directed and acted in his own films and the movies were also produced by his own production company.
According to sources, Clint Eastwood received some invaluable advice on his directorial debut movie, Play Misty for Me by Don Siegel, and the American actor continues to follow this advice to date.
Clint Eastwood received some invaluable advice on his directorial debut
Clint Eastwood made his directorial debut back in 1971 with the psychological thriller movie, Play Misty for Me, which went on to define his career as a director. Once in an interview with Esquire, Eastwood was asked about the advice he was given by Don Siegel.
The interviewer asked Eastwood,
“Clint, when you were about to direct yourself in Play Misty for Me, director Don Siegel told you, ‘Don’t short yourself.’ You said it was advice you live by. Talk to me about that.“
Eastwood talked about the advice and explained how Siegel wanted him to also focus on his acting as well as directing. He said,
“What he meant was when you are directing and starring in a film, there’s a temptation to spend more time on the other actors’ performances, and then when you get to your own work, you kind of go, “Oh, yeah, well, let’s cut that.” And he said, ‘Take your time and make sure you do your work right.’ It’s especially good advice if you’re going from one career to another.”
Clint Eastwood also founded his own production company, Malpso Productions back in 1967, which further added to the success of the actor.
The Pale Rider actor talks about directing and producing his own movies
Ever since Clint Eastwood found his own production company, Malpso Productions back in 1967, the company has produced all but four of his American projects. The interviewer further asked Eastwood about how he basically introduced the concept of directing and producing his own projects in Hollywood and the actor revealed that he follows his father’s advice on the subject. He said,
“I was forty the first time I directed. I formed a company in 1967, looking to the future. My dad taught me that whatever you do, do it well. Be the best at what you can do for that particular job in life. That always resonated with me.”
Clint Eastwood is all set to get back to work at the age of 93 later this year as a director and producer as he announced in April that Juror #2 will be his final project.
Juror #2 was supposed to start filming this month, but the project has been allegedly delayed indefinitely due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.