Quotes by Steve Buscemi

About Steve Buscemi:

Steven Vincent is an American actor, director, writer, and retired firefighter. Buscemi has starred and supported in successful Hollywood and indie films, including Parting Glances, New York Stories, Mystery Train, Reservoir Dogs, Desperado, Con Air, Armageddon, The Grey Zone, Ghost World, Big Fish, and The Sopranos. He is also known for his appearances in many films by the Coen brothers: Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, and The Big Lebowski. Buscemi provides the voice of Randall Boggs in the Monsters, Inc. franchise. He frequently makes appearances in films that star Adam Sandler.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I'd say that the director I had most involvement with was Alex Rockwell in 'In the Soup'. It was one of my earliest leading roles, and he gave me a lot of responsibility as an actor.

Steve Buscemi

I'm not so in a rush to direct just anything because I'm lucky that I can make a living so far as an actor and not have to worry about that as a director. And so I can be a little more choosy in things I direct.

Steve Buscemi

I think it's important to create an atmosphere where actors feel like they can try things out. It doesn't mean that I'll take every suggestion, but I want there to be some room for actors to grow.

Steve Buscemi

To me, score is really important. I would rather not have any score if it's something that's going to detract from the film. So often when I watch films, the score is what really bothers me.

Steve Buscemi

It's not like I'm looking for things that I can direct that I can also act in, but when it's right, I feel like the actor side of me wants to have that opportunity.

Steve Buscemi

With Animal Factory you'd think that because it's mostly interiors, you could shoot it anywhere. So we shot this in Philadelphia, and we had the cooperation of the prison system.

Steve Buscemi

Whenever you do something that is in a continuous take, and something that we're not used to doing, because it was all in the details of if you don't make one move seem natural, it can give away all of it.

Steve Buscemi

There’s something about being naïve. Really interesting things come because you don’t know what the rules are, what you can and can’t do.

Steve Buscemi

When I was doing stand-up, I was about twenty, and I really think that that's a little too young. I didn't have a whole lot of life experience to draw on.

Steve Buscemi

By nature, I think I am a pretty private person, and that is what is hard even doing interviews for films that I really love doing, because in some ways, it diminishes the experience that I had.

Steve Buscemi

When I moved to the East Village in the late seventies, I wanted to be a street performer, so I practiced daily. I never did work up the skills or the courage to perform on the street, though.

Steve Buscemi

Communication is the key, and it's one thing I had to learn-to talk to the actors. I was so involved with the visual and technical aspects that I would forget about the actors.

Steve Buscemi

My greatest hope was to get discovered as a comedian and get on a sitcom.

Steve Buscemi

There's a certain type of character that you can't help but come in contact with growing up and living in Brooklyn and Long Island. A certain mixture of moxie, heart, and a wise guy sense of humor.

Steve Buscemi

I read the script and decide if a particular character looks fun to play. I look for complexity and a sense of humor. Those are crucial, real things to life.

Steve Buscemi

I just like playing interesting, complex, complicated characters. I like films that also have an element of humor.

Steve Buscemi

My dad had a temper. I have a temper. Most people I know have a temper. And I think it comes out mostly with your family. I don't think it's unique to the Buscemis, but it's something I've been able to tap into when I play certain roles.

Steve Buscemi

I don't think it's necessary to be an actor to get great performances out of an actor. But I do think it helps me as a director because I know what I like as an actor, and I try to get that to the actors who I'm working with.

Steve Buscemi

I've certainly worked with really great directors who haven't acted.

Steve Buscemi

I love working with Scorsese. He's not only a brilliant director and is great working with actors, but he's also a walking human film encyclopedia. It's fun to talk about movies with him.

Steve Buscemi

It doesn't matter so much where the material comes from, as long as it's good.

Steve Buscemi

Author Bio

  • NameSteve Buscemi
  • DescriptionAmerican actor, director and writer
  • AliasesSteven Vincent "Steve" Buscemi; Steven Vincent Buscemi
  • BornDecember 13, 1957
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionActor; Television Actor; Film Actor; Film Director; Film Producer