103 Quotes by Damien Chazelle

I tend to latch on to things and not let go.

I didn't have traditional stage fright. If there was 500 people in the audience or three people in the audience, it didn't really make a difference. What made a difference was the conductor. Everything that I was scared about as a drummer was him.

I do truly believe that the smallest stories can wind up being the biggest because it's through the specific that a writer can best access the universal.

I feel like a lot of directing is casting.

I don't like the idea the viewer can kind of sit there and go, 'Make me like this person.' People aren't inherently sympathetic.

The end result of my personal story is that I became a really good drummer, and I know myself well enough to know that I wouldn't have without this really tough conductor and this really cutthroat hostile environment I was in.

The greatest thing has been that projects that were pipe dreams before 'Whiplash' are now feeling more realistic.

I love being in the editing room and playing with tempo and with the rhythm of shots.

My first movie was totally improvised.