If I think back to every rehearsal process for every play I've ever worked on, there's just so much crying at home. I barely sleep. There are moments of deep despair and anxiety, and then there are moments in rehearsal that are the most exhilarating; feeling seen and seeing everybody. Feeling like you have a purpose on the planet. A huge part of the process I enjoy is watching the actors figuring out what they can handle and what they can take and what they need from the director and me.
Annie BakerI never had a lot of ideas. I always have exactly one that is the next project; the idea of a project beyond that project is ludicrous.
Annie BakerFilm can express things that computers never will. Film is a series of photographs separated by split seconds of darkness. Film is light and shadow.
Annie BakerI'm terrible at speaking extemporaneously about my work - I get completely tongue-tied and consumed with fear.
Annie BakerFor early plays of mine, I started with character. But I think that's because I hadn't been in theaters; I hadn't worked that much. I'm very interested in character, obviously, but once I started having my plays produced, I became so fascinated by the theatrical experiment and the weirdness of theatrical space, so now all my plays start with space and stage picture and setting - or container is maybe the better way to put it.
Annie Baker