Robert De Niro regularly passes on tips and advice to directors on his films input, gained from his expertise and years of experience in the film industry.
The Oscar-winner who has starred in hugely successful films such as 'The Godfather Part II', 'Raging Bull' and many more - says he gives his tips and input to the directors of his films, including close friend Martin Scorsese, on everything from costumes to the script.
He said: "When you're directing, you think of everything ... The few times I've directed, if someone comes up with something you missed, you're glad to hear that."
De Niro recently offered his help to director Luc Besson, who helmed his latest film, 'The Family', which co-stars Michelle Pfeiffer. The actor says that as a native New Yorker, he was able to act as an authority on his home state.
Explaining, "I did it with Luc. In a New York scene, the way the set was set up, it wasn't the way it was in New York and I said, 'Do this, do that, pull it that way.' "
While De Niro is best known for his dramatic roles as mobsters in 'Godfather' and 'GoodFellas', he has had a lot more comedic roles in recent years, but he insists this is simply by chance.
He told the Sunday Times newspaper: "It just sort of happened. It kind of started with 'Analyze This'. Billy Crystal brought it to me and we had a reading. There are some kinds of comedy I can't do - certain kinds of slapstick."
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