Gene [Hackman] told me he only needed four instructions
from directors. Louder. Softer. Faster. Slower.
—Dan Ackroyd, Feb. 27, 2025

•••

When you think about it, they’re among the best
directions anyone can give—and sure,

now you’re thinking about sex, and sure,
they work for that, too—but imagine for

a moment a nothing-special interaction
between two people, whether in life

or on film, and think tempo, think volume,
think how softer/slower lands on the ear

compared to louder/slower or certainly
faster/louder. Couldn’t we all lower

the decibels in our overheated dialogue,
drop the threatening tone, deliver

kinder words clearly and at just the right
pitch? Might your icy shell melt a little

if someone you’ve classified as antagonist
murmured a soft and slow “I hear you”

at just the right moment and then
proceeded to truly listen? Might you

return the favor and begin to watch
the gulf between you and your

former foe imperceptibly, impossibly,
start to shrink?