Robert De Niro is a People Watcher  1/20/07

Robert De Niro makes real people the true stars of his movies - because the actor/director gets inspiration for characters by people-watching.

The star confesses he eavesdrops in restaurants to pick up ideas for people and scenes.

The Good Shepherd director explains, "I observe people, I observe certain things. Maybe they'll be things that are not literally connected to what I'm working on, but I'll notice their body language say in a restaurant. I'll know what they're doing, whatever that may be. That'll remind me, and I'll use it in a scene."