Quotes about film
page 13

“It takes less effort to stream a film at home these days. However, streaming should not fundamentally affect how a film is made, as long as the pleasure of watching films doesn’t change, and we as filmmakers continue to serve that purpose.”

Wong Kar-wai (1958) Hong Kong screenwriter, film producer and film director

"5 Questions for Wong Kar Wai" in Notebook Feature (19 March 2021) https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/5-questions-for-wong-kar-wai

Pleasure, Home, Effort, Change

“When I was young, the idea of “world cinema” didn’t exist. We would watch any films that we could find in the cinemas. Today, some of those films have become accessible again on streaming platforms. In a way, it doesn’t matter as much where they exist as long as people have access to them.”

Wong Kar-wai (1958) Hong Kong screenwriter, film producer and film director

"5 Questions for Wong Kar Wai" in Notebook Feature (19 March 2021) https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/5-questions-for-wong-kar-wai

People, World, Way, Idea

“Filmmaking is an organic process from start to finish, so there should be many surprises along the way. You never know what film you really have until it is delivered.”

Wong Kar-wai (1958) Hong Kong screenwriter, film producer and film director

"5 Questions for Wong Kar Wai" in Notebook Feature (19 March 2021) https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/5-questions-for-wong-kar-wai

Way

“Of course, people are more affected by actors or acting. But as a filmmaker, I need some logic. And this was my logic in making these two films, and how I connected these stories and these films together. People say my films don’t have any plot or storyline, but in my logic there is a storyline.”

Wong Kar-wai (1958) Hong Kong screenwriter, film producer and film director

"Wong Kar-wai by Han Ong" in Bomb Magazine (1 Janaury 1998) https://bombmagazine.org/articles/wong-kar-wai-1/

People

“You try to cope with the mass audience, but in fact you are not doing something for them—I would be fighting with myself. I thought, I don’t have to make big films, I can make small films that I can be happy with. I can find my own audience.”

Wong Kar-wai (1958) Hong Kong screenwriter, film producer and film director

"Wong Kar-wai by Han Ong" in Bomb Magazine (1 Janaury 1998) https://bombmagazine.org/articles/wong-kar-wai-1/

Happiness, Fight

“It was my dream! I wanted to know what exactly martial arts is. When you look at martial arts films, the later ones became more and more exaggerated. It’s like, wow, is martial arts only a show?”

Wong Kar-wai (1958) Hong Kong screenwriter, film producer and film director

"The Demonstrative Wong Kar Wai" in Interview Magazine (22 August 2013) https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/wong-kar-wai-the-grandmaster

Dreams, Art

“Filmmaking is a journey. Some people are lucky, they get instant success but for others it’s a process, it’s not something that can be achieved in a day. You might even get success overnight but the effort, the dedication, the passion and the love for making films are a continuous process.”

Rima Das (1982) Indian Assamese film maker

Hindustan Times Article - Filmmaking is a journey, says Rima Das - 22 May 2020 https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/filmmaking-is-a-journey-says-rima-das/story-a1CstyaT4LaGfdBrJ8AzMM.html - Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20210728190259/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/filmmaking-is-a-journey-says-rima-das/story-a1CstyaT4LaGfdBrJ8AzMM.html

Love, People, Effort, Passion

“No one can teach you how to compose a shot. You are only guided by an instinct. It has to come from within. I learned cinema by working on my films. The best thing was that I bought my own camera, and since I was working on the digital medium, I had the freedom to experiment, shoot more.”

Rima Das (1982) Indian Assamese film maker

SilverScreenIndia Article - Making A Zero Budget Movie: The Tale Of Assamese Filmmaker Rima Das’s ‘Village Rockstars’ - 20 November 2017 https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/features/interviews/making-a-zero-budget-movie-the-tale-of-assamese-filmmaker-rima-dass-village-rockstars/ - Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20210728183808/https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/features/interviews/making-a-zero-budget-movie-the-tale-of-assamese-filmmaker-rima-dass-village-rockstars/

Freedom, Learning

“If people are criticising your work, take it in the right spirit and try to find out what is wrong. I made a lot of mistakes on my first film and told myself not to do it again. Remember that you’re not making a film to keep it in a box, it’s for the people.”

Rima Das (1982) Indian Assamese film maker

Film Companion Article - Rima Das Gives Tips On Zero Budget Filmmaking - 4 November 2017 https://www.filmcompanion.in/interviews/bollywood-interview/rima-das-gives-tips-on-zero-budget-filmmaking/ - Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20210728182917/https://www.filmcompanion.in/interviews/bollywood-interview/rima-das-gives-tips-on-zero-budget-filmmaking/

People, Box

“My fascination is with relationships at their most microcosmic. The more epic, the more uninteresting the film-making becomes. It becomes about getting the perfect crane shot.”

Lynn Shelton (1965–2020) American film director, screenwriter, film editor, actress and film producer (1965-2020)

Journalist Tim Teeman's Blog - Lynn Shelton: Hannah, her sister and their lover - 19 June 2012 https://www.timteeman.com/2012/06/19/lynn-shelton-hannah-her-sister-and-their-lover/ - Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20210727184304/https://www.timteeman.com/2012/06/19/lynn-shelton-hannah-her-sister-and-their-lover/

Perfection

“I used to be really, really shy, which is never a good thing because you never speak up for yourself. Now I don't stop talking! But in terms of being recognised, it doesn't really happen that often. I get the odd person coming up and saying they love the films.”

Katie Leung (1987) Scottish actress

"Movies - interview - Katie Leung" in BBC (9 July 2007) http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/07/09/katie_leung_harry_potter_5_2007_interview.shtml

Love, Personality

“I have been filming a lot away from home this year. So the minute I finish, I will dash home to be with my family and be surrounded by Christmas trees and Christmas cheer.”

Michelle Yeoh (1962) Malaysian-born actress of Chinese ethnicity

"Under No Circumstances Will Michelle Yeoh Be Serving a Christmas Turkey" in Vogue (19 November 2019) https://www.vogue.com/article/michelle-yeoh-interview-last-christmas

Family, Home, Tree, Christmas

“Film making is a miniature sized capitalism. Money and money people talk. Some people tend to think they can be more creative than the director they hire.”

Hideo Nakata (1961) Japanese film director

Hideo Nakata interview: on directing Chatroom, the Internet, and making films in the UK https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/hideo-nakata-interview-on-directing-chatroom-the-internet-and-making-films-in-the-uk/ (June 8, 2011)

Money, People, Thinking

“I really love being the person who in the end gets to make the decisions and have it become the way you want it to be and that urge is an overpowering urge that I have that makes me want to make films.”

Joan Micklin Silver (1935–2020) American film director

NYWIFT Archive - Interview by Norma Davidoff - at 43 Min 29 Sec - Remembering Joan Micklin Silver, Director & NYWIFT Advisory Board Member https://www.nywift.org/remembering-joan-micklin-silver/ - Original Interview from 5 April 2006 - Published 15 January 2021 - Youtube Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYFKZK7svpY - Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20210911143358/https://www.nywift.org/remembering-joan-micklin-silver/

Love, Way, Decision, Personality

“My own experience with my films has been that the more I’m left alone, the better I do. It isn’t that I think I’m smarter than anyone, or anything like that. It’s just that whatever my instincts are, it’s better for me to be able to put those into play in my own work.”

Joan Micklin Silver (1935–2020) American film director

Primary Source - Directors Guild of America’s Visual Oral History Program - Interview by Michael Pressman - Chapter 3 - Visual History with Joan Micklin Silver https://www.dga.org/Craft/VisualHistory/Interviews/Joan-Micklin-Silver.aspx?Filter=Full%20Interview - 19 September 2005 - Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20210911133653/https://www.dga.org/Craft/VisualHistory/Interviews/Joan-Micklin-Silver.aspx?Filter=Full+Interview <br class="br">Secondary Sources - <br class="br">New York Times article by Anita Gates - Joan Micklin Silver, Director of ‘Crossing Delancey,’ Dies at 85 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/01/movies/joan-micklin-silver-dead.html - 1 January 2021 - Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20210911135615/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/01/movies/joan-micklin-silver-dead.html <br class="br">MSN Entertainment article by Tyler Aquilina - Joan Micklin Silver, boundary-breaking director of Crossing Delancey, dies at 85 https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/joan-micklin-silver-boundary-breaking-director-of-crossing-delancey-dies-at-85/ar-BB1cq6Pn - 2 January 2021 - Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20210911134333/https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/joan-micklin-silver-boundary-breaking-director-of-crossing-delancey-dies-at-85/ar-BB1cq6Pn

Thinking

“Growing up as a woman in Korea was tough, but was also a gift at the same time. If I were a Korean man, or a white male in the States, I would not have been able to make this film. You got to experience complex human emotions because you were going through a lot of things.”

Kim Bora (1981) South Korean director

As quoted in "Coming of Age in Korea: Kim Bora Discusses "House of Hummingbird"" in Mubi (27 April 2019) https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/coming-of-age-in-korea-kim-bora-discusses-house-of-hummingbird

Time

“I think the most important is when I was young, I learnt martial arts, that is my special key. I can use my unique martial arts in the film. But after a few years, I really want to do something different... like using martial arts to talk about peace.”

Jet Li (1963) Chinese martial artist and actor

As quoted in Jet Li Interview Transcript https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/01/29/talkasia.li.script/ in CNN (January 29, 2003)

Peace, Art, Thinking

“I almost got no sleep, shooting eight hours in one film, followed by eight hours in another and eight hours in a third film. But whenever we were done at the end of the day, I never thought of packing up. I always couldn’t bear to go home.”

Brigitte Lin (1954) Taiwanese actress

As quoted in "Brigitte Lin, a timeless national treasure" in Taipei Times (15 May 2018) https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2018/05/15/2003693091

Home, Sleep

“I grew up in a middle-class family. Even in terms of real estate, the house that I grew up in is in the middle – between the semi-basement home and the rich house you see in the film. I was really close with friends and relatives from both classes.”

Bong Joon-ho (1969) South Korean film director and screenwriter

As quoted in "Parasite director Bong Joon-ho: 'Korea seems glamorous, but the young are in despair" in The Guardian (31 January 2020) https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jan/31/parasite-director-bong-joon-ho-korea-seems-glamorous-but-the-young-are-in-despair

Family, Home, Housing

“Right now, the industry might have gotten bigger. More people may be watching films. Those are positive aspects. But diversity in Korean cinema has decreased a lot since then. There are more female film students in schools.”

Moon So-ri (1974) South Korean actress

On highlighting the need for diversity in Korean film industry in "Now a director and scriptwriter, actress Moon So-ri speaks about her film" in The Korea Herald (6 Septmeber 2017) http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170906000677

People, School

“I'm just going to continue to think about what kind of films I want to do and what's out there for me to audition for, and I love trying.”

Claudia Kim (1985) South Korean actress

As quoted in "‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Is the Next Big Step for Claudia Kim" in The Wall Street Journal (24 April 2015) https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-88149

Love, Thinking

“All directors always try to do their best. The kind of movie on which they are working does not matter. Directors are limited by the size of the production budget and the amount of time that they have to shoot a film, but they always try to do their best within those constraints.”

Akira Kubo (1936) Japanese actor

Time

“I've got so many movies I would like to make. I've got my western, my World War II bunch of guys on a mission, my spaghetti western, my horror film. But since I know I won't live long enough to do all the movies I want to do, with every movie the goal is to wipe out as many as I can.”

Quentin Tarantino (1963) American film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor

Source: Interview, circa 1994; as quoted in Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies (2003) by Leslie Halliwell, p. 450

War, World, Guy

“Just getting auditions was rough. But also just learning how to act - when I did my first role, in a film I did which was a favour to a friend, I realised I was really bad at it.”

Dave Bautista (1969) American actor and professional wrestler

unsourced

Learning

“When independent-thinking people (and here I do not include the corporate media) begin to rally under flags, when writers, painters, musicians, film makers suspend their judgment and blindly yoke their art to the service of the “Nation,” it’s time for all of us to sit up and worry.”

Arundhati Roy (1961) Indian novelist, essayist

Source: Articles, Come September (29 Sep 2002)

People, Art, Thinking, Time

“With books or film I want to commemorate our youth and the sacrifices they made. No matter how bitter the time was, there is always something beautiful. I want to satisfy my nostalgia and hope [my work] is touching enough to move audiences who may not have the same experiences.”

Geling Yan (1958) Chinese writer and screenwriter

Source: "Turning Loss into Beauty: The Tragedies of Geling Yan" in The Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB930264290705115630 (25 June 1999)

Books, Youth, Beauty, Hope

“One thing I can say is either to look at films very carefully, watch a lot of films, or don't see any films at all. Just imagine!”

Masahiro Shinoda (1931) Japanese film director and screenwriter

Source: The Movie Experience: Conversation with actress Shima Iwashita and director Masahiro Shinoda/Advice to Students http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/conversations/Shinoda_Iwashita/shinoda_iwashita5.html (February 27, 1999)

Imagination

“It is my goal to be more intentional about the choices I make about the themes in my films so this one spoke to me.”

Ego Boyo (1968) Nigerian actress and movie producer

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/381261-how-nigeria-police-can-improve-image-through-film-ego-boyo.html Boyo talks about police officers acts.

“The police have an opportunity to launder their image through positive representation in film.”

Ego Boyo (1968) Nigerian actress and movie producer

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/381261-how-nigeria-police-can-improve-image-through-film-ego-boyo.html Boyo talks about police officers portraying a positive view of life.

“I am on a quest to make movies that question the established norm in Nigeria because I don’t think there should be an established norm, I think that it should be that we’re making all sorts of films telling authentic African stories.”

Ego Boyo (1968) Nigerian actress and movie producer

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/11/12/ego-boyo-i-want-to-make-movies-that-question-the-established-norm-in-nigeria/ Boyo talks about her movie, making grounds in the industry.

Question, Thinking

“Film is often the perfect vehicle to provide education about social issues and to inspire social and political change.”

Stephanie Okereke Linus (1982) Nigerian Actress and singer

Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/exclusive-interview-with-_37_b_11591236 During an interview (December 6 2017)

Education, Change, Perfection

“When people watch a good film with a good message, the result is the same everywhere.”

Stephanie Okereke Linus (1982) Nigerian Actress and singer

Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/exclusive-interview-with-_37_b_11591236 During an interview (December 6 2017)

People

“The most repressed countries often produce some of the most amazing films. I think that it will push people to find a way to express their ideas in new ways.”

Nanfu Wang (1985) director and filmmaker

Source: "Hot Docs 2017 Interview: Nanfu Wang on “I Am Another You”" in Roger Ebert https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/hot-docs-2017-interview-nanfu-wang-on-i-am-another-you (3 May 2017)

People, Way, Idea, Thinking

“During filming, it never occurred to me that I was going to be a part of either film. I was always trying to cut my voice out by having subjects include my question in their answers.”

Nanfu Wang (1985) director and filmmaker

Source: "Hot Docs 2017 Interview: Nanfu Wang on “I Am Another You”" in Roger Ebert https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/hot-docs-2017-interview-nanfu-wang-on-i-am-another-you (3 May 2017)

Question, Parting

“One thing I learned is that cinematography is not something you do by yourself. It’s a group [project]. You need to develop your own vision, but the key to a successful film is communication with your director and your team.”

Halyna Hutchins (1979–2021) Ukrainian-American cinematographer and investigative journalist

Source: Rising Stars of Cinematography (2019)

Communication, Learning, Success

“I often think my life has been a failure. But whenever I drop into a theater and hear women laugh at one of my films, I think, well, if I brightened their day before they went home and did the dishes, maybe my life wasn't wasted, after all.”

Cary Grant (1904–1986) British-American film and stage actor

Source: As quoted in "They Changed Their Careers and Became Famous; Cary a Failure?" https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87358421/the-boston-globe/ by Jack Harrison Pollack, Parade (November 16, 1969), p. 7; and The Filmgoer's Book of Quotes (1978) by Leslie Halliwell, p.229

Life, Women, Home, Failure

“When I’m told to laugh, I begin laughing. Even during filming, when I’m told to crack up, I end up being the only one who cracks up.”

Noa Tsurushima (2001) Japanese actress

“From the director to the international cast, all of them are from deaf families for generations, while the film industry usually entrusts these roles to audacious interpreters that end up being bad imitators of the Sign language.”

Emilio Insolera (1979) Actor and film producer

Source: As quoted in Cinema. Quando il super eroe è sordo https://www.avvenire.it/agora/pagine/sordo(September 10, 2017), Avvenire)

Family

“It’s better to be typecast than not cast. When I worked in theatre I played all sorts of roles, everything was open to me- and when working in TV and film initially too.”

Alan Ford (actor) (1938) English actor

Source: Alan Ford – Interview http://www.gentlemensgoods.com/2014/10/alan-ford-interview/ (2014)

“In the perspective of the audience, the movies that make me think are the most precious. I want to naturally be projected onto the film or role. From there, applying my tendencies and emotions is what I believe is the most natural way for actors to tell a story.”

Gong Yoo (1979) South Korean actor

Source: "Gong Yoo Talks About The Difficulties Of Getting Out Of Character And His Approach As An Actor" https://www.soompi.com/article/1464450wpp/gong-yoo-talks-about-the-difficulties-of-getting-out-of-character-and-his-approach-as-an-actor (15 April 2021)

Way, Nature, Thinking

“I'm in a phase right now where I want to be part of great films and enjoy my time on set.”

Pooja Hegde (1990) Indian actress

Source: "Pooja Hegde: I'm in a phase right now where I want to be part of great films and enjoy my time on set" https://www.bollywoodlife.com/south-gossip/exclusive-pooja-hegde-im-in-a-phase-right-now-where-i-want-to-be-part-of-great-films-and-enjoy-my-time-on-set-1414894/ Bollywoodlife. May 23, 2019).

Time, Parting

“I would rather have stayed in the theater and done comedy. Comedy in film (was) so narrow for women. I was much happier doing very black comedy onstage, and I could never find anything of that ilk on film. The closest to what I might have accomplished was `Working Girl.'”

Sigourney Weaver (1949) American actress

“Dream Weaver" (Dec 3, 1997)

Women, Girl

“I guess I don`t think of film as an innovative medium. I guess I feel that film kind of caught up to what`s been happening to women for the last 20 years.”

Sigourney Weaver (1949) American actress

“SIGOURNEY WEAVER`S CLOSE SHAVE” (May 16, 1992)

Women, Feeling, Thinking

“As a film actor, my job is to facilitate the director’s vision. If there’s something I’m doing that they don’t agree with, I drop it.”

Nicolas Cage (1964) American actor

"Nicolas Cage on his legacy, his philosophy of acting and his metaphorical — and literal — search for the Holy Grail." in The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/07/magazine/nicolas-cage-interview.html (7 August 2019)

“Even while filming we knew how important it was that we get this opportunity to showcase our culture and our uniqueness, but also, as human beings, our stories, our emotions, and, at the end of the day, our humanity.”

Fala Chen (1982) Hong Kong actress

"Fala Chen Is Bringing Her Excellence to Hollywood" in Town & Country https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a37223279/fala-chen-jiang-li-shang-chi-marvel-interview/ (1 September 2021)

“All of humanity knows me. My name is in encyclopedias, in registers and databases. Books have been written; films recorded. I’m happy, I’m satisfied.”

Vladimir Zhirinovsky (1946–2022) Russian politician and political activist

"Aging Rebel: Vladimir Zhirinovsky Is Enjoying Another Moment" in The Moscow Times https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2016/09/02/aging-rebel-vladimir-zhirinovsky-is-enjoying-another-moment-a55177 (2 September 2016)

Happiness, Books

“I have seen a lot of films, but no Western filmmaker has ever had a great impact or influence on me. We always feel there is a great gap between Chinese films and Western films. Western films are far more advanced, but we don’t feel any shock about this gap. It seems natural.”

Zhang Yimou (1950) Chinese actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer

"Zhang Yimou by Lawrence Chua" in BOMB Magazine https://bombmagazine.org/articles/zhang-yimou/ (1 April 1991)

Feeling, Nature

“The problem is that Hollywood is competition for Chinese art films. So I thought I should make a film with box office promise, that refers to Chinese culture, but also contains an art element.”

Zhang Yimou (1950) Chinese actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer

"Fighting for Peace (and Art Films), Zhang Yimou on “Hero”" in Indie Wire https://www.indiewire.com/2004/08/fighting-for-peace-and-art-films-zhang-yimou-on-hero-78697/ (27 August 2004)

Art, Problem, Box

“Fiction film is really different from documentary in this aspect. It is less objective, because the director expresses a subjective point of view with the movie. I would like the movie to look like a documentary, look real.”

Zhang Yimou (1950) Chinese actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer

"No one to be Missed" in Off Screen https://offscreen.com/view/zhang_yimou (April 1999)

“From every film you learn something new, but from my experience you never know what film is going to open what doors, and it always happens when you least expect it.”

Mila Kunis (1983) American actress

"An Interview With The Black Swan — Mila Kunis" https://medium.com/hope-lies-at-24-frames-per-second/an-interview-with-the-black-swan-mila-kunis-c365cb3c33e0 (11 May 2011)

Learning

“I am an actress and I have performed in all types of mediums; live action film/television, theater, voice-over, hosting and it has been my dream for 14 years to continue to play Ahsoka Tano in all forms”

Ashley Eckstein (1981) American actress

quotes

Dreams

“Film is the best e hard to get a chance to”

Alizafarigo

Source: But it was so much for

Chance

“Sometimes even a simple film has the power to teach something new. It's only necessary to possess the right quality of learning for each type of teaching.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: A volte anche un semplice film ha il potere di insegnare qualcosa di nuovo. È solo necessario possedere la giusta qualità di apprendimento per ogni tipo di insegnamento.
Source: prevale.net

Learning

Quotes about film page 13

Quotes about film
page 13