Film

Quotations about Film

Using Quotations in a Speech or Text about Film

As well as keeping your audience engaged, adding quotations to a speech or a text can significantly enhance its impact and effectiveness. Quotations are useful for explaining complex ideas concisely, much in the same way that analogies are used. Additionally, quotations from experts or celebrities can add credibility to your message.

Here are some funny and poignant quotations about film. If your speech is serious, do not automatically avoid funny quotations as they can often be the most impactful, forcing your audience into the thinking about the hidden analogous message in your selected quotation.

"Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious." (British actor Peter Ustinov)
"When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth." (Irish dramatist George Bernard Shaw)

If you are looking to make a fuller speech about film, then below this selection of quotations are three funny themes and three serious themes on the topic of film that might help trigger some ideas for your speech or text.

"The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder." Alfred Hitchcock (British-born film director, 1899-1980)

"Give them pleasure. The same pleasure they have when they wake up from a nightmare." Alfred Hitchcock (British-born film director, 1899-1980)

"Every time I go to a movie, it's magic, no matter what the movie's about." Steven Spielberg (American film director and producer, 1947-)

A good film script should be able to do completely without *dialogue.*popcorn.*an interval.* David Mamet (American dramatist and director, 1947-)

"Why pay a dollar for a bookmark? Why not use the dollar for a bookmark?" Fred Allen (American humorist, 1894-1956)

"Film is a battleground. Love, hate, violence, action, death... In a word, emotion." Sam Fuller (American film director, 1912-1997)

"The difference between life and movies is that a script has to make sense, and life doesn't." Joseph L. Mankiewicz (American screenwriter and director, 1909-93)

Cinema is a matter of what's in *the frame*the news*fashion* and what's out. Martin Scorsese (American film director, 1942-)

"The only safe thing is to take a chance." Mike Nichols (American film director, 1931-)

"I'm a filmmaker, not a *documentarian.*historian.*prisoner.* I can do whatever I want. It's not science." Oliver Stone (American film director, 1946-)

"If it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed." Stanley Kubrick (American film director, 1928-99)

"Film is, to me, just unimportant. But people are very important." John Cassavetes (American filmmaker, 1929-1989)

"A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet." Orson Welles (American actor and film director, 1915-85)

"A story should have a beginning, a middle and an end… but not necessarily in that order." Jean-Luc Godard 1930- French film director

"When people ask me if I went to film school, I tell them, 'no, I went to films.'" Quentin Tarantino (American film director, 1963-)

"In feature films the director is God; in documentary films God is the director." Alfred Hitchcock (British-born film director, 1899-1980)

"I make a film like I cook for friends. I hope they like it, but if they don't, I'm prepared to enjoy it all by myself." Melvin Van Peebles (American filmmaker, 1932-2021)

"I didn't go into the film business for fame or money. I went into the film business accidentally." Ridley Scott (English film director, 1937-)

"Every film is *a puzzle*a joke*an enigma* really, from an editorial point of view." Walter Murch (American film editor and director, 1943-)

"Several tons of dynamite are set off in this picture; none of it under the right people." James Agee (American writer, 1909-55) talking about the film "Tycoon"

"It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic!" Lew Grade (British television producer and executive, 1906-98) talking about "Raise the Titanic"

"I'm not [biting my fingernails]. I'm biting my knuckles. I finished the fingernails months ago." Joseph L. Mankiewicz (American director, 1909-93)

Thinking Template for a Speech or Text on Film

Below are 3 funny themes and 3 serious themes related to film. These have been included to help you identify areas to explore.

Funny Themes:

Behind-the-Scenes Bloopers: Hilarious Moments on Set
- Share amusing behind-the-scenes bloopers and outtakes from popular films, highlighting the funny moments that occur during the filmmaking process.
Comedy Gold: The Funniest Scenes in Film History
- Highlight some of the most iconic and hilarious scenes in film history, showcasing the comedic genius of actors and directors.
Unexpected Roles: Funny Casting Choices and Cameos
- Explore humorous anecdotes about unexpected casting choices and funny cameos in films, emphasizing the surprises and laughs they bring to the audience.

Serious Themes:

The Evolution of Film: From Silent Movies to Blockbusters
- Discuss the history and evolution of film, tracing its development from silent movies to modern blockbusters and the technological advancements that have shaped the industry.
The Impact of Film on Society: Reflecting and Shaping Culture
- Address the significant impact that film has on society, exploring how movies reflect cultural values, influence public opinion, and drive social change.
Independent vs. Mainstream: The Dynamics of the Film Industry
- Explore the differences between independent and mainstream films, discussing the challenges and opportunities each presents for filmmakers and audiences.

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