Character Quote by Abbas Kiarostami
“I don't have very complete scripts for my films. I have a general outline and a character in my mind, and I make no notes until I find the character who's in my mind in reality.”
About This Quote
Creative work can emerge organically by staying open to the character that reveals itself, rather than following a rigid script.
In simple terms: Let the story find you, not the other way around.
Key Takeaway
Flexibility nurtures authenticity.
Themes
creativity
intuition
process
film making
Mood
curious
reflective
Type
artistic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing a screenplay
- directing a documentary
- improvisational theater
- designing a product concept
Key Concepts
spontaneity
character‑driven storytelling
Practical Applications
- Begin with a vague premise and let characters dictate direction
- Avoid over‑planning to preserve discovery
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance structure with improvisation?
- When does spontaneity hinder clarity?
A Different Perspective
May lead to vague narratives if the emerging character lacks depth.
![“It was a film that I knew, that I had seen, that I was familiar with, but I wasn't anxious about it at any point during the screening. I snoozed twice, and this is something I couldn't have imagined that I would feel detached, as I did with this film [Certified Copy].” quote by Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/533/abbas-kiarostami-2631_anxious_it-was-a-film-that-i-knew-that-i-had-see_155328.jpg)
![“When the film [Certified Copy] was in the Cannes Festival, I realized that the fact of having it shot in a different culture, in a different language, in a different setting, that wasn't mine and that I didn't belong to, gave me a totally different relationship to the film. When I was sitting in…” quote by Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb3/abbas-kiarostami-2631_audience_when-the-film-certified-copy-was-in-the_200718.jpg)
