--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After making several tragic movies in a…" description: "\"After making several tragic movies in a row, I was looking to do a comedy, and one without cynicism.\" — Ang Lee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/ang-lee-2496_cinema_after-making-several-tragic-movies-in-a_1521141.png" --- # After making several tragic movies in a row, I was looking… ![“After making several tragic movies in a row, I was looking to do a comedy, and one without cynicism.” quote by Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/ang-lee-2496_cinema_after-making-several-tragic-movies-in-a_1521141.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/ang-lee-2496_cinema_after-making-several-tragic-movies-in-a_1521141.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/ang-lee-2496_cinema_after-making-several-tragic-movies-in-a_1521141.png) > “After making several tragic movies in a row, I was looking to do a comedy, and one without cynicism.” [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After a series of serious films, he seeks a comedic, sincere project without cynicism. **In simple terms:** He wants to create heartfelt comedy after dark works. Key Takeaway Pursue new genres to refresh creative voice. Themes genre shift authenticity humor Mood creative reflective Type interview quote director insight When to use this quote - movie production - screenwriting - directorial choices Key Concepts film theory creative renewal artistic risk Questions to Reflect On - What risks do you take when changing artistic direction? - How can sincerity be preserved in comedy? A Different Perspective Balancing humor with sincerity is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) ## Related quotes > [We were making 'Tragic Kingdom,' and we were kind of battling with the record company. It was just being drawn-out, in the same kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/we-were-making-tragic-kingdom-and-we-were-kind-of-battling-with-the/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [We live lives that aren't broken into neat three-act structures. On any given day anything can happen, from the hilarious to tragic. So why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-famuyiwa/we-live-lives-that-aren-t-broken-into-neat-three-act-structures-on/) [Rick Famuyiwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-famuyiwa/) > [I love 'The Orphanage' because the concept is so cool and the story is told in such an interesting way. It's a movie that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-parker-kennedy/i-love-the-orphanage-because-the-concept-is-so-cool-and-the-story-is/) [Jessica Parker Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-parker-kennedy/) > [This hiatus coming up I'm looking at a comedy because I need the balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khandi-alexander/this-hiatus-coming-up-i-m-looking-at-a-comedy-because-i-need-the/) [Khandi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khandi-alexander/) > [It's just fun to be on a movie set and looking to find the comedy in sweet, simple family moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/it-s-just-fun-to-be-on-a-movie-set-and-looking-to-find-the-comedy-in/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [I'm looking to be the next comedy mogul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-smoove/i-m-looking-to-be-the-next-comedy-mogul/) [J. B. Smoove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-smoove/) > [All people go through moments that are tough, but looking at them through comedy is so fun. You can look at anything in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-yorke/all-people-go-through-moments-that-are-tough-but-looking-at-them/) [Helene Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-yorke/) > [I'd really been wanting to do a television series. I was looking for a comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-tripplehorn/i-d-really-been-wanting-to-do-a-television-series-i-was-looking-for-a/) [Jeanne Tripplehorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-tripplehorn/) > [Well I sure had been looking for a comedy for years without any success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/well-i-sure-had-been-looking-for-a-comedy-for-years-without-any/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [In the process of looking for comedy, you have to be deeply honest. And in doing that, you'll find out here's the other side.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/in-the-process-of-looking-for-comedy-you-have-to-be-deeply-honest-and/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I wasn't necessarily looking to do comedy on TV, but I don't think it's an accident that I ended up on 'Community.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-wasn-t-necessarily-looking-to-do-comedy-on-tv-but-i-don-t-think-it/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I had no musical or athletic ability, and I wasn't particularly good looking. Comedy was something I could do for attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-had-no-musical-or-athletic-ability-and-i-wasn-t-particularly-good/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [I don't think the Hulk is a superhero. He's the first Marvel character who is a tragic monster. Really an anti-hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-don-t-think-the-hulk-is-a-superhero-he-s-the-first-marvel-character/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [“Wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which one fills up faster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-oxenhandler/wish-in-one-hand-shit-in-the-other-see-which-one-fills-up-faster/) Noelle Oxenhandler > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) ## More by Ang Lee > [When I'm not working, I get very down, but when I am working, I get very immersed in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/when-i-m-not-working-i-get-very-down-but-when-i-am-working-i-get-very/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I am not particularly religious. But I think we do face the question of where God is, why we are created and where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-am-not-particularly-religious-but-i-think-we-do-face-the-question/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I'm not a romantic. In life I didn't have much experience with romance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-m-not-a-romantic-in-life-i-didn-t-have-much-experience-with-romance/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [When I see something I like, that's all that counts. What they use, how they get there, I never bother them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/when-i-see-something-i-like-that-s-all-that-counts-what-they-use-how/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [Mostly it's like, I get inspired by something and I want to learn that part of filmmaking, I want to delve into that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/mostly-it-s-like-i-get-inspired-by-something-and-i-want-to-learn-that/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [Film study was considered disgraceful by my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/film-study-was-considered-disgraceful-by-my-father/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I hope people don't compare 2D and 3D because 3D's new, it's unfair to compare to 2D which is really sophisticated, even when we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-hope-people-don-t-compare-2d-and-3d-because-3d-s-new-it-s-unfair-to/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [On a Chinese film you just give orders, no one questions you. Here, you have to convince people, you have to tell them why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/on-a-chinese-film-you-just-give-orders-no-one-questions-you-here-you/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I had to test a new terror in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-had-to-test-a-new-terror-in-myself/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [My cultural roots are something illusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/my-cultural-roots-are-something-illusive/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [Kids don't even read comic books anymore. They've got more important things to do - like video games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/kids-don-t-even-read-comic-books-anymore-they-ve-got-more-important/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I don't care about writing really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-don-t-care-about-writing-really/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I don't have incredible knowledge about films or of filmmaking history; I'm not that kind of person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-don-t-have-incredible-knowledge-about-films-or-of-filmmaking/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I don't think the Hulk is a superhero. He's the first Marvel character who is a tragic monster. Really an anti-hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-don-t-think-the-hulk-is-a-superhero-he-s-the-first-marvel-character/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [A lot of people will think I changed the book: ‘so you’re the tiger instead, you’re the tiger who ate the cook.’ That’d be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/a-lot-of-people-will-think-i-changed-the-book-so-you-re-the-tiger/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) [Explore all 163 Ang Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After making several tragic movies in a row, I was looking to do a comedy, and one without cynicism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ang Lee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/after-making-several-tragic-movies-in-a-row-i-was-looking-to-do-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/after-making-several-tragic-movies-in-a-row-i-was-looking-to-do-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/ang-lee-2496_cinema_after-making-several-tragic-movies-in-a_1521141.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/ang-lee-2496_cinema_after-making-several-tragic-movies-in-a_1521141.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/ang-lee-2496_cinema_after-making-several-tragic-movies-in-a_1521141.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After making several tragic movies in a row, I was looking to do a comedy, and one without cynicism.” — Ang Lee", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ang Lee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "After making several tragic movies in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/after-making-several-tragic-movies-in-a-row-i-was-looking-to-do-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/after-making-several-tragic-movies-in-a-row-i-was-looking-to-do-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```