--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many times when you make a movie, it…" description: "\"Many times when you make a movie, it feels like your biggest mistake. But even if a film isn't a hit, you shouldn't view it as a mistake.\" — Ang Lee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/ang-lee-2496_actors_many-times-when-you-make-a-movie-it-feel_514971.png" --- # Many times when you make a movie, it feels like your… ![“Many times when you make a movie, it feels like your biggest mistake. But even if a film isn't a hit, you shouldn't view it as a mistake.” quote by Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/ang-lee-2496_actors_many-times-when-you-make-a-movie-it-feel_514971.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/ang-lee-2496_actors_many-times-when-you-make-a-movie-it-feel_514971.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/ang-lee-2496_actors_many-times-when-you-make-a-movie-it-feel_514971.png) > “Many times when you make a movie, it feels like your biggest mistake. But even if a film isn't a hit, you shouldn't view it as a mistake.” [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. He says a film’s commercial failure doesn’t equal personal failure. **In simple terms:** A flop isn’t a mistake. Key Takeaway Separate artistic effort from market outcome. Themes resilience art perception Mood thoughtful inspirational Type professional philosophical When to use this quote - indie projects - budget constraints - critical reception Key Concepts creative process industry pressure Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure a film’s success? - What defines a mistake in art? A Different Perspective Success is subjective and multifaceted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Biggest mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-mistake/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When I look back I either feel I did this mistake while shooting or writing. Eventually you try and make sure you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikramaditya-motwane/when-i-look-back-i-either-feel-i-did-this-mistake-while-shooting-or/) [Vikramaditya Motwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikramaditya-motwane/) > [I do think a lot of depictions of PTSD, sometimes in a movie, it feels like the scene where the character knows that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-do-think-a-lot-of-depictions-of-ptsd-sometimes-in-a-movie-it-feels/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [The movie feels to me like a real work of lovely art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goldblum/the-movie-feels-to-me-like-a-real-work-of-lovely-art/) [Jeff Goldblum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goldblum/) > [I have realized that I hate going to the premieres of the movies that I'm in. Because I feel this tension after the movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seyfried/i-have-realized-that-i-hate-going-to-the-premieres-of-the-movies-that/) [Amanda Seyfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seyfried/) > [It's rare when you're actually making a movie and it feels like you're watching a movie in the theater. You feel like a surfer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovitz/it-s-rare-when-you-re-actually-making-a-movie-and-it-feels-like-you/) [Jon Lovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovitz/) > [ There's nothing in \[The Other Woman\] movie that feels like an R to us. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-mann/there-s-nothing-in-the-other-woman-movie-that-feels-like-an-r-to-us/) [Leslie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-mann/) > [Sometimes you have to think about what you're going to say, in real life, so when you see that thought process going on in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/sometimes-you-have-to-think-about-what-you-re-going-to-say-in-real/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [I'm always looking for that movie that feels like it's hitting me where I need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/i-m-always-looking-for-that-movie-that-feels-like-it-s-hitting-me/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) > [I was just ready to make a movie for the girls. It was just really fun to write for a girl. It was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerusha-hess/i-was-just-ready-to-make-a-movie-for-the-girls-it-was-just-really-fun/) [Jerusha Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerusha-hess/) > [I don't like the idea of seeing a movie and it feels comfortable because you've heard it before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-baena/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-seeing-a-movie-and-it-feels-comfortable/) [Jeff Baena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-baena/) > [It's difficult to find a movie that feels true to itself. You feel the hand of Hollywood, the moviemaking by committee, on everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zack-snyder/it-s-difficult-to-find-a-movie-that-feels-true-to-itself-you-feel-the/) [Zack Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zack-snyder/) > [The beauty of the world of Unbreakable is that you're playing it for reality. It should never feel like a comic book movie. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/the-beauty-of-the-world-of-unbreakable-is-that-you-re-playing-it-for/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [When I go to movies and I love the movie, it's because it feels like it articulated something about how we're living now, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/when-i-go-to-movies-and-i-love-the-movie-it-s-because-it-feels-like/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [Is that your ex? No, that's the biggest mistake of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-martin/is-that-your-ex-no-that-s-the-biggest-mistake-of-my-life/) [Brandon Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-martin/) > [The press keep asking me, 'What was your biggest mistake?' But if I had made a big mistake, they'd all be writing about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/the-press-keep-asking-me-what-was-your-biggest-mistake-but-if-i-had/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) ## 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 Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [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/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [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/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many times when you make a movie, it feels like your biggest mistake. 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