--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Joe and I always say that our guide…" description: "\"Joe and I always say that our guide through action is always story and character. We're always driving right at the character beats, or else the action..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/anthony-russo-15408_action_joe-and-i-always-say-that-our-guide-thro_545170.jpg" --- # Joe and I always say that our guide through action is… ![“Joe and I always say that our guide through action is always story and character. We're always driving right at the character beats, or else the action beat doesn't work.” quote by Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/anthony-russo-15408_action_joe-and-i-always-say-that-our-guide-thro_545170.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/anthony-russo-15408_action_joe-and-i-always-say-that-our-guide-thro_545170.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/anthony-russo-15408_action_joe-and-i-always-say-that-our-guide-thro_545170.jpg) > “Joe and I always say that our guide through action is always story and character. We're always driving right at the character beats, or else the action beat doesn't work.” [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Story and character drive compelling action; neglecting them weakens narrative momentum. **In simple terms:** Story guides action. Key Takeaway Focus on character beats first. Themes storytelling cinema structure Mood analytical creative Type cinematic instructional When to use this quote - screenwriting - directing - editing - production planning Key Concepts narrative theory character arcs Questions to Reflect On - How to balance character and plot? - When should action lead? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on character may stall pacing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action Beat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-beat-4550333/) [Action Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-story-856247/) [Beats Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beats-action-4550334/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-beats-4550335/) [Guide Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guide-action-3551403/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“But if theory is not the crystallized resin of experience, it ceases to be a guide to action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-feinberg/but-if-theory-is-not-the-crystallized-resin-of-experience-it-ceases/) [Leslie Feinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-feinberg/) > [One of the secrets of getting more done is to make a TO DO List every day, keep it visible, and use it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-secrets-of-getting-more-done-is-to-make-a-to-do-list-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Telling the story with only a few shots, I love that style. 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In making movies, you just have to figure out what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/it-s-hard-to-give-specific-advice-because-there-s-so-many-different/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [Joe and I have always been drawn to ensemble storytelling. 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We're two guys who grew up a million miles away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/what-joe-and-i-love-about-the-film-industry-it-s-like-the-wild-west/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [The fact we got to become a part of the Marvel family and find our own expression within that is a real joy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/the-fact-we-got-to-become-a-part-of-the-marvel-family-and-find-our/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [The great thing about Marvel is that there is an attitude of 'nothing's impossible,' but that doesn't mean everything is possible; you just have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/the-great-thing-about-marvel-is-that-there-is-an-attitude-of-nothing/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [In a way, Captain America is the most grounded of the main Marvel superheroes. He is basically just a man, only more so. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/in-a-way-captain-america-is-the-most-grounded-of-the-main-marvel/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [Our experience making 'Pieces,' all it did was confirm our passion for film making to ourselves. We were having the time of our lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/our-experience-making-pieces-all-it-did-was-confirm-our-passion-for/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [I think that's part of the fun for us: we love looking at movies through the filter of a specific character - characters who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/i-think-that-s-part-of-the-fun-for-us-we-love-looking-at-movies/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) [Explore all 43 Anthony Russo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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