--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of independent films offer a harsh…" description: "\"A lot of independent films offer a harsh reality check.\" — Aubrey Plaza" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/aubrey-plaza-8297_checks_a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh_16804.jpg" --- # A lot of independent films offer a harsh reality check. ![“A lot of independent films offer a harsh reality check.” quote by Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/aubrey-plaza-8297_checks_a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh_16804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/aubrey-plaza-8297_checks_a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh_16804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/aubrey-plaza-8297_checks_a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh_16804.jpg) > “A lot of independent films offer a harsh reality check.” [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Independent cinema often confronts viewers with unvarnished depictions of life, challenging complacency and exposing societal flaws. **In simple terms:** Indie films reveal stark truths. Key Takeaway They serve as reality mirrors. Themes Authenticity Social critique Narrative risk Cultural reflection Indie aesthetics Mood Provocative Reflective Unsettling Type Observation Critique Commentary When to use this quote - Film festivals - College curricula - Community screenings - Documentary discussions Key Concepts Film as social commentary Narrative honesty Low-budget creativity Audience engagement Practical Applications - Teaching media literacy - Inspiring socially aware filmmaking Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions does mainstream cinema hide? - How does realism affect emotional impact? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films/) [Harsh reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harsh-reality/) [Independent film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-film/) [Independent films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-films/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality check](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-check/) ## Related quotes > [Here are the good things about independent films: They do the more interesting, chancy scripts. They're run by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/here-are-the-good-things-about-independent-films-they-do-the-more/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [As far as acting in films, there is not much out there that is very interesting to do. The ones that are interesting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/as-far-as-acting-in-films-there-is-not-much-out-there-that-is-very/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [I watch many, many, many independent films every year that you see once in a film festival and they're never heard of ever again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-watch-many-many-many-independent-films-every-year-that-you-see-once/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [The thing I've come to learn is that what's great about small independent films is the intimacy and the communication that occurs when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/the-thing-i-ve-come-to-learn-is-that-what-s-great-about-small/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) > [I personally like to do independent films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/i-personally-like-to-do-independent-films/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [It's very difficult to break into motion pictures, but it's oddly easier for directors today because of independent films and cable, who have inherited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rydell/it-s-very-difficult-to-break-into-motion-pictures-but-it-s-oddly/) [Mark Rydell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rydell/) > [I think it's all independent films. There aren't any! If they were looking for me when I was making Polyester, then it'd be perfect,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-think-it-s-all-independent-films-there-aren-t-any-if-they-were/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [In a perfect world, I could be doing some bigger films and balance that with some independent films because they seem to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/in-a-perfect-world-i-could-be-doing-some-bigger-films-and-balance/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [I love doing independent films, but it's very hard to make a living that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-love-doing-independent-films-but-it-s-very-hard-to-make-a-living/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [I've made a number of independent films that didn't receive theatrical distribution, that a lot of people haven't heard of, and as a result,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mapother/i-ve-made-a-number-of-independent-films-that-didn-t-receive/) [William Mapother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mapother/) > [I like working in both movies and television. Television is faster, not very much rehearsal and a lot of material is shot in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-landau/i-like-working-in-both-movies-and-television-television-is-faster-not/) [Juliet Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-landau/) > [I didn't want to be around anybody because it was just too much for my brain. But, as an actress, you hope you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinsel-korey/i-didn-t-want-to-be-around-anybody-because-it-was-just-too-much-for/) [Tinsel Korey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinsel-korey/) > [I like independent films... European films. I do go and see popular films as well because my kids force me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-o-grady/i-like-independent-films-european-films-i-do-go-and-see-popular-films/) [Frances O'Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-o-grady/) > [I love independent films, it's the only place as an actor you're totally allowed to breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/i-love-independent-films-it-s-the-only-place-as-an-actor-you-re/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [I enjoy doing independent films more, only because there's more freedom. There's not as many cooks tampering with what you are trying to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-enjoy-doing-independent-films-more-only-because-there-s-more/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) ## More by Aubrey Plaza > [I think being on a TV show is amazing but also, people get kind of used to seeing you a certain way and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/i-think-being-on-a-tv-show-is-amazing-but-also-people-get-kind-of/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [Make all your decisions based on how hilarious it would be if you did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/make-all-your-decisions-based-on-how-hilarious-it-would-be-if-you-did/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [I want people to like me but not at my expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/i-want-people-to-like-me-but-not-at-my-expense/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [I'm not, like, Daniel Day Lewis. Yet. I will get there!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/i-m-not-like-daniel-day-lewis-yet-i-will-get-there/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [It would be hilarious if I worked in a bowling alley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/it-would-be-hilarious-if-i-worked-in-a-bowling-alley/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [I realized two things from an early age - I was insane and had some kind of comedic thing going on. My brain was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/i-realized-two-things-from-an-early-age-i-was-insane-and-had-some/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [I was like the only diverse kid in my high school, and I'm half-Puerto Rican. But yeah, I have a huge family and tons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/i-was-like-the-only-diverse-kid-in-my-high-school-and-i-m-half-puerto/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [If I have the option, I always read the paper or a book or something I can touch and destroy in my own hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/if-i-have-the-option-i-always-read-the-paper-or-a-book-or-something-i/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [When you improvise, you work off the laughs from the audience, but when you step on stage to do stand up, it's silent. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/when-you-improvise-you-work-off-the-laughs-from-the-audience-but-when/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [I always want to keep growing and keep surprising people, and showing them different parts of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/i-always-want-to-keep-growing-and-keep-surprising-people-and-showing/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [It's weird, huh? It's like the minute you kinda give up control you just know what to do without doing anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/it-s-weird-huh-it-s-like-the-minute-you-kinda-give-up-control-you/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [My first boyfriend that I ever had, actually sang a song that he wrote for me on-stage to ask me out. That was pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/my-first-boyfriend-that-i-ever-had-actually-sang-a-song-that-he-wrote/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [I've always wanted to do all kinds of roles, dramatic roles and comedic roles, all kinds of roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/i-ve-always-wanted-to-do-all-kinds-of-roles-dramatic-roles-and/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [When I'm on the couch, I usually have the TV on and my MacBook Air nearby. And sometimes, when my ADD is really kicking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/when-i-m-on-the-couch-i-usually-have-the-tv-on-and-my-macbook-air/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [I want to go to New Zealand. I have no idea what it's like, and in my head, everyone lives in/on an ice lake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/i-want-to-go-to-new-zealand-i-have-no-idea-what-it-s-like-and-in-my/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) [Explore all 82 Aubrey Plaza quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) ## More Checks quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) Roxanne Shante > [I pay these niggas with a reality check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-pay-these-niggas-with-a-reality-check/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [The things of the world are ever rising and falling, and in perpetual change; and this change must be according to the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-things-of-the-world-are-ever-rising-and-falling-and-in-perpetual/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [If you find your feet dragging, check your path. You are probably on the wrong one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-toshio-sudo/if-you-find-your-feet-dragging-check-your-path-you-are-probably-on/) [Philip Toshio Sudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-toshio-sudo/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [I'm a little bit superstitious, and I think that just comes from playing hockey. I won't avoid the number thirteen. A big one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/i-m-a-little-bit-superstitious-and-i-think-that-just-comes-from/) [James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/) > [Seeds have the power to preserve species, to enhance cultural as well as genetic diversity, to counter economic monopoly and to check the advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/seeds-have-the-power-to-preserve-species-to-enhance-cultural-as-well/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) Browse all 1,697 Checks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A lot of independent films offer a harsh reality check.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aubrey Plaza" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh-reality-check/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Checks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh-reality-check/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/aubrey-plaza-8297_checks_a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh_16804.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/aubrey-plaza-8297_checks_a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh_16804.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/aubrey-plaza-8297_checks_a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh_16804.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A lot of independent films offer a harsh reality check.” — Aubrey Plaza", "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": "Aubrey Plaza", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A lot of independent films offer...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh-reality-check/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh-reality-check/#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 } } ] } ```