--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really admire Werner Herzog and Spike…" description: "\"I really admire Werner Herzog and Spike Lee. They're amazing documentarians. If you took away all the narratives, they'd just be amazing documentarians..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/ava-duvernay-4018_admire_i-really-admire-werner-herzog-and-spike_458750.jpg" --- # I really admire Werner Herzog and Spike Lee. They're… ![“I really admire Werner Herzog and Spike Lee. They're amazing documentarians. If you took away all the narratives, they'd just be amazing documentarians.” quote by Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/ava-duvernay-4018_admire_i-really-admire-werner-herzog-and-spike_458750.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/ava-duvernay-4018_admire_i-really-admire-werner-herzog-and-spike_458750.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/ava-duvernay-4018_admire_i-really-admire-werner-herzog-and-spike_458750.jpg) > “I really admire Werner Herzog and Spike Lee. They're amazing documentarians. If you took away all the narratives, they'd just be amazing documentarians.” [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great storytellers excel regardless of narrative framing; their skill lies in capturing truth and emotion. **In simple terms:** Skilled documentarians shine even without a story. Key Takeaway Focus on technique over narrative. Themes film documentary craft authenticity Mood thoughtful analytical Type critical reflective When to use this quote - journalism - educational films - personal documentaries Key Concepts visual storytelling cinematic language truth-seeking Questions to Reflect On - What core elements make a documentary compelling? - How does narrative shape viewer perception? A Different Perspective Even without narrative, audiences may struggle to engage without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) ## Related quotes > [The real world is devoid of narratives, after all. Narratives are just a thing that our brains do with facts in order to draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/the-real-world-is-devoid-of-narratives-after-all-narratives-are-just/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [I don't have a problem with Werner Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/i-don-t-have-a-problem-with-werner-herzog/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [Werner Herzog, when I auditioned for 'Bad Lieutenant,' he had never seen any of my films. He thought I was this actress living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-coolidge/werner-herzog-when-i-auditioned-for-bad-lieutenant-he-had-never-seen/) [Jennifer Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-coolidge/) > [“Michael Heseltine, a wild-haired visionary, Klaus Kinski to Margaret's Thatcher's Werner Herzog, pushed Docklands across the Thames to the East Greenwich Peninsula. The Millennium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/michael-heseltine-a-wild-haired-visionary-klaus-kinski-to-margaret-s/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [Werner Herzog, I knew him for so many years, when Fassbinder was at his highest moment. But we had a rule: An actor from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udo-kier/werner-herzog-i-knew-him-for-so-many-years-when-fassbinder-was-at-his/) [Udo Kier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udo-kier/) > [There's a documentary film-maker called Werner Herzog, who's a German film-maker. I really dig his stuff, I'd love to chat with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/there-s-a-documentary-film-maker-called-werner-herzog-who-s-a-german/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [I've worked with Terrence Malick, Werner Herzog, Olive Stone and David Gordon Green, and Damien Chazelle on 'First Man.' When you have someone at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shea-whigham/i-ve-worked-with-terrence-malick-werner-herzog-olive-stone-and-david/) [Shea Whigham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shea-whigham/) > [Pretty much everyone on my iPod, I'd like to be friends with. But I'd say that the main two that I'd love to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/pretty-much-everyone-on-my-ipod-i-d-like-to-be-friends-with-but-i-d/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [Has Werner Herzog ever said anything that wasn't true? What a brilliant fountain of wisdom. Everything he touches I'm just fascinated by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gilroy/has-werner-herzog-ever-said-anything-that-wasn-t-true-what-a/) [Dan Gilroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gilroy/) > [If I had the chance to spend a day with Werner Herzog, I would want there to be a canoe involved. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jai-courtney/if-i-had-the-chance-to-spend-a-day-with-werner-herzog-i-would-want/) [Jai Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jai-courtney/) > [Directors who have inspired me include Billy Wilder, Federico Fellini, lngmar Bergman, John Ford, Orson Welles, Werner Herzog, Stanley Kubrick, Alfred Hitchcock, Francis Ford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/directors-who-have-inspired-me-include-billy-wilder-federico-fellini/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [I find it interesting that there are impostors out on the Internet pretending to be Werner Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-find-it-interesting-that-there-are-impostors-out-on-the-internet/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [In my life, I wanted to meet certain people. I never met Charlie Chaplin, but I met Werner Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/in-my-life-i-wanted-to-meet-certain-people-i-never-met-charlie/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Lars von Trier, Wim Wenders, Werner Herzog: They all write, which is much better because it's their baby, and they know what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udo-kier/lars-von-trier-wim-wenders-werner-herzog-they-all-write-which-is-much/) [Udo Kier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udo-kier/) > [On working with director Werner Herzog: I have to shoot without any breaks. I yell at Herzog and hit him. I have to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaus-kinski/on-working-with-director-werner-herzog-i-have-to-shoot-without-any/) [Klaus Kinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaus-kinski/) ## More by Ava DuVernay > [We're living based on laws and ideas that we, as a society, embraced back in the days of slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-re-living-based-on-laws-and-ideas-that-we-as-a-society-embraced/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [All the traditional models for doing things are collapsing; from music to publishing to film, and it's a wide open door for people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/all-the-traditional-models-for-doing-things-are-collapsing-from-music/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Don't wait for permission to do something creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/don-t-wait-for-permission-to-do-something-creative/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Netflix represents, as well as all the streaming services, something that I've been talking about being so important to inclusive voices around films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/netflix-represents-as-well-as-all-the-streaming-services-something/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I didn't go to film school. I got my education on the set as a niche publicist in the film industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-didn-t-go-to-film-school-i-got-my-education-on-the-set-as-a-niche/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Hollywood needs more women directors, and Mama Ava needs a carafe and a half of that sweet vino divino.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/hollywood-needs-more-women-directors-and-mama-ava-needs-a-carafe-and/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I've been to Sundance eight times as a publicist and thought I was very prepared. I mean, who could've been more prepared for me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-ve-been-to-sundance-eight-times-as-a-publicist-and-thought-i-was/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I think it's a wonderful time to be a black woman who makes films. It's a good time to be an artist period. Traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-think-it-s-a-wonderful-time-to-be-a-black-woman-who-makes-films-it/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I think for female filmmakers a big issue is making their second and third films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-think-for-female-filmmakers-a-big-issue-is-making-their-second-and/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I make films about black women and it doesn't mean that you can't see them as a black man, doesn't mean that he can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-make-films-about-black-women-and-it-doesn-t-mean-that-you-can-t-see/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [The documentaries were something that I could do for a small amount of money, and then I felt like as long as I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/the-documentaries-were-something-that-i-could-do-for-a-small-amount/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [ \[ Hollywood\] is a patriarchy, headed by men and built for men. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/hollywood-is-a-patriarchy-headed-by-men-and-built-for-men/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I know that sounds a little bit corny, but I've found some solace in that. I hope art can continue to do that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-know-that-sounds-a-little-bit-corny-but-i-ve-found-some-solace-in/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [We have to find new ways to work without permission, new ways to turn corners and go through doors that are closed off to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-have-to-find-new-ways-to-work-without-permission-new-ways-to-turn/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [We're a new world and it's not pretty. It's going to be for the brave to figure out how to survive in this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-re-a-new-world-and-it-s-not-pretty-it-s-going-to-be-for-the-brave/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) [Explore all 117 Ava DuVernay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) ## More Admire quotes > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I admire Serena Williams, because, I mean, who doesn't admire Serena Williams?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-konta/i-admire-serena-williams-because-i-mean-who-doesn-t-admire-serena/) [Johanna Konta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-konta/) > [How proud I am to be compared to Oprah. I really admire her. She's a minority woman and she's done all this by herself...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-saralegui/how-proud-i-am-to-be-compared-to-oprah-i-really-admire-her-she-s-a/) [Cristina Saralegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-saralegui/) > [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I really admire people's interactions with technology that aren't tech-centric but use it as a tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/i-really-admire-people-s-interactions-with-technology-that-aren-t/) [Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/) > [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Shaw's works make me admire the magnificent tolerance and broadmindedness of the english.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/shaw-s-works-make-me-admire-the-magnificent-tolerance-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [I believe in a world where there are no heroes, and I've read and know humanity a lot. There are moments that I admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-believe-in-a-world-where-there-are-no-heroes-and-i-ve-read-and-know/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I think it's really good and helpful to have the people you most admire in some other discipline than what you work in. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/i-think-it-s-really-good-and-helpful-to-have-the-people-you-most/) [Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/) > [Part of what we admire about a painting or a piece of music is the order which the artist has imposed upon what would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-storr/part-of-what-we-admire-about-a-painting-or-a-piece-of-music-is-the/) [Anthony Storr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-storr/) > [I respect and admire the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-respect-and-admire-the-premier-league/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) > [“The thing I admire most about you is no matter how hard, or how much the world has tried to beat you, break you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-gill/the-thing-i-admire-most-about-you-is-no-matter-how-hard-or-how-much/) [Nikita Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-gill/) Browse all 2,369 Admire quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really admire Werner Herzog and Spike Lee. 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