--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think know if anything's going to…" description: "\"I don't think know if anything's going to translate anywhere. You're making a movie, you hope it's going to be funny, you can't think about how it's go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/ben-stiller-7406_film_i-don-t-think-know-if-anything-s-going-t_15625.jpg" --- # I don't think know if anything's going to translate… ![“I don't think know if anything's going to translate anywhere. You're making a movie, you hope it's going to be funny, you can't think about how it's going to go over.” quote by Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/ben-stiller-7406_film_i-don-t-think-know-if-anything-s-going-t_15625.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/ben-stiller-7406_film_i-don-t-think-know-if-anything-s-going-t_15625.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/ben-stiller-7406_film_i-don-t-think-know-if-anything-s-going-t_15625.jpg) > “I don't think know if anything's going to translate anywhere. You're making a movie, you hope it's going to be funny, you can't think about how it's going to go over.” [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the uncertainty of audience reception in creative work, emphasizing that creators must focus on the process rather than predicting success. **In simple terms:** Creative uncertainty Key Takeaway Focus on creation, not prediction Themes creativity uncertainty audience perception artistic risk Mood anxious hopeful Type advice observation When to use this quote - film production - stand‑up comedy - writing a script - designing a game Key Concepts creative process expectation management Practical Applications - creative workshops - feedback loops Questions to Reflect On - How does anticipating audience reaction affect artistic choices? - What strategies help creators stay present in the moment? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [If I am going to translate whats my heart says,it says I LOVE YOU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fenk/if-i-am-going-to-translate-whats-my-heart-says-it-says-i-love-you/) [Fenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fenk/) > [I root for 'Spawn' and every other comic-book movie. I hope all of them are successful because, any time one fails, it makes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liefeld/i-root-for-spawn-and-every-other-comic-book-movie-i-hope-all-of-them/) [Rob Liefeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liefeld/) > [You can make the most powerful movie ever made, and you hope that whatever resonates gets taken home and survives the night. You also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-jackson/you-can-make-the-most-powerful-movie-ever-made-and-you-hope-that/) [Christopher Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-jackson/) > [You don't know what someone's going to walk away from a movie with, but you hope it's something positive, but if nothing, you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-rosenberg/you-don-t-know-what-someone-s-going-to-walk-away-from-a-movie-with/) [Melissa Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-rosenberg/) > [You can do a movie and hope it may be great, but until you have seen it, you don't know. I loved 'Rampart.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/you-can-do-a-movie-and-hope-it-may-be-great-but-until-you-have-seen/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [People inside the theaters usually, not 100 percent but most of them, enjoy the movie. Usually they come with a small negative view. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/people-inside-the-theaters-usually-not-100-percent-but-most-of-them/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > ['Gravity' is a great example of a movie that we hope they're going to do more of. It's really entertaining, with a female star.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callie-khouri/gravity-is-a-great-example-of-a-movie-that-we-hope-they-re-going-to/) [Callie Khouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callie-khouri/) > [If a Million People See My Movie, I Hope They See a Million Different Movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/if-a-million-people-see-my-movie-i-hope-they-see-a-million-different/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [We're never trying to manipulate and mess with... When you finish the movie, you hope you did a good job but you never know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-clark/we-re-never-trying-to-manipulate-and-mess-with-when-you-finish-the/) [Dylan Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-clark/) > [“but we can no longer understand the logic of placing your mind fully at the mercy of your entertainment. For two and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-emery/but-we-can-no-longer-understand-the-logic-of-placing-your-mind-fully/) Esther Emery > [We're really soaking every moment in. And, then, you know... should the movie do as well as we all hope, we'll start thinking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wernick/we-re-really-soaking-every-moment-in-and-then-you-know-should-the/) [Paul Wernick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wernick/) > [When you're working on a movie you always hope that people will go for it and enjoy what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-baker/when-you-re-working-on-a-movie-you-always-hope-that-people-will-go/) [Rick Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-baker/) > [You just make the best movie you can and hope for the best, because you don't have any control over what happens with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-araki/you-just-make-the-best-movie-you-can-and-hope-for-the-best-because/) Gregg Araki > [Making a movie and not directing the little moments is like drinking a soda and leaving the little slurp puddle for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/making-a-movie-and-not-directing-the-little-moments-is-like-drinking/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Making a movie is about following characters and embarking on an adventure with them, seeing their reactions, and seeing what they do, having empathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franck-khalfoun/making-a-movie-is-about-following-characters-and-embarking-on-an/) Franck Khalfoun ## More by Ben Stiller > [I studied Tom Cruise running in all the Mission Impossibles. I think he's one of the best screen runners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-studied-tom-cruise-running-in-all-the-mission-impossibles-i-think/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [When I didn't have a family, I was much more of a workaholic. I still like to work, but I also want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/when-i-didn-t-have-a-family-i-was-much-more-of-a-workaholic-i-still/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [My own parents were touchy-feely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/my-own-parents-were-touchy-feely/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I just watched Paul Michael Glaser. He was the reason I wanted to do the movie because as a kid I was such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-just-watched-paul-michael-glaser-he-was-the-reason-i-wanted-to-do/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [Whatever talent I had, I'm sure it helped that my parents were in the business and that I grew up around actors, comedians and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/whatever-talent-i-had-i-m-sure-it-helped-that-my-parents-were-in-the/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I'm Jewish, but my mom's Catholic, so the guilt area is covered. I have the highest expectations, along with the lowest. I tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-m-jewish-but-my-mom-s-catholic-so-the-guilt-area-is-covered-i-have/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I think most politicians could take a dodgeball in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-think-most-politicians-could-take-a-dodgeball-in-the-face/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I don't play hockey at all. I'm not comfortable on skates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-don-t-play-hockey-at-all-i-m-not-comfortable-on-skates/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [Nobody makes me bleed my own blood - nobody!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/nobody-makes-me-bleed-my-own-blood-nobody/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/moisture-is-the-essence-of-wetness-and-wetness-is-the-essence-of/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I think people will be curious to see what I can do as a dramatic actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-think-people-will-be-curious-to-see-what-i-can-do-as-a-dramatic/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I don't have a burning desire to be taken seriously as an actor. I don't have a master plan in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-don-t-have-a-burning-desire-to-be-taken-seriously-as-an-actor-i-don/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I'm not an expert on the Malaysian sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-m-not-an-expert-on-the-malaysian-sense-of-humor/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I love history. I'm very interested by it and I think it's great to have a movie that brings it alive in a way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-love-history-i-m-very-interested-by-it-and-i-think-it-s-great-to/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [It was a mixed blessing to have famous parents. It was tough to go to auditions and be bad, since I couldn't be anonymous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/it-was-a-mixed-blessing-to-have-famous-parents-it-was-tough-to-go-to/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) [Explore all 91 Ben Stiller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) ## More Film quotes > [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/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [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/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [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 started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) [Browse all 32,254 Film quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think know if anything's going to translate anywhere. 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