--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, the most important thing is the…" description: "\"For me, the most important thing is the writing - and certainly the director. But if the writing isn't there, it doesn't matter who the director is!\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/carol-kane-8948_cinema_for-me-the-most-important-thing-is-the-w_1889943.jpg" --- # For me, the most important thing is the writing - and… ![“For me, the most important thing is the writing - and certainly the director. But if the writing isn't there, it doesn't matter who the director is!” quote by Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/carol-kane-8948_cinema_for-me-the-most-important-thing-is-the-w_1889943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/carol-kane-8948_cinema_for-me-the-most-important-thing-is-the-w_1889943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/carol-kane-8948_cinema_for-me-the-most-important-thing-is-the-w_1889943.jpg) > “For me, the most important thing is the writing - and certainly the director. But if the writing isn't there, it doesn't matter who the director is!” [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is the foundation of a film; without strong script, even great directors cannot salvage it. **In simple terms:** Good script matters more than direction. Key Takeaway Prioritize strong writing. Themes creativity film storytelling collaboration Mood critical analytical Type advice observational When to use this quote - screenwriting workshops - film pitches - production meetings Key Concepts narrative structure character development directorial vision Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate a script’s strength? - What role should a director play in script development? A Different Perspective Even a great script may be poorly executed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainly Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainly-director-2722532/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Director Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-writing-1358730/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Certainly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-certainly-886839/) [Writing Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-isn/) ## Related quotes > [Certainly as a director you want to be working with people who are on the same page as you and that you can trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/certainly-as-a-director-you-want-to-be-working-with-people-who-are-on/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [Especially as an independent director, when you're writing something on spec and you're trying to get it sold, you create this entire world in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-boden/especially-as-an-independent-director-when-you-re-writing-something/) [Anna Boden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-boden/) > [Movies are certainly a director's medium, so getting the opportunity to work with really good directors is everything to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/movies-are-certainly-a-director-s-medium-so-getting-the-opportunity/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [I didn't have a burning desire to be a writer or director - writer probably more so, certainly not a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-didn-t-have-a-burning-desire-to-be-a-writer-or-director-writer/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [I want to be an author/director and I'm writing my second book now and I want to make a movie of it, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-want-to-be-an-author-director-and-i-m-writing-my-second-book-now/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [As a director you already have a script, you have actors... you have collaborators when you're a director. When you're writing there's no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-younger/as-a-director-you-already-have-a-script-you-have-actors-you-have/) [Ben Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-younger/) > [My work as an actor is limited by the voice of the director and the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrien-brody/my-work-as-an-actor-is-limited-by-the-voice-of-the-director-and-the/) [Adrien Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrien-brody/) > [You can fake a lot of stuff, but you can't fake if the story isn't there and if the writing isn't good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/you-can-fake-a-lot-of-stuff-but-you-can-t-fake-if-the-story-isn-t/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I don't know if nature is a direct literary influence on my writing, but it is certainly important to me. I take great joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-petterson/i-don-t-know-if-nature-is-a-direct-literary-influence-on-my-writing/) [Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/) > [Haec ego non multis (scribo), sed tibi: satis enim magnum alter alteri theatrum sumus. I am writing this not to many, but to you:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/haec-ego-non-multis-scribo-sed-tibi-satis-enim-magnum-alter-alteri/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [The best writing is certainly when you are in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-best-writing-is-certainly-when-you-are-in-love/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I think scrin writers like to see how people bring their words to life, and it's always surprising. Always, no matter what, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/i-think-scrin-writers-like-to-see-how-people-bring-their-words-to/) [Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/) > [You can write any time people will leave you alone and not interrupt you. Or rather you can if you will be ruthless enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-can-write-any-time-people-will-leave-you-alone-and-not-interrupt/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Writing has certainly helped me explore about 20,000 versions of my authentic self. I suppose that's what most writers discover if they write long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/writing-has-certainly-helped-me-explore-about-20-000-versions-of-my/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [our finest writing will certainly come from what is unregenerate in ourselves. It will come from the part that is obdurate, unbanishable, immune to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-friedman/our-finest-writing-will-certainly-come-from-what-is-unregenerate-in/) [Bonnie Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-friedman/) ## More by Carol Kane > [I don't like to discuss my work in a lot of detail; I'm afraid of dissecting it in a way that is not good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-don-t-like-to-discuss-my-work-in-a-lot-of-detail-i-m-afraid-of/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I like the full spectrum of roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-like-the-full-spectrum-of-roles/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I was this extremely dramatic actress. And then, suddenly, I was doing comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-was-this-extremely-dramatic-actress-and-then-suddenly-i-was-doing/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [It's like life: you have both comedy and drama. There's a balance, and I'm lucky enough to have it in my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/it-s-like-life-you-have-both-comedy-and-drama-there-s-a-balance-and-i/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [While filming 'Annie Hall,' I never really hung out with Woody Allen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/while-filming-annie-hall-i-never-really-hung-out-with-woody-allen/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I know that I'm in the minority to be able to keep working all these years. But I want more!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-know-that-i-m-in-the-minority-to-be-able-to-keep-working-all-these/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [For very few people is there a time when you, quote unquote, make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/for-very-few-people-is-there-a-time-when-you-quote-unquote-make-it/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [If I had not made strategic choices, I would have had far more access to dramatic roles. But the one thing I don't regret,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/if-i-had-not-made-strategic-choices-i-would-have-had-far-more-access/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I've been lucky in my career. I've worked with some of the greatest filmmakers and actors around. I'm so proud of some of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-ve-been-lucky-in-my-career-i-ve-worked-with-some-of-the-greatest/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I happen to think I look best in black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-happen-to-think-i-look-best-in-black/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I don't like to objectify the people I play. I always try to go for the truth in any part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-don-t-like-to-objectify-the-people-i-play-i-always-try-to-go-for/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I didn't decide to be a character actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-didn-t-decide-to-be-a-character-actress/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [There is no restaurant anywhere in the world where I have been that I haven't been able to find something to eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/there-is-no-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-world-where-i-have-been-that-i/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I want to be Geraldine Page; I want to be one of the greats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-want-to-be-geraldine-page-i-want-to-be-one-of-the-greats/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [The Oscar nomination made me a recognizable name to other actors and people in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/the-oscar-nomination-made-me-a-recognizable-name-to-other-actors-and/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) [Explore all 76 Carol Kane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [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/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [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/) > [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 even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For me, the most important thing is the writing - and certainly the director. 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