--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It starts with the writing - which is…" description: "\"It starts with the writing - which is really, really good. And the production values are phenomenal. HBO and Sky have spent money on it, and you get wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/295/charles-dance-10952_amount_it-starts-with-the-writing-which-is-real_3160974.jpg" --- # It starts with the writing - which is really, really good… ![“It starts with the writing - which is really, really good. And the production values are phenomenal. HBO and Sky have spent money on it, and you get what you pay for. This has money put into it properly - not lavish amounts - but as each season is successful, they maintain the money that's being…” quote by Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/295/charles-dance-10952_amount_it-starts-with-the-writing-which-is-real_3160974.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/295/charles-dance-10952_amount_it-starts-with-the-writing-which-is-real_3160974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/295/charles-dance-10952_amount_it-starts-with-the-writing-which-is-real_3160974.jpg) > “It starts with the writing - which is really, really good. And the production values are phenomenal. HBO and Sky have spent money on it, and you get what you pay for. This has money put into it properly - not lavish amounts - but as each season is successful, they maintain the money that's being spent to maintain the quality.” [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. High production values stem from consistent, appropriate budgeting rather than extravagance. **In simple terms:** Good quality comes from steady, sensible spending. Key Takeaway Invest wisely to sustain quality. Themes budgeting quality production Mood analytical pragmatic Type industry financial When to use this quote - TV series development - film projects - budget planning Key Concepts media economics resource allocation creative standards Questions to Reflect On - What compromises are acceptable for quality? - How to balance cost and artistic vision? A Different Perspective Limited funds may restrict creative freedom despite efficiency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Phenomenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phenomenal/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Seasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seasons/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I do not need a producer. I need only a good production manager. 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You think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/when-you-re-in-a-good-play-and-a-good-production-you-find-that-you-re/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [Good production is like a beautiful marriage. It makes a happy home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbaland/good-production-is-like-a-beautiful-marriage-it-makes-a-happy-home/) [Timbaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timbaland/) > [Any good production team is going to allow an actor to breathe life into the characters - that's why they hired that woman, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dimaggio/any-good-production-team-is-going-to-allow-an-actor-to-breathe-life/) [John DiMaggio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dimaggio/) > [The Punjabi industry lacks a lot in terms of good production houses and actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gurpreet-ghuggi/the-punjabi-industry-lacks-a-lot-in-terms-of-good-production-houses/) [Gurpreet Ghuggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gurpreet-ghuggi/) > [I do not come from the industry. 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I felt like I graduated television college, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-michael-bendis/it-was-a-very-excellent-day-over-there-at-hbo-cinemax-when-they/) [Brian Michael Bendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-michael-bendis/) > [It's like, 'Sorry I passed you an STD but I really enjoy your quirky web presence.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah/it-s-like-sorry-i-passed-you-an-std-but-i-really-enjoy-your-quirky/) [Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah/) ## More by Charles Dance > [I was a window dresser for Burton's once. What really put me off was the area manager coming round and saying, Charles, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/i-was-a-window-dresser-for-burton-s-once-what-really-put-me-off-was/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [The quality of writing attracts me to films, also who the other actors are, who the director is, where it's being shot. Any or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/the-quality-of-writing-attracts-me-to-films-also-who-the-other-actors/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [You have to attempt to be objective about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/you-have-to-attempt-to-be-objective-about-yourself/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [If you get a bad script, then you start expending energy trying to make a silk purse of a sow's ear. When the script's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/if-you-get-a-bad-script-then-you-start-expending-energy-trying-to/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [I phoned this number and said, Please, sir, I want to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/i-phoned-this-number-and-said-please-sir-i-want-to-be-an-actor/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [Most feature films are 35-40 shooting days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/most-feature-films-are-35-40-shooting-days/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [My face lends itself to austere characters, and unless they're two-dimensional, I will do them. 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If actors retired, there would be nobody left to play old, wrinkly people. You have to keep going, darling - don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/actors-can-t-retire-if-actors-retired-there-would-be-nobody-left-to/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [ Because \[writers\] Dan Weiss and David Benioff have done such a great job in adapting them, that's what we work with. It serves no… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/because-writers-dan-weiss-and-david-benioff-have-done-such-a-great/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [There is a huge fan base; they're very knowledgeable and very loyal. I was astonished - before I started working on the series, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/there-is-a-huge-fan-base-they-re-very-knowledgeable-and-very-loyal-i/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [We have to take risks in British television. 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What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. 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