--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We start with strong characters and build…" description: "\"We start with strong characters and build the movie from there. That not to say we don't struggle with story - that's the most challenging part.\" — Chr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/chris-meledandri-20429_build_we-start-with-strong-characters-and-buil_1735387.jpg" --- # We start with strong characters and build the movie from… ![“We start with strong characters and build the movie from there. That not to say we don't struggle with story - that's the most challenging part.” quote by Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/chris-meledandri-20429_build_we-start-with-strong-characters-and-buil_1735387.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/chris-meledandri-20429_build_we-start-with-strong-characters-and-buil_1735387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/chris-meledandri-20429_build_we-start-with-strong-characters-and-buil_1735387.jpg) > “We start with strong characters and build the movie from there. That not to say we don't struggle with story - that's the most challenging part.” [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strong characters are the foundation of a film; while story development is challenging, it builds upon those characters. **In simple terms:** Characters lead, story follows. Key Takeaway Start with compelling characters before plotting. Themes character development storytelling film making collaboration challenge Mood inspirational practical analytical Type industry educational creative When to use this quote - scriptwriting - casting - storyboarding - team brainstorming Key Concepts narrative structure character arcs creative teamwork Questions to Reflect On - How can character and plot be balanced? - What methods keep story development on track? A Different Perspective Focusing too much on characters may neglect plot coherence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [The young men, they look to me for a story they can get nowhere else, a challenging risky story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-young-men-they-look-to-me-for-a-story-they-can-get-nowhere-else-a/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [You've got to think of fun stories, and if the fun story happened to have a lesson, that's a great thing. If you build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/you-ve-got-to-think-of-fun-stories-and-if-the-fun-story-happened-to/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [To create characters, one must build background. And one of the tools we use is improvisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-keitel/to-create-characters-one-must-build-background-and-one-of-the-tools/) [Harvey Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-keitel/) > [What's so cool about movies is once you're done with the movie, you put it away and come up with a whole new different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/what-s-so-cool-about-movies-is-once-you-re-done-with-the-movie-you/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [You can't, no matter what anyone says, build a movie around someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/you-can-t-no-matter-what-anyone-says-build-a-movie-around-someone/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I feel films are made by characters and no matter what each one of them plays, it helps you to build a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prachi-desai/i-feel-films-are-made-by-characters-and-no-matter-what-each-one-of/) [Prachi Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prachi-desai/) > [Our job as actors is to invent the things that bridge ourselves with the characters, so you have to build something if it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/our-job-as-actors-is-to-invent-the-things-that-bridge-ourselves-with/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [Any fitness expert will tell you that a strong core is the start to a strong and healthy body. 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Those are the two key elements.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/as-a-comedian-you-have-to-start-the-show-strong-and-you-have-to-end/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [It is obviously always nice to start in a strong way, but it's also very important to keep that strength during the year -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-hulkenberg/it-is-obviously-always-nice-to-start-in-a-strong-way-but-it-s-also/) [Nico Hulkenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-hulkenberg/) > [Start strong... End stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-strong-end-stronger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Yes, I certainly look for strong characters - whether that means they're strong in their vulnerability or strong in the way they might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-mcclure/yes-i-certainly-look-for-strong-characters-whether-that-means-they-re/) [Vicky McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicky-mcclure/) > [But the West of the old times, with its strong characters, its stern battles and its tremendous stretches of loneliness, can never be blotted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffalo-bill/but-the-west-of-the-old-times-with-its-strong-characters-its-stern/) [Buffalo Bill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffalo-bill/) > [I'm drawn to female characters; not all of them are strong characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-m-drawn-to-female-characters-not-all-of-them-are-strong-characters/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) ## More by Chris Meledandri > [Absolutely, you rise and fall based on your creative team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/absolutely-you-rise-and-fall-based-on-your-creative-team/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [This phenomenon with Betty White is so wonderfully amazing. In a world where ageism runs rampant, out of left field, all of a sudden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/this-phenomenon-with-betty-white-is-so-wonderfully-amazing-in-a-world/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [I have been very fortunate since 'Ice Age' to make movies that somehow charm audiences. I think that the key to it for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/i-have-been-very-fortunate-since-ice-age-to-make-movies-that-somehow/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [Embrace risk. The driving force behind our economic model at Illumination Mac Guff is designed to preserve the opportunity to take risk. Subvert the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/embrace-risk-the-driving-force-behind-our-economic-model-at/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [If you are not breaking rules and you are not taking risks, you are not going to end up with movies where there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/if-you-are-not-breaking-rules-and-you-are-not-taking-risks-you-are/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [Ted Geisel was trying to make a statement about awareness and personal responsibility. He was very clear about that. But the ideas and themes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/ted-geisel-was-trying-to-make-a-statement-about-awareness-and/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [My faith in my filmmaking changed on the heels of 'Titan.' It allowed me to pursue things that I previously would have questioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/my-faith-in-my-filmmaking-changed-on-the-heels-of-titan-it-allowed-me/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [I was pulled out of school for every moratorium day and every rally for a left-wing candidate... from Ed Koch in his heyday to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/i-was-pulled-out-of-school-for-every-moratorium-day-and-every-rally/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [You have to love Dr. Seuss to take on the responsibility of conveying his work in animation or any medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/you-have-to-love-dr-seuss-to-take-on-the-responsibility-of-conveying/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [Owning pets is as close to a universal phenomenon as, I think, anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/owning-pets-is-as-close-to-a-universal-phenomenon-as-i-think-anything/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [I have to understand how we are going to market the movie. We view marketing as an extension of content creation... Every time a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/i-have-to-understand-how-we-are-going-to-market-the-movie-we-view/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [What I worry about the most is the competition for young eyeballs. We have so many other competing forms of media. I don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/what-i-worry-about-the-most-is-the-competition-for-young-eyeballs-we/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [My early experiences in animation taught me that following someone else is not a great idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/my-early-experiences-in-animation-taught-me-that-following-someone/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [Children succeed when grown-ups care about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/children-succeed-when-grown-ups-care-about-them/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) > [My experience is that there's absolutely a correlation between the enthusiasm within an animation studio for a given character and the enthusiasm the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-meledandri/my-experience-is-that-there-s-absolutely-a-correlation-between-the/) [Chris Meledandri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) [Explore all 31 Chris Meledandri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-meledandri/) ## More Build quotes > [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [I build on Christ, the rock of ages; on his sure mercies described in his word, and on his promises, all which I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/i-build-on-christ-the-rock-of-ages-on-his-sure-mercies-described-in/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [The way you get wickets is, you've got to build pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-arthur/the-way-you-get-wickets-is-you-ve-got-to-build-pressure/) [Mickey Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-arthur/) > [For rich children, it'd be very easy and convenient never to take any steps to build an identity outside of your association with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-johnson/for-rich-children-it-d-be-very-easy-and-convenient-never-to-take-any/) [Jamie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-johnson/) > [The millennials were raised in a cocoon, their anxious parents afraid to let them go out in the park to play. So should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-millennials-were-raised-in-a-cocoon-their-anxious-parents-afraid/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [You have to build what the market needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-s-miller/you-have-to-build-what-the-market-needs/) [Jamie S. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-s-miller/) > [I oppose any proposal for the federal government to build and operate a nationwide 5G network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/i-oppose-any-proposal-for-the-federal-government-to-build-and-operate/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [“Create with the heart; build with the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/create-with-the-heart-build-with-the-mind/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Since, however, it is immaterial whether the work is done by assistants or a machine, I decided to build a machine equivalent to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/since-however-it-is-immaterial-whether-the-work-is-done-by-assistants/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For 'Inhuman,' it's a 'chess game' series. You have a lot of pieces moving different ways at once, and it's about what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-soule/for-inhuman-it-s-a-chess-game-series-you-have-a-lot-of-pieces-moving/) [Charles Soule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-soule/) > [What we need to make sure we do as a team is build the quickest car on the grid - if we have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valtteri-bottas/what-we-need-to-make-sure-we-do-as-a-team-is-build-the-quickest-car/) [Valtteri Bottas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valtteri-bottas/) > [Always build. If you start at fever pitch, there's nowhere to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goldman/always-build-if-you-start-at-fever-pitch-there-s-nowhere-to-go/) [Jane Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goldman/) > [I have spent my career helping to build and grow businesses, and if I've learned one thing, it's that being pro-business and pro-consumer are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/i-have-spent-my-career-helping-to-build-and-grow-businesses-and-if-i/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [If you can build it, you can unbuild it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-pitts/if-you-can-build-it-you-can-unbuild-it/) [Jake Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-pitts/) > [You don't build your character by doing what everybody else is doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ghosn/you-don-t-build-your-character-by-doing-what-everybody-else-is-doing/) [Carlos Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ghosn/) Browse all 1,564 Build quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We start with strong characters and build the movie from there. 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