--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: . . . I have written a couple of…" description: "\". . . I have written a couple of screenplays for studios, and each time has been less gratifying than the last. In my experience, they want no real rep..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/craig-lucas-71220_ambiguity_i-have-written-a-couple-of-screenplays-f_598397.png" --- # . . . I have written a couple of screenplays for studios… ![“. . . I have written a couple of screenplays for studios, and each time has been less gratifying than the last. In my experience, they want no real representations of homosexuality, they want no complexity, they are terrified of ambiguity and unanswered questions - they don't know what they want…” quote by Craig Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/craig-lucas-71220_ambiguity_i-have-written-a-couple-of-screenplays-f_598397.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/craig-lucas-71220_ambiguity_i-have-written-a-couple-of-screenplays-f_598397.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c1/craig-lucas-71220_ambiguity_i-have-written-a-couple-of-screenplays-f_598397.png) > “. . . I have written a couple of screenplays for studios, and each time has been less gratifying than the last. In my experience, they want no real representations of homosexuality, they want no complexity, they are terrified of ambiguity and unanswered questions - they don't know what they want, except that they want to make lots of money. The only freedom I've ever had as an artist has been in the theatre . . ..” Craig Lucas ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Screen studios demand profit‑driven, simplified stories, while theatre offers true artistic liberty. **In simple terms:** Film pushes profit, theatre allows freedom. Key Takeaway Seek creative freedom in supportive mediums. Themes artistic freedom industry constraints representation Mood frustrated hopeful Type critical motivational When to use this quote - theatre work - independent film - writing workshops - advocacy for diverse stories Key Concepts commercialism creative integrity Questions to Reflect On - How can writers navigate commercial demands without compromising vision? - What platforms support authentic storytelling? A Different Perspective Financial pressures can stifle authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambiguity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambiguity/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Complexity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexity/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Lots of money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lots-of-money/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Representation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representation/) [Screenplays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplays/) [Terrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Unanswered questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unanswered-questions/) ## Related quotes > [My first book, about Ruby Ridge, was made into a miniseries on CBS in 1996, and since then, I've dabbled in Hollywood, pitched a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/my-first-book-about-ruby-ridge-was-made-into-a-miniseries-on-cbs-in/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [I have a couple screenplays that are done, and I'm looking for the right people to help me make them. I do a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmi-simpson/i-have-a-couple-screenplays-that-are-done-and-i-m-looking-for-the/) [Jimmi Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmi-simpson/) > [I've written a couple screenplays and half-finished plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-meloni/i-ve-written-a-couple-screenplays-and-half-finished-plays/) [Christopher Meloni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-meloni/) > [Science has penetrated the constitution of nature, and unrolled the mysterious pages of its history, and started again many, as yet, unanswered questions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-porter/science-has-penetrated-the-constitution-of-nature-and-unrolled-the/) [Noah Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-porter/) > [Faith is about trusting God when you have unanswered questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/faith-is-about-trusting-god-when-you-have-unanswered-questions/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I think there are still unanswered questions about Benghazi. I think there are unanswered questions, and they could be easily answered. But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-think-there-are-still-unanswered-questions-about-benghazi-i-think/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [“Unanswered? I would've answered any question, Hannah. But you never asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/unanswered-i-would-ve-answered-any-question-hannah-but-you-never-asked/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [If knowing answers to life's questions is absolutely necessary to you, then forget the journey. You will never make it, for this is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/if-knowing-answers-to-life-s-questions-is-absolutely-necessary-to-you/) [Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/) > [There’s no such thing as trust unless you have unanswered questions in your life. If you know everything, theres nothing to trust God for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-s-no-such-thing-as-trust-unless-you-have-unanswered-questions/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Unanswered questions are the ones that haunt us the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-k-green/unanswered-questions-are-the-ones-that-haunt-us-the-longest/) [Alice K. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-k-green/) > [I'd love to meet Shakespeare. I've done so much research on him and there are so many unanswered questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bateman/i-d-love-to-meet-shakespeare-i-ve-done-so-much-research-on-him-and/) [Tom Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bateman/) > [We are waiting for Donald Trump's big immigration speech. There are lots of unanswered questions that remain about where exactly Trump stands on deportation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/we-are-waiting-for-donald-trump-s-big-immigration-speech-there-are/) [Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/) > [Some say time heals the broken, but I say it gives answers for the unanswered questions and thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-say-time-heals-the-broken-but-i-say-it-gives-answers-for-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Living by faith isn't living with certainty. It's trusting God in spite of unanswered questions and unresolved doubts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/living-by-faith-isn-t-living-with-certainty-it-s-trusting-god-in/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If you feel you have a strong constituency among the young, you can really die happy, because the great unanswered question, the only valid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/if-you-feel-you-have-a-strong-constituency-among-the-young-you-can/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) ## More by Craig Lucas > [Never to be squandered…the miracle of another human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-lucas/never-to-be-squandered-the-miracle-of-another-human-being/) Craig Lucas > [. . . don't rewrite unless you know what you're trying to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-lucas/don-t-rewrite-unless-you-know-what-you-re-trying-to-do/) Craig Lucas > [THE DYING GAUL is a Hollywood satire. But Hollywood is not the real subject matter here. My play uses that world of high-rolling big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-lucas/the-dying-gaul-is-a-hollywood-satire-but-hollywood-is-not-the-real/) Craig Lucas Explore all 4 Craig Lucas quotes ## More Ambiguity quotes > [The position is clear - there is no ambiguity in Sinn Fein's position. We, along with all the other parties, have signed up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-position-is-clear-there-is-no-ambiguity-in-sinn-fein-s-position/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Ambiguity is necessary in some of my stories, not in all. In those, it certainly contributes to the richness of the story. I doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/ambiguity-is-necessary-in-some-of-my-stories-not-in-all-in-those-it/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [During the Cold War, we lived in coded times when it wasn't easy and there were shades of grey and ambiguity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/during-the-cold-war-we-lived-in-coded-times-when-it-wasn-t-easy-and/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/you-cannot-grow-in-the-integrative-dance-of-action-and-contemplation/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [I blame my grandfather 100 percent for his oldest son's death. I don't think there's any ambiguity there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/i-blame-my-grandfather-100-percent-for-his-oldest-son-s-death-i-don-t/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [I think the relationship between social-dominance orientation in people and the extent to which they're made uncomfortable by ambiguity and novelty is really important.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/i-think-the-relationship-between-social-dominance-orientation-in/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [Yet again, an ancient answer echoes across the centuries: Listen! Listen to stories! For what stories do, above all else, is hold up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-kurtz/yet-again-an-ancient-answer-echoes-across-the-centuries-listen-listen/) [Ernest Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-kurtz/) > [My path to wisdom began when I stopped pretending to know things I didn't know. When I explicitly admitted to the limits of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/my-path-to-wisdom-began-when-i-stopped-pretending-to-know-things-i/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [If there is a single tragic flaw that mars our biggest enterprises, it is conservatism - the failure to fail, and fail big, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-there-is-a-single-tragic-flaw-that-mars-our-biggest-enterprises-it/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [In order to be as free as I possibly can, in my own imagination, I can't take positions that are closed. Everything I've ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/in-order-to-be-as-free-as-i-possibly-can-in-my-own-imagination-i-can/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I've always been drawn to ambiguity in pop music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-ambiguity-in-pop-music/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I believe that we can still have a genre of scientific books suitable for and accessible alike to professionals and interested laypeople. The concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-believe-that-we-can-still-have-a-genre-of-scientific-books-suitable/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [I am in the utmost perplexity, yand have wished a hundred times, that if there is a A God, nature would manifest him without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-am-in-the-utmost-perplexity-yand-have-wished-a-hundred-times-that/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [There's a lot of ambiguity in life, and so often, our art is very neatly wrapped up at the end, when our lives never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-coon/there-s-a-lot-of-ambiguity-in-life-and-so-often-our-art-is-very/) [Carrie Coon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-coon/) > [“Man must not attempt to dispel the ambiguity of his being but, on the contrary, accept the task of realizing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/man-must-not-attempt-to-dispel-the-ambiguity-of-his-being-but-on-the/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) [Browse all 431 Ambiguity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambiguity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": ". . . I have written a couple of screenplays for studios, and each time has been less gratifying than the last. In my experience, they want no real representations of homosexuality, they want no complexity, they are terrified of ambiguity and unanswered questions - they don't know what they want, except that they want to make lots of money. 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