--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On a practical level I'm a TV producer…" description: "\"On a practical level I'm a TV producer and storyteller who's gone about as long as you can go without achieving a mass audience.\" — David Simon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/692/david-simon-3189_achieve_on-a-practical-level-i-m-a-tv-producer-a_2933096.png" --- # On a practical level I'm a TV producer and storyteller… ![“On a practical level I'm a TV producer and storyteller who's gone about as long as you can go without achieving a mass audience.” quote by David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/692/david-simon-3189_achieve_on-a-practical-level-i-m-a-tv-producer-a_2933096.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/692/david-simon-3189_achieve_on-a-practical-level-i-m-a-tv-producer-a_2933096.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/692/david-simon-3189_achieve_on-a-practical-level-i-m-a-tv-producer-a_2933096.png) > “On a practical level I'm a TV producer and storyteller who's gone about as long as you can go without achieving a mass audience.” [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despite long effort, some storytellers never reach a mass audience, highlighting the challenge of media reach. **In simple terms:** Hard work may not guarantee fame. Key Takeaway Focus on craft over audience size. Themes media industry audience dynamics persistence Mood realistic thoughtful Type career philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - creative industries - personal fulfillment - media studies Key Concepts television production storytelling challenges Questions to Reflect On - What defines success for you? - How can you find value beyond audience size? A Different Perspective Success metrics vary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Producer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producer/) [Producer Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producer-storyteller-4334830/) [Producers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producers/) [Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller/) [Storyteller Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller-gone-4334831/) [Tv Producer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-producer-1917356/) [Tvs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tvs/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I was a TV producer at a noncommercial station, and we were producing some good documentaries - on Head Start, on poverty. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/i-was-a-tv-producer-at-a-noncommercial-station-and-we-were-producing/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [I do like the process of producing. Later in my career, like when I had the TV show, I was a producer and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-do-like-the-process-of-producing-later-in-my-career-like-when-i-had/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [I am a writer (and one day I'll be an author). For a long time I was a bookseller (who wrote) or a TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/i-am-a-writer-and-one-day-i-ll-be-an-author-for-a-long-time-i-was-a/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [People think that by living on some mountainside in a tent and being frozen to death by freezing rain, they're somehow discovering reality, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard/people-think-that-by-living-on-some-mountainside-in-a-tent-and-being/) [J. G. Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-ballard/) > [TV is very much a producer and writer or creator-driven machine in the States. And I'm the kind of actor that needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-byrne/tv-is-very-much-a-producer-and-writer-or-creator-driven-machine-in/) [Rose Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-byrne/) > [It is not entirely true that a TV producer or reporter has complete control over the contents of programs. The interests and inclinations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/it-is-not-entirely-true-that-a-tv-producer-or-reporter-has-complete/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [I don't think of myself as a television producer. Obviously, that's crazy. Because I should. That's what I do. But I don't actually see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-television-producer-obviously-that-s/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [Like a versatile baller, George Dohrmann swings seamlessly from position to position: investigative journalist, social critic, gifted storyteller. The result is a gem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-jon-wertheim/like-a-versatile-baller-george-dohrmann-swings-seamlessly-from/) [L. Jon Wertheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-jon-wertheim/) > [Jobs' incredible skill was as a storyteller, a salesman. He could captivate our imaginations and reel us in. He was more P.T. Barnum than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gibney/jobs-incredible-skill-was-as-a-storyteller-a-salesman-he-could/) [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) > [Telling your story is transformative. For both the storyteller and their audience, a new bridge to understanding is created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/telling-your-story-is-transformative-for-both-the-storyteller-and/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [John Lane has long been recognized as one of the South's finest poets and memoirists. This debut establishes him as one of our finest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rash/john-lane-has-long-been-recognized-as-one-of-the-south-s-finest-poets/) [Ron Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rash/) > [I'm a storyteller - that's my chamber, that's my box. I'm always tryin' to give you the best story from our side of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-m-a-storyteller-that-s-my-chamber-that-s-my-box-i-m-always-tryin-to/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [I think the way you become a good storyteller is to read a lot of stories and evaluate them in your own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-think-the-way-you-become-a-good-storyteller-is-to-read-a-lot-of/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [What creates success on HSN is great product, a great story and a great storyteller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-grossman/what-creates-success-on-hsn-is-great-product-a-great-story-and-a/) [Mindy Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-grossman/) ## More by David Simon > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [It is your birthright to live a life abundant in love. Make the commitment today to open your heart and let your love flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/it-is-your-birthright-to-live-a-life-abundant-in-love-make-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [“If the case isn't plea bargained, dismissed or placed on the inactive docket for an indefinite period of time, if by some perverse twist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-the-case-isn-t-plea-bargained-dismissed-or-placed-on-the-inactive/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Boiled down to its core, the truth is always a simple, solid thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/boiled-down-to-its-core-the-truth-is-always-a-simple-solid-thing/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [When we spend time in silence, we can hear the voice of our soul whispering its sacred message and encouraging us to make choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/when-we-spend-time-in-silence-we-can-hear-the-voice-of-our-soul/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [You have the capacity to change the plot line of your life, even if you've been acting from the same script since before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/you-have-the-capacity-to-change-the-plot-line-of-your-life-even-if/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Healing is the process of reestablishing the integration between body, mind, and spirit, creating opportunities for the return of the memory of wholeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/healing-is-the-process-of-reestablishing-the-integration-between-body/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Authenticity is an alignment between your beliefs, your desires and your choices in the world. Desires change throughout the course of a life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/authenticity-is-an-alignment-between-your-beliefs-your-desires-and/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [One of the sad things about contemporary journalism is that it actually matters very little. The world now is almost inured to the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/one-of-the-sad-things-about-contemporary-journalism-is-that-it/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Awakening into love is a lifelong path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/awakening-into-love-is-a-lifelong-path/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [“Everyone lies. Murderers lie because they have to; witnesses and other participants lie because they think they have to; everyone else lies for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/everyone-lies-murderers-lie-because-they-have-to-witnesses-and-other/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [The drug war is a holocaust in slow motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/the-drug-war-is-a-holocaust-in-slow-motion/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Lawrence Gilliard Jr. is a fine actor and I've always felt some residual guilt that we killed him so early in The Wire. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/lawrence-gilliard-jr-is-a-fine-actor-and-i-ve-always-felt-some/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [“A man got to have a code. --The Wire”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/a-man-got-to-have-a-code-the-wire/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [What drugs have not destroyed, the war on them has](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/what-drugs-have-not-destroyed-the-war-on-them-has/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) [Explore all 134 David Simon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) [Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/) [Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/) [Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On a practical level I'm a TV producer and storyteller who's gone about as long as you can go without achieving a mass audience.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Simon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/on-a-practical-level-i-m-a-tv-producer-and-storyteller-who-s-gone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achieve" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/on-a-practical-level-i-m-a-tv-producer-and-storyteller-who-s-gone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/692/david-simon-3189_achieve_on-a-practical-level-i-m-a-tv-producer-a_2933096.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/692/david-simon-3189_achieve_on-a-practical-level-i-m-a-tv-producer-a_2933096.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/692/david-simon-3189_achieve_on-a-practical-level-i-m-a-tv-producer-a_2933096.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“On a practical level I'm a TV producer and storyteller who's gone about as long as you can go without…” — David Simon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Simon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "On a practical level I'm a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/on-a-practical-level-i-m-a-tv-producer-and-storyteller-who-s-gone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/on-a-practical-level-i-m-a-tv-producer-and-storyteller-who-s-gone/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```