--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To make a documentary is one thing, to…" description: "\"To make a documentary is one thing, to make a feature film is quite another.\" — Dennis Hopper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/dennis-hopper-8988_cinema_to-make-a-documentary-is-one-thing-to-ma_2184630.jpg" --- # To make a documentary is one thing, to make a feature film… ![“To make a documentary is one thing, to make a feature film is quite another.” quote by Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/dennis-hopper-8988_cinema_to-make-a-documentary-is-one-thing-to-ma_2184630.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/dennis-hopper-8988_cinema_to-make-a-documentary-is-one-thing-to-ma_2184630.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/dennis-hopper-8988_cinema_to-make-a-documentary-is-one-thing-to-ma_2184630.jpg) > “To make a documentary is one thing, to make a feature film is quite another.” [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Documentary filmmaking differs fundamentally in scope, resources, and narrative focus compared to feature filmmaking. **In simple terms:** Documentaries and feature films are distinct crafts. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect the unique challenges of each medium. Themes film documentary production creative process Mood reflective analytical Type educational industry insight When to use this quote - Film school projects - independent documentaries - studio feature productions Key Concepts Narrative structure budget constraints audience expectation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance artistic vision with practical constraints? - What aspects of documentary storytelling could enhance feature films? A Different Perspective Feature films often have larger budgets and broader distribution, which can limit creative freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Documentaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentaries/) [Documentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary/) [Feature film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feature-film/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ## Related quotes > [In documentary, which is the only thing I'm really very familiar with, women are very easily relegated into a producer role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-w-garcia/in-documentary-which-is-the-only-thing-i-m-really-very-familiar-with/) [Liz W. Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-w-garcia/) > [When I make a documentary I shoot very little but I hang around with my camera for a long time. I look at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/when-i-make-a-documentary-i-shoot-very-little-but-i-hang-around-with/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) > [Right after I did 'The Fountain,' I wanted to go make a documentary or something that was less constructed - more natural. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-aronofsky/right-after-i-did-the-fountain-i-wanted-to-go-make-a-documentary-or/) [Darren Aronofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-aronofsky/) > [There is no way I could have ever dared to make a documentary, much less have the money to make a documentary, if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-kaufman/there-is-no-way-i-could-have-ever-dared-to-make-a-documentary-much/) [Lloyd Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-kaufman/) > [When you make a documentary film, after many years the only thing you remember is what you put into the film, not what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-yates/when-you-make-a-documentary-film-after-many-years-the-only-thing-you/) [Pamela Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-yates/) > [I learned how to make a documentary by having a good team around me. My editors (and co-writers)Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt and Frédéric Tcheng were very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-immordino-vreeland/i-learned-how-to-make-a-documentary-by-having-a-good-team-around-me/) [Lisa Immordino Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-immordino-vreeland/) > [When I did Taming of the Shrew, I was very tired, and I decided to have a holiday and make a documentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-cilento/when-i-did-taming-of-the-shrew-i-was-very-tired-and-i-decided-to-have/) [Diane Cilento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-cilento/) > [“If everyone knows so much about it, why do they need to make a documentary?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-pasulka/if-everyone-knows-so-much-about-it-why-do-they-need-to-make-a/) [Brigid Pasulka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-pasulka/) > [When you're making a real documentary, you shoot it and the movie happens. You don't make - this sounds corny - you don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/when-you-re-making-a-real-documentary-you-shoot-it-and-the-movie/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [When you make a documentary, you have to adapt to what reality imposes upon you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to-adapt-to-what-reality-imposes/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [If I wanted to make something that actually made a difference roughly in this industry, I would make a documentary. That would be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/if-i-wanted-to-make-something-that-actually-made-a-difference-roughly/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [Cinema is not truth. Even when you make documentary films, you can choose to show this shot and not the other shot - this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithy-panh/cinema-is-not-truth-even-when-you-make-documentary-films-you-can/) [Rithy Panh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithy-panh/) > [There was no model how to make a documentary production company work. I figured it out as I went along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/there-was-no-model-how-to-make-a-documentary-production-company-work/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [My hat's off to documentary filmmakers. I don't know if I'm ever going back to it. You're treated like a second-class citizen at most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-zwigoff/my-hat-s-off-to-documentary-filmmakers-i-don-t-know-if-i-m-ever-going/) [Terry Zwigoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-zwigoff/) > [I film quite a bit of footage, then edit. Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/i-film-quite-a-bit-of-footage-then-edit-changes-before-your-eyes/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) ## More by Dennis Hopper > [The best and only authentic book written on the sixties underground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/the-best-and-only-authentic-book-written-on-the-sixties-underground/) [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) > [When some people were going around being surf bums and tennis bums, I was being a gallery bum. I really liked galleries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/when-some-people-were-going-around-being-surf-bums-and-tennis-bums-i/) [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) > [I used to have to wear a gas mask to school when I was a kid because of the dust. 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We do \[travel\] outside, but the inside workings of the civilian… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/the-inside-of-the-pentagon-is-an-incredible-place-and-a-dramatic-set/) [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) > [It's strange: I always try to do the best acting job I can do under the imaginary circumstances of my working position at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/it-s-strange-i-always-try-to-do-the-best-acting-job-i-can-do-under/) [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) > [... I'm sort of a nervous person with the camera, so I will just shoot arbitrarily until I can focus and compose something, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/i-m-sort-of-a-nervous-person-with-the-camera-so-i-will-just-shoot/) [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) > [ \[After Easy Rider\] I couldn't get another movie, so I lived in Mexico City for a couple of years. I lived in Paris for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/after-easy-rider-i-couldn-t-get-another-movie-so-i-lived-in-mexico/) [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) > [Society loves to put bubbles up there and pop them, and I resent it. I'd rather expose myself myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/society-loves-to-put-bubbles-up-there-and-pop-them-and-i-resent-it-i/) [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) > [My whole written history is one big lie! I mean, I can't even believe my history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/my-whole-written-history-is-one-big-lie-i-mean-i-can-t-even-believe/) [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) > [Banks wont even loan each other money, everybody's going broke, and here we are inside here, these people are going to be out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/banks-wont-even-loan-each-other-money-everybody-s-going-broke-and/) [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) [Explore all 76 Dennis Hopper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. 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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 > [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": "To make a documentary is one thing, to make a feature film is quite another.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dennis Hopper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/to-make-a-documentary-is-one-thing-to-make-a-feature-film-is-quite/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/to-make-a-documentary-is-one-thing-to-make-a-feature-film-is-quite/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/dennis-hopper-8988_cinema_to-make-a-documentary-is-one-thing-to-ma_2184630.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/dennis-hopper-8988_cinema_to-make-a-documentary-is-one-thing-to-ma_2184630.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/dennis-hopper-8988_cinema_to-make-a-documentary-is-one-thing-to-ma_2184630.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To make a documentary is one thing, to make a feature film is quite another.” — Dennis Hopper", "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": "Dennis Hopper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To make a documentary is one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/to-make-a-documentary-is-one-thing-to-make-a-feature-film-is-quite/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/to-make-a-documentary-is-one-thing-to-make-a-feature-film-is-quite/#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 } } ] } ```