--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you take the time and put in the…" description: "\"If you take the time and put in the effort to write your own material and absolutely refuse to be denied the right to make your film it is difficult wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/denzel-washington-1345_cinema_if-you-take-the-time-and-put-in-the-effo_515788.jpg" --- # If you take the time and put in the effort to write your… ![“If you take the time and put in the effort to write your own material and absolutely refuse to be denied the right to make your film it is difficult whatever colour you are.” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/denzel-washington-1345_cinema_if-you-take-the-time-and-put-in-the-effo_515788.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/denzel-washington-1345_cinema_if-you-take-the-time-and-put-in-the-effo_515788.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/denzel-washington-1345_cinema_if-you-take-the-time-and-put-in-the-effo_515788.jpg) > “If you take the time and put in the effort to write your own material and absolutely refuse to be denied the right to make your film it is difficult whatever colour you are.” [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating your own work and insisting on creative control empowers you regardless of background. **In simple terms:** Own your work, demand control, succeed despite obstacles. Key Takeaway Take charge of your creative process. Themes creativity empowerment determination Mood determined confident Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - indie filmmaking - writing own script - producing personal projects Key Concepts authorship rights agency Questions to Reflect On - How can you secure resources while maintaining control? - What risks are you willing to take for artistic freedom? A Different Perspective Challenges include limited resources and industry gatekeeping. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Colour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colour/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Since happiness is irrevocably denied me, I have a right to get pleasure out of life: and I will get it, cost what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/since-happiness-is-irrevocably-denied-me-i-have-a-right-to-get/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/when-a-man-is-denied-the-right-to-live-the-life-he-believes-in-he-has/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [If the Jews are denied the right to live in freedom and peace, soon we will all be denied this right. If the light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/if-the-jews-are-denied-the-right-to-live-in-freedom-and-peace-soon-we/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [Balanced' is a code for 'denied': a right to free speech that must be 'balanced' against so exhaustive a list of other supposed values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-dworkin/balanced-is-a-code-for-denied-a-right-to-free-speech-that-must-be/) [Ronald Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-dworkin/) > [My objection to war was not that I had to kill somebody or be killed senselessly, that hardly mattered. What I objected to was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/my-objection-to-war-was-not-that-i-had-to-kill-somebody-or-be-killed/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [If a voter initiative can deny gay people access to traditional representative, democratic processes, then in California, any other small, historically disadvantaged minority group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perez/if-a-voter-initiative-can-deny-gay-people-access-to-traditional/) [John Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perez/) > [“Perhaps that is the greatest crime of conquest--that a civilization is denied the right to evolve beyond its own embarrassment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/perhaps-that-is-the-greatest-crime-of-conquest-that-a-civilization-is/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [When men and women, boys and girls, are denied the right to education, the right to own land, the access to basic services like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/when-men-and-women-boys-and-girls-are-denied-the-right-to-education/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) > [Women should not be denied the right to control their own bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-n-green/women-should-not-be-denied-the-right-to-control-their-own-bodies/) [Al N. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-n-green/) > [When an unpopular minority is denied the right to marry, it is indeed the role of the courts to protect the rights of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/when-an-unpopular-minority-is-denied-the-right-to-marry-it-is-indeed/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [Film is difficult to explain because it is easy to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-metz/film-is-difficult-to-explain-because-it-is-easy-to-understand/) [Christian Metz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-metz/) > [Being on a low-budget film is difficult enough, and you may as well be working on something that you really believe in and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ashley-carter/being-on-a-low-budget-film-is-difficult-enough-and-you-may-as-well-be/) [Lauren Ashley Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ashley-carter/) > [The resistance to black-and-white is huge, in the way that you have to sell the film. It's difficult to distribute around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boorman/the-resistance-to-black-and-white-is-huge-in-the-way-that-you-have-to/) [John Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boorman/) > [I think that those are the things that you can uniquely do with film that are difficult to do anywhere else: they can bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-towne/i-think-that-those-are-the-things-that-you-can-uniquely-do-with-film/) [Robert Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-towne/) > [Sometimes, I feel promoting a film is a more difficult task than acting!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emraan-hashmi/sometimes-i-feel-promoting-a-film-is-a-more-difficult-task-than-acting/) [Emraan Hashmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emraan-hashmi/) ## More by Denzel Washington > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [My father was a minister for 50 years with Pentecostal Church of God in Christ. We prayed about everything, every day, then he always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/my-father-was-a-minister-for-50-years-with-pentecostal-church-of-god/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Family is life; acting is making a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Talent comes from God. If you have been given some, then value it, cultivate it, work and develop it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/talent-comes-from-god-if-you-have-been-given-some-then-value-it/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [ I'll be working with Ridley's \[Scott\] brother, Tony, again, someone who needless to say we've had a great amount of success together. I trust… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-ll-be-working-with-ridley-s-scott-brother-tony-again-someone-who/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-found-that-nothing-in-life-is-worthwhile-unless-you-take-risks/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I and haven't been unemployed for 20 years. I'm an exception to the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-and-haven-t-been-unemployed-for-20-years-i-m-an-exception-to-the/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I'm very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That's my cultural historical background, my genetic make-up, but it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-m-very-proud-to-be-black-but-black-is-not-all-i-am-that-s-my/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point-the-great-thing-about-acting/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [It's strictly business. If I loan you $25 million, I want my money back. I don't want to hear about the social impact. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/it-s-strictly-business-if-i-loan-you-25-million-i-want-my-money-back/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [If you have an enemy, then learn and know your enemy, don't just be mad at him or her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-you-have-an-enemy-then-learn-and-know-your-enemy-don-t-just-be-mad/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [“He taught us that everyone has a good story and the more of others you understand, the better your grasp of human nature, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/he-taught-us-that-everyone-has-a-good-story-and-the-more-of-others/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Religion to me is when man gets ahold of spirituality: "My god is right, yours is wrong." Religion to me is the human condition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/religion-to-me-is-when-man-gets-ahold-of-spirituality-my-god-is-right/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I don't concern myself with award. I'd been to the party enough times to know it really didn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-award-i-d-been-to-the-party-enough-times/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I've just directed a film called The Great Debaters, which is inspired by a true story about a young college debating team in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-ve-just-directed-a-film-called-the-great-debaters-which-is-inspired/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) [Explore all 253 Denzel Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. 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": "If you take the time and put in the effort to write your own material and absolutely refuse to be denied the right to make your film it is difficult whatever colour you are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Denzel Washington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-you-take-the-time-and-put-in-the-effort-to-write-your-own-material/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-you-take-the-time-and-put-in-the-effort-to-write-your-own-material/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/denzel-washington-1345_cinema_if-you-take-the-time-and-put-in-the-effo_515788.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/denzel-washington-1345_cinema_if-you-take-the-time-and-put-in-the-effo_515788.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/denzel-washington-1345_cinema_if-you-take-the-time-and-put-in-the-effo_515788.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you take the time and put in the effort to write your own material and absolutely refuse to be denied the…” — Denzel Washington", "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": "Denzel Washington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you take the time and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-you-take-the-time-and-put-in-the-effort-to-write-your-own-material/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-you-take-the-time-and-put-in-the-effort-to-write-your-own-material/#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 } } ] } ```