Changed Quote by Derek Cianfrance
“Sidney Lumet is one of my favorite filmmakers. I feel like his approach to filmmaking was always so human. He was always making movies about the people. He wasn't about the tricks, you know what I mean? From 12 Angry Men on. Another film of his which I really, really love is Prince of the City, with Treat Williams, which is kind of a lost classic. Lumet is one of those film heroes that changed movies for everyone.”
About This Quote
Source Podcast: Filmmaker Talk, 2022
Lumet focused on human stories over technical tricks, making films about people.
In simple terms: Human-centered filmmaking.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize character over spectacle.
Themes
humanity
storytelling
authenticity
Mood
analytical
appreciative
Type
critical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- script development
- casting
- rehearsals
- film criticism
Key Concepts
directorial style
character focus
narrative honesty
Questions to Reflect On
- How does focusing on people shape a film?
- What balance between story and style works best?
A Different Perspective
Emphasizing humanity may limit experimental visuals.
![“I don't know if you've ever seen some of the Sidney Lumet movies, like Dog Day Afternoon [1975] or Network [1976]. They're real events that happen in real time, and there are all of these different characters experiencing the same thing in different parts of the movie ... I am so bad at explaining…” quote by Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/57d/jodie-foster-2055_afternoon_i-don-t-know-if-you-ve-ever-seen-some-of_1566183.jpg)
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
