--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the scripts are not good, I'll tell…" description: "\"If the scripts are not good, I'll tell somebody, 'This isn't good.\" — Dick Wolf" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/dick-wolf-17740_scripts_if-the-scripts-are-not-good-i-ll-tell-so_2453893.jpg" --- # If the scripts are not good, I'll tell somebody, 'This… ![“If the scripts are not good, I'll tell somebody, 'This isn't good.” quote by Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/dick-wolf-17740_scripts_if-the-scripts-are-not-good-i-ll-tell-so_2453893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/dick-wolf-17740_scripts_if-the-scripts-are-not-good-i-ll-tell-so_2453893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/dick-wolf-17740_scripts_if-the-scripts-are-not-good-i-ll-tell-so_2453893.jpg) > “If the scripts are not good, I'll tell somebody, 'This isn't good.” [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes honesty in script evaluation, stating he'll openly criticize subpar scripts. **In simple terms:** Honest feedback on bad scripts. Key Takeaway Provide candid critique of weak scripts. Themes integrity communication quality control Mood direct pragmatic Type professional critical When to use this quote - TV writing rooms - film development meetings - creative workshops Key Concepts scriptwriting production standards Questions to Reflect On - How to give honest feedback without discouraging writers? - What standards define a “good” script? A Different Perspective Harsh criticism can damage relationships if not delivered constructively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Isn Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isn-good/) [Ll Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ll-tell/) [Scripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripts/) [Scripts Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripts-good-261759/) [Tell Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-somebody-325435/) ## Related quotes > [Hmm, limelight... No, I'm not Sienna Miller or Angelina Jolie. I'm very lucky and happy, but I still find it very difficult to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-green/hmm-limelight-no-i-m-not-sienna-miller-or-angelina-jolie-i-m-very/) [Eva Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-green/) > [It's really interesting with scripts, because you never really know. It's paper and it could be great or awful. Even scripts that are good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bynes/it-s-really-interesting-with-scripts-because-you-never-really-know-it/) [Amanda Bynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bynes/) > [There is a perception that I do certain kind of films. That's not true. I am open to any good scripts with a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-kapur/there-is-a-perception-that-i-do-certain-kind-of-films-that-s-not-true/) [Pankaj Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-kapur/) > ['The Inbetweeners' would have been a success with a totally different cast because the scripts are good - so while we were fortunate enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bird/the-inbetweeners-would-have-been-a-success-with-a-totally-different/) [Simon Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bird/) > [One reads many scripts, and some of them are good and some of them are not, but every now and then, one really grabs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-hood/one-reads-many-scripts-and-some-of-them-are-good-and-some-of-them-are/) [Gavin Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-hood/) > [When I was in New York, a lot of my friends were studying filmmaking and would bring their scripts to me, as I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-rampal/when-i-was-in-new-york-a-lot-of-my-friends-were-studying-filmmaking/) [Arjun Rampal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-rampal/) > [A trap screenwriters can fall into is making scripts that are good reads, which doesn't necessarily mean it will make a good film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-straughan/a-trap-screenwriters-can-fall-into-is-making-scripts-that-are-good/) [Peter Straughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-straughan/) > [I get a script and it's really interesting with scripts, because you never really know. It's paper and it could be great or awful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bynes/i-get-a-script-and-it-s-really-interesting-with-scripts-because-you/) [Amanda Bynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bynes/) > [With most good scripts and good shows, they expect the actor to bring some of their ideas to the backstory of the character. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-consuelos/with-most-good-scripts-and-good-shows-they-expect-the-actor-to-bring/) [Mark Consuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-consuelos/) > [The reason that some motion-capture films don't work is if the scripts are not good, and the characters aren't engaging, then you don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/the-reason-that-some-motion-capture-films-don-t-work-is-if-the/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [My partner Dan Ireland wants me to direct, and I read a lot of scripts - some good enough that I could see myself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-d-onofrio/my-partner-dan-ireland-wants-me-to-direct-and-i-read-a-lot-of-scripts/) [Vincent D'Onofrio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-d-onofrio/) > [I look at scripts as good or bad. If it's bad, it better pay a lot of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/i-look-at-scripts-as-good-or-bad-if-it-s-bad-it-better-pay-a-lot-of/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [As an audience member, those studio films are fun. I like an adventure tale, and I also like to go see something that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fassbender/as-an-audience-member-those-studio-films-are-fun-i-like-an-adventure/) [Michael Fassbender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fassbender/) > [I never turn down scripts without good reason. If I did, I would probably never work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-baker/i-never-turn-down-scripts-without-good-reason-if-i-did-i-would/) [Colin Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-baker/) > ['Criminal Intent' scripts are very good. Like others involved in 'Law & Order' stuff, I've come to appreciate the lack of 'soap,' if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamey-sheridan/criminal-intent-scripts-are-very-good-like-others-involved-in-law/) [Jamey Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamey-sheridan/) ## More by Dick Wolf > [There was an interesting article in Los Angeles Magazine about women directors. A woman director makes one bad independent film and her career is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/there-was-an-interesting-article-in-los-angeles-magazine-about-women/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [I don't think you can really make television based on what you think audiences want. You can only make stories that you like, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/i-don-t-think-you-can-really-make-television-based-on-what-you-think/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [There are professional negotiators working for the writers and the actors, but basically you've got the writers and actors negotiating against businessmen. That's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/there-are-professional-negotiators-working-for-the-writers-and-the/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [The story drove the book. That had a very seminal effect on the way I saw writing and storytelling. If you can set a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/the-story-drove-the-book-that-had-a-very-seminal-effect-on-the-way-i/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [I've known John Landgraf for 20 years. He said it perfectly. People will ask if I've seen X. My response has often been, 'Seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/i-ve-known-john-landgraf-for-20-years-he-said-it-perfectly-people/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [People recognize certain things, like 'D' means 'this dialogue stinks.' We're dealing with shows that are written here, shot in New York and posted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/people-recognize-certain-things-like-d-means-this-dialogue-stinks-we/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the history of show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/i-consider-myself-one-of-the-luckiest-people-in-the-history-of-show/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [The threat to free television. The reason television is free is because it is a life support system for commercials. That fundamental aspect is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/the-threat-to-free-television-the-reason-television-is-free-is/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [People do have viewing patterns, and you disrupt those at your own peril. That's something that everybody learned after 1988. The numbers have gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/people-do-have-viewing-patterns-and-you-disrupt-those-at-your-own/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [I think most people don't react well to being screamed at. It's counterproductive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/i-think-most-people-don-t-react-well-to-being-screamed-at-it-s/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [Advertising is the art of the tiny. You have to tell a complete a story and deliver a complete message in a very encapsulated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/advertising-is-the-art-of-the-tiny-you-have-to-tell-a-complete-a/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [And the consumer doesn't care. They don't watch networks, they watch TV shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/and-the-consumer-doesn-t-care-they-don-t-watch-networks-they-watch-tv/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [I hardly see myself as a futurist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/i-hardly-see-myself-as-a-futurist/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [I would say that if you really wished to be a working member of the community, don't go out on strike because then there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/i-would-say-that-if-you-really-wished-to-be-a-working-member-of-the/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [There are other options out there, after all, like read a book, go on the Internet, rent a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/there-are-other-options-out-there-after-all-like-read-a-book-go-on/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) [Explore all 36 Dick Wolf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) ## More Scripts quotes > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [I do try and keep my scripts quite economical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-do-try-and-keep-my-scripts-quite-economical/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [Right now I'm doing four shows at a time, trying to read four outlines every week, four scripts every week, and watching four rough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-spelling/right-now-i-m-doing-four-shows-at-a-time-trying-to-read-four-outlines/) [Aaron Spelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-spelling/) > [Here are the good things about independent films: They do the more interesting, chancy scripts. They're run by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/here-are-the-good-things-about-independent-films-they-do-the-more/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I can picture certain things in my mind, while writing the script, but then I can also tell that everyone else might be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/i-can-picture-certain-things-in-my-mind-while-writing-the-script-but/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [My heart truly lies in good scripts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/my-heart-truly-lies-in-good-scripts/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [Many times, when a director reads a script and wants somebody who says 'Far out', then they let me do what I want with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-helmond/many-times-when-a-director-reads-a-script-and-wants-somebody-who-says/) [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) > [A script is like a theory of a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/a-script-is-like-a-theory-of-a-movie/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [You get a script and you love it. You find a director that you trust, and it becomes all about how do I commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-get-a-script-and-you-love-it-you-find-a-director-that-you-trust/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [What I appreciated was the fact that the script delved into how Australians were - and still are - condescended to by the English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/what-i-appreciated-was-the-fact-that-the-script-delved-into-how/) [Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/) > [Our eyes are not viewers, they're also projectors that are running a second story over the picture that we see in front of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/our-eyes-are-not-viewers-they-re-also-projectors-that-are-running-a/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [I guess the idea of not wanting to choose to direct a film, for which I've not read a script. It's a tough decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-guess-the-idea-of-not-wanting-to-choose-to-direct-a-film-for-which/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I didnt write Snow White for any class, but I got bitten by the screenwriting bug and wrote a couple of scripts in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-daugherty/i-didnt-write-snow-white-for-any-class-but-i-got-bitten-by-the/) [Evan Daugherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-daugherty/) > [It's true, I'm the youngest, highest-grossing French director. I have a few records, but no one knows or simply doesn't care. That's good, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/it-s-true-i-m-the-youngest-highest-grossing-french-director-i-have-a/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) [Browse all 2,482 Scripts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the scripts are not good, I'll tell somebody, 'This isn't good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dick Wolf" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/if-the-scripts-are-not-good-i-ll-tell-somebody-this-isn-t-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Scripts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/if-the-scripts-are-not-good-i-ll-tell-somebody-this-isn-t-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/dick-wolf-17740_scripts_if-the-scripts-are-not-good-i-ll-tell-so_2453893.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/dick-wolf-17740_scripts_if-the-scripts-are-not-good-i-ll-tell-so_2453893.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/dick-wolf-17740_scripts_if-the-scripts-are-not-good-i-ll-tell-so_2453893.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the scripts are not good, I'll tell somebody, 'This isn't good.” — Dick Wolf", "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": "Dick Wolf", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the scripts are not good,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/if-the-scripts-are-not-good-i-ll-tell-somebody-this-isn-t-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/if-the-scripts-are-not-good-i-ll-tell-somebody-this-isn-t-good/#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 } } ] } ```