---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think film can change lives. Doing…"
description: "\"I think film can change lives. Doing 'Milk' changed mine, for sure. When I see that someone like Harvey Milk changed his life and the lives of many oth..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/diego-luna-4027_change_i-think-film-can-change-lives-doing-milk_2058126.png"
---

#  I think film can change lives. Doing 'Milk' changed mine…

![“I think film can change lives. Doing 'Milk' changed mine, for sure. When I see that someone like Harvey Milk changed his life and the lives of many others in just eight years, I feel powerful. I go out of the cinema saying, 'Maybe there's something I can do, too.'” quote by Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/diego-luna-4027_change_i-think-film-can-change-lives-doing-milk_2058126.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/diego-luna-4027_change_i-think-film-can-change-lives-doing-milk_2058126.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/diego-luna-4027_change_i-think-film-can-change-lives-doing-milk_2058126.png)

> “I think film can change lives. Doing 'Milk' changed mine, for sure. When I see that someone like Harvey Milk changed his life and the lives of many others in just eight years, I feel powerful. I go out of the cinema saying, 'Maybe there's something I can do, too.'”

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Film can inspire personal empowerment and motivate civic action after witnessing transformative stories.

**In simple terms:** Movies inspire change.

Key Takeaway

Let stories motivate you to act.

Themes

inspiration activism film impact

Mood

hopeful motivational

Type

cinematic activist

When to use this quote

- watching documentaries
- community organizing
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

social change role models

Questions to Reflect On

- How will you translate inspiration into concrete steps?
- What barriers might you face?

A Different Perspective

Films alone may not sustain long‑term commitment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

## Related quotes

> [By faith I accepted Him for what He claimed to be, the Son of the Living God. That simple decision changed my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/by-faith-i-accepted-him-for-what-he-claimed-to-be-the-son-of-the/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [In a play, you only get one chance, and you have to get it perfect. In a film, you can change and fix it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-hayward/in-a-play-you-only-get-one-chance-and-you-have-to-get-it-perfect-in-a/)

[Kara Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-hayward/)

> [The way a film can change over the generations... You watch a movie when you're 20 years old, and you see the same movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-wachowski/the-way-a-film-can-change-over-the-generations-you-watch-a-movie-when/)

[Andy Wachowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-wachowski/)

> [I'm a film maker, not a crusader. I know a film will not change the world. If it can make a difference to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/i-m-a-film-maker-not-a-crusader-i-know-a-film-will-not-change-the/)

[Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/)

> [I do think film can change culture, in a way that reading a story in the New York Times does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-smolyansky/i-do-think-film-can-change-culture-in-a-way-that-reading-a-story-in/)

[Julie Smolyansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-smolyansky/)

> [Look, for every film I change my look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jisshu-sengupta/look-for-every-film-i-change-my-look/)

[Jisshu Sengupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jisshu-sengupta/)

> [Filmmaking is a difficult process. There are the logistics of making a film. You have to do your part, and then change the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-eckhart/filmmaking-is-a-difficult-process-there-are-the-logistics-of-making-a/)

[Aaron Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-eckhart/)

> [You know, I don't really do that much looking inside me when I'm working on a project. Whatever I am becomes what that film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/you-know-i-don-t-really-do-that-much-looking-inside-me-when-i-m/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [Now, I don't know whether a film can change the world, but I know that it starts - I know the power of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jehane-noujaim/now-i-don-t-know-whether-a-film-can-change-the-world-but-i-know-that/)

[Jehane Noujaim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jehane-noujaim/)

> [In New York now, they have Harvey Milk High School for gay students. They don't have much of a football team, but the half-time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/in-new-york-now-they-have-harvey-milk-high-school-for-gay-students/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [“When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/when-i-was-13-years-old-my-beautiful-mother-and-my-father-moved-me/)

[Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/)

> [I went to a very progressive elementary school where I was heavily educated in civil rights. I remember learning about Harvey Milk when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/i-went-to-a-very-progressive-elementary-school-where-i-was-heavily/)

[Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/)

> [My name is Harvey Milk and I'm here to recruit you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/my-name-is-harvey-milk-and-i-m-here-to-recruit-you/)

[Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/)

> [Nancy Pelosi says the angry opposition to health care reform is like the angry opposition to gay rights that led to Harvey Milk being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/nancy-pelosi-says-the-angry-opposition-to-health-care-reform-is-like/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [I watched Sean Penn, you know, bring Harvey Milk to life. I was on the set every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-watched-sean-penn-you-know-bring-harvey-milk-to-life-i-was-on-the/)

[Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/)

## More by Diego Luna

> [Acting is therapy. It keeps you in contact with your feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/acting-is-therapy-it-keeps-you-in-contact-with-your-feelings/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [It makes no sense that this country has 11 million workers feeding, building this country, making America what it is, and they don't share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/it-makes-no-sense-that-this-country-has-11-million-workers-feeding/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [We consumers have to send a message every day of what we want and what we don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/we-consumers-have-to-send-a-message-every-day-of-what-we-want-and/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [To me, directing movies is just that. It's a need to question myself and set the things that disturb me on the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/to-me-directing-movies-is-just-that-it-s-a-need-to-question-myself/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [In a movie, you work three months to tell a story that happens in two hours. In a Mexican soap opera, you work one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/in-a-movie-you-work-three-months-to-tell-a-story-that-happens-in-two/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [Definitely directing is the thing I like the most because this is where everything you know can be used. It's the most personal process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/definitely-directing-is-the-thing-i-like-the-most-because-this-is/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [In Mexico, this idea that fathers go away is really deeply accepted because, for so long, so many men have had to leave to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/in-mexico-this-idea-that-fathers-go-away-is-really-deeply-accepted/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [If being a sex symbol means you have lots of sex, then I am glad to be a sex symbol. But in real life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/if-being-a-sex-symbol-means-you-have-lots-of-sex-then-i-am-glad-to-be/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [It's tough to say where I live. There are some bills that get to the house in L.A., some to the house in Mexico,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/it-s-tough-to-say-where-i-live-there-are-some-bills-that-get-to-the/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [The beauty of football is that it's about 11, and another five, at least, are sitting outside. You cannot get competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/the-beauty-of-football-is-that-it-s-about-11-and-another-five-at/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [I didn't go to university, and so, every time that I work, I'm looking for a teacher in a way. I'm looking for people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/i-didn-t-go-to-university-and-so-every-time-that-i-work-i-m-looking/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [Julio Cesar Chavez is the most important sporting figure we have ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/julio-cesar-chavez-is-the-most-important-sporting-figure-we-have-ever/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [We should be talking about celebrating our differences, understanding that those differences make us richer and stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/we-should-be-talking-about-celebrating-our-differences-understanding/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [Someone who surprises me, someone who makes me laugh, and someone who has her own life and wants to share that with me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/someone-who-surprises-me-someone-who-makes-me-laugh-and-someone-who/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [Everywhere you look, especially on TV, someone is promising to make you rich and famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/everywhere-you-look-especially-on-tv-someone-is-promising-to-make-you/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

[Explore all 117 Diego Luna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

## More Change quotes

> [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/)

Phil Hogan

> [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/)

[Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/)

> [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/)

[Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/)

> [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think film can change lives. Doing 'Milk' changed mine, for sure. When I see that someone like Harvey Milk changed his life and the lives of many others in just eight years, I feel powerful. I go out of the cinema saying, 'Maybe there's something I can do, too.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Diego Luna"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/i-think-film-can-change-lives-doing-milk-changed-mine-for-sure-when-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/i-think-film-can-change-lives-doing-milk-changed-mine-for-sure-when-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/diego-luna-4027_change_i-think-film-can-change-lives-doing-milk_2058126.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/diego-luna-4027_change_i-think-film-can-change-lives-doing-milk_2058126.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/diego-luna-4027_change_i-think-film-can-change-lives-doing-milk_2058126.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think film can change lives. Doing 'Milk' changed mine, for sure. When I see that someone like Harvey Milk…” — Diego Luna",
                "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": "Diego Luna",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think film can change lives....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/i-think-film-can-change-lives-doing-milk-changed-mine-for-sure-when-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/i-think-film-can-change-lives-doing-milk-changed-mine-for-sure-when-i/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
