--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was always cutting dialogue out when we…" description: "\"I was always cutting dialogue out when we were rehearsing, and when I produced movies, too. I felt that people don't say things in life - they act, the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/donna-mills-22122_character_i-was-always-cutting-dialogue-out-when-w_598582.png" --- # I was always cutting dialogue out when we were rehearsing… ![“I was always cutting dialogue out when we were rehearsing, and when I produced movies, too. I felt that people don't say things in life - they act, they do things. I always wanted my characters doing, rather than saying what they were doing - which was redundant.” quote by Donna Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/donna-mills-22122_character_i-was-always-cutting-dialogue-out-when-w_598582.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/donna-mills-22122_character_i-was-always-cutting-dialogue-out-when-w_598582.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/donna-mills-22122_character_i-was-always-cutting-dialogue-out-when-w_598582.png) > “I was always cutting dialogue out when we were rehearsing, and when I produced movies, too. I felt that people don't say things in life - they act, they do things. I always wanted my characters doing, rather than saying what they were doing - which was redundant.” [Donna Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-mills/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She believed film should show action, not redundant dialogue, to reflect real life behavior. **In simple terms:** Show, not tell. Key Takeaway Prefer showing over telling. Themes authenticity storytelling cinema Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice creative When to use this quote - directing - screenwriting - acting - film editing Key Concepts show-don't-tell visual narrative Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance action and dialogue? - When does dialogue enhance a scene? A Different Perspective May limit character depth if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Things in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-in-life/) ## Related quotes > [What we're doing is saying what happens with the establishment and how are we as ordinary human beings are used as pawns. What do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suchet/what-we-re-doing-is-saying-what-happens-with-the-establishment-and/) [David Suchet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suchet/) > [Etiquette is what you are doing and saying when people are looking and listening. 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No matter how much you prepare, have redundant systems, or audit, there will periodically be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg/i-think-that-all-services-will-have-downtime-no-matter-how-much-you/) [Matt Mullenweg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mullenweg/) > [The term 'working mother' is redundant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/the-term-working-mother-is-redundant/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [“Having no applicable skills, in any possible area whatsoever, effectively makes me the master of redundancy. But that info is obsolete, like my insults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/having-no-applicable-skills-in-any-possible-area-whatsoever/) Will Advise > [I was going to say 'my friend Stuart', but I suppose he's not a friend any more. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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