--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think of myself as making independent…" description: "\"I think of myself as making independent films within the studio system. Yes, I've made movies with significantly larger budgets, and I've also made mov..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/doug-liman-2533_cinema_i-think-of-myself-as-making-independent_2582414.jpg" --- # I think of myself as making independent films within the… ![“I think of myself as making independent films within the studio system. Yes, I've made movies with significantly larger budgets, and I've also made movies with smaller budgets.” quote by Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/doug-liman-2533_cinema_i-think-of-myself-as-making-independent_2582414.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/doug-liman-2533_cinema_i-think-of-myself-as-making-independent_2582414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/doug-liman-2533_cinema_i-think-of-myself-as-making-independent_2582414.jpg) > “I think of myself as making independent films within the studio system. Yes, I've made movies with significantly larger budgets, and I've also made movies with smaller budgets.” [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compares independent filmmaking mindset within large studio constraints, highlighting creative flexibility. **In simple terms:** Make films like an indie, even in big studios. Key Takeaway Balance vision with resources. Themes creativity industry independence Mood pragmatic inspirational Type professional creative When to use this quote - indie projects - studio collaborations - creative workshops Key Concepts budget management artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you retain originality under constraints? - What compromises are acceptable for success? A Different Perspective Commercial pressure can limit freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Films Studio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films-studio-1789063/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent/) [Independent films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-films/) [Making Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-independent-957642/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) [Think Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-making-360952/) [Within](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/within/) ## Related quotes > [There's plenty of great independent films to do, but you can't support yourself making independent film as an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/there-s-plenty-of-great-independent-films-to-do-but-you-can-t-support/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [But, I love making independent films. I love it! You create a family, and you sweat, you bleed, you cry, you shout, you laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juno-temple/but-i-love-making-independent-films-i-love-it-you-create-a-family-and/) [Juno Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juno-temple/) > [I've never had a good game plan. At a certain point, making independent films became more and more appealing to me because I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-demme/i-ve-never-had-a-good-game-plan-at-a-certain-point-making-independent/) [Jonathan Demme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-demme/) > [Oh, I love making independent films, it's such a special, magical thing because you collaborate with a small group of people and everyone's pitching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/oh-i-love-making-independent-films-it-s-such-a-special-magical-thing/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [Theres plenty of great independent films to do, but you cant support yourself making independent film as an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/theres-plenty-of-great-independent-films-to-do-but-you-cant-support/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [Amazon may be the only studio that's run by people who come out of making independent movies, real hands-on moviemaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/amazon-may-be-the-only-studio-that-s-run-by-people-who-come-out-of/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [I feel I need to really think about whether there's a way to use what skill I have to address things that outrage me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/i-feel-i-need-to-really-think-about-whether-there-s-a-way-to-use-what/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [“Trying not to think about it is only making it worse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-patrick/trying-not-to-think-about-it-is-only-making-it-worse/) [Cat Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-patrick/) > [“I can't think when you're in here," he said. "What do you have to think about?" "Making!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/i-can-t-think-when-you-re-in-here-he-said-what-do-you-have-to-think/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [The duty of the artist is not to be calculating in any sense, so that he may be free himself of human emotions while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karel-appel/the-duty-of-the-artist-is-not-to-be-calculating-in-any-sense-so-that/) [Karel Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karel-appel/) > [When I think about making 'Within,' it was not a very fun experience at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washed-out/when-i-think-about-making-within-it-was-not-a-very-fun-experience-at/) [Washed Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washed-out/) > [I have always been very entrepreneurial minded. Oftentimes, while I was sitting in class listening to my professor ramble on, I would think to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-carl/i-have-always-been-very-entrepreneurial-minded-oftentimes-while-i-was/) [Shay Carl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-carl/) > [I don't think I'm making any great statements, and I certainly don't think I'm making art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/i-don-t-think-i-m-making-any-great-statements-and-i-certainly-don-t/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [I've always been just as interested in making people think as I am in making them feel, and one of the things this scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-mcgregor/i-ve-always-been-just-as-interested-in-making-people-think-as-i-am-in/) [Wayne McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-mcgregor/) > [Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/don-t-think-about-making-art-just-get-it-done-let-everyone-else/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) ## More by Doug Liman > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Sometimes rules are there to save your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/sometimes-rules-are-there-to-save-your-life/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [I always wanted to make big action movies as a kid, and that was my dream. In a way, 'Swingers' was the thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-big-action-movies-as-a-kid-and-that-was-my/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [TV has no choice, but to rely on character, and everybody knows that. I love working in it. It's such a big canvas where,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/tv-has-no-choice-but-to-rely-on-character-and-everybody-knows-that-i/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [My older brother took me to Woody Allen double features when I was still teething.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/my-older-brother-took-me-to-woody-allen-double-features-when-i-was/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Flying small airplanes is not like being on airlines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/flying-small-airplanes-is-not-like-being-on-airlines/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Given the kind of filmmaker I am, the kind of experiences I've been trying to give audiences, I was drawn to the potential of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/given-the-kind-of-filmmaker-i-am-the-kind-of-experiences-i-ve-been/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Almost anything can be justified as a style of filmmaking if it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/almost-anything-can-be-justified-as-a-style-of-filmmaking-if-it-works/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [TV is a safe place to develop real characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/tv-is-a-safe-place-to-develop-real-characters/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [The 'Bourne' franchise means the world to me. I love that Universal wants to put one out every two years. Because it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/the-bourne-franchise-means-the-world-to-me-i-love-that-universal/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [When you make a war movie, the other side has to be the enemy. You're making a war movie from the point of view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/when-you-make-a-war-movie-the-other-side-has-to-be-the-enemy-you-re/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [The more real I got on 'The Bourne Identity,' the more interesting it got. So 'Fair Game' was the chance to go a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/the-more-real-i-got-on-the-bourne-identity-the-more-interesting-it/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Amazon may be the only studio that's run by people who come out of making independent movies, real hands-on moviemaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/amazon-may-be-the-only-studio-that-s-run-by-people-who-come-out-of/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Casting is everything. I put a huge amount of work into casting, and consistently across my career, I am most proud of my bold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/casting-is-everything-i-put-a-huge-amount-of-work-into-casting-and/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [The movie I end up with is the movie I aspired to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/the-movie-i-end-up-with-is-the-movie-i-aspired-to-make/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) [Explore all 162 Doug Liman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "I think of myself as making independent films within the studio system. 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