Cinema Quote by Errol Morris
“There is a documentary element in my films, a very strong documentary element, but by documentary element, I mean an element that's out of control, that's not controlled by me. And that element is the words, the language that people use, what they say in an interview. They're not written, not rehearsed. It's spontaneous, extemporaneous material. People”
About This Quote
Source Film: The Thin Blue Line, 1988 (documentary); interviews in his documentaries
Morris emphasizes that unscripted interview language adds authentic, uncontrolled documentary power to his films.
In simple terms: Spontaneous interview speech gives real documentary power.
Key Takeaway
Embrace unscripted moments for authenticity.
Themes
authenticity
documentary
spontaneity
control
language
Mood
reflective
analytical
creative
Type
documentary
filmmaking
philosophical
When to use this quote
- interviews
- real‑time storytelling
- journalistic cinema
Key Concepts
improvisation
truth‑seeking
narrative framing
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance authenticity with narrative coherence?
- What risks arise from unscripted content?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on spontaneous speech can lead to unpredictable or biased narratives.
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