--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Directing a movie is serious, it's not a…" description: "\"Directing a movie is serious, it's not a joke.\" — Fred Durst" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/fred-durst-8255_cinema_directing-a-movie-is-serious-it-s-not-a_1121977.jpg" --- # Directing a movie is serious, it's not a joke. ![“Directing a movie is serious, it's not a joke.” quote by Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/fred-durst-8255_cinema_directing-a-movie-is-serious-it-s-not-a_1121977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/fred-durst-8255_cinema_directing-a-movie-is-serious-it-s-not-a_1121977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/fred-durst-8255_cinema_directing-a-movie-is-serious-it-s-not-a_1121977.jpg) > “Directing a movie is serious, it's not a joke.” [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Directing a film demands seriousness and responsibility, not frivolity. **In simple terms:** Film directing is a serious task. Key Takeaway Approach directing with focus and respect. Themes leadership creativity responsibility Mood serious professional Type advice motivational When to use this quote - film production - team leadership - budget planning - creative decision‑making Key Concepts film theory project management artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How can seriousness coexist with humor? - When is levity appropriate in directing? A Different Perspective Humor can sometimes aid creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) ## Related quotes > [I did a good bit of episodic television directing, but directing a movie is so much more complicated. And there's so much more responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-bateman/i-did-a-good-bit-of-episodic-television-directing-but-directing-a/) [Jason Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-bateman/) > [Making a movie is universal. Directing a movie is universal; it's a universal language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-tyldum/making-a-movie-is-universal-directing-a-movie-is-universal-it-s-a/) [Morten Tyldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-tyldum/) > [Every time you're directing a movie you're kind of building a temporary business. You're hiring all these heads of departments, and it definitely feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/every-time-you-re-directing-a-movie-you-re-kind-of-building-a/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [Writing a novel is a lot like directing a movie because you are creating a world and a tone, you are creating a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/writing-a-novel-is-a-lot-like-directing-a-movie-because-you-are/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I just ended up focusing on film editing as I was getting my career started. I'm very passionate about editing and will continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/i-just-ended-up-focusing-on-film-editing-as-i-was-getting-my-career/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [Directing a movie precludes me from being involved in any greater way. But, the job was never to do more, it was always to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/directing-a-movie-precludes-me-from-being-involved-in-any-greater-way/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > ['Balls of Fury' was my first time directing, and that's a movie that I think parts of it are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/balls-of-fury-was-my-first-time-directing-and-that-s-a-movie-that-i/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [Directing a movie is the greatest job in the world. I could not be more envious of the guys who get to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-bateman/directing-a-movie-is-the-greatest-job-in-the-world-i-could-not-be/) [Jason Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-bateman/) > [I think I understand the line between my job and the director's. I have no interest in directing. Not my movie, not your movie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leo/i-think-i-understand-the-line-between-my-job-and-the-director-s-i/) [Melissa Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leo/) > [When I was younger, I used humour as a tool to avoid getting too serious with people - if there was deep emotional stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-perry/when-i-was-younger-i-used-humour-as-a-tool-to-avoid-getting-too/) [Matthew Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-perry/) > [I am an artist who's just tryin' to do something different, and basically not caring about everybody's opinions and wanting to follow what everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/i-am-an-artist-who-s-just-tryin-to-do-something-different-and/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [The new movie I'm working on right now is very autobiographical. It's about a television actor who drinks too much and gets blackballed from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/the-new-movie-i-m-working-on-right-now-is-very-autobiographical-it-s/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [What really helps a guy to become an action hero today is the directing of the movie. All those fast cuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-van-damme/what-really-helps-a-guy-to-become-an-action-hero-today-is-the/) [Jean-Claude Van Damme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-van-damme/) > [Producers don't like the director who ignores their opinion - but I always try not to be the nicest person when making a movie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuhei-kitamura/producers-don-t-like-the-director-who-ignores-their-opinion-but-i/) [Ryuhei Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuhei-kitamura/) > [I've had a lot of creative license; I improvise quite a bit. There's a lot I like to do that satiates my creativity, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walter-hauser/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-creative-license-i-improvise-quite-a-bit-there-s-a/) [Paul Walter Hauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walter-hauser/) ## More by Fred Durst > [Sometimes it's about less is more. It's about the seed. Thinking about this gigantic tree that you think is so beautiful but it started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/sometimes-it-s-about-less-is-more-it-s-about-the-seed-thinking-about/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [That's your best friend and your worst enemy - your own brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/that-s-your-best-friend-and-your-worst-enemy-your-own-brain/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [I'm a sensitive guy; I respond to things that make my eyes well up a little bit, or make me root for people. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-m-a-sensitive-guy-i-respond-to-things-that-make-my-eyes-well-up-a/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [I wouldn't support Limp Bizkit being on some snuff backyard brawling, fighting contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-wouldn-t-support-limp-bizkit-being-on-some-snuff-backyard-brawling/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [I'm the same guy at that podium preaching to the people on every single song. I'm not doing a dance for you on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-m-the-same-guy-at-that-podium-preaching-to-the-people-on-every/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [I'm a sentimental guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-m-a-sentimental-guy/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [I'm definitely on the incline to a peak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-m-definitely-on-the-incline-to-a-peak/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [I'm obsessed by film. I'm obsessed with music and producing and making things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-m-obsessed-by-film-i-m-obsessed-with-music-and-producing-and-making/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [When you're a kid, you see your parents reading the newspaper and you're like, 'God, why are they reading the newspaper?' When you're young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/when-you-re-a-kid-you-see-your-parents-reading-the-newspaper-and-you/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [I'm an actor's director. I love it when talented actors can bring characters to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-m-an-actor-s-director-i-love-it-when-talented-actors-can-bring/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [I usually find several ways to express myself: different moods, different days, different voices, different things, 'I'm lighthearted today, I'm gonna do this.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-usually-find-several-ways-to-express-myself-different-moods/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [I love jazz music and sad music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-love-jazz-music-and-sad-music/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [Imperfections make someone perfect to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/imperfections-make-someone-perfect-to-me/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [I don't hate technology, I don't hate hackers, because that's just what comes with it, without those hackers we wouldn't solve the problems we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-don-t-hate-technology-i-don-t-hate-hackers-because-that-s-just-what/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [There's definitely an obstacle in developing a brand for yourself that people can rely on when you're so eclectic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/there-s-definitely-an-obstacle-in-developing-a-brand-for-yourself/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) [Explore all 82 Fred Durst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) ## 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 > [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": "Directing a movie is serious, it's not a joke.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fred Durst" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/directing-a-movie-is-serious-it-s-not-a-joke/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/directing-a-movie-is-serious-it-s-not-a-joke/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/fred-durst-8255_cinema_directing-a-movie-is-serious-it-s-not-a_1121977.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/fred-durst-8255_cinema_directing-a-movie-is-serious-it-s-not-a_1121977.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/fred-durst-8255_cinema_directing-a-movie-is-serious-it-s-not-a_1121977.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Directing a movie is serious, it's not a joke.” — Fred Durst", "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": "Fred Durst", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Directing a movie is serious, it's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/directing-a-movie-is-serious-it-s-not-a-joke/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/directing-a-movie-is-serious-it-s-not-a-joke/#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 } } ] } ```