--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are people who've told me cinema is…" description: "\"There are people who've told me cinema is a visual medium and you don't need to say so much. When I write the script, all these lines of what the chara..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64a/gautham-menon-9676_cinema_there-are-people-who-ve-told-me-cinema-i_2333793.jpg" --- # There are people who've told me cinema is a visual medium… ![“There are people who've told me cinema is a visual medium and you don't need to say so much. When I write the script, all these lines of what the characters are thinking are written. Once the film is shot and the lines are dubbed, I tone it down in postproduction if I feel it gets heavy.” quote by Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64a/gautham-menon-9676_cinema_there-are-people-who-ve-told-me-cinema-i_2333793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64a/gautham-menon-9676_cinema_there-are-people-who-ve-told-me-cinema-i_2333793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64a/gautham-menon-9676_cinema_there-are-people-who-ve-told-me-cinema-i_2333793.jpg) > “There are people who've told me cinema is a visual medium and you don't need to say so much. When I write the script, all these lines of what the characters are thinking are written. Once the film is shot and the lines are dubbed, I tone it down in postproduction if I feel it gets heavy.” [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believes scripts can contain deep internal monologue, but visual storytelling should stay subtle, editing down heavy dialogue in postproduction. **In simple terms:** Scripts can be rich inside but films need visual restraint. Key Takeaway Balance inner thoughts with visual cues. Themes cinema visual storytelling scriptwriting Mood contemplative artistic Type instructional reflective When to use this quote - film direction - screenwriting - editing - directing - audience perception Key Concepts Narrative depth editing postproduction Questions to Reflect On - How much internal dialogue should a film retain? - When does visual restraint hinder story? A Different Perspective Over‑editing may strip emotional nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Visual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visual/) ## Related quotes > [Cinema is a visual medium one has to communicate through visuals, and therefore, dialogues should be less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/cinema-is-a-visual-medium-one-has-to-communicate-through-visuals-and/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [Cinema is a visual language, and you're always looking for visual metaphors for things. You know, if I was writing a play about Howard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-logan/cinema-is-a-visual-language-and-you-re-always-looking-for-visual/) [John Logan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-logan/) > [I am primarily a writer of books, and I enjoy that. But I come to realize that a lot of people prefer a visual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/i-am-primarily-a-writer-of-books-and-i-enjoy-that-but-i-come-to/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [When you are adapting a book to a visual medium, you tend to leave a few things and add a few new ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vetrimaaran/when-you-are-adapting-a-book-to-a-visual-medium-you-tend-to-leave-a/) [Vetrimaaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vetrimaaran/) > [I am in a visual medium and should be able to compete with every good-looking actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parineeti-chopra/i-am-in-a-visual-medium-and-should-be-able-to-compete-with-every-good/) [Parineeti Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parineeti-chopra/) > [It's always a challenge to adapt a novel for screen, a visual medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikramaditya-motwane/it-s-always-a-challenge-to-adapt-a-novel-for-screen-a-visual-medium/) [Vikramaditya Motwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikramaditya-motwane/) > [My visual medium is my videos, and I've got to feel as though I can put my truth in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/my-visual-medium-is-my-videos-and-i-ve-got-to-feel-as-though-i-can/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [You know, things that might work in a book just do not work in the visual medium of movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-ball/you-know-things-that-might-work-in-a-book-just-do-not-work-in-the/) [Wes Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-ball/) > [Language, I think, has nothing to do with film-making. It is how you make your point and whether you exploit the visual medium maintaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/language-i-think-has-nothing-to-do-with-film-making-it-is-how-you/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [I love the visual medium of film and TV. I love the science of it, working with the sound and the lighting and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-love-the-visual-medium-of-film-and-tv-i-love-the-science-of-it/) [Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/) > [There are a variety of different ways in which we experience trauma as human beings without seeing it. I guess because cinema's so visual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramell-ross/there-are-a-variety-of-different-ways-in-which-we-experience-trauma/) [RaMell Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramell-ross/) > [If you have written something that the film people want, like a book, it does give you a way in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/if-you-have-written-something-that-the-film-people-want-like-a-book/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [Novels written with film contracts in mind have a faint but unmistakable, and ruinous, odor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/novels-written-with-film-contracts-in-mind-have-a-faint-but/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The good thing about directing a screenplay that you've written is that you see the film in your head as you're writing it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-good-thing-about-directing-a-screenplay-that-you-ve-written-is/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [The only music I've ever written was for a film called Frank, and the idea was that it was the worst music in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-only-music-i-ve-ever-written-was-for-a-film-called-frank-and-the/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) ## More by Gautham Menon > [I know how irritating it is when a producer puts his hand in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/i-know-how-irritating-it-is-when-a-producer-puts-his-hand-in/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [What you feel about a film is what you feel when you're in love with a woman. You fight for her love and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/what-you-feel-about-a-film-is-what-you-feel-when-you-re-in-love-with/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [I'm okay with suggestions but I want to do what I believe in, because I'm inspired by an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/i-m-okay-with-suggestions-but-i-want-to-do-what-i-believe-in-because/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [In Mumbai, I feel like a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/in-mumbai-i-feel-like-a-stranger/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [If I could talk in only one language for the rest of my life, it'd be Tamil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/if-i-could-talk-in-only-one-language-for-the-rest-of-my-life-it-d-be/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [Most of the romance in my films has been inspired by my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/most-of-the-romance-in-my-films-has-been-inspired-by-my-father/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [The Tamil audience is more receptive to unusual endings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/the-tamil-audience-is-more-receptive-to-unusual-endings/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [One reason why I've taken 11 years to make my second Hindi film is because I am comfortable working with the stars in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/one-reason-why-i-ve-taken-11-years-to-make-my-second-hindi-film-is/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [I would seriously love to do a Malayalam movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/i-would-seriously-love-to-do-a-malayalam-movie/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [I drove past one of the houses in Tiruvanmiyur and asked them if we could shoot there for 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya' because it seemed straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/i-drove-past-one-of-the-houses-in-tiruvanmiyur-and-asked-them-if-we/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [The lead character in 'Yennai Arindhaal' is like an extension of the protagonists of 'Kaakha Kaakha' and 'Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/the-lead-character-in-yennai-arindhaal-is-like-an-extension-of-the/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [I write my scripts on a whim, without worrying about plot points and graphs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/i-write-my-scripts-on-a-whim-without-worrying-about-plot-points-and/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [YVM' is a feel-good romance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/yvm-is-a-feel-good-romance/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [And I'm not homophobic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/and-i-m-not-homophobic/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [There's nothing quite like a quiet corner in a coffee shop to gather your thoughts and begin writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/there-s-nothing-quite-like-a-quiet-corner-in-a-coffee-shop-to-gather/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) [Explore all 71 Gautham Menon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) ## 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": "There are people who've told me cinema is a visual medium and you don't need to say so much. When I write the script, all these lines of what the characters are thinking are written. 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