--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At times doc filmmaking feels more…" description: "\"At times doc filmmaking feels more rewarding creatively. Because you are creating something out of pure cinema - instead of narrative cinema, where you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/george-hickenlooper-26074_building_at-times-doc-filmmaking-feels-more-rewar_2718621.jpg" --- # At times doc filmmaking feels more rewarding creatively… ![“At times doc filmmaking feels more rewarding creatively. Because you are creating something out of pure cinema - instead of narrative cinema, where you've got a script and a cast and you build from your foundation, whereas in documentary, you're building out of chaos.” quote by George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/george-hickenlooper-26074_building_at-times-doc-filmmaking-feels-more-rewar_2718621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/george-hickenlooper-26074_building_at-times-doc-filmmaking-feels-more-rewar_2718621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/george-hickenlooper-26074_building_at-times-doc-filmmaking-feels-more-rewar_2718621.jpg) > “At times doc filmmaking feels more rewarding creatively. Because you are creating something out of pure cinema - instead of narrative cinema, where you've got a script and a cast and you build from your foundation, whereas in documentary, you're building out of chaos.” [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Documentary filmmaking builds meaning from chaos, offering creative reward beyond scripted narratives. **In simple terms:** Doc films create order from chaos. Key Takeaway Embrace creative chaos. Themes creativity documentary chaos Mood inspired reflective Type artistic educational When to use this quote - film projects - creative workshops - media education - personal expression Key Concepts film theory storytelling artistic process Questions to Reflect On - How does chaos inspire documentary storytelling? - What skills help manage unpredictable content? A Different Perspective May romanticize chaos. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Casts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casts/) [Chaos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaos/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Creating something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating-something/) [Creatively Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatively-creating-2864120/) [Documentaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentaries/) [Documentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary/) [Documentary Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary-building-2864119/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Filmmaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaking/) [Filmmaking Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaking-feels-2864118/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Narrative Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative-cinema-2719560/) [Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure/) [Rewarding Creatively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewarding-creatively-2864121/) [Scripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripts/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [There are days when either filmmaking feels like an insurmountable practice - here's a lot of obstacles in the way to make it happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-granik/there-are-days-when-either-filmmaking-feels-like-an-insurmountable/) [Debra Granik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-granik/) > [If you want people to do something new, you have to make it rewarding for them creatively and financially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-katzenberg/if-you-want-people-to-do-something-new-you-have-to-make-it-rewarding/) [Jeffrey Katzenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-katzenberg/) > [I get to do my own thing with music. I get to write the songs and sing the songs. As an actor, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-get-to-do-my-own-thing-with-music-i-get-to-write-the-songs-and-sing/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [Narrative cinema is just an imitation of life. Why would you prevent yourself and the audience of the same images, of the same that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaspar-noe/narrative-cinema-is-just-an-imitation-of-life-why-would-you-prevent/) [Gaspar Noe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaspar-noe/) > [Whether people are making narrative cinema or experimental cinematic movie experiences, they all want the biggest screen possible and the quietest room and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/whether-people-are-making-narrative-cinema-or-experimental-cinematic/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [In narrative cinema, a certain terminology has already been established: 'film noir,' 'Western,' even 'Spaghetti Western.' When we say 'film noir' we know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/in-narrative-cinema-a-certain-terminology-has-already-been/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) > [I love the grandiosity of Hollywood movies, and even in independents, I love the canvas you can tell your story on. I love fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/i-love-the-grandiosity-of-hollywood-movies-and-even-in-independents-i/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [I think one of the thing that makes a Kubrick film a great experience is the fact that he bends reality to his will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ptolemy/i-think-one-of-the-thing-that-makes-a-kubrick-film-a-great-experience/) [Barry Ptolemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ptolemy/) > [Producing, for me anyway, it's coming up with material. It's sitting down with you know the likes of Martin Scorsese, Johnny Depp, Michael Mann…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-king/producing-for-me-anyway-it-s-coming-up-with-material-it-s-sitting/) [Graham King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-king/) > [The avant-garde poet or artist tries in effect to imitate God by creating something valid solely on its own terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-greenberg/the-avant-garde-poet-or-artist-tries-in-effect-to-imitate-god-by/) [Clement Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-greenberg/) > [Now I really make the little idea from clay, and I hold it in my hand. I can turn it, look at it from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-moore/now-i-really-make-the-little-idea-from-clay-and-i-hold-it-in-my-hand/) [Henry Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-moore/) > [The problem of creating something new, but which is consistent with everything which has been seen before, is one of extreme difficulty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-problem-of-creating-something-new-but-which-is-consistent-with/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [all creative writers need a certain amount of time when they're creating something where nobody should criticize them at all - at all. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-rowlands/all-creative-writers-need-a-certain-amount-of-time-when-they-re/) [Gena Rowlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-rowlands/) > [Once I'd worked out that I couldn't possibly expect people to enjoy a monstrous, 3000-page book, I realised I could in fact create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/once-i-d-worked-out-that-i-couldn-t-possibly-expect-people-to-enjoy-a/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Without a vision there is no possibility of creating something larger than what al-ready exists. An entrepreneur has to be able to bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/without-a-vision-there-is-no-possibility-of-creating-something-larger/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) ## More by George Hickenlooper > [Narrative, fiction filmmaking is the culmination of several art forms: theater, art history, architecture. Whereas doc filmmaking is more pure cinema, like cinema verité…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/narrative-fiction-filmmaking-is-the-culmination-of-several-art-forms/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [I always say be humble but be firm. Humility and openness are the key to success without compromising your beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/i-always-say-be-humble-but-be-firm-humility-and-openness-are-the-key/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [Theres something unique about the United States, a sense of individual rights and freedoms, and a sense of social and civic responsibility that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/theres-something-unique-about-the-united-states-a-sense-of-individual/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [Simon Monjack had nothing to do with 'Factory Girl.' He filed a frivolous lawsuit against us... making bogus claims that we had stolen his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/simon-monjack-had-nothing-to-do-with-factory-girl-he-filed-a/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [The arc of the celebrity phenomenon ultimately is: everything turns to dust and everything does go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/the-arc-of-the-celebrity-phenomenon-ultimately-is-everything-turns-to/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [I think that narrative, fiction filmmaking is the culmination of several art forms: theater, art history, architecture. Whereas doc filmmaking is more pure cinema,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/i-think-that-narrative-fiction-filmmaking-is-the-culmination-of/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [I love the grandiosity of Hollywood movies, and even in independents, I love the canvas you can tell your story on. I love fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/i-love-the-grandiosity-of-hollywood-movies-and-even-in-independents-i/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [Obviously you have a responsibility - one would like to think there is such a thing as ethics in filmmaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/obviously-you-have-a-responsibility-one-would-like-to-think-there-is/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [Most people, 95% of people, are good people. It's the 5% who get seduced by power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/most-people-95-of-people-are-good-people-it-s-the-5-who-get-seduced/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [Generally in my films like 'Hearts of Darkness' or 'Picture This,' I try not to make myself a presence in the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/generally-in-my-films-like-hearts-of-darkness-or-picture-this-i-try/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [I'm fascinated by failure, and I'm fascinated by finality. Shakespeare's historical plays are more universal than his comedies because they relate to the finality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/i-m-fascinated-by-failure-and-i-m-fascinated-by-finality-shakespeare/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [I was very inspired by Les Blank's film 'Burden of Dreams.' I think what's unique about his film and the two I've made is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/i-was-very-inspired-by-les-blank-s-film-burden-of-dreams-i-think-what/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [Im very strongly in favor of the auteur theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/im-very-strongly-in-favor-of-the-auteur-theory/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [The promise of celebrity is a transcendental human state of existence. It's not real. We do know the fact that celebrities as mortal beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/the-promise-of-celebrity-is-a-transcendental-human-state-of-existence/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [There's been a vacuum with movies that people can relate to. There's been a paucity of dramas that people can relate to. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/there-s-been-a-vacuum-with-movies-that-people-can-relate-to-there-s/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) [Explore all 22 George Hickenlooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) ## More Building quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [I'm 30. I'm about to hit my prime now. I need to act and keep building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-m-30-i-m-about-to-hit-my-prime-now-i-need-to-act-and-keep-building/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Practically every time I speak up at a school conference, a political event, or my apartment building association's annual meeting, I'm met with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/practically-every-time-i-speak-up-at-a-school-conference-a-political/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) [Browse all 5,974 Building quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At times doc filmmaking feels more rewarding creatively. 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