---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing that I think a director has to…"
description: "\"The thing that I think a director has to have in order to make a movie really work, and to certainly make a film that feels personal, is that you have ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/george-nolfi-55545_be-good_the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to_175980.jpg"
---

#  The thing that I think a director has to have in order to…

![“The thing that I think a director has to have in order to make a movie really work, and to certainly make a film that feels personal, is that you have to have a sense of the feeling that you want to create in people, the tone which you want to tell the story, and the basic themes you want to come…” quote by George Nolfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/george-nolfi-55545_be-good_the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to_175980.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/george-nolfi-55545_be-good_the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to_175980.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/george-nolfi-55545_be-good_the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to_175980.jpg)

> “The thing that I think a director has to have in order to make a movie really work, and to certainly make a film that feels personal, is that you have to have a sense of the feeling that you want to create in people, the tone which you want to tell the story, and the basic themes you want to come out. You can't compromise on those because you are then not making the movie that you are going to be good at telling.”

[George Nolfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nolfi/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A director must define the emotional tone, narrative style, and core themes of a film and stay true to them, because compromising undermines the film’s personal impact and the director’s storytelling strength.

**In simple terms:** Stay true to the film’s tone, style, and themes.

Key Takeaway

Define and protect the film’s emotional core.

Themes

filmmaking creative integrity storytelling tone themes personal vision

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

artistic instructional

When to use this quote

- film production
- script development
- directing workshops
- marketing pitches

Key Concepts

artistic vision directorial voice emotional resonance narrative consistency audience impact

Questions to Reflect On

- What core emotion do you want audiences to feel?
- How do you ensure themes stay consistent?

A Different Perspective

Compromising can dilute originality and audience connection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Be good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feels Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels-personal-723718/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-feels-509621/) [Make Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-film/) [Making Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-movie/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Think Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-director/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [The thing that I think a director has to have in order to make a movie really work, and to certainly make a film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nolfi/the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to-have-in-order-to-make-a-2/)

[George Nolfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nolfi/)

> [Someday, I'd like to sit down with a small group of people, in a relaxed environment, and make a film that feels more independent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wedge/someday-i-d-like-to-sit-down-with-a-small-group-of-people-in-a/)

[Chris Wedge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wedge/)

> [I think the director is becoming more important. To work under rushed conditions, you need to have an extremely professional director. If the director's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-ford/i-think-the-director-is-becoming-more-important-to-work-under-rushed/)

[Glenn Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-ford/)

> [“I feel a sense of betrayal by my body, most strongly when the attacks come, as they do, every week or so for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathryn-kemp/i-feel-a-sense-of-betrayal-by-my-body-most-strongly-when-the-attacks/)

[Cathryn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathryn-kemp/)

> [Everything feels so personal when you're an actor because you're so open and vulnerable, and you have to trust your director to guide you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-shor/everything-feels-so-personal-when-you-re-an-actor-because-you-re-so/)

[Miriam Shor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-shor/)

> [When you're writing something, and you're putting yourself out there, or you're performing and someone comes in and savages that, then of course it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/when-you-re-writing-something-and-you-re-putting-yourself-out-there/)

[Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/)

> [In a close-knit community like Jasper, every loss feels personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-braun/in-a-close-knit-community-like-jasper-every-loss-feels-personal/)

[Mike Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-braun/)

> [Do the work and then let the rest speak for itself and know that it feels personal, I knew it for me when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-ward/do-the-work-and-then-let-the-rest-speak-for-itself-and-know-that-it/)

[Andre Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-ward/)

> [Suddenly, after years of television being the poor relation and film being everything, it now feels like film is a conjuring trick. It's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/suddenly-after-years-of-television-being-the-poor-relation-and-film/)

[Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/)

> [Everything changes once you start trying to market the film. Part of you feels like everything is slipping away from you. For me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/everything-changes-once-you-start-trying-to-market-the-film-part-of/)

[Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/)

> [I think some of this just feels right. You're in the shower and you come up with a sentence and it's beautiful. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-hertzfeldt/i-think-some-of-this-just-feels-right-you-re-in-the-shower-and-you/)

[Don Hertzfeldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-hertzfeldt/)

> [I don't ever want to go backwards, I quite like it. I like the freedom and I like the - What I set out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/i-don-t-ever-want-to-go-backwards-i-quite-like-it-i-like-the-freedom/)

[Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/)

> [Every black film feels like it's Tyler Perry, and that just needs to stop. But people seem to slowly be looking for what else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/every-black-film-feels-like-it-s-tyler-perry-and-that-just-needs-to/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [“-Before I started, when it was all in my head, the project was full of unlimited potential. Now that it's on film, it feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/before-i-started-when-it-was-all-in-my-head-the-project-was-full-of/)

[Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/)

> [I've always used my own personal emotions and things that I've gone through in my life to build a character. The work that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/i-ve-always-used-my-own-personal-emotions-and-things-that-i-ve-gone/)

[Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/)

## More by George Nolfi

> [There is something about dance that is actually a great tension. There is something that is incredibly freeing about dancing for dancers who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nolfi/there-is-something-about-dance-that-is-actually-a-great-tension-there/)

[George Nolfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nolfi/)

> [I just want to be able to make a movie that takes some chances. I don't just want to do something that is purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nolfi/i-just-want-to-be-able-to-make-a-movie-that-takes-some-chances-i-don/)

[George Nolfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nolfi/)

> [There is something about dance that is actually a great tension. There is something that is incredibly freeing about dancing for dancers who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nolfi/there-is-something-about-dance-that-is-actually-a-great-tension-there-2/)

[George Nolfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nolfi/)

> [The thing that I think a director has to have in order to make a movie really work, and to certainly make a film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nolfi/the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to-have-in-order-to-make-a-2/)

[George Nolfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nolfi/)

> [I don't just want to do something that is purely stuck in a genre box. I would like to have the kind of autonomy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nolfi/i-don-t-just-want-to-do-something-that-is-purely-stuck-in-a-genre-box/)

[George Nolfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nolfi/)

[Explore all 6 George Nolfi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nolfi/)

## More Be good quotes

> [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/)

[David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/)

> [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [Peace is the result of love, and if love were easy we'd all be good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/peace-is-the-result-of-love-and-if-love-were-easy-we-d-all-be-good-at/)

[Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/)

> [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/most-of-us-want-to-live-in-harmony-and-peace-and-be-good-to-others/)

[Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/)

> [I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-ve-never-had-any-desire-to-be-good-i-don-t-like-goodness/)

[Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/)

> [To become a classical ballerina, you have to move to New York when you're 12 or 11 and that becomes your life. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/to-become-a-classical-ballerina-you-have-to-move-to-new-york-when-you/)

[Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/)

> [The producers felt that 24 would be good for the audience, to really get to know who these 12 and 12 are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-abdul/the-producers-felt-that-24-would-be-good-for-the-audience-to-really/)

[Paula Abdul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-abdul/)

> [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-arden/everybody-wants-to-be-good-but-not-many-are-prepared-to-make-the/)

[Paul Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-arden/)

> [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [The difference in being good at some thing and being great at something is usually found in the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-anderson/the-difference-in-being-good-at-some-thing-and-being-great-at/)

[Randy Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-anderson/)

> [It doesn't matter if your lead character is good or bad. He just has to be interesting, and he has to be good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-lead-character-is-good-or-bad-he-just-has/)

[David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/)

> [What's good for the very rich might not be good for anybody but them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/what-s-good-for-the-very-rich-might-not-be-good-for-anybody-but-them/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [“Living in the middle of beauty like this, we've no call to have puny ideas about God. Why do you suppose His world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/living-in-the-middle-of-beauty-like-this-we-ve-no-call-to-have-puny/)

[Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/)

[Browse all 1,747 Be good quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The thing that I think a director has to have in order to make a movie really work, and to certainly make a film that feels personal, is that you have to have a sense of the feeling that you want to create in people, the tone which you want to tell the story, and the basic themes you want to come out. You can't compromise on those because you are then not making the movie that you are going to be good at telling.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Nolfi"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nolfi/the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to-have-in-order-to-make-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Be good"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nolfi/the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to-have-in-order-to-make-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/george-nolfi-55545_be-good_the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to_175980.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/george-nolfi-55545_be-good_the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to_175980.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/george-nolfi-55545_be-good_the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to_175980.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The thing that I think a director has to have in order to make a movie really work, and to certainly make a…” — George Nolfi",
                "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": "George Nolfi",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nolfi/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The thing that I think a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nolfi/the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to-have-in-order-to-make-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nolfi/the-thing-that-i-think-a-director-has-to-have-in-order-to-make-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
