--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you make a documentary, you have to…" description: "\"When you make a documentary, you have to adapt to what reality imposes upon you.\" — Hirokazu Kore-eda" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hirokazu-kore-eda-10913_adapt_when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to_1023433.jpg" --- # When you make a documentary, you have to adapt to what… ![“When you make a documentary, you have to adapt to what reality imposes upon you.” quote by Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hirokazu-kore-eda-10913_adapt_when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to_1023433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hirokazu-kore-eda-10913_adapt_when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to_1023433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hirokazu-kore-eda-10913_adapt_when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to_1023433.jpg) > “When you make a documentary, you have to adapt to what reality imposes upon you.” [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights need for flexibility when documenting real events. **In simple terms:** Adapt to reality rather than control it. Key Takeaway Stay open, let truth guide you. Themes adaptability truth creativity Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - field shooting - editing - unexpected events - budget constraints Key Concepts documentary ethics narrative fluidity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance truth and storytelling? - When does adaptation compromise intent? A Different Perspective Reality may limit artistic vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Documentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [“And I could go the rest of my life like this, don't get me wrong. This was reality and I'd certainly learned to adapt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-harbison/and-i-could-go-the-rest-of-my-life-like-this-don-t-get-me-wrong-this/) [Beth Harbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-harbison/) > [The climate crisis is upon us, and its effects will only become more apparent in the years to come. We need to both adapt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-lamont/the-climate-crisis-is-upon-us-and-its-effects-will-only-become-more/) [Ned Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-lamont/) > [When I make a documentary I shoot very little but I hang around with my camera for a long time. I look at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/when-i-make-a-documentary-i-shoot-very-little-but-i-hang-around-with/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) > [There was no model how to make a documentary production company work. I figured it out as I went along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/there-was-no-model-how-to-make-a-documentary-production-company-work/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [“If everyone knows so much about it, why do they need to make a documentary?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-pasulka/if-everyone-knows-so-much-about-it-why-do-they-need-to-make-a/) [Brigid Pasulka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-pasulka/) > [I learned how to make a documentary by having a good team around me. My editors (and co-writers)Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt and Frédéric Tcheng were very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-immordino-vreeland/i-learned-how-to-make-a-documentary-by-having-a-good-team-around-me/) [Lisa Immordino Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-immordino-vreeland/) > [When I did Taming of the Shrew, I was very tired, and I decided to have a holiday and make a documentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-cilento/when-i-did-taming-of-the-shrew-i-was-very-tired-and-i-decided-to-have/) [Diane Cilento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-cilento/) > [When you're making a real documentary, you shoot it and the movie happens. You don't make - this sounds corny - you don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/when-you-re-making-a-real-documentary-you-shoot-it-and-the-movie/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [If I wanted to make something that actually made a difference roughly in this industry, I would make a documentary. That would be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/if-i-wanted-to-make-something-that-actually-made-a-difference-roughly/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [When you make a documentary film, after many years the only thing you remember is what you put into the film, not what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-yates/when-you-make-a-documentary-film-after-many-years-the-only-thing-you/) [Pamela Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-yates/) > [There is no way I could have ever dared to make a documentary, much less have the money to make a documentary, if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-kaufman/there-is-no-way-i-could-have-ever-dared-to-make-a-documentary-much/) [Lloyd Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-kaufman/) > [Right after I did 'The Fountain,' I wanted to go make a documentary or something that was less constructed - more natural. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-aronofsky/right-after-i-did-the-fountain-i-wanted-to-go-make-a-documentary-or/) [Darren Aronofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-aronofsky/) > [Cinema is not truth. Even when you make documentary films, you can choose to show this shot and not the other shot - this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithy-panh/cinema-is-not-truth-even-when-you-make-documentary-films-you-can/) [Rithy Panh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithy-panh/) > [We want people to go to the movies. But the reality is that this is a digital world and we have to adapt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-wagner/we-want-people-to-go-to-the-movies-but-the-reality-is-that-this-is-a/) Todd Wagner > [Keep an open mind and be ready to change and adapt to the situation. Don't ask reality to conform to your blueprint, but transform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakhdar-brahimi/keep-an-open-mind-and-be-ready-to-change-and-adapt-to-the-situation/) [Lakhdar Brahimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakhdar-brahimi/) ## More by Hirokazu Kore-eda > [Sometimes when you watch children, you feel that they show emotions that you, as an adult, can relate to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/sometimes-when-you-watch-children-you-feel-that-they-show-emotions/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [We used to have prawn tempura: that was my mother's favourite dish. But she had to go out to work instead of my father,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/we-used-to-have-prawn-tempura-that-was-my-mother-s-favourite-dish-but/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [When I was 27, I won an honorable mention in a scriptwriting contest and got a television job as an assistant director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/when-i-was-27-i-won-an-honorable-mention-in-a-scriptwriting-contest/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [It is righteous to receive state subsidies to make films that criticise the state - I want Japanese people to accept such European values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/it-is-righteous-to-receive-state-subsidies-to-make-films-that/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [I believe that any auteur categorised in terms of an -ist or an -ism wouldn't be able to capture the complex essence of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/i-believe-that-any-auteur-categorised-in-terms-of-an-ist-or-an-ism/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [When I have been told that my films remind people of Ozu, I have never been too convinced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/when-i-have-been-told-that-my-films-remind-people-of-ozu-i-have-never/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [I am hopeful that films can connect people who are in conflict in a separated world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/i-am-hopeful-that-films-can-connect-people-who-are-in-conflict-in-a/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [I am very happy that Japanese film can cross borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/i-am-very-happy-that-japanese-film-can-cross-borders/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [All my mother ever wanted to talk about was what she hated about my father and the times he cheated on her when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/all-my-mother-ever-wanted-to-talk-about-was-what-she-hated-about-my/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [Yes, a family is interesting. You can get a lot of drama in the conflicts there. It's like the sea. It seems calm, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/yes-a-family-is-interesting-you-can-get-a-lot-of-drama-in-the/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [With 'Nobody Knows,' I consciously set out to make a fiction film, which is a different approach from 'Distance,' but I still applied a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/with-nobody-knows-i-consciously-set-out-to-make-a-fiction-film-which/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [I wanted to make 'Nobody Knows,' a kind of summation of the experiences I gained from making my first three films, the good ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/i-wanted-to-make-nobody-knows-a-kind-of-summation-of-the-experiences/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [I would say that 'After the Storm' is much more informed by my personal life than my other movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/i-would-say-that-after-the-storm-is-much-more-informed-by-my-personal/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > [The vividness of children is easier to see when they're completely left to their own devices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/the-vividness-of-children-is-easier-to-see-when-they-re-completely/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) > ['Like Father, Like Son' gave me the opportunity to show when it is not good with a father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/like-father-like-son-gave-me-the-opportunity-to-show-when-it-is-not/) [Hirokazu Kore-eda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) [Explore all 62 Hirokazu Kore-eda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/) ## More Adapt quotes > [Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/enjoying-success-requires-the-ability-to-adapt-only-by-being-open-to/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [Ancelotti immediately understood me and put me in the right situation to adapt quickly. I was 18 and, at that age, it is difficult.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-verratti/ancelotti-immediately-understood-me-and-put-me-in-the-right-situation/) [Marco Verratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-verratti/) > [Just watching people's ability to adapt, especially young people's, inspires me to accept more in life instead of wishing things were different all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhea-seehorn/just-watching-people-s-ability-to-adapt-especially-young-people-s/) [Rhea Seehorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhea-seehorn/) > [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) > [It's fun to see how other artists adapt my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/it-s-fun-to-see-how-other-artists-adapt-my-work/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [Floods, droughts, and natural disasters are a fact of life for farmers, ranchers, and foresters. They have persevered in the past, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-perdue/floods-droughts-and-natural-disasters-are-a-fact-of-life-for-farmers/) [Sonny Perdue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-perdue/) > [A career is about learning to adapt yourself to the new environment and learning to sink or swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-dutta/a-career-is-about-learning-to-adapt-yourself-to-the-new-environment/) [Lara Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-dutta/) > [I've learnt to adapt on the pitch and, when I think back, also in front of goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/i-ve-learnt-to-adapt-on-the-pitch-and-when-i-think-back-also-in-front/) [Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/) > [On my end, I am still surprised that many media organizations are unable to adapt to new media formats and, more importantly, new network…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/om-malik/on-my-end-i-am-still-surprised-that-many-media-organizations-are/) [Om Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/om-malik/) > [“The more in tune we are with nature and the more we actually observe our surroundings, the easier it is for us to adapt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-cassell-jr/the-more-in-tune-we-are-with-nature-and-the-more-we-actually-observe/) [Warren Cassell Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-cassell-jr/) > [There is a sort of theory that you should adapt bad books because they always make more successful films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hampton/there-is-a-sort-of-theory-that-you-should-adapt-bad-books-because/) [Christopher Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hampton/) > [It's strange to play outdoors, especially in the daytime. But we're figuring it out. The rules are different for festival shows - how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dost/it-s-strange-to-play-outdoors-especially-in-the-daytime-but-we-re/) [Andrew Dost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dost/) > [Whatever role I get told to play, I just have to adapt to it and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-iwobi/whatever-role-i-get-told-to-play-i-just-have-to-adapt-to-it-and-play/) [Alex Iwobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-iwobi/) > [I'm able to mentally adapt to things very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cole/i-m-able-to-mentally-adapt-to-things-very-well/) [Justin Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cole/) > [If you change and adapt your persona, you are seen as inauthentic; if you stay the angry young man, you fade from attention or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/if-you-change-and-adapt-your-persona-you-are-seen-as-inauthentic-if/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) Browse all 767 Adapt quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you make a documentary, you have to adapt to what reality imposes upon you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hirokazu Kore-eda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to-adapt-to-what-reality-imposes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adapt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to-adapt-to-what-reality-imposes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hirokazu-kore-eda-10913_adapt_when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to_1023433.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hirokazu-kore-eda-10913_adapt_when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to_1023433.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/hirokazu-kore-eda-10913_adapt_when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to_1023433.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you make a documentary, you have to adapt to what reality imposes upon you.” — Hirokazu Kore-eda", "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": "Hirokazu Kore-eda", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hirokazu-kore-eda/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you make a documentary, you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to-adapt-to-what-reality-imposes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hirokazu-kore-eda/when-you-make-a-documentary-you-have-to-adapt-to-what-reality-imposes/#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 } } ] } ```