---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever is being investigated, created…"
description: "\"Whatever is being investigated, created or produced now, in movies or TV, needs to consider the context in which it is being distributed. It's not a va..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/j-j-abrams-3542_certain_whatever-is-being-investigated-created-o_1702625.jpg"
---

#  Whatever is being investigated, created or produced now…

![“Whatever is being investigated, created or produced now, in movies or TV, needs to consider the context in which it is being distributed. It's not a vacuum. There are certain universal themes of love, conflict, loyalty or family that are everlasting and that need to be presented in a way that…” quote by J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/j-j-abrams-3542_certain_whatever-is-being-investigated-created-o_1702625.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/j-j-abrams-3542_certain_whatever-is-being-investigated-created-o_1702625.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/j-j-abrams-3542_certain_whatever-is-being-investigated-created-o_1702625.jpg)

> “Whatever is being investigated, created or produced now, in movies or TV, needs to consider the context in which it is being distributed. It's not a vacuum. There are certain universal themes of love, conflict, loyalty or family that are everlasting and that need to be presented in a way that makes it feel relevant, even if it's a period piece. You need to consider what context that film, that story and those characters are being seen in.”

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

## About This Quote

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

Creators must align universal themes with the audience’s current cultural context to keep stories resonant, even in historical settings.

**In simple terms:** Stories need relevant context for timeless themes.

Key Takeaway

Adapt themes to today’s audience.

Themes

storytelling context universality relevance culture

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

advisory insightful

When to use this quote

- Screenwriting
- period dramas
- marketing campaigns
- audience analysis

Key Concepts

Narrative theory cultural adaptation media studies

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance timeless themes with contemporary relevance?
- What risks arise when adapting history for modern viewers?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on context can dilute artistic vision.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Universal themes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-themes/)

## Related quotes

> [“Always consider the context.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-consider-the-context/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“in all topics of life every one's point of view is correct until we consider the context.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osvaldo-yambi/in-all-topics-of-life-every-one-s-point-of-view-is-correct-until-we/)

osvaldo yambi

> [ We look at each one \[project\] and consider the context - what it is and what it can be - beyond the strictly functional… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meier/we-look-at-each-one-project-and-consider-the-context-what-it-is-and/)

[Richard Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meier/)

> [“When we observe how the world affects us and let our defenses rest, when we consider the context of our greater history, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-febos/when-we-observe-how-the-world-affects-us-and-let-our-defenses-rest/)

[Melissa Febos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-febos/)

> [“Steve shook his head. “Some people take more work than others. You fell in love with a really complicated woman. You can weigh how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/steve-shook-his-head-some-people-take-more-work-than-others-you-fell/)

[Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/)

> [“You need to consider the constraints on your time, your current family and work responsibilities, your energy levels, the ages of your children, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-paine/you-need-to-consider-the-constraints-on-your-time-your-current-family/)

Crystal Paine

> [Do some selfless service for people who are in need. Consider the whole picture, not just our little selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-hagen/do-some-selfless-service-for-people-who-are-in-need-consider-the/)

[Nina Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-hagen/)

> [I think as resources become more dear, we really need to consider population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-as-resources-become-more-dear-we-really-need-to-consider/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [It's hard to make a good and it's more easy to make sin. So you should need to consider all you want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/it-s-hard-to-make-a-good-and-it-s-more-easy-to-make-sin-so-you-should/)

[Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/)

> [Do I need to consider you as my bestfriend? we're okay.i know you can read my mind, you know what I'm feeling...but is there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-i-need-to-consider-you-as-my-bestfriend-we-re-okay-i-know-you-can/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's exciting to me that Ride Along is a movie that has two African American leads, but it's even more exciting to me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-packer/it-s-exciting-to-me-that-ride-along-is-a-movie-that-has-two-african/)

[Will Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-packer/)

> [I think the universal theme would be love and relationships and how if you really want to live and be alive that that's proven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boti-bliss/i-think-the-universal-theme-would-be-love-and-relationships-and-how/)

[Boti Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boti-bliss/)

> [I love big ensemble shows where there are a lot of things going on and you have to really pay attention because there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janina-gavankar/i-love-big-ensemble-shows-where-there-are-a-lot-of-things-going-on/)

[Janina Gavankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janina-gavankar/)

> [I mean these are universal themes. I try not to preach, for sure. I don't enjoy movies that preach - so I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-landon-jr/i-mean-these-are-universal-themes-i-try-not-to-preach-for-sure-i-don/)

[Michael Landon, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-landon-jr/)

> [Any underrepresented audience loves to see themselves on TV, but what's more important is that we're writing about universal themes - good versus evil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/any-underrepresented-audience-loves-to-see-themselves-on-tv-but-what/)

[Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/)

## More by J. J. Abrams

> [I guess the idea of not wanting to choose to direct a film, for which I've not read a script. It's a tough decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-guess-the-idea-of-not-wanting-to-choose-to-direct-a-film-for-which/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I do think there's something about the digital age that is increasingly dehumanising us. We're in this very weird place where we're being pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-do-think-there-s-something-about-the-digital-age-that-is/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I hate to look at the stuff I've written and consider what it means or why I do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-hate-to-look-at-the-stuff-i-ve-written-and-consider-what-it-means/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I feel like obviously the standard for what TV looks like changes all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-feel-like-obviously-the-standard-for-what-tv-looks-like-changes-all/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I'd love to do a movie where the monster is human, where the issue is not otherworldly, or horror or science fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-d-love-to-do-a-movie-where-the-monster-is-human-where-the-issue-is/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I feel blessed that I get to be part of entertaining people in any capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-feel-blessed-that-i-get-to-be-part-of-entertaining-people-in-any/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [There are always a bunch of ideas floating around and I do the best that I can to try to not do them. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/there-are-always-a-bunch-of-ideas-floating-around-and-i-do-the-best/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I love recording music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-love-recording-music/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I'd like to use IMAX. The problem with IMAX is that it's a very loud camera. It's a very unreliable camera. Only so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-d-like-to-use-imax-the-problem-with-imax-is-that-it-s-a-very-loud/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I have nothing against 3-D in theory. But I've also never run to the movies because something's in 3-D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-have-nothing-against-3-d-in-theory-but-i-ve-also-never-run-to-the/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [But I'm grateful for everyone who would want to read a spoiler because it means that they care and want to see the movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/but-i-m-grateful-for-everyone-who-would-want-to-read-a-spoiler/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I think that even if you're wondering if two characters are ever going to kiss, drawing out the inevitability is part of the fun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-think-that-even-if-you-re-wondering-if-two-characters-are-ever/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [When I was a little kid - and even still - I loved magic tricks. When I saw how movies got made - at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/when-i-was-a-little-kid-and-even-still-i-loved-magic-tricks-when-i/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) is probably the most influential film of my generation. It's the personification of good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope-1977-is-probably-the-most-influential/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [Directing's the best part. Whenever I've directed something, there's this feeling of demand and focus that I like. And secondly, it means that you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/directing-s-the-best-part-whenever-i-ve-directed-something-there-s/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

[Explore all 128 J. J. Abrams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

## More Certain quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/)

[Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/)

> [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/)

[Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/)

> [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/)

[Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/)

> [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/)

Riffat Hassan

> [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/)

[Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/)

> [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/)

[Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/)

> [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/)

T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings

> [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/)

[Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/)

> [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/)

[Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/)

> [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/)

[Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/)

> [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/)

[Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/)

> [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

Browse all 13,673 Certain quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Whatever is being investigated, created or produced now, in movies or TV, needs to consider the context in which it is being distributed. It's not a vacuum. There are certain universal themes of love, conflict, loyalty or family that are everlasting and that need to be presented in a way that makes it feel relevant, even if it's a period piece. You need to consider what context that film, that story and those characters are being seen in.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "J. J. Abrams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/whatever-is-being-investigated-created-or-produced-now-in-movies-or/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Certain"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/whatever-is-being-investigated-created-or-produced-now-in-movies-or/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/j-j-abrams-3542_certain_whatever-is-being-investigated-created-o_1702625.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/j-j-abrams-3542_certain_whatever-is-being-investigated-created-o_1702625.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/j-j-abrams-3542_certain_whatever-is-being-investigated-created-o_1702625.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Whatever is being investigated, created or produced now, in movies or TV, needs to consider the context in…” — J. J. Abrams",
                "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": "J. J. Abrams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Whatever is being investigated, created or...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/whatever-is-being-investigated-created-or-produced-now-in-movies-or/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/whatever-is-being-investigated-created-or-produced-now-in-movies-or/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
