--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Action is a way of externalizing an…" description: "\"Action is a way of externalizing an emotional state. You might not be running, leaping, climbing and doing all that. But, the way you create that emoti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/james-cameron-2754_action_action-is-a-way-of-externalizing-an-emot_2617968.png" --- # Action is a way of externalizing an emotional state. You… ![“Action is a way of externalizing an emotional state. You might not be running, leaping, climbing and doing all that. But, the way you create that emotional state in a movie is by having the characters have physical jeopardy that they have to work against.” quote by James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/james-cameron-2754_action_action-is-a-way-of-externalizing-an-emot_2617968.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/james-cameron-2754_action_action-is-a-way-of-externalizing-an-emot_2617968.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/james-cameron-2754_action_action-is-a-way-of-externalizing-an-emot_2617968.png) > “Action is a way of externalizing an emotional state. You might not be running, leaping, climbing and doing all that. But, the way you create that emotional state in a movie is by having the characters have physical jeopardy that they have to work against.” [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Action externalizes emotion; characters face physical danger to generate emotional states, showing how conflict fuels feeling. **In simple terms:** Action mirrors inner emotional conflict. Key Takeaway Use physical challenges to explore emotions. Themes cinema emotion conflict storytelling psychology Mood inspirational practical Type cinematic educational When to use this quote - film set - play rehearsal - video game design - team building exercise Key Concepts narrative theory embodiment visual storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can non‑violent conflict convey strong emotions? - What emotional states benefit from physical metaphor? A Different Perspective Physical danger may not suit all narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-way-1695726/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) [Create Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-emotional-569303/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Emotional State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-state/) [Externalizing Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/externalizing-emotional-2083945/) [Jeopardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jeopardy/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [If there is no way out, the best course of action is to find a way further in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-haddam/if-there-is-no-way-out-the-best-course-of-action-is-to-find-a-way/) [Jane Haddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-haddam/) > [Action is the only way to make progress. Take action now; don’t wait for a convenient time. It can’t be overemphasized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-michalowicz/action-is-the-only-way-to-make-progress-take-action-now-don-t-wait/) [Mike Michalowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-michalowicz/) > [I wanted to see if I could create something that is emotional between people. Existing games are about killing each other or killing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-wanted-to-see-if-i-could-create-something-that-is-emotional-between/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I think especially as creative people we rely so heavily on our gut instinct to create emotional beats or bring scripts to life. Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-madden/i-think-especially-as-creative-people-we-rely-so-heavily-on-our-gut/) [Madeleine Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-madden/) > [In the creative act, you kind of reach down and look for things that will, when put together, create an emotional effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gray/in-the-creative-act-you-kind-of-reach-down-and-look-for-things-that/) [David Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gray/) > [What I've learned how to do as I've gotten older is to take all of the information that I have, and push it aside,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/what-i-ve-learned-how-to-do-as-i-ve-gotten-older-is-to-take-all-of/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [The best way to create emotional or spiritual distance between me and another person is for them to come up to me and go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trixie-mattel/the-best-way-to-create-emotional-or-spiritual-distance-between-me-and/) [Trixie Mattel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trixie-mattel/) > [Thhe essence of documentary filmmaking is how you manipulate the material to create an emotional impact, as opposed to just delivering information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ray-perez/thhe-essence-of-documentary-filmmaking-is-how-you-manipulate-the/) [Richard Ray Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ray-perez/) > [“Situations themselves don’t create our emotional experience; it is only our thoughts about them that make us suffer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-elkrief/situations-themselves-don-t-create-our-emotional-experience-it-is/) [Noah Elkrief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-elkrief/) > [I'll work with DJs and they'll ask me to just use a line or two that I've written, to keep it simple. That can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-koma/i-ll-work-with-djs-and-they-ll-ask-me-to-just-use-a-line-or-two-that/) [Matthew Koma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-koma/) > [Like any other entertainment medium, we must create an emotional response in order to succeed. Laughter, fear, joy, affection, surprise, and - most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoru-iwata/like-any-other-entertainment-medium-we-must-create-an-emotional/) [Satoru Iwata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoru-iwata/) > [We have nightmares because our brain is running simulations to put us in jeopardy to see what we'll do or to acclimatize us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/we-have-nightmares-because-our-brain-is-running-simulations-to-put-us/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I love the idea of using film language similarly to how musicians use music - combining images and sounds in a way that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/i-love-the-idea-of-using-film-language-similarly-to-how-musicians-use/) [Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/) > [You don't always have to start over to create an emotional reaction to your product. It's always powerful to deliver a breakthrough, but there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-parker/you-don-t-always-have-to-start-over-to-create-an-emotional-reaction/) [Mark Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-parker/) > [There's usually a rhythm and a melody in my head, and that creates an emotional state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-jenkins/there-s-usually-a-rhythm-and-a-melody-in-my-head-and-that-creates-an/) [Stephan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-jenkins/) ## More by James Cameron > [Usually, when you go to a movie, your consciousness floats above the film. 3D sucks you in and makes it a visceral experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/usually-when-you-go-to-a-movie-your-consciousness-floats-above-the/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I pick my feature film battles very carefully. They're going to be personal and they're going to take a lot of my energy. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-pick-my-feature-film-battles-very-carefully-they-re-going-to-be/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I don't look at scripts. I just write them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-don-t-look-at-scripts-i-just-write-them/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I tend to like strong female characters. It just interests me dramatically. A strong male character isn't interesting because it has been done and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-tend-to-like-strong-female-characters-it-just-interests-me/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [It's about human imagination and curiosity. What's out there? What's in the great beyond? What exists at levels we can't see with our five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/it-s-about-human-imagination-and-curiosity-what-s-out-there-what-s-in/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I do an awful lot of scuba diving. I love to be on the ocean, under the ocean. I live next to the ocean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-do-an-awful-lot-of-scuba-diving-i-love-to-be-on-the-ocean-under-the/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I always do makeup touch-ups myself, especially for blood, wounds, and dirt. It saves so much time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-always-do-makeup-touch-ups-myself-especially-for-blood-wounds-and/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I've tried not to get sucked into the Hollywood hierarchy system. Personally, I don't like it when people are deferential to me because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-ve-tried-not-to-get-sucked-into-the-hollywood-hierarchy-system/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [The nation that leads in renewable energy will be the nation that leads the world 10, 20 years from now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/the-nation-that-leads-in-renewable-energy-will-be-the-nation-that/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [Nature's not our enemy, it's our sustenance; and we need it - and we need nature healthy for us to be healthy and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/nature-s-not-our-enemy-it-s-our-sustenance-and-we-need-it-and-we-need/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I'm a storyteller; that's what exploration really is all about. Going to places where others haven't been and returning to tell a story they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-m-a-storyteller-that-s-what-exploration-really-is-all-about-going/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [Literary science fiction is a very, very narrow band of the publishing business. I love science fiction in more of a pop-culture sense. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/literary-science-fiction-is-a-very-very-narrow-band-of-the-publishing/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I watched a couple of really bad directors work, and I saw how they completely botched it up and missed the visual opportunities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-watched-a-couple-of-really-bad-directors-work-and-i-saw-how-they/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [You have to not listen to the nay sayers because there will be many and often they'll be much more qualified than you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/you-have-to-not-listen-to-the-nay-sayers-because-there-will-be-many/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [Your imagination can create a reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/your-imagination-can-create-a-reality/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) [Explore all 151 James Cameron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [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/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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