--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Really, what I'm doing is an attempt to…" description: "\"Really, what I'm doing is an attempt to continue the best work of the people I adore: Francis Coppola and Scorsese and Robert Altman and Stanley Kubric..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/james-gray-7197_adore_really-what-i-m-doing-is-an-attempt-to-c_346140.jpg" --- # Really, what I'm doing is an attempt to continue the best… ![“Really, what I'm doing is an attempt to continue the best work of the people I adore: Francis Coppola and Scorsese and Robert Altman and Stanley Kubrick and those amazing directors whose work I grew up with and loved.” quote by James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/james-gray-7197_adore_really-what-i-m-doing-is-an-attempt-to-c_346140.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/james-gray-7197_adore_really-what-i-m-doing-is-an-attempt-to-c_346140.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2c/james-gray-7197_adore_really-what-i-m-doing-is-an-attempt-to-c_346140.jpg) > “Really, what I'm doing is an attempt to continue the best work of the people I adore: Francis Coppola and Scorsese and Robert Altman and Stanley Kubrick and those amazing directors whose work I grew up with and loved.” [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He credits his filmmaking inspiration to legendary directors he admires, aiming to extend their legacy. **In simple terms:** He wants to continue the great work of admired directors. Key Takeaway Study and honor your influences. Themes inspiration cinema legacy Mood reflective admiring Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - film projects - career development - creative mentorship Key Concepts directorial style artistic lineage Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance influence with originality? - What aspects of these directors' work resonate most with you? A Different Perspective Balancing homage with original voice can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adore/) [Amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing/) [Amazing Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing-directors-1957660/) [Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempt/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Best work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-work/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Continue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continue/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Directors Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-work-372649/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/francis/) [Francis Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/francis-coppola-999632/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kubrick/) [Kubrick Amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kubrick-amazing-3206832/) [Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Robert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robert/) [Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scorsese/) [Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stanley/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stanley-kubrick/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Whose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whose/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I did a film called 'The Escape Artist' for Francis Coppola. 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I do the best theater around, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-manville/the-thing-is-this-i-ve-got-an-amazing-career-in-england-that-couldn-t/) [Lesley Manville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-manville/) > [I believe you can never stop growing and learning and I've been very fortunate to have been working since I was 10 or 11-years-old.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-lautner/i-believe-you-can-never-stop-growing-and-learning-and-i-ve-been-very/) [Taylor Lautner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-lautner/) > [If Martin Scorsese calls, I am available. And then there the ones, well, you can just run down the list - any of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/if-martin-scorsese-calls-i-am-available-and-then-there-the-ones-well/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [When I was shooting with Tarantino and Mike Mills and amazing directors, it made me think that I would never be a director. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-laurent/when-i-was-shooting-with-tarantino-and-mike-mills-and-amazing/) [Melanie Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-laurent/) > [I don't want to get locked into any one type of genre. I just want to constantly be working with amazing directors and amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-tortorella/i-don-t-want-to-get-locked-into-any-one-type-of-genre-i-just-want-to/) [Nico Tortorella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-tortorella/) > [I love so many directors. I love David O. Russell. I love David Fincher, I love Alexander Payne and Jane Campion and my aunt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gia-coppola/i-love-so-many-directors-i-love-david-o-russell-i-love-david-fincher/) [Gia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gia-coppola/) > [There are so many amazing directors I would love to work with, like Christopher Nolan, who is a total pipe dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/there-are-so-many-amazing-directors-i-would-love-to-work-with-like/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [The quality of television is becoming so good from an actor standpoint, where you get to do these amazing scenes with amazing directors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobie-smulders/the-quality-of-television-is-becoming-so-good-from-an-actor/) [Cobie Smulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobie-smulders/) > [I guess I don't really measure myself by what others think. So even though I have gotten to work with some amazing directors, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/i-guess-i-don-t-really-measure-myself-by-what-others-think-so-even/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [All of the directors I work with have their own unique gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/all-of-the-directors-i-work-with-have-their-own-unique-gifts/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [I work with big directors. I work with good actors. I act in female-centric films. And I do all this without ever indulging in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jeremiah/i-work-with-big-directors-i-work-with-good-actors-i-act-in-female/) [Andrea Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jeremiah/) > [I think I've always wanted to direct, but I didn't go to film school. I was lucky enough to work in movies, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-think-i-ve-always-wanted-to-direct-but-i-didn-t-go-to-film-school-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) ## More by James Gray > [The key to acting - from what little I know about that wonderful craft - is listening, and interacting with the other person in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/the-key-to-acting-from-what-little-i-know-about-that-wonderful-craft/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I've learned that you can never predict what will happen to a film. You can never predict if people will love it, if they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-never-predict-what-will-happen-to-a-film/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I don't envy the job of people who have to watch five movies a day - that's insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-don-t-envy-the-job-of-people-who-have-to-watch-five-movies-a-day/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [Most people don't watch a movie four or five times; they watch it once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/most-people-don-t-watch-a-movie-four-or-five-times-they-watch-it-once/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I'm just not willing to give up on myself. If I'm going to fail, then I want to fail to the limits of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-m-just-not-willing-to-give-up-on-myself-if-i-m-going-to-fail-then-i/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I am an Ashkenazi Jew, and there are a whole host of genetic disorders that only Ashkenazi Jews have. I don't know if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-am-an-ashkenazi-jew-and-there-are-a-whole-host-of-genetic-disorders/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [All I can say is sometimes home gets burned into your occipital lobe, and it can't leave you, and there's always that longing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/all-i-can-say-is-sometimes-home-gets-burned-into-your-occipital-lobe/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [William Atherton has a very different acting style to Bonnie Bedelia; she has a very different style than Bruce Willis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/william-atherton-has-a-very-different-acting-style-to-bonnie-bedelia/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [There are very few movies in English about romantic obsession told with a seriousness of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/there-are-very-few-movies-in-english-about-romantic-obsession-told/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I would love it if my films made a lot of money, and may I say that 'The Yards' is the only one that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-would-love-it-if-my-films-made-a-lot-of-money-and-may-i-say-that/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [My wife thinks I have an obsession with social class. So I guess I have an obsession with social class. It probably stems from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/my-wife-thinks-i-have-an-obsession-with-social-class-so-i-guess-i/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I remember as a little kid, I would always feel comfortable if the light in the crack of my parents' door was on at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-remember-as-a-little-kid-i-would-always-feel-comfortable-if-the/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [If we continue as we have for the past 20 years in California, in the year 2020, everybody in the State will either be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/if-we-continue-as-we-have-for-the-past-20-years-in-california-in-the/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I think to be a movie critic is troubling from one major respect. If you are forced to watch ten movies a week, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-think-to-be-a-movie-critic-is-troubling-from-one-major-respect-if/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [The state of being in love is so inherently preposterous. It usually lends itself to romantic comedy. I think we've all been there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/the-state-of-being-in-love-is-so-inherently-preposterous-it-usually/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) [Explore all 93 James Gray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) ## More Adore quotes > [I adore extravagance but I abhor waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/i-adore-extravagance-but-i-abhor-waste/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [“I am happier when I love than when I am loved. I adore my husband, my son, and my grandchildren, my mother, my dog,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-am-happier-when-i-love-than-when-i-am-loved-i-adore-my-husband-my/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I don't like the word celebrity. If I become a good actress and be in movies where I'm expected to be a good actress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/i-don-t-like-the-word-celebrity-if-i-become-a-good-actress-and-be-in/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [“I adore you, my greatest love, as only through you I can find my moment’s eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/i-adore-you-my-greatest-love-as-only-through-you-i-can-find-my-moment/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [“A spark of every fire we seek is already within us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/a-spark-of-every-fire-we-seek-is-already-within-us/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! 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It is the pulse of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bernhardt/i-adore-chicago-it-is-the-pulse-of-america/) [Sarah Bernhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bernhardt/) > [It isn't called TV money for nothing. There was a time where I paid my rent by doing theater for years, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-parsons/it-isn-t-called-tv-money-for-nothing-there-was-a-time-where-i-paid-my/) [Jim Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-parsons/) > [I'm sorry I can't give you the normal life you wanted, but I promise to adore you every day for the rest of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-sorry-i-can-t-give-you-the-normal-life-you-wanted-but-i-promise/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [You could at least complain,” I say. “I adore complaining. 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