--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Films don't take as long as people think…" description: "\"Films don't take as long as people think. 'Harry Potter,' people always used to say, 'Well, my God, do you ever get any time to yourself?' I think I di..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/john-hurt-1669_cinema_films-don-t-take-as-long-as-people-think_2561750.png" --- # Films don't take as long as people think. 'Harry Potter,'… ![“Films don't take as long as people think. 'Harry Potter,' people always used to say, 'Well, my God, do you ever get any time to yourself?' I think I did, in 'Harry Potter,' over a 12 year period I did five days. So it's not exactly exhausting.” quote by John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/john-hurt-1669_cinema_films-don-t-take-as-long-as-people-think_2561750.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/john-hurt-1669_cinema_films-don-t-take-as-long-as-people-think_2561750.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/john-hurt-1669_cinema_films-don-t-take-as-long-as-people-think_2561750.png) > “Films don't take as long as people think. 'Harry Potter,' people always used to say, 'Well, my God, do you ever get any time to yourself?' I think I did, in 'Harry Potter,' over a 12 year period I did five days. So it's not exactly exhausting.” [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success in demanding careers can coexist with personal time if managed wisely. **In simple terms:** Busy work can still allow personal moments. Key Takeaway Balance work and personal life. Themes work-life balance career personal time Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice observational When to use this quote - film production - creative projects - long-term commitments Key Concepts time management boundaries prioritization Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect personal time in a demanding job? - What boundaries help you maintain balance? A Different Perspective Balancing may require sacrifices and strict scheduling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Days Exactly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days-exactly-1612479/) [Exhausting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhausting/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Films Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films-don/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Harry potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harry-potter/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Potters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potters/) [Think Harry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-harry-952047/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-think/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I think Harry Potter's very important. Every opportunity I will get for the rest of my life, I would not have got if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-think-harry-potter-s-very-important-every-opportunity-i-will-get/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I never wanted to do Harry Potter. I thought it should have stayed as a book. There are some books that should be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/i-never-wanted-to-do-harry-potter-i-thought-it-should-have-stayed-as/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [It seems no matter what I read I think this is not harry potter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-green/it-seems-no-matter-what-i-read-i-think-this-is-not-harry-potter/) [Hank Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-green/) > [For me, personally, it is very important that the days are exactly the same, so I have routines. I do the same thing every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/for-me-personally-it-is-very-important-that-the-days-are-exactly-the/) [Karl Ove Knausgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/) > [I read the 'Harry Potter' books as I was writing my own books, and I love them, but I don't think Harry was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-kinney/i-read-the-harry-potter-books-as-i-was-writing-my-own-books-and-i/) [Jeff Kinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-kinney/) > [I think you know if someone likes you for who you are or who they think you are. -Harry Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/i-think-you-know-if-someone-likes-you-for-who-you-are-or-who-they/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [A lot of directors are great and they are fine but you know I think that Harry really takes a special point to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/a-lot-of-directors-are-great-and-they-are-fine-but-you-know-i-think/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [“Listen, Harr,y can I have a go on it? Can I?" "I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet!" said Hermoine shrilly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/listen-harr-y-can-i-have-a-go-on-it-can-i-i-don-t-think-anyone-should/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [I think the Harry books are actually very moral, but some people just object to witchcraft being mentioned in a children's book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-think-the-harry-books-are-actually-very-moral-but-some-people-just/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [“You don't think well of any of us, do you?" Harry said. "I'd die for you, for any one of you. Isn't that enough?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rieger/you-don-t-think-well-of-any-of-us-do-you-harry-said-i-d-die-for-you/) [Susan Rieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rieger/) > [ It's quite interesting, looking back at the first one \[film about Harry Potter\], nobody knew whether or not it was going to be successful… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/it-s-quite-interesting-looking-back-at-the-first-one-film-about-harry/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [ By the time I came to do the final ones \[Harry Potter's film\], I was working on something that was massively successful. There was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/by-the-time-i-came-to-do-the-final-ones-harry-potter-s-film-i-was/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [ If I hadn't been a part of \[Harry Potter\] I would have been deeply upset. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/if-i-hadn-t-been-a-part-of-harry-potter-i-would-have-been-deeply-upset/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [ I think particularly Daniel \[Radcliffe\], he knows what he's doing. I'm sure he'll finish up a producer. He really realized what it was, knew… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-think-particularly-daniel-radcliffe-he-knows-what-he-s-doing-i-m/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [I'm not a cinephile. My films don't reference films. I'm more interested in rhythm and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-m-not-a-cinephile-my-films-don-t-reference-films-i-m-more/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) ## More by John Hurt > [I can't say that I wouldn't prefer to make small films, basically because I think they are probably more interesting in terms of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-can-t-say-that-i-wouldn-t-prefer-to-make-small-films-basically/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [Acting is an imaginative leap, really, isn't it? And imaginations prosper in different circumstances. And it's being able - I can't tell you how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/acting-is-an-imaginative-leap-really-isn-t-it-and-imaginations/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [My surname certainly suggests a man whose destiny has always been injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/my-surname-certainly-suggests-a-man-whose-destiny-has-always-been/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [ I got used to \[ Lars Von Trier\] doing the narration for 'Dogville' and 'Manderley.' And I said to him I do these narrations… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-got-used-to-lars-von-trier-doing-the-narration-for-dogville-and/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [The first thing you have to get used to in any kind of acting is the ability to make a fool of yourself. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/the-first-thing-you-have-to-get-used-to-in-any-kind-of-acting-is-the/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [One wonders sometimes, looking at the world, how it's dealing with itself. There are days when you wake up and you feel very optimistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/one-wonders-sometimes-looking-at-the-world-how-it-s-dealing-with/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [To me, nothing ever feels like a sure thing. I cling to that because it's very important you don't ever think anything is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/to-me-nothing-ever-feels-like-a-sure-thing-i-cling-to-that-because-it/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [Things come in a quieter way to me. It's not laziness, and it's not diffidence. I just know how far you have to bend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/things-come-in-a-quieter-way-to-me-it-s-not-laziness-and-it-s-not/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [I've spent a great deal of my life doing independent film, and that is partly because the subject matter interests me and partly because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-ve-spent-a-great-deal-of-my-life-doing-independent-film-and-that-is/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [I find myself more interested in producing. Not because I'm interested in the financial side of it, but just getting together the right elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-find-myself-more-interested-in-producing-not-because-i-m-interested/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [Actors are not always the best judges. We have a peculiar idea of what we think we are, and sometimes it's best left to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/actors-are-not-always-the-best-judges-we-have-a-peculiar-idea-of-what/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [My parents felt that acting was far too insecure. Don't ask me what made them think that painting would be more secure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/my-parents-felt-that-acting-was-far-too-insecure-don-t-ask-me-what/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [I've done all sorts of children's things before, but none as big as 'Harry Potter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-ve-done-all-sorts-of-children-s-things-before-but-none-as-big-as/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [Really, I'm only alive out of curiosity. I'm very curious about where we're all marching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/really-i-m-only-alive-out-of-curiosity-i-m-very-curious-about-where/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [You carry that through and adapt it to a camera lens, but you're quite right, you cannot be sure of what an audience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/you-carry-that-through-and-adapt-it-to-a-camera-lens-but-you-re-quite/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) [Explore all 217 John Hurt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Films don't take as long as people think. 'Harry Potter,' people always used to say, 'Well, my God, do you ever get any time to yourself?' I think I did, in 'Harry Potter,' over a 12 year period I did five days. 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