--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't say that I wouldn't prefer to…" description: "\"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 material. But ever..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/john-hurt-1669_again_i-can-t-say-that-i-wouldn-t-prefer-to-ma_20088.png" --- # I can't say that I wouldn't prefer to make small films… ![“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 material. But every now and again, it's quite good to do a big one.” quote by John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/john-hurt-1669_again_i-can-t-say-that-i-wouldn-t-prefer-to-ma_20088.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/john-hurt-1669_again_i-can-t-say-that-i-wouldn-t-prefer-to-ma_20088.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/john-hurt-1669_again_i-can-t-say-that-i-wouldn-t-prefer-to-ma_20088.png) > “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 material. But every now and again, it's quite good to do a big one.” [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. The speaker prefers small films for their richer material but acknowledges occasional value in larger productions. **In simple terms:** Small films offer depth; big films can be rewarding. Key Takeaway Balance artistic intimacy with scale. Themes Artistic preference Film scale Creative trade‑offs Medium suitability Narrative depth Mood Reflective Optimistic Thoughtful Type Observation Opinion When to use this quote - Indie filmmaking - Studio projects - Budget constraints - Creative experimentation - Career development Key Concepts Film production Storytelling Resource allocation Audience engagement Practical Applications - Choosing project size - Strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - When does a larger budget enhance a story? - How can small‑film techniques improve big productions? A Different Perspective null ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/again/) [Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basically/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Every](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films/) [Films Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films-basically-394384/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Make Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-small-263692/) [Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Prefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer/) [Probably Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-interesting-394385/) [Quite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quite/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small/) [Small Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-films-394383/) [Terms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terms/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) ## Related quotes > [We're in a situation now where fewer and fewer small films get made. People want these big giant tentpole sort of things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reubens/we-re-in-a-situation-now-where-fewer-and-fewer-small-films-get-made/) [Paul Reubens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reubens/) > [I'm in the process of working out an arrangement to make some very, very, very small films in the midst of all these films…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/i-m-in-the-process-of-working-out-an-arrangement-to-make-some-very/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [I would probably find you more interesting had I studied psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-probably-find-you-more-interesting-had-i-studied-psychology/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is rather like life. You can usually find in it what you look for It will probably be interesting, and it is sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/america-is-rather-like-life-you-can-usually-find-in-it-what-you-look/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [I'm not really a partier, in general. I've definitely learned that that's probably the least interesting thing you can do with your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-m-not-really-a-partier-in-general-i-ve-definitely-learned-that-that/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [Alternate between short films, long form films, with or without stars, small budget or big budget films. Basically a filmmaker needs to be flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-vernoux/alternate-between-short-films-long-form-films-with-or-without-stars/) [Marion Vernoux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-vernoux/) > [Some of the subject matters that I like to make stories about are definitely not inherently commercial. So I have to look for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-granik/some-of-the-subject-matters-that-i-like-to-make-stories-about-are/) [Debra Granik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-granik/) > [I think that my films are basically family stories, beyond the fact that they are global and have political and social commentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-think-that-my-films-are-basically-family-stories-beyond-the-fact/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [We will always want films ... that basically are centred on young people, because young people is the way we live on, we older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/we-will-always-want-films-that-basically-are-centred-on-young-people/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [Making realistic films is basically about the style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikramaditya-motwane/making-realistic-films-is-basically-about-the-style/) [Vikramaditya Motwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikramaditya-motwane/) > [So far I've done two films that have basically been about television because I know that world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/so-far-i-ve-done-two-films-that-have-basically-been-about-television/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Now the time comes that I decided I only will do art films, basically. In a way, very similar to Isabella Rossellini. I prefer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udo-kier/now-the-time-comes-that-i-decided-i-only-will-do-art-films-basically/) [Udo Kier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udo-kier/) > [Very bad roles were coming my way, and I didn't want to do them. Hence, I was doing small films like 'Delhi Belly,' where,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shenaz-treasury/very-bad-roles-were-coming-my-way-and-i-didn-t-want-to-do-them-hence/) [Shenaz Treasury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shenaz-treasury/) > [I love small films, and I love films being seen in a theater. I love film, and unfortunately, that's being phased out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-faris/i-love-small-films-and-i-love-films-being-seen-in-a-theater-i-love/) [Valerie Faris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-faris/) > [Honestly, I don't go out of my way to see animated movies. I'm mostly influenced by.. the films I tend to like are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wedge/honestly-i-don-t-go-out-of-my-way-to-see-animated-movies-i-m-mostly/) [Chris Wedge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wedge/) ## More by 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/) > [I think you can get better in mathematics on a school level, but when you're talking about being a mathematician, I think that's definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-think-you-can-get-better-in-mathematics-on-a-school-level-but-when/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) [Explore all 217 John Hurt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) ## More Again quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [I've always been interested in photographs, collecting them not systematically but randomly. They get lost, then turn up again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-photographs-collecting-them-not/) [W. G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald/) > [I say this about everything: when I was on 'Neighbours,' I said, 'These are the best years of my life!' When I was filming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/i-say-this-about-everything-when-i-was-on-neighbours-i-said-these-are/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) > [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/) [Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/) > [I don't know about writing. It's quite lonely. You have to have a lot of patience with yourself. I don't know if I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/i-don-t-know-about-writing-it-s-quite-lonely-you-have-to-have-a-lot/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [You couldn't get me to go travel around and sit in a hotel room again. I have no interest in doing that. So everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-everly/you-couldn-t-get-me-to-go-travel-around-and-sit-in-a-hotel-room-again/) [Phil Everly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-everly/) > [In theater, one of the biggest problems when you're rehearsing comedy over and over again is that you stop laughing at each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ashley-carter/in-theater-one-of-the-biggest-problems-when-you-re-rehearsing-comedy/) [Lauren Ashley Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ashley-carter/) > [I'd like to do some female roles again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron-mitchell/i-d-like-to-do-some-female-roles-again/) [John Cameron Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron-mitchell/) > [Death is a sniper. It strikes people you love, people you like, people you know - it's everywhere. You could be next. But then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/death-is-a-sniper-it-strikes-people-you-love-people-you-like-people/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [Oh wow, you know what's wrong with all these families on TV? All these kids say stuff no kid would say. Stuff grown-ups want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macaulay-culkin/oh-wow-you-know-what-s-wrong-with-all-these-families-on-tv-all-these/) [Macaulay Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macaulay-culkin/) > [We must resist the temptation of once again turning America into the traditional bogeyman of the left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-napolitano/we-must-resist-the-temptation-of-once-again-turning-america-into-the/) [Giorgio Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-napolitano/) > [We won the Europa League in 2013 and it was an amazing night, an amazing feeling. I take those memories and think to myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/we-won-the-europa-league-in-2013-and-it-was-an-amazing-night-an/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) [Browse all 2,975 Again quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/again/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 material. 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