--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to do three things really well…" description: "\"You have to do three things really well to make a successful film. You have to tell a compelling story that has a story that is unpredictable, that kee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/john-lasseter-2122_believable_you-have-to-do-three-things-really-well_395389.jpg" --- # You have to do three things really well to make a… ![“You have to do three things really well to make a successful film. You have to tell a compelling story that has a story that is unpredictable, that keeps people on the edge of their seat where they can't wait to see what happens next. You then populate that story with really memorable and…” quote by John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/john-lasseter-2122_believable_you-have-to-do-three-things-really-well_395389.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/john-lasseter-2122_believable_you-have-to-do-three-things-really-well_395389.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/john-lasseter-2122_believable_you-have-to-do-three-things-really-well_395389.jpg) > “You have to do three things really well to make a successful film. You have to tell a compelling story that has a story that is unpredictable, that keeps people on the edge of their seat where they can't wait to see what happens next. You then populate that story with really memorable and appealing characters. And then, you put that story and those characters in a believable world, not realistic but believable for the story that you're telling.” [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Successful films require a compelling, unpredictable story, memorable characters, and a believable world that supports the narrative. **In simple terms:** Good movies need story, characters, and world. Key Takeaway Focus on story, characters, and world building. Themes storytelling character development worldbuilding Mood inspirational practical Type professional educational When to use this quote - film production - screenwriting - animation - game design Key Concepts narrative structure character arcs suspension of disbelief Questions to Reflect On - What makes a story unpredictable yet coherent? - How do you ensure world details enhance rather than distract? A Different Perspective Balancing unpredictability with coherence can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Memorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorable/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-telling/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Unpredictable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpredictable/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I completely work on the basis of my intuition. I don't think I premeditate a success formula. There is no formula to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/i-completely-work-on-the-basis-of-my-intuition-i-don-t-think-i/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [I was thinking I would love to make something that is a successful film that everybody sees, but I wasn't thinking about the actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-was-thinking-i-would-love-to-make-something-that-is-a-successful/) [Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/) > [It takes great skill to tell a compelling story in under 60 seconds. These five directors have mastered the format, using their talent, craft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-apted/it-takes-great-skill-to-tell-a-compelling-story-in-under-60-seconds/) [Michael Apted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-apted/) > [I think a writer's first job is to entertain, even in novels: to tell a compelling story that pulls the reader along toward an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-think-a-writer-s-first-job-is-to-entertain-even-in-novels-to-tell-a/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [As a writer, my only responsibility is to tell a compelling story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/as-a-writer-my-only-responsibility-is-to-tell-a-compelling-story/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [A filmmaker has to have great vision in order to tell a compelling story that is both distinctive and stylistic. I remember playing all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-ozeki/a-filmmaker-has-to-have-great-vision-in-order-to-tell-a-compelling/) [Nicholas Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-ozeki/) > [To take full advantage of computer animation, you have to pay as much attention to the believable as you do the unbelievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/to-take-full-advantage-of-computer-animation-you-have-to-pay-as-much/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Every movie has three things you have to do - you have to have a compelling story that keeps people on the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/every-movie-has-three-things-you-have-to-do-you-have-to-have-a/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Pixar films are not realistic. They are believable for the worlds we are creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/pixar-films-are-not-realistic-they-are-believable-for-the-worlds-we/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [The whole point of making a film is to tell a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-harryhausen/the-whole-point-of-making-a-film-is-to-tell-a-story/) [Ray Harryhausen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-harryhausen/) > [That's what's so great about television. You're able to tell this long story, where you couldn't really do that in a film because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-paul/that-s-what-s-so-great-about-television-you-re-able-to-tell-this-long/) [Aaron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-paul/) > [You're always just trying to make your film, tell the story you're trying to tell - best you can, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/you-re-always-just-trying-to-make-your-film-tell-the-story-you-re/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [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/) > [On the set of an independent film you can tell that nobody is doing it for the money. Everyone is there because they love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/on-the-set-of-an-independent-film-you-can-tell-that-nobody-is-doing/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [I think the most experimental way to a film is to tell the story the traditional way, because everyone is doing the other thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-think-the-most-experimental-way-to-a-film-is-to-tell-the-story-the/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) ## More by John Lasseter > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [The only thing Steve Jobs has ever asked me in all the years we've been together and have been partners, the only thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-only-thing-steve-jobs-has-ever-asked-me-in-all-the-years-we-ve/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [The hardest thing to get is true emotion. I always believe you need to earn that with the audience. You can't just tell them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-hardest-thing-to-get-is-true-emotion-i-always-believe-you-need-to/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [I'm really proud of 'Cars.' 'Cars,' when it first came out, got probably the most mediocre reviews of a Pixar film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/i-m-really-proud-of-cars-cars-when-it-first-came-out-got-probably-the/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Car love is the sound of a throaty V-8 rumbling and revving, the acceleration throwing you back in the seat - especially when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/car-love-is-the-sound-of-a-throaty-v-8-rumbling-and-revving-the/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [When you make these films, they become like your children. 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But also, animators are great observers, and there's this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/people-who-get-into-animation-tend-to-be-kids-we-don-t-have-to-grow/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [I love the villains who are really hyper-smart. When at the end of the movie you find out what they were about, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/i-love-the-villains-who-are-really-hyper-smart-when-at-the-end-of-the/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Toys are put on this Earth to be played with by a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/toys-are-put-on-this-earth-to-be-played-with-by-a-child/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Humor is the easiest to achieve; the 'heart' is always the toughest, because you can't tell people to feel a certain way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/humor-is-the-easiest-to-achieve-the-heart-is-always-the-toughest/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [I laugh very hard at work every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/i-laugh-very-hard-at-work-every-day/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Short films really helped me develop as a story teller, animator, and as a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/short-films-really-helped-me-develop-as-a-story-teller-animator-and/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [I believe in the nobility of entertaining people and I take great, great pride that people are willing to give me two or three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/i-believe-in-the-nobility-of-entertaining-people-and-i-take-great/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) [Explore all 184 John Lasseter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) ## More Believable quotes > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. 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I simply don't find them believable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-smoker/why-am-i-an-atheist-the-short-answer-is-that-i-cannot-accept-any-of/) [Barbara Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-smoker/) > [I don't understand that, because I think that what people like most about the show is that they recognize themselves in the characters and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-richardson/i-don-t-understand-that-because-i-think-that-what-people-like-most/) [Patricia Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-richardson/) > [An idea has no worth at all without believable characters to implement it; a plot without characters is like a tennis court without players.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/an-idea-has-no-worth-at-all-without-believable-characters-to/) [Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/) > [What is most important to me is that my narrator's voice is believable, and that, though it is clearly an absolute fiction, it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bohjalian/what-is-most-important-to-me-is-that-my-narrator-s-voice-is/) [Chris Bohjalian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bohjalian/) > [I'm straight, but the character was too important to me to muddle his world with my private life. 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