--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a screenwriter I'm often writing in…" description: "\"As a screenwriter I'm often writing in genres where there have been thousands of movies; whereas when I direct movies they tend to be in between genres..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/john-sayles-12623_bits_as-a-screenwriter-i-m-often-writing-in-g_2295896.png" --- # As a screenwriter I'm often writing in genres where there… ![“As a screenwriter I'm often writing in genres where there have been thousands of movies; whereas when I direct movies they tend to be in between genres. They tend to have a little bit of a genre to them, but they're really about the people, and they're people we haven't met before.” quote by John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/john-sayles-12623_bits_as-a-screenwriter-i-m-often-writing-in-g_2295896.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/john-sayles-12623_bits_as-a-screenwriter-i-m-often-writing-in-g_2295896.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/john-sayles-12623_bits_as-a-screenwriter-i-m-often-writing-in-g_2295896.png) > “As a screenwriter I'm often writing in genres where there have been thousands of movies; whereas when I direct movies they tend to be in between genres. They tend to have a little bit of a genre to them, but they're really about the people, and they're people we haven't met before.” [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Directors blend genres to focus on unique characters rather than conventional formulas. **In simple terms:** Blend genres to highlight people. Key Takeaway Prioritize character over genre constraints. Themes filmmaking genre blending character focus creativity storytelling Mood inspirational thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - film directing - screenwriting workshops - indie film festivals - creative retreats Key Concepts narrative structure character development genre theory Questions to Reflect On - How can you signal genre hybridity without alienating viewers? - What techniques keep character central? A Different Perspective Genre blending may confuse audiences expecting clear categories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Genres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genres/) [Genres Tend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genres-tend-5412931/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Little bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bit/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Screenwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriter/) [Screenwriter Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriter-writing-5412930/) [Screenwriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriters/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Genres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-genres-3008767/) ## Related quotes > [A great trick that I learned having worked as a screenwriter for many years, the way screenwriters work, is they break the project down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/a-great-trick-that-i-learned-having-worked-as-a-screenwriter-for-many/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [The great thing, as a screenwriter, is that you are always proud of what ends up on the screen, you are able to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-linden/the-great-thing-as-a-screenwriter-is-that-you-are-always-proud-of/) [Jamie Linden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-linden/) > ['The Buccaneers' was an Edith Wharton novel, and she never finished it, and a screenwriter adapted it for television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frain/the-buccaneers-was-an-edith-wharton-novel-and-she-never-finished-it/) [James Frain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frain/) > [It's funny because when I was growing up, I was really into science fiction and fantasy as a kid. And, when I first became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-orloff/it-s-funny-because-when-i-was-growing-up-i-was-really-into-science/) [John Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-orloff/) > [I could be just a writer very easily. I am not a writer. I am a screenwriter, which is half a filmmaker... But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/i-could-be-just-a-writer-very-easily-i-am-not-a-writer-i-am-a/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [I often say that a lot of my job, as a screenwriter, is sort of being a stock picker, in that I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-august/i-often-say-that-a-lot-of-my-job-as-a-screenwriter-is-sort-of-being-a/) [John August](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-august/) > [“Novelist by day; screenwriter by night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-posey/novelist-by-day-screenwriter-by-night/) [A.D. Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-posey/) > [One of the things I love about my job as a playwright or as a screenwriter is that I get to do a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/one-of-the-things-i-love-about-my-job-as-a-playwright-or-as-a/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [I think that scripts should be published, but they are published, really, because when you're a screenwriter, your stuff ends up in samizdat form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-think-that-scripts-should-be-published-but-they-are-published/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [Fiction and screenwriting blend for me. I feel like being a TV writer/screenwriter has definitely made my fiction writing better, although I have less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/fiction-and-screenwriting-blend-for-me-i-feel-like-being-a-tv-writer/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [Every screenwriter worthy of the name has already directed his film when he has written his script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-l-mankiewicz/every-screenwriter-worthy-of-the-name-has-already-directed-his-film/) [Joseph L. Mankiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-l-mankiewicz/) > [When you're a screenwriter, it's like being a mechanic. You open the hood of the story, the director is the driver, and he says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bidegain/when-you-re-a-screenwriter-it-s-like-being-a-mechanic-you-open-the/) [Thomas Bidegain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bidegain/) > [You are the executive director and screenwriter of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/you-are-the-executive-director-and-screenwriter-of-your-life/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [A screenwriter is much like being a fire hydrant with a bunch of dogs lined up around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-miller/a-screenwriter-is-much-like-being-a-fire-hydrant-with-a-bunch-of-dogs/) [Frank Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-miller/) > [If you want to be a great director, be a great screenwriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/if-you-want-to-be-a-great-director-be-a-great-screenwriter/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) ## More by John Sayles > [But compared to writing a novel, where you can be God, I did the Bay of Pigs invasion in six pages once, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/but-compared-to-writing-a-novel-where-you-can-be-god-i-did-the-bay-of/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [Not that I've always loved the movie when they finally come out, or if they ever come out-because many of them don't come out-but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/not-that-i-ve-always-loved-the-movie-when-they-finally-come-out-or-if/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [I think I got spoiled and that writing a short story and getting it published, or writing a novel and getting it published, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/i-think-i-got-spoiled-and-that-writing-a-short-story-and-getting-it/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. 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This is not, 'We're going to develop twenty-five and maybe one's going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/and-it-was-out-in-the-theaters-in-two-weeks-this-is-not-we-re-going/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [The media in America has become so cowed and compromised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/the-media-in-america-has-become-so-cowed-and-compromised/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [You get to say, 'Here's my philosophical idea about what the costume should like,' and the costume designer comes and gives you choices and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/you-get-to-say-here-s-my-philosophical-idea-about-what-the-costume/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [“There is great literature about imprisonment, . . . about the foot soldier, . . . about the sea -- but not one great work about flying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/there-is-great-literature-about-imprisonment-about-the-foot-soldier/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [Sometimes people can't afford to work for you, or they're not interested or available, and you hate to have written the whole movie with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/sometimes-people-can-t-afford-to-work-for-you-or-they-re-not/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [I certainly grew up seeing more movies and television than I read books, but when it came time to do the thing itself you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/i-certainly-grew-up-seeing-more-movies-and-television-than-i-read/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [When I read a story or see something play out in front of me I say, how come nobody's made a movie or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/when-i-read-a-story-or-see-something-play-out-in-front-of-me-i-say/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [For me the writing, when I'm going to direct it myself, is really just the first draft, and I don't change it very much;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/for-me-the-writing-when-i-m-going-to-direct-it-myself-is-really-just/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [I remember being out here at the Sunset Marquis, and whoever knocked on the door, I would take that picture that I was writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/i-remember-being-out-here-at-the-sunset-marquis-and-whoever-knocked/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) [Explore all 54 John Sayles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) ## More Bits quotes > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I became a bit of a teacher's pet, and it became known in the school by both faculty and students that I really excelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/i-became-a-bit-of-a-teacher-s-pet-and-it-became-known-in-the-school/) [Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [He referred to me as an 'insufferable puffed-up prat'. This is a bit rich coming from a man who actually married his own mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/he-referred-to-me-as-an-insufferable-puffed-up-prat-this-is-a-bit/) [Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/) > [It won't do you a bit of good to know everything if you don't do anything with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-fitzhugh/it-won-t-do-you-a-bit-of-good-to-know-everything-if-you-don-t-do/) [Louise Fitzhugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-fitzhugh/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) [Browse all 5,709 Bits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a screenwriter I'm often writing in genres where there have been thousands of movies; whereas when I direct movies they tend to be in between genres. 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