--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started making movies about weird…" description: "\"When I started making movies about weird people, I knew they were weird, I was infected with irony, and I wanted New York to notice.\" — John Waters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-waters-751_irony_when-i-started-making-movies-about-weird_2449709.jpg" --- # When I started making movies about weird people, I knew… ![“When I started making movies about weird people, I knew they were weird, I was infected with irony, and I wanted New York to notice.” quote by John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-waters-751_irony_when-i-started-making-movies-about-weird_2449709.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-waters-751_irony_when-i-started-making-movies-about-weird_2449709.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-waters-751_irony_when-i-started-making-movies-about-weird_2449709.jpg) > “When I started making movies about weird people, I knew they were weird, I was infected with irony, and I wanted New York to notice.” [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Embracing eccentric subjects and ironic tone seeks to provoke cultural attention and dialogue. **In simple terms:** Weird, ironic films aim to get noticed. Key Takeaway Use irony to spotlight the unconventional. Themes eccentricity irony culture Mood provocative thoughtful Type artistic critical When to use this quote - indie film - art house - NYC scene Key Concepts postmodernism social critique Questions to Reflect On - What impact does irony have on perception? - How to balance weirdness with accessibility? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating mainstream audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Making movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-movies/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Weird people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weird-people/) ## Related quotes > [Most of us start from that position of irony now and what I wanted to do - really felt like I had to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/most-of-us-start-from-that-position-of-irony-now-and-what-i-wanted-to/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [I was not interested in irony; I wanted to emphasize the primacy of the idea in making art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-lewitt/i-was-not-interested-in-irony-i-wanted-to-emphasize-the-primacy-of/) [Sol LeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-lewitt/) > [He knew her now. She was the weird girl in the class above him, who dyed her hair pink and always wore a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/he-knew-her-now-she-was-the-weird-girl-in-the-class-above-him-who/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Nick Сage and I can't make love in movie? That's scary. And our hero? Arnold Schwarzenegger? Using a body as a shield against bullets?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/nick-age-and-i-can-t-make-love-in-movie-that-s-scary-and-our-hero/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [I'm always surprised at what I actually end up doing movies because I don't have a strategy or a game plan, especially now that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-m-always-surprised-at-what-i-actually-end-up-doing-movies-because-i/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [Movies are so weird. I don't believe anything until it's already done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-smith/movies-are-so-weird-i-don-t-believe-anything-until-it-s-already-done/) [Rex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-smith/) > [I would read the atlas for pleasure. I knew it was weird. It was weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/i-would-read-the-atlas-for-pleasure-i-knew-it-was-weird-it-was-weird/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [“He liked people who knew weird things, just because it seemed to hint at some odd inner life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-speed/he-liked-people-who-knew-weird-things-just-because-it-seemed-to-hint/) [Andrea Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-speed/) > [Sundance is weird. The movies are weird - you actually have to think about them when you watch them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/sundance-is-weird-the-movies-are-weird-you-actually-have-to-think/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [I love strange things; my favorite movies are weird, eclectic, and intriguing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-love-strange-things-my-favorite-movies-are-weird-eclectic-and/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I knew that Weird Girl was going to be kind of amazing. The secret truth of Weird Girl is that I put her in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-august/i-knew-that-weird-girl-was-going-to-be-kind-of-amazing-the-secret/) [John August](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-august/) > [Oh, yes. I knew I was weird by the time I was four. I knew I wasn't like other boys. I knew I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/oh-yes-i-knew-i-was-weird-by-the-time-i-was-four-i-knew-i-wasn-t-like/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [When I started my goal was to make a successful underground movie. I started making movies in the mid-60s. Underground cinema then only lasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-started-my-goal-was-to-make-a-successful-underground-movie-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Irony ruined everything Even the best exploitation movies were never meant to be 'so bad they were good'. They were not made for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/irony-ruined-everything-even-the-best-exploitation-movies-were-never/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“Now, in the old days, Indians used to be forgiving of any kind of eccentricity. In fact, weird people were often celebrated. Epileptics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/now-in-the-old-days-indians-used-to-be-forgiving-of-any-kind-of/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) ## More by John Waters > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm here today because of LSD. LSD gave me the confidence to be who I am today. Completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-here-today-because-of-lsd-lsd-gave-me-the-confidence-to-be-who-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [When I was young, there were bars called the 'Hungry Hole,' and in those same neighbourhoods are now gay people pushing baby carriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-was-young-there-were-bars-called-the-hungry-hole-and-in-those/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [True success is figuring out your life and career so you never have to be around jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/true-success-is-figuring-out-your-life-and-career-so-you-never-have/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Around '62 in Baltimore, all the girls had those big hairdos. And then suddenly, a few of the really hip ones started doing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/around-62-in-baltimore-all-the-girls-had-those-big-hairdos-and-then/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“John!?” I ask in shock. This woman recognizes me? It can’t be! “How do you know my name?” I wonder out loud. Suddenly she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/john-i-ask-in-shock-this-woman-recognizes-me-it-can-t-be-how-do-you/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > ['Serial Mom' tested really well when we finally got with the right audience. But they would go to some shopping mall in a deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/serial-mom-tested-really-well-when-we-finally-got-with-the-right/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [One Christmas, Dennis Dermody, the movie critic of 'Paper,' gave me 'Rock Hudson: A Gathering of Friends,' the master invitation list from Rock Hudson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/one-christmas-dennis-dermody-the-movie-critic-of-paper-gave-me-rock/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Many hundred-million-dollar Hollywood comedies aren't any good. They're trying to shock you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/many-hundred-million-dollar-hollywood-comedies-aren-t-any-good-they/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The Easter Bunny is a major reason for heroin addiction in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-easter-bunny-is-a-major-reason-for-heroin-addiction-in-america/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [To use bad taste, you have to know the rules of good taste. I've always thanked my mother for that. She taught how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/to-use-bad-taste-you-have-to-know-the-rules-of-good-taste-i-ve-always/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm an old person because I still buy DVDs. I have every one of my albums and 45s - I even have a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-an-old-person-because-i-still-buy-dvds-i-have-every-one-of-my/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I do like Christmas. I do understand that there are people who hate it, and there are other religions that resent it. So, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-do-like-christmas-i-do-understand-that-there-are-people-who-hate-it/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I love to read about anger. A "feel bad" book always makes me feel good. And no other novel in the history of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-love-to-read-about-anger-a-feel-bad-book-always-makes-me-feel-good/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [ Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and \[do\] what they want you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to-make-another-movie-but-i-don/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) [Explore all 381 John Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## More Irony quotes > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [..ReLAtionship is just like reading a bo0k... it d0esnt w0rk if y0ur n0t on the same paGe..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megz/relationship-is-just-like-reading-a-bo0k-it-d0esnt-w0rk-if-y0ur-n0t/) Megz > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Some women walk towards a better future. Others have chauffeurs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/some-women-walk-towards-a-better-future-others-have-chauffeurs/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [Why do single women take advice from other single women? That's like Stevie Wonder giving Ray Charles driving directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/why-do-single-women-take-advice-from-other-single-women-that-s-like/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-a-trace-of-irony-i-can-say-i-have-been-blessed-with-brilliant/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [“... a man doesn't like to have his ego popped, especially when he prides himself on his sagacity, and then to be proved wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/a-man-doesn-t-like-to-have-his-ego-popped-especially-when-he-prides/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [These eyes see through all of your lies. My mind knows you're not right for me. My mouth tells you to leave. My heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/these-eyes-see-through-all-of-your-lies-my-mind-knows-you-re-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’ll MAKE you be free whether you want to or not.’ -The Savage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/i-ll-make-you-be-free-whether-you-want-to-or-not-the-savage/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Teenagers: The most misunderstood people on earth. Treated like children and expected to act like adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/teenagers-the-most-misunderstood-people-on-earth-treated-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But any one watching keenly the stealthy convergence of human lots, sees a slow preparation of effects from one life on another, which tells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-any-one-watching-keenly-the-stealthy-convergence-of-human-lots/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“He liked the Leedses. He was sorry that he had been to the morgue. He thought the madman who visited them might have liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/he-liked-the-leedses-he-was-sorry-that-he-had-been-to-the-morgue-he/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [The sense of tragedy - according to Aristotle - comes, ironically enough, not from the protagonist's weak points but from his good qualities. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-sense-of-tragedy-according-to-aristotle-comes-ironically-enough/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“I've never written a quote I feel would be suitable for my gravestone. Wouldn't it be ironic if it were this one? Oh, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/i-ve-never-written-a-quote-i-feel-would-be-suitable-for-my-gravestone/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [Peter Cooper looks at the world with an artist's eye and a human heart and soul. His songs are the work of an original,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/peter-cooper-looks-at-the-world-with-an-artist-s-eye-and-a-human/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) [Browse all 1,888 Irony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started making movies about weird people, I knew they were weird, I was infected with irony, and I wanted New York to notice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Waters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-started-making-movies-about-weird-people-i-knew-they-were/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Irony" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-started-making-movies-about-weird-people-i-knew-they-were/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-waters-751_irony_when-i-started-making-movies-about-weird_2449709.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-waters-751_irony_when-i-started-making-movies-about-weird_2449709.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/john-waters-751_irony_when-i-started-making-movies-about-weird_2449709.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I started making movies about weird people, I knew they were weird, I was infected with irony, and I…” — John Waters", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Waters", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I started making movies about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-started-making-movies-about-weird-people-i-knew-they-were/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-started-making-movies-about-weird-people-i-knew-they-were/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```