--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a director, your expectation and…" description: "\"As a director, your expectation and reality don't always match up, and I think that that's... I think it's a little jarring.\" — Jonathan Levine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/jonathan-levine-10199_always_as-a-director-your-expectation-and-reali_169646.jpg" --- # As a director, your expectation and reality don't always… ![“As a director, your expectation and reality don't always match up, and I think that that's... I think it's a little jarring.” quote by Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/jonathan-levine-10199_always_as-a-director-your-expectation-and-reali_169646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/jonathan-levine-10199_always_as-a-director-your-expectation-and-reali_169646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/jonathan-levine-10199_always_as-a-director-your-expectation-and-reali_169646.jpg) > “As a director, your expectation and reality don't always match up, and I think that that's... I think it's a little jarring.” [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A director often faces a gap between expectations and reality, which can feel unsettling. **In simple terms:** Expectations rarely match outcomes. Key Takeaway Prepare for and adapt to unexpected results. Themes expectations reality creative process Mood reflective pragmatic Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - film production - stage performance Key Concepts project management artistic vision Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile vision with constraints? - When does compromise become beneficial? A Different Perspective Over‑planning can stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Director Expectation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-expectation-1839376/) [Expectation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectation/) [Expectation Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectation-reality-1155359/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Jarring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jarring-1839378/) [Little Jarring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-jarring-1839377/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [“but when you have been nourishing your soul on expectation, reality is apt to be disappointing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ambler/but-when-you-have-been-nourishing-your-soul-on-expectation-reality-is/) [Eric Ambler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ambler/) > [Disappointment is just the Distance between Expectation & Reality. So either Expect less & Accept the Reality OR Expect a lot & Turn into a Reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/disappointment-is-just-the-distance-between-expectation-reality-so/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [When you spend seven years with a group of people and suddenly you're not together, it's very jarring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-montgomery/when-you-spend-seven-years-with-a-group-of-people-and-suddenly-you-re/) [Poppy Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-montgomery/) > [My favorite books, art pieces, films, and music, always have something jarring about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pink/my-favorite-books-art-pieces-films-and-music-always-have-something/) [Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pink/) > [So many shows don't have laugh tracks now that, when you hear it, it can be slightly jarring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/so-many-shows-don-t-have-laugh-tracks-now-that-when-you-hear-it-it/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [If you talk in a way that is too dissimilar to the character, when people are showing up to see you talk about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/if-you-talk-in-a-way-that-is-too-dissimilar-to-the-character-when/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [Disappointment is just the distance between Expectation and Reality. So either Expect less and Accept the Reality Or Expect a lot and Turn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/disappointment-is-just-the-distance-between-expectation-and-reality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Problem Is,,, Just The Distance Between Expectation And Reality, So Either Expect Less And Accept The Reality Or Expect A Lot And Turn It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/problem-is-just-the-distance-between-expectation-and-reality-so/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [Problem is just d Distance between Expectation and Reality, So either Expect less and Accept the Reality Or Expect a lot and Turn it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/problem-is-just-d-distance-between-expectation-and-reality-so-either/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Disappointment is the gap that exists between expectation and reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/disappointment-is-the-gap-that-exists-between-expectation-and-reality/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [As a director, there's no natural career progression. So after 'The Wackness,' which was very personal to me, I was very, very picky about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/as-a-director-there-s-no-natural-career-progression-so-after-the/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [Never depend on anyone else's strength but God's strength to help you through and nor expect from anyone except God to be with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/never-depend-on-anyone-else-s-strength-but-god-s-strength-to-help-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Representing the Selecao is a very great expectation, being able to play is even greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/representing-the-selecao-is-a-very-great-expectation-being-able-to/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [The night is saturated with inspiration¦ I cant imagine wasting a minute of it with my eyes or ears closed. I live dreams, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-timbre/the-night-is-saturated-with-inspiration-i-cant-imagine-wasting-a/) [Jamie Timbre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-timbre/) > [Keeping up with everybody's expectation is soooo hard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi/keeping-up-with-everybody-s-expectation-is-soooo-hard/) [Naomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi/) ## More by Jonathan Levine > [I think it's cyclical. Zombies have been around for ages, and vampires have run their course; we've had so many vampire movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/i-think-it-s-cyclical-zombies-have-been-around-for-ages-and-vampires/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [My first real television-watching experience was when I watched 'L.A. Law,' like, at 10 o'clock Thursday nights with my parents. They would let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/my-first-real-television-watching-experience-was-when-i-watched-l-a/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > ['Warm Bodies' - I was contractually obligated to deliver a PG-13 movie. But, like, I wanted it to be PG-13 because it's for younger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/warm-bodies-i-was-contractually-obligated-to-deliver-a-pg-13-movie/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [It's rare that movies can sort of capture the tone of life; movies always feel like they have to be one thing or another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/it-s-rare-that-movies-can-sort-of-capture-the-tone-of-life-movies/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [To me, using music is creating a shorthand with an audience. And I love music so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/to-me-using-music-is-creating-a-shorthand-with-an-audience-and-i-love/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [I just think a lot of movies are too long. I want to know how to make my movie as tight as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/i-just-think-a-lot-of-movies-are-too-long-i-want-to-know-how-to-make/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [I feel like comedy is where I'm most at ease, but I also have an allergy to silly jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/i-feel-like-comedy-is-where-i-m-most-at-ease-but-i-also-have-an/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [Any time I hear certain songs I put in a movie, I have to not listen to them anymore because I associate them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/any-time-i-hear-certain-songs-i-put-in-a-movie-i-have-to-not-listen/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [I think that's the great thing about zombies, is, you know, going back to even 'Night of the Living Dead,' they've always been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/i-think-that-s-the-great-thing-about-zombies-is-you-know-going-back/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [As a director, there's no natural career progression. So after 'The Wackness,' which was very personal to me, I was very, very picky about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/as-a-director-there-s-no-natural-career-progression-so-after-the/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [Zombies have always had a lot of built-in social commentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/zombies-have-always-had-a-lot-of-built-in-social-commentary/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [I used to drive a convertible around L.A. a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/i-used-to-drive-a-convertible-around-l-a-a-lot/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [The way 'Coming Home' uses music in general is incredible, but the final song that really kind of crescendos all of the emotion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/the-way-coming-home-uses-music-in-general-is-incredible-but-the-final/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [On '50/50,' even though it was 8 million dollars, it was all acting-intensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/on-50-50-even-though-it-was-8-million-dollars-it-was-all-acting/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) > [“Never trust anyone who doesn't smoke pot or listen to Dylan. Never trust anyone who doesn't like the beach. And NEVER ever, EVER, EVER…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-levine/never-trust-anyone-who-doesn-t-smoke-pot-or-listen-to-dylan-never/) [Jonathan Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) [Explore all 67 Jonathan Levine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-levine/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a director, your expectation and reality don't always match up, and I think that that's... 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