--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Television is very different than working…" description: "\"Television is very different than working on film. With films, you get to develop a set of characters, and then, at the end of the film, you have to th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/jonathan-nolan-6754_character_television-is-very-different-than-workin_297893.jpg" --- # Television is very different than working on film. With… ![“Television is very different than working on film. With films, you get to develop a set of characters, and then, at the end of the film, you have to throw them away.” quote by Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/jonathan-nolan-6754_character_television-is-very-different-than-workin_297893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/jonathan-nolan-6754_character_television-is-very-different-than-workin_297893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/jonathan-nolan-6754_character_television-is-very-different-than-workin_297893.jpg) > “Television is very different than working on film. With films, you get to develop a set of characters, and then, at the end of the film, you have to throw them away.” [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. TV demands self‑contained stories, while film allows deep character arcs that end when the movie ends. **In simple terms:** TV is episodic; film is a single arc. Key Takeaway Adapt storytelling to the medium. Themes storytelling medium character development Mood reflective analytical Type creative comparative When to use this quote - TV series writing - film directing - character design - script planning Key Concepts narrative structure character arc episodic vs. feature Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep characters fresh in episodic formats? - Can film techniques enrich TV storytelling? A Different Perspective TV constraints limit long‑term character growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [With films, you get to develop a set of characters, and then, at the end of the film, you have to throw them away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/with-films-you-get-to-develop-a-set-of-characters-and-then-at-the-end/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [Film is so much to do with perfection and how differently you can feel about someone at the beginning of the film and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/film-is-so-much-to-do-with-perfection-and-how-differently-you-can/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [I love the consistency of working on television. You don't get that in working on film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-tortorella/i-love-the-consistency-of-working-on-television-you-don-t-get-that-in/) [Nico Tortorella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-tortorella/) > [Working on 'WAGS' is obviously very different than working on wrestling television. It's very different in the way that there is not nearly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-rhodes/working-on-wags-is-obviously-very-different-than-working-on-wrestling/) [Brandi Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-rhodes/) > [Theater is a lot more interactive, more of a cohesive unit. With television, it can be a different director every episode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condola-rashad/theater-is-a-lot-more-interactive-more-of-a-cohesive-unit-with/) [Condola Rashad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condola-rashad/) > [Because of the vast reach of television, there have been different angles that have been explored showcasing the life of transgenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rubina-dilaik/because-of-the-vast-reach-of-television-there-have-been-different/) [Rubina Dilaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rubina-dilaik/) > [Television is a different medium and I am happy I could reach out to different kinds of audiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tisca-chopra/television-is-a-different-medium-and-i-am-happy-i-could-reach-out-to/) [Tisca Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tisca-chopra/) > [Television is a different challenge; it is not a stage. But each opportunity that I have to learn I learn, and I take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/television-is-a-different-challenge-it-is-not-a-stage-but-each/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [Television is in a different time because of reality television, so it's not as exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shemar-moore/television-is-in-a-different-time-because-of-reality-television-so-it/) [Shemar Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shemar-moore/) > [Playing a character on television is very different to film where there is a little more distance between you guys and the fans. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-morrison/playing-a-character-on-television-is-very-different-to-film-where/) [Matthew Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-morrison/) > [Television in America is so elaborate. There are so many remote cranes, and they have all the toys to play with. The directors are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franka-potente/television-in-america-is-so-elaborate-there-are-so-many-remote-cranes/) [Franka Potente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franka-potente/) > [The more opportunities people have to experience television on different platforms, the more television they consume overall. So there actually has been a benefit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/the-more-opportunities-people-have-to-experience-television-on/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [Television is a very different thing from video games. It's kind of hard for me to compare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wright/television-is-a-very-different-thing-from-video-games-it-s-kind-of/) [Will Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-wright/) > [Video games are the first new artistic medium since television, but they are more different from television than television was from cinema; they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lanchester/video-games-are-the-first-new-artistic-medium-since-television-but/) [John Lanchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lanchester/) > [Film and television are very different. On the TV show, we do seven or eight scenes a day, so time and money are of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/film-and-television-are-very-different-on-the-tv-show-we-do-seven-or/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) ## More by Jonathan Nolan > [TV is, as I'm discovering now, a marathon. You have to keep going and going and going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/tv-is-as-i-m-discovering-now-a-marathon-you-have-to-keep-going-and/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [You know, we certainly have a great budget on the show, but the expansions to world of the show really arise because, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/you-know-we-certainly-have-a-great-budget-on-the-show-but-the/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [“Time is theft, isn't that what they say? And time eventually convinces most of us that forgiveness is a virtue. Conveniently, cowardice and forgiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/time-is-theft-isn-t-that-what-they-say-and-time-eventually-convinces/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [We are the only instrument for understanding the universe. We have to ground it in human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/we-are-the-only-instrument-for-understanding-the-universe-we-have-to/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [“You will be late for your own funeral.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/you-will-be-late-for-your-own-funeral/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [“If time and fear aren’t enough to dissuade people from their revenge, then there’s always authority, softly shaking its head and saying, 'We understand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/if-time-and-fear-aren-t-enough-to-dissuade-people-from-their-revenge/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [You're different. You're more perfect. Time is three things for most people, but for you, for us, just one. A singularity. One moment. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/you-re-different-you-re-more-perfect-time-is-three-things-for-most/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [Every man is a mob, a chain gang of idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/every-man-is-a-mob-a-chain-gang-of-idiots/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [You'd have a quality insurance department, where they're making sure there aren't any glitches or weird things, and that the guests have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/you-d-have-a-quality-insurance-department-where-they-re-making-sure/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [Time is an absurdity. An abstraction. The only thing that matters is this moment. This moment a million times over. You have to trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/time-is-an-absurdity-an-abstraction-the-only-thing-that-matters-is/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [I believe we should be good custodians of the Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/i-believe-we-should-be-good-custodians-of-the-earth/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [Wormholes are a gravitational phenomena. Or imaginary gravitational phenomena, as the case may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/wormholes-are-a-gravitational-phenomena-or-imaginary-gravitational/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [ We're gonna play a little bit of a game here \[Person of Interest movie\]. Greg and I felt like we had responsibility when we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/we-re-gonna-play-a-little-bit-of-a-game-here-person-of-interest-movie/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [It can be easy for an actor to go "Well I really have to do a lot" and then just saying "I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/it-can-be-easy-for-an-actor-to-go-well-i-really-have-to-do-a-lot-and/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [None of us like violence in the real world, but we're fascinated with it onscreen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/none-of-us-like-violence-in-the-real-world-but-we-re-fascinated-with/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) [Explore all 97 Jonathan Nolan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [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/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. 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