--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like, action to me is no fun if it's not…" description: "\"Like, action to me is no fun if it's not built around character.\" — Justin Lin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/justin-lin-4717_action_like-action-to-me-is-no-fun-if-it-s-not_1628218.jpg" --- # Like, action to me is no fun if it's not built around… ![“Like, action to me is no fun if it's not built around character.” quote by Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/justin-lin-4717_action_like-action-to-me-is-no-fun-if-it-s-not_1628218.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/justin-lin-4717_action_like-action-to-me-is-no-fun-if-it-s-not_1628218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/justin-lin-4717_action_like-action-to-me-is-no-fun-if-it-s-not_1628218.jpg) > “Like, action to me is no fun if it's not built around character.” [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Action scenes lose enjoyment unless they are driven by character development and emotional stakes. **In simple terms:** Action needs character depth. Key Takeaway Prioritize character in action. Themes filmmaking storytelling character action Mood motivational reflective Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - scriptwriting - directing - production meetings - editing Key Concepts Narrative theory character arcs Questions to Reflect On - How can you embed character growth in action? - What balance works best for your genre? A Different Perspective Action without character can feel hollow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) ## Related quotes > [I really want to do something where I can show my physicality - something with a lot of action. Action would be fun. 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It really built my character and who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/a-lot-of-creativity-coming-from-the-east-side-of-harlem-it-really/) [Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/) > [Hong Cha-young is the type who doesn't back down but breaks through fear and moves forward without hesitation. Her head-on,' break-through' attitude in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeon-yeo-been/hong-cha-young-is-the-type-who-doesn-t-back-down-but-breaks-through/) [Jeon Yeo-been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeon-yeo-been/) > [I played a lot of ball and got hurt, stitches and this and that. That, sometimes they said, built character. I don't think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-marshall/i-played-a-lot-of-ball-and-got-hurt-stitches-and-this-and-that-that/) [Garry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-marshall/) > [Every time I've built character, I've regretted it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/every-time-i-ve-built-character-i-ve-regretted-it/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [I really like sometimes to do action pictures; I get a really big kick out of doing those.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/i-really-like-sometimes-to-do-action-pictures-i-get-a-really-big-kick/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) > [I always watch superhero movies, and I like the action and the fighting and all the different kinds of powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-goyo/i-always-watch-superhero-movies-and-i-like-the-action-and-the/) [Dakota Goyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-goyo/) > [I'd like to do an action film, a full-on comedy film, family dramas and a soulful romantic film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaani-kapoor/i-d-like-to-do-an-action-film-a-full-on-comedy-film-family-dramas-and/) [Vaani Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaani-kapoor/) > [When I set out to make 'Bourne Identity,' my main goal for the franchise was to create something where it feels like you're in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/when-i-set-out-to-make-bourne-identity-my-main-goal-for-the-franchise/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Acting is fun. I especially like the action sequences. That's what I do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/acting-is-fun-i-especially-like-the-action-sequences-that-s-what-i-do/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [I'd love to play in, like, a 'Lord of the Rings,' or something like that, or a James Bond or, you know, just something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-benward/i-d-love-to-play-in-like-a-lord-of-the-rings-or-something-like-that/) [Luke Benward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-benward/) > [Telling the story with only a few shots, I love that style. It makes you feel like you're part of the action, part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/telling-the-story-with-only-a-few-shots-i-love-that-style-it-makes/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) ## More by Justin Lin > [You can't cheat comedy. You know, it either is going to be there on the day you capture or it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/you-can-t-cheat-comedy-you-know-it-either-is-going-to-be-there-on-the/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but feel incredibly lucky to be in the position I am now and to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/i-made-a-lot-of-mistakes-along-the-way-but-feel-incredibly-lucky-to/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [My brothers and I would try to talk our dad into letting us stay up and watch 'Star Trek.' I remember watching it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/my-brothers-and-i-would-try-to-talk-our-dad-into-letting-us-stay-up/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [Fast and the Furious' is really a postmodern Western.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/fast-and-the-furious-is-really-a-postmodern-western/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [I wanted to have fun after 'Annapolis,' and make a Western.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/i-wanted-to-have-fun-after-annapolis-and-make-a-western/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [When I go on set, it's very important, the lenses I choose, what I choose to frame or not frame and that's how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/when-i-go-on-set-it-s-very-important-the-lenses-i-choose-what-i/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [My Taiwanese parents came to America with no money and supported my brothers and me as small business owners in Orange County, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/my-taiwanese-parents-came-to-america-with-no-money-and-supported-my/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [There's no guidebook on how to be a filmmaker. I just try to do my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/there-s-no-guidebook-on-how-to-be-a-filmmaker-i-just-try-to-do-my-best/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [Hollywood should be global.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/hollywood-should-be-global/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [People I work with are part of my family now: I feel like that's the new sense of family around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/people-i-work-with-are-part-of-my-family-now-i-feel-like-that-s-the/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [I remember when I was a kid, I'd watch 'Kung Fu Theater' on TV, and all the movies would star guys named things like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/i-remember-when-i-was-a-kid-i-d-watch-kung-fu-theater-on-tv-and-all/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [If you put forth a really diverse cast and you fight for it and it doesn't do well - and it may fail for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/if-you-put-forth-a-really-diverse-cast-and-you-fight-for-it-and-it/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [I love Kubrick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/i-love-kubrick/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [All of my definitions of family were heavily influenced by my 'Star Trek' experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/all-of-my-definitions-of-family-were-heavily-influenced-by-my-star/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [That's in the mission statement when you're part of 'Trek.' It's our job to try to be bold and push forward. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/that-s-in-the-mission-statement-when-you-re-part-of-trek-it-s-our-job/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) [Explore all 107 Justin Lin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like, action to me is no fun if it's not built around character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Justin Lin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/like-action-to-me-is-no-fun-if-it-s-not-built-around-character/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/like-action-to-me-is-no-fun-if-it-s-not-built-around-character/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/justin-lin-4717_action_like-action-to-me-is-no-fun-if-it-s-not_1628218.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/justin-lin-4717_action_like-action-to-me-is-no-fun-if-it-s-not_1628218.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/justin-lin-4717_action_like-action-to-me-is-no-fun-if-it-s-not_1628218.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Like, action to me is no fun if it's not built around character.” — Justin Lin", "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": "Justin Lin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Like, action to me is no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/like-action-to-me-is-no-fun-if-it-s-not-built-around-character/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/like-action-to-me-is-no-fun-if-it-s-not-built-around-character/#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 } } ] } ```