---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only control you have over a movie is…"
description: "\"The only control you have over a movie is whether or not you decide to sell the rights.\" — Kate DiCamillo"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/kate-dicamillo-599_decide_the-only-control-you-have-over-a-movie-i_1348750.png"
---

#  The only control you have over a movie is whether or not…

![“The only control you have over a movie is whether or not you decide to sell the rights.” quote by Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/kate-dicamillo-599_decide_the-only-control-you-have-over-a-movie-i_1348750.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/kate-dicamillo-599_decide_the-only-control-you-have-over-a-movie-i_1348750.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/kate-dicamillo-599_decide_the-only-control-you-have-over-a-movie-i_1348750.png)

> “The only control you have over a movie is whether or not you decide to sell the rights.”

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Highlights that control over a film lies in the decision to sell its rights, underscoring ownership and distribution power.

**In simple terms:** Control a film by deciding to sell rights.

Key Takeaway

Consider rights as leverage in creative work.

Themes

ownership creative control business decisions

Mood

strategic pragmatic

Type

business creative

When to use this quote

- publishing
- licensing
- contract negotiation
- creative entrepreneurship

Key Concepts

intellectual property film industry

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you value ownership over profit?
- How would you protect your creative vision?

A Different Perspective

Selling rights may limit future creative freedom.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/)

## Related quotes

> [The saddest day of your life is when you decide to sell out, and nobody wants to buy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/the-saddest-day-of-your-life-is-when-you-decide-to-sell-out-and/)

[Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/)

> [In the movie, you have to decide as an actor how you are going to give a character presence. You can't really move, walk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/in-the-movie-you-have-to-decide-as-an-actor-how-you-are-going-to-give/)

[Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/)

> [As an author, you can't expect a movie to be an illustration of the book. If that's what you hope for, you shouldn't sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-schlink/as-an-author-you-can-t-expect-a-movie-to-be-an-illustration-of-the/)

[Bernhard Schlink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-schlink/)

> [Movie criticism is very subjective and everyone has the right to voice their opinion. You go to a movie and decide whether you like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/movie-criticism-is-very-subjective-and-everyone-has-the-right-to/)

[Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/)

> [From time to time, just about every 'Vanity Fair' writer has a chance to sell rights to an article or a book to Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-burrough/from-time-to-time-just-about-every-vanity-fair-writer-has-a-chance-to/)

[Bryan Burrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-burrough/)

> [“The saddest day of your life isn't when you decide to sell out. The saddest day of your life is when you decide to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-spinrad/the-saddest-day-of-your-life-isn-t-when-you-decide-to-sell-out-the/)

[Norman Spinrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-spinrad/)

> [Essentially, if you decide to sell a widget using BitPay, and you sell the widget for $100, in Bitcoin you get $100. And so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-silbert/essentially-if-you-decide-to-sell-a-widget-using-bitpay-and-you-sell/)

[Barry Silbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-silbert/)

> [ Adrienne \[ Shelly\] had 100 per cent control over this movie \[ Waitress\] as a director. She didn't just write it, direct it and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/adrienne-shelly-had-100-per-cent-control-over-this-movie-waitress-as/)

[Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/)

> [I wanted to just be a filmmaker, and I thought I wanted to do all the aspects, and it seemed like as a producer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/i-wanted-to-just-be-a-filmmaker-and-i-thought-i-wanted-to-do-all-the/)

[John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/)

> [I wanted to just be a filmmaker, and I thought I wanted to do all the aspects, and it seemed like as a producer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/i-wanted-to-just-be-a-filmmaker-and-i-thought-i-wanted-to-do-all-the-2/)

[John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/)

> [I was usually asked to do less than I was capable of by directors who had lost control of their movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-was-usually-asked-to-do-less-than-i-was-capable-of-by-directors-who/)

[Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/)

> [I think it's so funny when people think they can't control a movie star. They can. We're just women, you know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-williams/i-think-it-s-so-funny-when-people-think-they-can-t-control-a-movie/)

[Esther Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-williams/)

> [The Control movie is not about suicide, it's not about epilepsy, it's not about everything else, but it's about an individual who was thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orian-williams/the-control-movie-is-not-about-suicide-it-s-not-about-epilepsy-it-s/)

Orian Williams

> [Nothing beats novel writing because it's complete expression of you. You just control everything. Not even a movie director has that level of control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/nothing-beats-novel-writing-because-it-s-complete-expression-of-you/)

[Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/)

> [That's the only way I can control my movie. If you shoot everything, then everything is liable to end up in the movie. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-allen/that-s-the-only-way-i-can-control-my-movie-if-you-shoot-everything/)

[Debbie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-allen/)

## More by Kate DiCamillo

> [In luggage claim at the Minneapolis airport, the guy came up to me and said, "Maybe you're wrong, maybe stories do matter." I wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/in-luggage-claim-at-the-minneapolis-airport-the-guy-came-up-to-me-and/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [“If every babe who cried were still alive, well, then, the world would be a very crowded place, indeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/if-every-babe-who-cried-were-still-alive-well-then-the-world-would-be/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [My father leaving the family shaped who I was and how I looked at the world. By the same token, my father telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/my-father-leaving-the-family-shaped-who-i-was-and-how-i-looked-at-the/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [Reader, you may ask this queston. In fact, you must ask this question. Is it ridiculous for a very small, sickly, big-eared mouse to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/reader-you-may-ask-this-queston-in-fact-you-must-ask-this-question-is/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [It wasn't until my fifth or sixth book where I realized I'm trying to do the same thing in every story I tell, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/it-wasn-t-until-my-fifth-or-sixth-book-where-i-realized-i-m-trying-to/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [ \[He\] had the soul of a poet, and because of this, he liked very much to consider questions that had no answers. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/he-had-the-soul-of-a-poet-and-because-of-this-he-liked-very-much-to/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [Everything about writing is hard for me except for that - the names pop into my head. That's one of the reasons why I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/everything-about-writing-is-hard-for-me-except-for-that-the-names-pop/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [Reading a story should be a fabulous, wonderful thing. The most important thing that parents can do for kids is to read with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/reading-a-story-should-be-a-fabulous-wonderful-thing-the-most/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [You have to learn how to write each book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/you-have-to-learn-how-to-write-each-book/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [“If you have no intention of loving or being loved then the whole journey is pointless”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/if-you-have-no-intention-of-loving-or-being-loved-then-the-whole/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have found what I am supposed to do and to get to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/i-feel-like-the-luckiest-person-in-the-world-to-have-found-what-i-am/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [“Everything, as you well know (having lived in this world long enough to have figured out a thing or two for yourself), cannot always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/everything-as-you-well-know-having-lived-in-this-world-long-enough-to/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [“Dear God, thank you for warm summer nights and candlelight and good food. But thank you most of all for friends. We appreciate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/dear-god-thank-you-for-warm-summer-nights-and-candlelight-and-good/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [There ain't no point in making soup unless others eat it. Soup needs another mouth to taste it, another heart to be warmed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/there-ain-t-no-point-in-making-soup-unless-others-eat-it-soup-needs/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

> [ I remember wanting to write a book with someone, the someone being Kate \[DiCamillo\], and we decided to write about two friends. We had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/i-remember-wanting-to-write-a-book-with-someone-the-someone-being/)

[Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

[Explore all 442 Kate DiCamillo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/)

## More Decide quotes

> [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/)

[Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/)

> [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/)

[Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/)

> [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/)

[David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/)

> [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/)

[Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/)

> [LOOK before you pick,DECIDE WELL before you choose,because these two things are very important in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/look-before-you-pick-decide-well-before-you-choose-because-these-two/)

[Oluwatayo Oluwatoyosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/)

> [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/)

[Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/)

> [All the people ought to decide, but now most states are tossed on the scrap heap and ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/all-the-people-ought-to-decide-but-now-most-states-are-tossed-on-the/)

[John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/)

> [Fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/fear-is-going-to-be-a-player-in-your-life-but-you-get-to-decide-how/)

[Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/)

> [We cant choose our lives, but we can decide what to do with the joys or griefs were given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-cant-choose-our-lives-but-we-can-decide-what-to-do-with-the-joys/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [It’s as easy as we choose to make it,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. “At least, this decision is. Nothing’s truly easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-s-as-easy-as-we-choose-to-make-it-he-murmured-pressing-his/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [What you believe in, is the life you decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keshia-chante/what-you-believe-in-is-the-life-you-decide/)

[Keshia Chante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keshia-chante/)

> [Heart is decide u want in ur life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raajni/heart-is-decide-u-want-in-ur-life/)

Raajni

> [I think hopefully we've got enough brain cells left to decide if our music is really worth something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-champion/i-think-hopefully-we-ve-got-enough-brain-cells-left-to-decide-if-our/)

[Will Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-champion/)

Browse all 1,644 Decide quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The only control you have over a movie is whether or not you decide to sell the rights.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kate DiCamillo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/the-only-control-you-have-over-a-movie-is-whether-or-not-you-decide/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Decide"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/the-only-control-you-have-over-a-movie-is-whether-or-not-you-decide/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/kate-dicamillo-599_decide_the-only-control-you-have-over-a-movie-i_1348750.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/kate-dicamillo-599_decide_the-only-control-you-have-over-a-movie-i_1348750.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/kate-dicamillo-599_decide_the-only-control-you-have-over-a-movie-i_1348750.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The only control you have over a movie is whether or not you decide to sell the rights.” — Kate DiCamillo",
                "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": "Kate DiCamillo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The only control you have over...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/the-only-control-you-have-over-a-movie-is-whether-or-not-you-decide/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/the-only-control-you-have-over-a-movie-is-whether-or-not-you-decide/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
