--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing a screenplay is an act of faith…" description: "\"Writing a screenplay is an act of faith. First, that it's interesting enough that anyone would want to make it. Secondly, that anybody would want to wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/leigh-whannell-4824_alone_writing-a-screenplay-is-an-act-of-faith_276867.jpg" --- # Writing a screenplay is an act of faith. First, that it's… ![“Writing a screenplay is an act of faith. First, that it's interesting enough that anyone would want to make it. Secondly, that anybody would want to watch it, let alone enjoy it.” quote by Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/leigh-whannell-4824_alone_writing-a-screenplay-is-an-act-of-faith_276867.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/leigh-whannell-4824_alone_writing-a-screenplay-is-an-act-of-faith_276867.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/leigh-whannell-4824_alone_writing-a-screenplay-is-an-act-of-faith_276867.jpg) > “Writing a screenplay is an act of faith. First, that it's interesting enough that anyone would want to make it. Secondly, that anybody would want to watch it, let alone enjoy it.” [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Screenwriting requires belief in the story’s appeal and its capacity to engage and delight viewers. **In simple terms:** Believe your script is compelling. Key Takeaway Trust in your story’s power. Themes writing faith audience Mood optimistic reflective Type advice creative process When to use this quote - pitch meetings - script revisions - production planning Key Concepts storytelling confidence entertainment Questions to Reflect On - What makes a script compelling? - How do you test audience interest? A Different Perspective Audience tastes can be unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Screenplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplay/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Writing a screenplay is like climbing a mountain. When you’re climbing, all you can see is the rock in front of you and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/writing-a-screenplay-is-like-climbing-a-mountain-when-you-re-climbing/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [“I do not recommend writing a screenplay in two weeks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-hall/i-do-not-recommend-writing-a-screenplay-in-two-weeks/) [Christy Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-hall/) > [I've been a professional athlete, I've directed films, I've run a company with 150 employees, and nothing compares to writing a screenplay. Just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-peralta/i-ve-been-a-professional-athlete-i-ve-directed-films-i-ve-run-a/) [Stacy Peralta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-peralta/) > [If you're writing a screenplay, you need to be prepared to let go: there's a good chance the words you write aren't going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/if-you-re-writing-a-screenplay-you-need-to-be-prepared-to-let-go/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [I don't think I write differently when I'm writing a screenplay, as opposed to a stage play or a teleplay. Maybe if I were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/i-don-t-think-i-write-differently-when-i-m-writing-a-screenplay-as/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [If I'm feeling something, I have a lot of different ways to express it, you know? I can write an article about it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/if-i-m-feeling-something-i-have-a-lot-of-different-ways-to-express-it/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [In 2007, I probably wrote four screenplays in the entire year. Every three months I was writing a screenplay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikramaditya-motwane/in-2007-i-probably-wrote-four-screenplays-in-the-entire-year-every/) [Vikramaditya Motwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikramaditya-motwane/) > [When I write a screenplay - and I think this is true for a lot of people - you direct the movie. Thats what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/when-i-write-a-screenplay-and-i-think-this-is-true-for-a-lot-of/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I found the structure of writing a screenplay harder than the structure of writing an essay. But it was definitely challenging to force myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/i-found-the-structure-of-writing-a-screenplay-harder-than-the/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) > [When you're writing a screenplay, it's like you're dreaming the film for yourself again and again and again until it becomes almost like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/when-you-re-writing-a-screenplay-it-s-like-you-re-dreaming-the-film/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [“What will you do?" "Oh, hell, I'll write a novel about writing the screenplay and making the movie." "What are you going to call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/what-will-you-do-oh-hell-i-ll-write-a-novel-about-writing-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [If I know what my finale is when I'm writing a screenplay, then I don't always have to chart out every scene before that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-twohy/if-i-know-what-my-finale-is-when-i-m-writing-a-screenplay-then-i-don/) [David Twohy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-twohy/) > [If you're writing a screenplay from scratch, it involves a lot of creation. In this play, I had a strong main character and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-falardeau/if-you-re-writing-a-screenplay-from-scratch-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [Philippe Falardeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-falardeau/) > [It's much like writing a screenplay with someone else and that's how we view it, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-darden/it-s-much-like-writing-a-screenplay-with-someone-else-and-that-s-how/) [Christopher Darden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-darden/) > [On the one occasion where I did try writing a screenplay, I found the rewriting just unendurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/on-the-one-occasion-where-i-did-try-writing-a-screenplay-i-found-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) ## More by Leigh Whannell > [I will say that when it comes to the horror genre, for me, the scariest thing is when something is actually in the frame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-will-say-that-when-it-comes-to-the-horror-genre-for-me-the-scariest/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I do try and keep my scripts quite economical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-do-try-and-keep-my-scripts-quite-economical/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I couldn't believe that people went to see 'Saw,' that people actually lined up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-couldn-t-believe-that-people-went-to-see-saw-that-people-actually/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [After 'Saw,' we got offered every horror remake under the sun, and I was just always thinking, 'I don't see how this could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/after-saw-we-got-offered-every-horror-remake-under-the-sun-and-i-was/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I loved 'The Conjuring' so much. It's really scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-loved-the-conjuring-so-much-it-s-really-scary/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [If you chose to be an actor, if you take that baton and say 'OK, this is what I want to do with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/if-you-chose-to-be-an-actor-if-you-take-that-baton-and-say-ok-this-is/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [When I directed the third 'Insidious' film I loved it so much that I decided this is what I want to do from now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/when-i-directed-the-third-insidious-film-i-loved-it-so-much-that-i/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I'm not actually terrified of technology. Though I'm certainly not an early adopter, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-m-not-actually-terrified-of-technology-though-i-m-certainly-not-an/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I found myself in this conundrum of loving acting, but not liking the path that you have to take to do it. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-found-myself-in-this-conundrum-of-loving-acting-but-not-liking-the/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [Saw' definitely had an edge to it that wasn't American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/saw-definitely-had-an-edge-to-it-that-wasn-t-american/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [If you look back at a film like 'Dawn of the Dead' - You can either watch it as a straight-up genre film and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/if-you-look-back-at-a-film-like-dawn-of-the-dead-you-can-either-watch/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [You might not have the biggest budget or resources or cast, but if you have a great story, people will latch onto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/you-might-not-have-the-biggest-budget-or-resources-or-cast-but-if-you/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [The movies sort of tell you what they want to be as you're writing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/the-movies-sort-of-tell-you-what-they-want-to-be-as-you-re-writing/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [When 'Psycho' came out back in 1960, it was seen as an abomination and as this really gory thing. We all watch 'Psycho' today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/when-psycho-came-out-back-in-1960-it-was-seen-as-an-abomination-and/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [You know you've have a good idea when you're lying awake at night going 'someone else is going to take it, I just know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/you-know-you-ve-have-a-good-idea-when-you-re-lying-awake-at-night/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) [Explore all 106 Leigh Whannell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) ## More Alone quotes > [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) > [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [I am not alone in that I've had times of unemployment - unemployment is huge amongst disabled people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-jones/i-am-not-alone-in-that-i-ve-had-times-of-unemployment-unemployment-is/) [Rosie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-jones/) > [I never knew a heart could feel so cold so empty so broken until now , I don't know what to say I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-knew-a-heart-could-feel-so-cold-so-empty-so-broken-until-now/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Real love is a permanently self-enlarging experience…A Journey With My Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luckybannu/real-love-is-a-permanently-self-enlarging-experience-a-journey-with/) Luckybannu > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [I'm used to being alone in a quiet, isolated environment - I'm kind of a low-energy, low-vibration, low-stamina person to begin with - so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-m-used-to-being-alone-in-a-quiet-isolated-environment-i-m-kind-of-a/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [“When I look back at myself at age twenty, what I remember most is being alone and lonely. I had no girlfriend to warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-i-look-back-at-myself-at-age-twenty-what-i-remember-most-is/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I have developed a nasty habit of losing to the guy who wins the tournament, and that alone makes you think what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-robertson/i-have-developed-a-nasty-habit-of-losing-to-the-guy-who-wins-the/) [Neil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-robertson/) > [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [How one hates to think of oneself as alone. How one avoids it. It seems to imply rejection or unpopularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/how-one-hates-to-think-of-oneself-as-alone-how-one-avoids-it-it-seems/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) [Browse all 3,082 Alone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing a screenplay is an act of faith. First, that it's interesting enough that anyone would want to make it. 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