--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Film is so much about that intensity of…" description: "\"Film is so much about that intensity of focus that there always needs to be some tension and some forward motion. The novel goes into a series of lovel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/lenny-abrahamson-74714_books_film-is-so-much-about-that-intensity-of_489632.jpg" --- # Film is so much about that intensity of focus that there… ![“Film is so much about that intensity of focus that there always needs to be some tension and some forward motion. The novel goes into a series of lovely observations about the world, but you've got to find the story.” quote by Lenny Abrahamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/lenny-abrahamson-74714_books_film-is-so-much-about-that-intensity-of_489632.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/lenny-abrahamson-74714_books_film-is-so-much-about-that-intensity-of_489632.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccb/lenny-abrahamson-74714_books_film-is-so-much-about-that-intensity-of_489632.jpg) > “Film is so much about that intensity of focus that there always needs to be some tension and some forward motion. The novel goes into a series of lovely observations about the world, but you've got to find the story.” [Lenny Abrahamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-abrahamson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective storytelling requires sustained tension and clear narrative drive, not just descriptive observations. **In simple terms:** Stories need tension and direction, not just details. Key Takeaway Focus on plot momentum and audience engagement. Themes filmmaking storytelling focus narrative craft Mood instructive analytical thoughtful Type film criticism creative writing When to use this quote - screenwriting - directing - editing - film criticism Key Concepts structure tension visual storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can tension be balanced with nuance? - What techniques maintain forward motion without sacrificing depth? A Different Perspective Emphasizing tension may overlook subtle character moments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Intensity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-intensity-4193007/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Forward motion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward-motion/) [Intensity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/) [Lovely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovely/) [Motion Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion-novel-4193008/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-tension-4193010/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Tension Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension-forward-4193009/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“That girl, dead and gone, her spirit trapped forever just inside town limits—she'd come from someplace, was going somewhere. 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It's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debby-ryan/look-at-what-you-want-to-change-gather-a-few-people-who-believe-in-it/) [Debby Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debby-ryan/) ## More by Lenny Abrahamson > [There should always be that leeway because if you think of your character as sort of absolutely fixed, then you just try and find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-abrahamson/there-should-always-be-that-leeway-because-if-you-think-of-your/) [Lenny Abrahamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-abrahamson/) > [People who don't quite fit society, they are often kind of either under an awful lot of pressure or otherwise not acceptable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-abrahamson/people-who-don-t-quite-fit-society-they-are-often-kind-of-either/) [Lenny Abrahamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-abrahamson/) [Explore all 3 Lenny Abrahamson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-abrahamson/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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