--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even though I studied in New York and I…" description: "\"Even though I studied in New York and I know the American system, I come from France where I learned that with movies in France where the director is k..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/louis-leterrier-16703_american_even-though-i-studied-in-new-york-and-i_162512.jpg" --- # Even though I studied in New York and I know the American… ![“Even though I studied in New York and I know the American system, I come from France where I learned that with movies in France where the director is king. There's no such thing as a studio edit. It's the director's cut, period.” quote by Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/louis-leterrier-16703_american_even-though-i-studied-in-new-york-and-i_162512.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/louis-leterrier-16703_american_even-though-i-studied-in-new-york-and-i_162512.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/louis-leterrier-16703_american_even-though-i-studied-in-new-york-and-i_162512.jpg) > “Even though I studied in New York and I know the American system, I come from France where I learned that with movies in France where the director is king. There's no such thing as a studio edit. It's the director's cut, period.” [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He contrasts French and American film cultures, emphasizing the director’s ultimate authority in France versus studio influence in the US. **In simple terms:** French directors control films; US studios intervene. Key Takeaway Recognize cultural production differences. Themes film culture authority production Mood analytical thoughtful Type industry comparative When to use this quote - filmmaking - editing - collaboration - distribution - policy Key Concepts directorial control studio system national cinema Questions to Reflect On - How do these systems impact creativity? - Which model suits your project? A Different Perspective Studio constraints can limit artistic vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/france/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) ## Related quotes > [Not many French producers work the American way. In France, the director decides everything, he has final cut. I'm trying to do things differently,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-langmann/not-many-french-producers-work-the-american-way-in-france-the/) [Thomas Langmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-langmann/) > [A disk unbeknownst to the director can go to the producer in another city or in another office and that producer can edit behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frankenheimer/a-disk-unbeknownst-to-the-director-can-go-to-the-producer-in-another/) [John Frankenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frankenheimer/) > [I don't really care where I work, actually, because you know making a movie is like living in movie world. There's such a secluded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franka-potente/i-don-t-really-care-where-i-work-actually-because-you-know-making-a/) [Franka Potente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franka-potente/) > [In Europe, the director is the king: it's his vision. It's an auteur tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/in-europe-the-director-is-the-king-it-s-his-vision-it-s-an-auteur/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [I'm an unusual director in that my cut is usually shorter then the final released film. I like short films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-sonnenfeld/i-m-an-unusual-director-in-that-my-cut-is-usually-shorter-then-the/) [Barry Sonnenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-sonnenfeld/) > [You will never see'Altman's Great Film of the Seventies: The Director's Cut' because you have never seen a film of mine that wasn't the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/you-will-never-see-altman-s-great-film-of-the-seventies-the-director/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [I'm a huge fan of director's cuts or reassemblies if they're good, but I remember being really excited about the restored version of Apocalypse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-director-s-cuts-or-reassemblies-if-they-re-good-but/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [I'll never be a music director... I'm not cut out for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kk/i-ll-never-be-a-music-director-i-m-not-cut-out-for-that/) KK > [Fundamentally, I always find that most of the films that I've put out are essentially the director's cut. Part of the process with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/fundamentally-i-always-find-that-most-of-the-films-that-i-ve-put-out/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [Interestingly, my first director's cut was an hour and forty-one minutes. Then, the studio actually wanted to add more to the story, so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-jee-woon/interestingly-my-first-director-s-cut-was-an-hour-and-forty-one/) [Kim Jee-woon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-jee-woon/) > [As a director, when you cut scenes from a movie, you do it with the idea that it is making the story move forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hardwicke/as-a-director-when-you-cut-scenes-from-a-movie-you-do-it-with-the/) [Catherine Hardwicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hardwicke/) > [You don't have your film finished when you have your director's cut finished. It's just a bunch of green screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/you-don-t-have-your-film-finished-when-you-have-your-director-s-cut/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [The first cut I do is usually between five and 10 minutes shorter then the cut that we release. Anything I think isn't working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-sonnenfeld/the-first-cut-i-do-is-usually-between-five-and-10-minutes-shorter/) [Barry Sonnenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-sonnenfeld/) > [“Enough of this. Does every conversation with you have to be the director's cut? Get out of the car.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/enough-of-this-does-every-conversation-with-you-have-to-be-the/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [I had never done a Director's Cut narration on Beaches so I did in time for the release of the DVD. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-marshall/i-had-never-done-a-director-s-cut-narration-on-beaches-so-i-did-in/) [Garry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-marshall/) ## More by Louis Leterrier > [It's true, I'm the youngest, highest-grossing French director. I have a few records, but no one knows or simply doesn't care. That's good, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/it-s-true-i-m-the-youngest-highest-grossing-french-director-i-have-a/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [The new 'Avatar' BluRay is a lesson in filmmaking. It really is inspiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/the-new-avatar-bluray-is-a-lesson-in-filmmaking-it-really-is-inspiring/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [Whats great about The Avengers is that its the next step. Its not just superhero fights super-villain and superhero wins. Its about superheroes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/whats-great-about-the-avengers-is-that-its-the-next-step-its-not-just/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [Movies are not finished. They are abandoned. A movie is never finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/movies-are-not-finished-they-are-abandoned-a-movie-is-never-finished/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [I think our movie, 'Now You See Me,' is an emotional movie rooted in smart and wits and fully amazing actors working perfectly together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/i-think-our-movie-now-you-see-me-is-an-emotional-movie-rooted-in/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > ['Iron Man' was this fun, poppy thing bound to make a zillion dollars. And we were the other side of a superhero movie. More…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/iron-man-was-this-fun-poppy-thing-bound-to-make-a-zillion-dollars-and/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [My favorite moment is when someone says, 'I like 'Unleashed.' 'Now You See Me' is so much fun.' That's what I want to do:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/my-favorite-moment-is-when-someone-says-i-like-unleashed-now-you-see/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [I'm one of the lucky directors that pretty much every movie I've done has started a franchise. But I never think this way. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/i-m-one-of-the-lucky-directors-that-pretty-much-every-movie-i-ve-done/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [Great actors are so easy to direct. It's like they're big 747s that you just have to move left and right, and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/great-actors-are-so-easy-to-direct-it-s-like-they-re-big-747s-that/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [If I was to direct a movie about a super-confident guy, first of all I would hate that character. I can do a super-confident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/if-i-was-to-direct-a-movie-about-a-super-confident-guy-first-of-all-i/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [I talked to Marvel about 'Thor' at one point, but I didn't want to do Thor. It wasn't something I read growing up, really;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/i-talked-to-marvel-about-thor-at-one-point-but-i-didn-t-want-to-do/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [Great actors are so easy to direct. It's like they're big 747s that you just have to move left and right, and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/great-actors-are-so-easy-to-direct-it-s-like-they-re-big-747s-that-2/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [I like the idea of a TV show. You take time to get to know your characters. You can introduce a lot of characters.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/i-like-the-idea-of-a-tv-show-you-take-time-to-get-to-know-your/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [French cinema has always been very interesting, and it's still very powerful. I think it goes to show that it's great to still have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/french-cinema-has-always-been-very-interesting-and-it-s-still-very/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [What's great about 'The Avengers' is that it's the next step. It's not just superhero fights super-villain and superhero wins. It's about superheroes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/what-s-great-about-the-avengers-is-that-it-s-the-next-step-it-s-not/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) [Explore all 39 Louis Leterrier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) Browse all 7,717 American quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even though I studied in New York and I know the American system, I come from France where I learned that with movies in France where the director is king. There's no such thing as a studio edit. 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