--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was at film school when I made 'Small…" description: "\"I was at film school when I made 'Small Debts' and I was a cinematographer, so I didn't actually study to be a director.\" — Lynne Ramsay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/lynne-ramsay-5168_cinema_i-was-at-film-school-when-i-made-small-d_554791.jpg" --- # I was at film school when I made 'Small Debts' and I was a… ![“I was at film school when I made 'Small Debts' and I was a cinematographer, so I didn't actually study to be a director.” quote by Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/lynne-ramsay-5168_cinema_i-was-at-film-school-when-i-made-small-d_554791.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/lynne-ramsay-5168_cinema_i-was-at-film-school-when-i-made-small-d_554791.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/lynne-ramsay-5168_cinema_i-was-at-film-school-when-i-made-small-d_554791.jpg) > “I was at film school when I made 'Small Debts' and I was a cinematographer, so I didn't actually study to be a director.” [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She entered filmmaking via cinematography, not formal directing training, highlighting practical experience over formal study. **In simple terms:** Learned directing on the job as a cinematographer. Key Takeaway Leverage existing skills to transition roles. Themes career development film industry skill transfer Mood reflective inspirational Type career growth practical When to use this quote - independent film production - career pivot - on‑set learning - networking Key Concepts practical learning visual storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can hands‑on experience compensate for formal training? - What gaps remain without a directing program? A Different Perspective Lack of formal education may limit theoretical knowledge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Cinematographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinematographer/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I was at the National Film School and was a cinematographer there. I got quite a lot of experience on documentary film-making and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-was-at-the-national-film-school-and-was-a-cinematographer-there-i/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [All the actor does is, he tries to get as many takes as he can out of the director that day. So he can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/all-the-actor-does-is-he-tries-to-get-as-many-takes-as-he-can-out-of/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [Small miseries, like small debts, hit us in so many places, and meet us at so many turns and corners, that what they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/small-miseries-like-small-debts-hit-us-in-so-many-places-and-meet-us/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Small debts are like small shot; they are rattling on every side, and can scarcely be escaped without a wound: great debts are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/small-debts-are-like-small-shot-they-are-rattling-on-every-side-and/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [As a cinematographer or director, I'm always looking for projects that are able to say a lot with the actor's expressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/as-a-cinematographer-or-director-i-m-always-looking-for-projects-that/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [At the time I left film school there wasn't a lot of hope for young film-makers. It was a calling card of film school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/at-the-time-i-left-film-school-there-wasn-t-a-lot-of-hope-for-young/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [Film school was frustrating for me at first but I met some cool people like Lucia Zucchetti - she was amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/film-school-was-frustrating-for-me-at-first-but-i-met-some-cool/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [In comics, the writer is also the director in a certain way. So if this were a film, you wouldn't tell the cinematographer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/in-comics-the-writer-is-also-the-director-in-a-certain-way-so-if-this/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [I was interested in photography from my college days and wanted to become a cinematographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rao-ramesh/i-was-interested-in-photography-from-my-college-days-and-wanted-to/) [Rao Ramesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rao-ramesh/) > [For many years I thought, "Well, I need to know a lot more to direct." But I looked around and watched all the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-foner-gyllenhaal/for-many-years-i-thought-well-i-need-to-know-a-lot-more-to-direct-but/) [Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-foner-gyllenhaal/) > [I don't know one lens from another. That's not my job. It's the cinematographer's job. But I can talk to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/i-don-t-know-one-lens-from-another-that-s-not-my-job-it-s-the/) [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) > [Being a cinematographer taught me a lot. I got to expedite the visions of many directors and learned how to navigate many styles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/being-a-cinematographer-taught-me-a-lot-i-got-to-expedite-the-visions/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [I have developed my eye as a cinematographer through the craft of operating. When I am not operating, I am often anxious, uncertain, restless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-richardson/i-have-developed-my-eye-as-a-cinematographer-through-the-craft-of/) [Robert Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-richardson/) > [ I've kept the people who've been in my career who I feel are my family. Kathy \[Kennedy\] had been with me since 1978. Janusz… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-ve-kept-the-people-who-ve-been-in-my-career-who-i-feel-are-my/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Really, anyone in the business who transitions into directing as a writer or editor or an actor or a cinematographer, at some point you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-savage/really-anyone-in-the-business-who-transitions-into-directing-as-a/) [Fred Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-savage/) ## More by Lynne Ramsay > [I want an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-want-an-audience/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [I think audiences are quite sophisticated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-think-audiences-are-quite-sophisticated/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [You can always tell a great photographer because they make you feel super-relaxed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/you-can-always-tell-a-great-photographer-because-they-make-you-feel/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [I hate being safe. There's a lot of easy rides and boring films out there, but I've stuck to my guns. It's not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-hate-being-safe-there-s-a-lot-of-easy-rides-and-boring-films-out/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [I came from a background of photography so I look at details and visuals, and I see things in pictures or signs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-came-from-a-background-of-photography-so-i-look-at-details-and/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [I grew up on film noir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-grew-up-on-film-noir/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [It was quite a macho world I grew up in, but it was always cheeky and funny, and the women were the ones in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/it-was-quite-a-macho-world-i-grew-up-in-but-it-was-always-cheeky-and/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [Don't try and change things for other people. Don't try and be persuaded by producers and people to change your vision. If you stick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/don-t-try-and-change-things-for-other-people-don-t-try-and-be/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [Sometimes what you don't show creates more of a mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/sometimes-what-you-don-t-show-creates-more-of-a-mystery/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [You know, I grew up in a place where people appreciate it when you're very direct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/you-know-i-grew-up-in-a-place-where-people-appreciate-it-when-you-re/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [I try to keep very simple ideas and keep them as emotionally powerful as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-try-to-keep-very-simple-ideas-and-keep-them-as-emotionally-powerful/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [When I go to the cinema, I want to have a cinematic experience. Some people ignore the sound and you end up seeing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/when-i-go-to-the-cinema-i-want-to-have-a-cinematic-experience-some/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [I don't really watch TV; YouTube is far more entertaining. But I have tuned in to 'X Factor' - I like trash and nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-don-t-really-watch-tv-youtube-is-far-more-entertaining-but-i-have/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [I think 'Ratcatcher' broke even as a film, but it got a good critical response. I think that people knew that it wasn't going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-think-ratcatcher-broke-even-as-a-film-but-it-got-a-good-critical/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [I just like working with good actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-just-like-working-with-good-actors/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) [Explore all 103 Lynne Ramsay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. 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I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [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/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was at film school when I made 'Small Debts' and I was a cinematographer, so I didn't actually study to be a director.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lynne Ramsay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-was-at-film-school-when-i-made-small-debts-and-i-was-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-was-at-film-school-when-i-made-small-debts-and-i-was-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/lynne-ramsay-5168_cinema_i-was-at-film-school-when-i-made-small-d_554791.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/lynne-ramsay-5168_cinema_i-was-at-film-school-when-i-made-small-d_554791.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/lynne-ramsay-5168_cinema_i-was-at-film-school-when-i-made-small-d_554791.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was at film school when I made 'Small Debts' and I was a cinematographer, so I didn't actually study to be…” — Lynne Ramsay", "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": "Lynne Ramsay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was at film school when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-was-at-film-school-when-i-made-small-debts-and-i-was-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-was-at-film-school-when-i-made-small-debts-and-i-was-a/#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 } } ] } ```