---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Independent film making is very…"
description: "\"Independent film making is very collaborative. You feel like it's you, the director and other actors and you really feel like you have the final say. W..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/michael-b-jordan-3540_actors_independent-film-making-is-very-collabor_396046.jpg"
---

#  Independent film making is very collaborative. You feel…

![“Independent film making is very collaborative. You feel like it's you, the director and other actors and you really feel like you have the final say. When you do the bigger films, the studio has to give the final thumbs up and they're usually not big on risk taking because they're trying to make…” quote by Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/michael-b-jordan-3540_actors_independent-film-making-is-very-collabor_396046.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/michael-b-jordan-3540_actors_independent-film-making-is-very-collabor_396046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/michael-b-jordan-3540_actors_independent-film-making-is-very-collabor_396046.jpg)

> “Independent film making is very collaborative. You feel like it's you, the director and other actors and you really feel like you have the final say. When you do the bigger films, the studio has to give the final thumbs up and they're usually not big on risk taking because they're trying to make money.”

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

## About This Quote

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

Independent projects rely on shared creative input, while big studio productions prioritize financial safety and hierarchical decisions.

**In simple terms:** Indie films are collaborative; studio films are risk‑averse.

Key Takeaway

Embrace collaboration early, expect constraints later.

Themes

collaboration creativity risk authority industry

Mood

reflective pragmatic

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

- indie film set
- studio green‑light meeting
- budget negotiation
- creative brainstorming

Key Concepts

film production decision making budget constraints

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance artistic vision with commercial demands?
- When is it worth compromising creativity for profit?

A Different Perspective

Studio control can stifle innovative ideas.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-making/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Independent film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-film/) [Making money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-money/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-taking/) [Thumbs up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thumbs-up/)

## Related quotes

> [In a perfect world, I could be doing some bigger films and balance that with some independent films because they seem to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/in-a-perfect-world-i-could-be-doing-some-bigger-films-and-balance/)

[Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/)

> [There is a sort of creative purity in an independent film, in the passion of the director, the passion of the crew. They're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-irving/there-is-a-sort-of-creative-purity-in-an-independent-film-in-the/)

[Amy Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-irving/)

> [You need to begin where people are. You can't punt ideas or innovations in from the 40 yard line. And yes, the work should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-david-mccracken/you-need-to-begin-where-people-are-you-can-t-punt-ideas-or/)

[Grant David McCracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-david-mccracken/)

> [I want to have the illegitimate child of independent film making and the budget to make it. That's my aspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-jones/i-want-to-have-the-illegitimate-child-of-independent-film-making-and/)

[Duncan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-jones/)

> [My heart is in independent film-making. For me, it's where the fun, gritty storytelling is being told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-paul/my-heart-is-in-independent-film-making-for-me-it-s-where-the-fun/)

[Aaron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-paul/)

> [I love independent film making. So much real love and passion go into them and you can feel it while you watch. As for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-sixtos/i-love-independent-film-making-so-much-real-love-and-passion-go-into/)

[Alicia Sixtos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-sixtos/)

> [Many of us had this idea of doing independent film, of making personal, relevant films, as opposed to Hollywood fluff. I directed a few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kane-pappas/many-of-us-had-this-idea-of-doing-independent-film-of-making-personal/)

[Robert Kane Pappas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kane-pappas/)

> [I believe that independent film making is the last frontier of creative expression available. So I'm always willing to lend a helping hand to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-kaufman/i-believe-that-independent-film-making-is-the-last-frontier-of/)

[Lloyd Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-kaufman/)

> [I never saw 'Titanic' as a springboard for bigger films or bigger pay cheques. I knew it could have been that, but I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-never-saw-titanic-as-a-springboard-for-bigger-films-or-bigger-pay/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [I love doing short films because they're much more intimate and there's far less waiting around than on the bigger films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-tena/i-love-doing-short-films-because-they-re-much-more-intimate-and-there/)

[Natalia Tena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-tena/)

> [Bigger films are more difficult because the number of people is so huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/bigger-films-are-more-difficult-because-the-number-of-people-is-so/)

[Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/)

> [The older I get, the more I'm drawn to the smaller films, but I still hope to keep bigger films in my repertoire. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-m-drawn-to-the-smaller-films-but-i-still/)

[Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/)

> [So it's kind of nervous to be in this situation, but at the same time you look at all those actors and the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/so-it-s-kind-of-nervous-to-be-in-this-situation-but-at-the-same-time/)

[Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/)

> [I want to do some bigger films, so long as there's some sort of exciting creative element or a good filmmaker behind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-want-to-do-some-bigger-films-so-long-as-there-s-some-sort-of/)

[Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/)

> [In 'Haraamkhor,' I have explored a few things which I wouldn't have been able to do in bigger films. The process of shooting this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawazuddin-siddiqui/in-haraamkhor-i-have-explored-a-few-things-which-i-wouldn-t-have-been/)

[Nawazuddin Siddiqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawazuddin-siddiqui/)

## More by Michael B. Jordan

> [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [In terms of experience with the police, everybody got those. It's such a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/in-terms-of-experience-with-the-police-everybody-got-those-it-s-such/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [The world is a little more diverse in 2015 than when the Fantastic Four comic first came out in 1961.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/the-world-is-a-little-more-diverse-in-2015-than-when-the-fantastic/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [I wanted to start creating opportunities for actors out there that weren't so cut-and-dried... My ultimate goal with Outlier is to give these young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-wanted-to-start-creating-opportunities-for-actors-out-there-that/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [ \[Chris Evans\] is doing an amazing job with "Captain America." I really enjoy those films as well so that's kind of pretty much where… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/chris-evans-is-doing-an-amazing-job-with-captain-america-i-really/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [As an actor, you never want to feel like a tool. You never want to feel like, "Hey, just come here, say this, stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/as-an-actor-you-never-want-to-feel-like-a-tool-you-never-want-to-feel/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [We were shooting this movie called "Hardball," with Keanu Reeves. We shot in the city, and I just remember I couldn't really do too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/we-were-shooting-this-movie-called-hardball-with-keanu-reeves-we-shot/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [ Working with \[Kyle Chandler\] in the scene was like playing tennis. You work with really talented actors, I think they make other actors look… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/working-with-kyle-chandler-in-the-scene-was-like-playing-tennis-you/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [Watching a really good movie excites me, because it makes we want to get up off the couch and go shoot something and act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/watching-a-really-good-movie-excites-me-because-it-makes-we-want-to/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [Sometimes when you grieve, you grieve at a time where you don't really expect it. You might hear a song or you might smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/sometimes-when-you-grieve-you-grieve-at-a-time-where-you-don-t-really/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [I don't like speaking on things that I don't care about and that I'm not personally invested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-don-t-like-speaking-on-things-that-i-don-t-care-about-and-that-i-m/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [I'm a tropical weather cruiser. I like surfing, you know. I like being on the beach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-m-a-tropical-weather-cruiser-i-like-surfing-you-know-i-like-being/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [Definitely, as I get older and my taste buds change, I want to do different things. I'm not ready for directing yet, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/definitely-as-i-get-older-and-my-taste-buds-change-i-want-to-do/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [ How are people who are young and look like Oscar \[Grant\] portrayed in the media? You gotta think about that. And somebody given a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/how-are-people-who-are-young-and-look-like-oscar-grant-portrayed-in/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [Creating the opportunities for other people and solid projects, things that I like, for sure, definitely. Acting I'll do forever, but I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/creating-the-opportunities-for-other-people-and-solid-projects-things/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

[Explore all 128 Michael B. Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

## More Actors quotes

> [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/)

[Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/)

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. 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/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/)

[Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/)

> [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/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/)

[Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/)

> [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

> [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/)

[Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/)

> [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

> [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/)

[Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/)

> [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/)

[Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/)

[Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Independent film making is very collaborative. You feel like it's you, the director and other actors and you really feel like you have the final say. When you do the bigger films, the studio has to give the final thumbs up and they're usually not big on risk taking because they're trying to make money.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael B. Jordan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/independent-film-making-is-very-collaborative-you-feel-like-it-s-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actors"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/independent-film-making-is-very-collaborative-you-feel-like-it-s-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/michael-b-jordan-3540_actors_independent-film-making-is-very-collabor_396046.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/michael-b-jordan-3540_actors_independent-film-making-is-very-collabor_396046.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/michael-b-jordan-3540_actors_independent-film-making-is-very-collabor_396046.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Independent film making is very collaborative. You feel like it's you, the director and other actors and you…” — Michael B. Jordan",
                "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": "Michael B. Jordan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Independent film making is very collaborative....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/independent-film-making-is-very-collaborative-you-feel-like-it-s-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/independent-film-making-is-very-collaborative-you-feel-like-it-s-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
