--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I felt, if I'm going to take on some of…" description: "\"I felt, if I'm going to take on some of the most overdone material, which is men and women and affairs and betrayal of friends, I had better have a new..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/neil-labute-12335_affair_i-felt-if-i-m-going-to-take-on-some-of-t_573523.jpg" --- # I felt, if I'm going to take on some of the most overdone… ![“I felt, if I'm going to take on some of the most overdone material, which is men and women and affairs and betrayal of friends, I had better have a new take on it. I think my films come from a desperation not to be boring.” quote by Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/neil-labute-12335_affair_i-felt-if-i-m-going-to-take-on-some-of-t_573523.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/neil-labute-12335_affair_i-felt-if-i-m-going-to-take-on-some-of-t_573523.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/neil-labute-12335_affair_i-felt-if-i-m-going-to-take-on-some-of-t_573523.jpg) > “I felt, if I'm going to take on some of the most overdone material, which is men and women and affairs and betrayal of friends, I had better have a new take on it. I think my films come from a desperation not to be boring.” [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When tackling familiar themes, a fresh perspective is essential; the filmmaker seeks to avoid boredom by exploring new angles on classic subjects. **In simple terms:** New angles keep familiar stories engaging. Key Takeaway Seek originality in well‑trodden topics. Themes creativity originality storytelling film challenge Mood reflective critical Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - screenwriting - indie film - theatre - personal essays Key Concepts Narrative innovation character depth Questions to Reflect On - What fresh lens can you apply to a classic story? - How does novelty affect audience connection? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating audiences expecting traditional takes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Betrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/) [Betrayal Of Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal-of-friends-229722/) [Boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boring/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation/) [Desperation Boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation-boring-4728223/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Friend betrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-betrayal-67890/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Going Overdone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-overdone-4728222/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Overdone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overdone/) [Overdone Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overdone-material-4728221/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [You always want someone to hate in order to feel justified in your own misery. Hatred is the true primordial passion. It is love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/you-always-want-someone-to-hate-in-order-to-feel-justified-in-your/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [There are three signs of a hypocrite: when he speaks he speaks lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-three-signs-of-a-hypocrite-when-he-speaks-he-speaks-lies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To me, the thing that is worse than death is betrayal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/to-me-the-thing-that-is-worse-than-death-is-betrayal/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“To be doable is to be overdoable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/to-be-doable-is-to-be-overdoable/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Overdone lipstick is a deterrent to men. It rubs off easily onto their skin and the edges of their shirts, so it discourages them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/overdone-lipstick-is-a-deterrent-to-men-it-rubs-off-easily-onto-their/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [The deathmatch thing is overdone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-drake/the-deathmatch-thing-is-overdone/) [Eli Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-drake/) > [Photoshop is just like makeup. When it’s done well it looks great, and when it’s overdone you look like a crazy asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/photoshop-is-just-like-makeup-when-it-s-done-well-it-looks-great-and/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Themes on some TV shows are overdone. That 'Playhouse 90' theme music was an example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/themes-on-some-tv-shows-are-overdone-that-playhouse-90-theme-music/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [I think maybe we were just a little bit overdone. It was saturated. People may have gotten tired of us. We were everywhere, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-zander/i-think-maybe-we-were-just-a-little-bit-overdone-it-was-saturated/) [Robin Zander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-zander/) > [and the bananas are overdone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/and-the-bananas-are-overdone/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [“When God, the great mathematician, discovered that in making man he had overdone things a bit, he created the bedbug to even things out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruskin-bond/when-god-the-great-mathematician-discovered-that-in-making-man-he-had/) [Ruskin Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruskin-bond/) > [Remember, I come from such an excessively overdone, red-carpet place called Hollywood. So I'm used to people blowing up their success in ways that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/remember-i-come-from-such-an-excessively-overdone-red-carpet-place/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [“Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. Are you overdone yet?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-henley-babb/anything-worth-doing-is-worth-overdoing-are-you-overdone-yet/) [Charlotte Henley Babb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-henley-babb/) > [Photoshop is just like makeup. When its done well it looks great, and when its overdone you look like a crazy a\*\*hole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/photoshop-is-just-like-makeup-when-its-done-well-it-looks-great-and/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [“Nothing overdone, nothing racy, which made her all the more alluring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ablow/nothing-overdone-nothing-racy-which-made-her-all-the-more-alluring/) [Keith Ablow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ablow/) ## More by Neil LaBute > [But even with a character like Cary who is relatively outlandish, at the end of the movie he's in a place where I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/but-even-with-a-character-like-cary-who-is-relatively-outlandish-at/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [And I've got some screenplays and plays ready to dip into when I need to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/and-i-ve-got-some-screenplays-and-plays-ready-to-dip-into-when-i-need/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [I think Christine and Chad are on the opposite extremes of the spectrum. Christine is a model victim, and Chad is a model perpetrator,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/i-think-christine-and-chad-are-on-the-opposite-extremes-of-the/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [Everyone has a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/everyone-has-a-story/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [First I would probably place men at the bottom of the food chain. On a grander scale, I would say they're reacting to change.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/first-i-would-probably-place-men-at-the-bottom-of-the-food-chain-on-a/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [People have perhaps gotten to the point where for the most part movies are a just bit of escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/people-have-perhaps-gotten-to-the-point-where-for-the-most-part/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [I would be more frightened as a writer if people thought my movies were like science fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/i-would-be-more-frightened-as-a-writer-if-people-thought-my-movies/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [I was always looking for the most dramatic emphasis. One example would be the letter writing, or the reading of the letters. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/i-was-always-looking-for-the-most-dramatic-emphasis-one-example-would/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [Relationships in general make people a bit nervous. It's about trust. Do I trust you enough to go there?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/relationships-in-general-make-people-a-bit-nervous-it-s-about-trust/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [If we put the camera on ourselves, our friends and neighbors, we'll come up with some scary stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/if-we-put-the-camera-on-ourselves-our-friends-and-neighbors-we-ll/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [I wanted to tell a story that interested me as much in the telling as in the watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/i-wanted-to-tell-a-story-that-interested-me-as-much-in-the-telling-as/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [Sitting in an automobile was where I first remember understanding how drama works ... Hidden in the back seat of a sedan, I quickly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/sitting-in-an-automobile-was-where-i-first-remember-understanding-how/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [“Maybe that's what Hell is, in the end. All of your wrongful shit played out there in front of you while you're being pumped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/maybe-that-s-what-hell-is-in-the-end-all-of-your-wrongful-shit-played/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [“MAN No doubt about that—I can’t even call ’em “girls” without getting hit by a lawsuit, so … (Grins.) You’re a librarian? WOMAN Yeah.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/man-no-doubt-about-that-i-can-t-even-call-em-girls-without-getting/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [Without In The Company of Men, I could still be teaching, so who knows if this would've existed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/without-in-the-company-of-men-i-could-still-be-teaching-so-who-knows/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) [Explore all 55 Neil LaBute quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) ## More Affair quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/our-guiding-principle-was-that-design-is-neither-an-intellectual-nor/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [I wonder if it's possible to have a love affair that lasts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-wonder-if-it-s-possible-to-have-a-love-affair-that-lasts-forever/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [For a young man to start his career with a love affair with an older woman was quite de rigueur ... Of course, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/for-a-young-man-to-start-his-career-with-a-love-affair-with-an-older/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) > [As long as the state permits itself to interfere in the affairs of literature, literature has the right to interfere with the affairs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/as-long-as-the-state-permits-itself-to-interfere-in-the-affairs-of/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [Love is mainly an affair of short spasms. If these spasms disappoint us, love dies. It is very seldom that it weathers the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/love-is-mainly-an-affair-of-short-spasms-if-these-spasms-disappoint/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [My hope does not rest in the affairs of this world. It rests in Christ who is coming again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/my-hope-does-not-rest-in-the-affairs-of-this-world-it-rests-in-christ/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) [Michael Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-atherton/) > [“I ripped the sketch from the wall. "Liar." Edward looked more ravaged than usual. "That is a terrible word, coming from you." "Yup." "And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/i-ripped-the-sketch-from-the-wall-liar-edward-looked-more-ravaged/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [For some people, a one-night stand doesn't make any difference in a seven-year love affair. I don't believe the degree of betrayal is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-some-people-a-one-night-stand-doesn-t-make-any-difference-in-a/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [And what is literature, Rabo," he said, "but an insider's newsletter about affairs relating to molecules, of no importance to anything in the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-what-is-literature-rabo-he-said-but-an-insider-s-newsletter-about/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Browse all 2,218 Affair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I felt, if I'm going to take on some of the most overdone material, which is men and women and affairs and betrayal of friends, I had better have a new take on it. 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