--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the smoking is very frustrating. Who…" description: "\"But the smoking is very frustrating. Who knows where it will go; where the story will go; where the character will go? There's still lots of options.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/538/neil-marshall-18376_character_but-the-smoking-is-very-frustrating-who_797484.jpg" --- # But the smoking is very frustrating. Who knows where it… ![“But the smoking is very frustrating. Who knows where it will go; where the story will go; where the character will go? There's still lots of options.” quote by Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/538/neil-marshall-18376_character_but-the-smoking-is-very-frustrating-who_797484.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/538/neil-marshall-18376_character_but-the-smoking-is-very-frustrating-who_797484.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/538/neil-marshall-18376_character_but-the-smoking-is-very-frustrating-who_797484.jpg) > “But the smoking is very frustrating. Who knows where it will go; where the story will go; where the character will go? There's still lots of options.” [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative uncertainty can be frustrating, but it also keeps narrative possibilities open and dynamic. **In simple terms:** Uncertainty fuels creative options. Key Takeaway Embrace the unknown in storytelling. Themes creativity uncertainty storytelling direction Mood thoughtful curious Type artistic reflective When to use this quote - scriptwriting - directing - storyboarding - character development Key Concepts Narrative theory creative process film making Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance uncertainty with decisive direction? - What methods help you choose a narrative path? A Different Perspective Too much ambiguity can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Smoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoking/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [I don't really think in terms of genre, I think in terms of story and character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudd/i-don-t-really-think-in-terms-of-genre-i-think-in-terms-of-story-and/) [Paul Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudd/) > [The ratings thing is the real issue. It really hurts movies. For example, in Redbelt, I smoked. The whole plot of my character was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/the-ratings-thing-is-the-real-issue-it-really-hurts-movies-for/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) > [I always choose my movie because of a director and a story and a, a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-laurent/i-always-choose-my-movie-because-of-a-director-and-a-story-and-a-a/) [Melanie Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-laurent/) > [The metaphor is the story, not the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/the-metaphor-is-the-story-not-the-character/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [I always work from back-story, that's what I always do, so you get a character, and you think 'OK, who's this guy, before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/i-always-work-from-back-story-that-s-what-i-always-do-so-you-get-a/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [“At this point in the story, the character looks at himself. He takes stock of where he is in the conflict and––depending on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/at-this-point-in-the-story-the-character-looks-at-himself-he-takes/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [Not getting bored of my own story and/or character is one of the main struggles I have had with novel writing, and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/not-getting-bored-of-my-own-story-and-or-character-is-one-of-the-main/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [For Marvel, we've never looked at any of our characters in terms of gender, race, or religion. It truly is about, who is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeph-loeb/for-marvel-we-ve-never-looked-at-any-of-our-characters-in-terms-of/) [Jeph Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeph-loeb/) > [The more limitations you put on a character, often times the better a character you'll make them, the more interesting the story becomes because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/the-more-limitations-you-put-on-a-character-often-times-the-better-a/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [I wrote a story about a character who looks like Harry Styles. But it has nothing to do with Harry Styles at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/i-wrote-a-story-about-a-character-who-looks-like-harry-styles-but-it/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Since I've had some success, story and character are always the two elements I think about first in material presented to me. Some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/powers-boothe/since-i-ve-had-some-success-story-and-character-are-always-the-two/) [Powers Boothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/powers-boothe/) > [I'm taken by a story and a character. I'll read a script, and if it touches me and moves me and makes waves, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-bamber/i-m-taken-by-a-story-and-a-character-i-ll-read-a-script-and-if-it/) [Ellie Bamber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-bamber/) > [It was always about the story rather than the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dujardin/it-was-always-about-the-story-rather-than-the-character/) [Jean Dujardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dujardin/) > [If it's a good story or if it's a character I want to act in, I end up wanting to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwak-dong-yeon/if-it-s-a-good-story-or-if-it-s-a-character-i-want-to-act-in-i-end-up/) [Kwak Dong-yeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwak-dong-yeon/) > [The most fun part for an actor is the writing and the story and the character. That's very fulfilling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-mcelligott/the-most-fun-part-for-an-actor-is-the-writing-and-the-story-and-the/) [Dominique McElligott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-mcelligott/) ## More by Neil Marshall > [I do enjoy intense, bloodthirsty action, but I like to blend and cross genres. I don't want to be too predictable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-do-enjoy-intense-bloodthirsty-action-but-i-like-to-blend-and-cross/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [I think as long as the standard of quality, the story-telling, film-making, acting etc. etc. remains consistent, then you've got a good change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-think-as-long-as-the-standard-of-quality-the-story-telling-film/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [I enjoy scaring people too much to let it go!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-enjoy-scaring-people-too-much-to-let-it-go/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [With the exception of 'Descent,' that was a very conscious thing to make an action or horror movie that was an all-female cast because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/with-the-exception-of-descent-that-was-a-very-conscious-thing-to-make/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [My dad's a history buff, and I spent a lot of time on Hadrian's Wall. I became fascinated by the idea of what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/my-dad-s-a-history-buff-and-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-on-hadrian-s-wall-i/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [I think I'd like to do a big movie with a strong female lead, whether or not she would be a superhero. I'm more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-think-i-d-like-to-do-a-big-movie-with-a-strong-female-lead-whether/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [I love splashing the blood around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-love-splashing-the-blood-around/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [I love CG - it's a great tool. I just don't think you should use it to replace reality; you should use it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-love-cg-it-s-a-great-tool-i-just-don-t-think-you-should-use-it-to/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [I don't think they're gratuitous with the nudity on 'Game of Thrones.' It's very much part of the world. There's a lot of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-don-t-think-they-re-gratuitous-with-the-nudity-on-game-of-thrones/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [The score I always have on heavy repeat is 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/the-score-i-always-have-on-heavy-repeat-is-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [Roman history was kind of unavoidable where I was growing up. It was everywhere - all the place names and ruins and forts. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/roman-history-was-kind-of-unavoidable-where-i-was-growing-up-it-was/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [There's a real kind of snobbery in the U.K. about horror films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/there-s-a-real-kind-of-snobbery-in-the-u-k-about-horror-films/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [I think there's a whole book being written about it in the UK. I don't know if you can get it here. It's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-think-there-s-a-whole-book-being-written-about-it-in-the-uk-i-don-t/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [I don't really have a life outside of movies. But I like to climb mountains and walk the dogs. I like fine wines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-don-t-really-have-a-life-outside-of-movies-but-i-like-to-climb/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [My belief is that if you start a film all the way up at level 10, you've got nowhere to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/my-belief-is-that-if-you-start-a-film-all-the-way-up-at-level-10-you/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) [Explore all 35 Neil Marshall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [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/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But the smoking is very frustrating. 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