--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wrote a film for Tom Hanks and I wrote…" description: "\"I wrote a film for Tom Hanks and I wrote two films for Paul Greengrass that didn't actually happen. The paradox is that the bigger the film you write, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/ol-parker-16489_film_i-wrote-a-film-for-tom-hanks-and-i-wrote_1123210.jpg" --- # I wrote a film for Tom Hanks and I wrote two films for… ![“I wrote a film for Tom Hanks and I wrote two films for Paul Greengrass that didn't actually happen. The paradox is that the bigger the film you write, the less likely it is to happen.” quote by Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/ol-parker-16489_film_i-wrote-a-film-for-tom-hanks-and-i-wrote_1123210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/ol-parker-16489_film_i-wrote-a-film-for-tom-hanks-and-i-wrote_1123210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/ol-parker-16489_film_i-wrote-a-film-for-tom-hanks-and-i-wrote_1123210.jpg) > “I wrote a film for Tom Hanks and I wrote two films for Paul Greengrass that didn't actually happen. The paradox is that the bigger the film you write, the less likely it is to happen.” [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating large, ambitious film projects often leads to lower chances of production due to complexity and risk. **In simple terms:** Big film ideas rarely get made. Key Takeaway Focus on realistic, manageable projects. Themes creativity film industry risk ambition Mood reflective cautious Type advice industry insight When to use this quote - planning a screenplay - pitching to studios Key Concepts project scope production feasibility industry dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Can you balance ambition with practicality? - What steps make a big idea more feasible? A Different Perspective Larger projects face higher financial and logistical barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) ## Related quotes > [It's not fair that people wrote that all of my films had not done well. 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I've mostly done sitcoms, so working with David Zucker, who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/scary-movie-was-a-different-type-of-comedy-than-i-m-used-to-i-ve/) [Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/) > [I first came to cinema as a passionate filmgoer, when I was a child. 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They wrote back, 'Usually, when we reject submissions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/when-i-was-20-i-wrote-a-film-on-spec-and-sent-it-to-the-bbc-they/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [I've had three novels published, and I was working a little bit in theater in Ireland. I wrote one film script just to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/i-ve-had-three-novels-published-and-i-was-working-a-little-bit-in/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [Right before I got 'Sons of Anarchy,' I actually quit acting for 18 months and didnt read a single script, and I wrote a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-actually-quit-acting-for-18/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [When I sit down to write, I don't think, 'OK, what is the next David O. Russell film I can write, or what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/when-i-sit-down-to-write-i-don-t-think-ok-what-is-the-next-david-o/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [My primary goal was to make a movie with the best of my ability. It was not that I have to make the film,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-chopra/my-primary-goal-was-to-make-a-movie-with-the-best-of-my-ability-it/) [Uday Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-chopra/) > [ “ \[When asked if he had ever learned anything about his work from film criticism\] No. To see a film once and write a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/when-asked-if-he-had-ever-learned-anything-about-his-work-from-film/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [You put it out there, you go film it, you go write it, you go record it... but the fans are the ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/you-put-it-out-there-you-go-film-it-you-go-write-it-you-go-record-it/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [It's easier to greenlight your own films when you're not surrounded by other people aspiring to make films. You have to work a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-porterfield/it-s-easier-to-greenlight-your-own-films-when-you-re-not-surrounded/) [Matthew Porterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-porterfield/) ## More by Ol Parker > ['It could be better' is the only thing that anyone should write in the margins of their own script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/it-could-be-better-is-the-only-thing-that-anyone-should-write-in-the/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [Meryl's Donna embodied the spirit of ABBA and 'Mamma Mia!' in the first film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/meryl-s-donna-embodied-the-spirit-of-abba-and-mamma-mia-in-the-first/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [And Cher, obviously, can never do anything other than go for it. She's all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/and-cher-obviously-can-never-do-anything-other-than-go-for-it-she-s/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [Before you turn 40 you think, 'everyone else is going to die, but not me,' then you realize death is certain for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/before-you-turn-40-you-think-everyone-else-is-going-to-die-but-not-me/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [I have two girls and one is now nearly a teenager - it is terrifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/i-have-two-girls-and-one-is-now-nearly-a-teenager-it-is-terrifying/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > ['Dancing Queen' was the hardest to pull off, all those boats and all those people dancing around the street with boats coming around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/dancing-queen-was-the-hardest-to-pull-off-all-those-boats-and-all/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [I wrote the 'Marigold Hotel' series and with the first one, people hated it in the U.K. but in America they really liked it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/i-wrote-the-marigold-hotel-series-and-with-the-first-one-people-hated/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [I have a brilliant memory of being driven back to school when 'Super Trouper' was number one in the charts in 1980. When it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/i-have-a-brilliant-memory-of-being-driven-back-to-school-when-super/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [You can only shoot in India for three months a year, otherwise it's very inhospitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/you-can-only-shoot-in-india-for-three-months-a-year-otherwise-it-s/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [There's a sports saying, if you aren't playing offense, you're playing defense, so if you are coming back for a sequel not be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/there-s-a-sports-saying-if-you-aren-t-playing-offense-you-re-playing/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [Richard Curtis has an encyclopedic knowledge of ABBA, which defeats even mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/richard-curtis-has-an-encyclopedic-knowledge-of-abba-which-defeats/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [It's the easiest thing in the world, when you're 80, to not go to India to make a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/it-s-the-easiest-thing-in-the-world-when-you-re-80-to-not-go-to-india/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [The greatest moment of all was her on set, and she said, 'Would you mind if you change the order of the phrase?' Maggie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/the-greatest-moment-of-all-was-her-on-set-and-she-said-would-you-mind/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [Look, I'd take a suggestion from my grandmother if I thought it would improve a film I was writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/look-i-d-take-a-suggestion-from-my-grandmother-if-i-thought-it-would/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [I think films are a really small target. They're really hard to make, and they're a really tiny target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/i-think-films-are-a-really-small-target-they-re-really-hard-to-make/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) [Explore all 39 Ol Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) ## More Film quotes > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [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/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [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/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [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 started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) [Browse all 32,254 Film quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wrote a film for Tom Hanks and I wrote two films for Paul Greengrass that didn't actually happen. 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