--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way to ensure a film is going to…" description: "\"The only way to ensure a film is going to sell is put Will Smith in it and you open it in 3,000 theaters and make sure we have all the top promotional ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/omar-epps-16887_cinema_the-only-way-to-ensure-a-film-is-going-t_2615467.jpg" --- # The only way to ensure a film is going to sell is put Will… ![“The only way to ensure a film is going to sell is put Will Smith in it and you open it in 3,000 theaters and make sure we have all the top promotional spots in each venue.” quote by Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/omar-epps-16887_cinema_the-only-way-to-ensure-a-film-is-going-t_2615467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/omar-epps-16887_cinema_the-only-way-to-ensure-a-film-is-going-t_2615467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/omar-epps-16887_cinema_the-only-way-to-ensure-a-film-is-going-t_2615467.jpg) > “The only way to ensure a film is going to sell is put Will Smith in it and you open it in 3,000 theaters and make sure we have all the top promotional spots in each venue.” [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests that casting a big star, wide release, and heavy promotion guarantee a film’s commercial success. **In simple terms:** Star power and marketing drive sales. Key Takeaway Invest in star and promotion. Themes film industry marketing star power distribution Mood analytical pragmatic Type industry business When to use this quote - independent cinema - budget constraints - creative risk Key Concepts box office strategy media economics Questions to Reflect On - What makes a film succeed beyond marketing? - Can smaller films thrive without stars? A Different Perspective Not all films succeed despite big names. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [000 Theaters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/000-theaters-246692/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Ensure Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ensure-film-2064091/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-going/) [Spots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spots/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theaters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theaters/) [Theaters Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theaters-make-1080966/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Venues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venues/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [We don't decide how a movie will be distributed until it's finished. It might be on iTunes, it might be on 3,000 theaters, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/we-don-t-decide-how-a-movie-will-be-distributed-until-it-s-finished/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [I come from theater, originally, and I've worked in many theaters where you make no money, whatsoever. If you got 3,000 people to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-conli/i-come-from-theater-originally-and-i-ve-worked-in-many-theaters-where/) [Roy Conli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-conli/) > [The movies have a way of seeping out there over time. We don't put them in 2,000 theaters. It wouldn't work that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-guest/the-movies-have-a-way-of-seeping-out-there-over-time-we-don-t-put/) [Christopher Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-guest/) > [Currently there's no other way to get a movie into 3,000 theaters except with a studio. We have a first-look deal with Universal, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/currently-there-s-no-other-way-to-get-a-movie-into-3-000-theaters/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [Definitely my generation and beyond grew up in theaters and when you make a film you think of the theatrical experience. You think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/definitely-my-generation-and-beyond-grew-up-in-theaters-and-when-you/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [For a broad, star-powered picture like 'The Interview,' a big-tent release in 2,000 to 3,000 theaters is the top choice for a movie studio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/for-a-broad-star-powered-picture-like-the-interview-a-big-tent/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [My favorite venues are the 2,000 seat theaters, like the Warfield. If there was a Warfield in every city, I would play it. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-claypool/my-favorite-venues-are-the-2-000-seat-theaters-like-the-warfield-if/) [Les Claypool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-claypool/) > [I've asked to go back into theaters and smaller venues because to me, in smaller venues I can really demonstrate my commitment to quality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-ve-asked-to-go-back-into-theaters-and-smaller-venues-because-to-me/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [When I do a project, I like the idea that someone is going to experience the book, someone is going to experience the film,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zuckerman/when-i-do-a-project-i-like-the-idea-that-someone-is-going-to/) [Andrew Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zuckerman/) > [We had this idea, and I think a lot of people did going in, that you can make some short film and it's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/we-had-this-idea-and-i-think-a-lot-of-people-did-going-in-that-you/) [Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/) > [I hope that film is going to stay as an artform and that people won't forget that there are good movies also to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-hope-that-film-is-going-to-stay-as-an-artform-and-that-people-won-t/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [When you make a film, it's a bet. You don't know how the film is going to be, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-binoche/when-you-make-a-film-it-s-a-bet-you-don-t-know-how-the-film-is-going/) [Juliette Binoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-binoche/) > [If you see, as I do, in edited film, you're going to end up as a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/if-you-see-as-i-do-in-edited-film-you-re-going-to-end-up-as-a-director/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [The box office in an arthouse film is always going to be small. We have to face this and overcome this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-rao/the-box-office-in-an-arthouse-film-is-always-going-to-be-small-we/) [Kiran Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-rao/) > [Before I started doing the film and when I found out I was going to be doing it, I just decided to pump up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parminder-nagra/before-i-started-doing-the-film-and-when-i-found-out-i-was-going-to/) [Parminder Nagra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parminder-nagra/) ## More by Omar Epps > [I'm going to be the first black President of the United States. If Reagan can do it, I know I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/i-m-going-to-be-the-first-black-president-of-the-united-states-if/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [I believe success is preparation, because opportunity is going to knock on your door sooner or later but are you prepared to answer that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/i-believe-success-is-preparation-because-opportunity-is-going-to/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [Whatever art form you're working in, it's crucial to see it clearly, to feel it clearly, and not to worry about the results, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/whatever-art-form-you-re-working-in-it-s-crucial-to-see-it-clearly-to/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [I believe that every innovative thought comes from a creative mindset…A creative mindset is what drives our world, and art is the base of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/i-believe-that-every-innovative-thought-comes-from-a-creative-mindset/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [The world is evolving, and there is an acceptance of all beliefs, in my observation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/the-world-is-evolving-and-there-is-an-acceptance-of-all-beliefs-in-my/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [A lot of directors are overbearing and tend to make you doubt your instincts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/a-lot-of-directors-are-overbearing-and-tend-to-make-you-doubt-your/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [Before ER a lot of people knew my name and some people knew my face. I saw big difference after ER, like, wow, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/before-er-a-lot-of-people-knew-my-name-and-some-people-knew-my-face-i/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [Each experience has offered something different in regards to story. I really didn't want to do any more sports films. And then, this comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/each-experience-has-offered-something-different-in-regards-to-story-i/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [Even if we don't agree, we should agree to work together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/even-if-we-don-t-agree-we-should-agree-to-work-together/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [Writing is the beast unto itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/writing-is-the-beast-unto-itself/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [I definitely took bits and pieces of a lot of fighters that I liked, but I don't know if I have the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/i-definitely-took-bits-and-pieces-of-a-lot-of-fighters-that-i-liked/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [I've never taken myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/i-ve-never-taken-myself-too-seriously/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [The world is as it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/the-world-is-as-it-should-be/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [It's natural for any actor that segues into directing to be an actor's director. You know how to relate to the actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/it-s-natural-for-any-actor-that-segues-into-directing-to-be-an-actor/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [I'm an avid fan of boxing, so the eagerness was there, the desirewas there but I dunno...physically, this was the most I ever put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/i-m-an-avid-fan-of-boxing-so-the-eagerness-was-there-the-desirewas/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) [Explore all 38 Omar Epps quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [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/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "The only way to ensure a film is going to sell is put Will Smith in it and you open it in 3,000 theaters and make sure we have all the top promotional spots in each venue.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Omar Epps" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/the-only-way-to-ensure-a-film-is-going-to-sell-is-put-will-smith-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/the-only-way-to-ensure-a-film-is-going-to-sell-is-put-will-smith-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/omar-epps-16887_cinema_the-only-way-to-ensure-a-film-is-going-t_2615467.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/omar-epps-16887_cinema_the-only-way-to-ensure-a-film-is-going-t_2615467.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/omar-epps-16887_cinema_the-only-way-to-ensure-a-film-is-going-t_2615467.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only way to ensure a film is going to sell is put Will Smith in it and you open it in 3,000 theaters and…” — Omar Epps", "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": "Omar Epps", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only way to ensure a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/the-only-way-to-ensure-a-film-is-going-to-sell-is-put-will-smith-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/the-only-way-to-ensure-a-film-is-going-to-sell-is-put-will-smith-in/#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 } } ] } ```