--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With documentary-film projects, you hope…" description: "\"With documentary-film projects, you hope you highlight an area of concern people haven't thought about before. A lot of times, I'm asking myself - 'Thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/paul-allen-2295_asking_with-documentary-film-projects-you-hope_116469.png" --- # With documentary-film projects, you hope you highlight an… ![“With documentary-film projects, you hope you highlight an area of concern people haven't thought about before. A lot of times, I'm asking myself - 'This seems to be a significant problem. What can be done that hasn't been done?” quote by Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/paul-allen-2295_asking_with-documentary-film-projects-you-hope_116469.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/paul-allen-2295_asking_with-documentary-film-projects-you-hope_116469.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/paul-allen-2295_asking_with-documentary-film-projects-you-hope_116469.png) > “With documentary-film projects, you hope you highlight an area of concern people haven't thought about before. A lot of times, I'm asking myself - 'This seems to be a significant problem. What can be done that hasn't been done?” [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Documentary filmmakers aim to expose overlooked issues and propose novel solutions, challenging audiences to act. **In simple terms:** Films reveal unseen problems and suggest actions. Key Takeaway Documentaries spark awareness and innovation. Themes documentary social impact awareness innovation Mood inspirational urgent Type informative activist When to use this quote - environmental crises - human‑rights abuses - public‑health gaps Key Concepts problem identification creative problem‑solving Practical Applications - use visual storytelling to highlight data - partner with NGOs for actionable campaigns Questions to Reflect On - What narrative techniques keep documentary subjects fresh? - How can filmmakers measure real‑world change after release? A Different Perspective Audience fatigue can diminish impact if topics feel repetitive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Documentaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentaries/) [Documentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary/) [Documentary films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary-films/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think the subject of a documentary film should be producers on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rapaport/i-don-t-think-the-subject-of-a-documentary-film-should-be-producers/) [Michael Rapaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rapaport/) > [The power of the documentary film, when done well, I think is usually more impacting than a narrative, at least for me. Documentaries are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ray-perez/the-power-of-the-documentary-film-when-done-well-i-think-is-usually/) Richard Ray Perez > [Like theatre, crafting a documentary film takes tremendous commitment, patience and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dori-berinstein/like-theatre-crafting-a-documentary-film-takes-tremendous-commitment/) [Dori Berinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dori-berinstein/) > [It's rare in a documentary film that you have a repetitive act. So when you do, you can shoot it in different ways so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-wiseman/it-s-rare-in-a-documentary-film-that-you-have-a-repetitive-act-so/) [Frederick Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-wiseman/) > [People outside the documentary world don't realize how time-consuming making a documentary film is there is a lot of responsibility, and in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hammond/people-outside-the-documentary-world-don-t-realize-how-time-consuming/) Alex Hammond > [There's a documentary film-maker called Werner Herzog, who's a German film-maker. I really dig his stuff, I'd love to chat with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/there-s-a-documentary-film-maker-called-werner-herzog-who-s-a-german/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [Documentary film without nuanced journalistic sourcing risks being sensational, tendentious or broad-brushed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/documentary-film-without-nuanced-journalistic-sourcing-risks-being/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [It's a funny thing with documentary films - you want them to feel as entertaining and as gripping as a fictional film. With a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-demme/it-s-a-funny-thing-with-documentary-films-you-want-them-to-feel-as/) [Jonathan Demme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-demme/) > [Making an independent documentary film is so hard that usually, the usual model is that your film becomes a model for advocacy, so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hetherington/making-an-independent-documentary-film-is-so-hard-that-usually-the/) [Tim Hetherington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hetherington/) > [Michael Moore announced that his next documentary film will attack the health care industry in America. He's not out to get the pharmaceutical companies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/michael-moore-announced-that-his-next-documentary-film-will-attack/) [Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/) > [When you make a documentary film, after many years the only thing you remember is what you put into the film, not what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-yates/when-you-make-a-documentary-film-after-many-years-the-only-thing-you/) [Pamela Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-yates/) > [I am particularly pleased to see that there are so many women working in documentary film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hegedus/i-am-particularly-pleased-to-see-that-there-are-so-many-women-working/) [Chris Hegedus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hegedus/) > [Documentary film is the one place that our people can speak for themselves. I feel that the documentaries that I've been working on have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-obomsawin/documentary-film-is-the-one-place-that-our-people-can-speak-for/) [Alanis Obomsawin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-obomsawin/) > [“The lack of in-depth problem-solvers is a significant problem for the world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/the-lack-of-in-depth-problem-solvers-is-a-significant-problem-for-the/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) > [“The lack of high-skillful problem-solver is a significant problem for the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/the-lack-of-high-skillful-problem-solver-is-a-significant-problem-for/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) ## More by Paul Allen > [I just try to find things that either need to be done, should be done, or where I can make a difference in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/i-just-try-to-find-things-that-either-need-to-be-done-should-be-done/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [I'm not a video-game player at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/i-m-not-a-video-game-player-at-all/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [AI2 was born from a desire to create a system that could truly reason about knowledge, rather than just offer up what had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/ai2-was-born-from-a-desire-to-create-a-system-that-could-truly-reason/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Some people can vent their anger, take a breath, and let it go, but I wasn't one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/some-people-can-vent-their-anger-take-a-breath-and-let-it-go-but-i/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Any time you get to compete for the championship in a professional spot, it's just a magic thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/any-time-you-get-to-compete-for-the-championship-in-a-professional/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Art fairs bring attention to up and coming artists and some amazing new works. They are a way to connect everyone with what's happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/art-fairs-bring-attention-to-up-and-coming-artists-and-some-amazing/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Human beings are fragile things, and for the period of time it takes to get them to Mars and back, you have dangerous radiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/human-beings-are-fragile-things-and-for-the-period-of-time-it-takes/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [In my own work, I've tried to anticipate what's coming over the horizon, to hasten its arrival, and to apply it to people's lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/in-my-own-work-i-ve-tried-to-anticipate-what-s-coming-over-the/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [The NBA is intense, but the NFL is a whole 'nother level of intensity and dramatic, game-changing plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/the-nba-is-intense-but-the-nfl-is-a-whole-nother-level-of-intensity/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Sometimes it's very difficult to find fresh fruit on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/sometimes-it-s-very-difficult-to-find-fresh-fruit-on-the-road/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Computers are really, basically, computing elements and a lot of memory. They are pretty easy to understand, as compared to the brain, which was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/computers-are-really-basically-computing-elements-and-a-lot-of-memory/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [As quickly as it started, our business model evaporated. But while Traf-O-Data was technically a business failure, the understanding of microprocessors we absorbed was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/as-quickly-as-it-started-our-business-model-evaporated-but-while-traf/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [In an ideal world, everybody would find it easy to talk to the press... but not everybody is so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/in-an-ideal-world-everybody-would-find-it-easy-to-talk-to-the-press/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Those fortunate to achieve great wealth should put it to work for the good of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/those-fortunate-to-achieve-great-wealth-should-put-it-to-work-for-the/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [There's no enjoyment to losing money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/there-s-no-enjoyment-to-losing-money/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) [Explore all 173 Paul Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "With documentary-film projects, you hope you highlight an area of concern people haven't thought about before. 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