--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So with 'There Will Be Blood,' I didn't…" description: "\"So with 'There Will Be Blood,' I didn't even really feel like I was adapting a book. I was just desperate to find stuff to write.\" — Paul Thomas Anderson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/paul-thomas-anderson-13109_adapting_so-with-there-will-be-blood-i-didn-t-eve_619058.jpg" --- # So with 'There Will Be Blood,' I didn't even really feel… ![“So with 'There Will Be Blood,' I didn't even really feel like I was adapting a book. I was just desperate to find stuff to write.” quote by Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/paul-thomas-anderson-13109_adapting_so-with-there-will-be-blood-i-didn-t-eve_619058.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/paul-thomas-anderson-13109_adapting_so-with-there-will-be-blood-i-didn-t-eve_619058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/paul-thomas-anderson-13109_adapting_so-with-there-will-be-blood-i-didn-t-eve_619058.jpg) > “So with 'There Will Be Blood,' I didn't even really feel like I was adapting a book. I was just desperate to find stuff to write.” [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He felt the adaptation was unnecessary, focusing instead on original writing drive. **In simple terms:** He prioritized original writing over faithful adaptation. Key Takeaway Seek fresh ideas rather than forced adaptation. Themes creativity adaptation originality Mood determined reflective Type inspirational analytical When to use this quote - screenwriting - directing - creative blocks Key Concepts film making writing process Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance originality with audience expectations? - What drives you to create beyond source material? A Different Perspective Original work may lack audience familiarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I feel like I'm adapting to society. I went feral a little bit. I found that when I would get back to the city,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-temple/i-feel-like-i-m-adapting-to-society-i-went-feral-a-little-bit-i-found/) [Luke Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-temple/) > [It felt like the first thing, but when I first started out, I got a job adapting a book by Russell Banks called 'Rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/it-felt-like-the-first-thing-but-when-i-first-started-out-i-got-a-job/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [Adapting a book doesn't mean the book stops just because you've made a film out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barratt/adapting-a-book-doesn-t-mean-the-book-stops-just-because-you-ve-made/) [Julian Barratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barratt/) > [It's sort of an organic process when you're adapting any book, not even just your own. You want to preserve the heart of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/it-s-sort-of-an-organic-process-when-you-re-adapting-any-book-not/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [Writing a film - more precisely, adapting a book into a film - is basically a relentless series of compromises. The skill, the "art,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-boyd/writing-a-film-more-precisely-adapting-a-book-into-a-film-is/) [William Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-boyd/) > [At times when you're adapting a book into a movie, you have to take certain creative liberties to bridge the gap between the two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hutcherson/at-times-when-you-re-adapting-a-book-into-a-movie-you-have-to-take/) [Josh Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hutcherson/) > [I'm encouraging these women, like Cheryl Strayed, to take the jump to writing for the screen. She is adapting her book Tiny Beautiful Things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reese-witherspoon/i-m-encouraging-these-women-like-cheryl-strayed-to-take-the-jump-to/) [Reese Witherspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reese-witherspoon/) > [When you are adapting a book to a visual medium, you tend to leave a few things and add a few new ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vetrimaaran/when-you-are-adapting-a-book-to-a-visual-medium-you-tend-to-leave-a/) [Vetrimaaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vetrimaaran/) > [It's one of those things where the book has all these stars that burn really bright that you hang onto and they're all saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-cressida-wilson/it-s-one-of-those-things-where-the-book-has-all-these-stars-that-burn/) [Erin Cressida Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-cressida-wilson/) > [I was in Los Angeles making 'Dead Again' and the producer, Lindsay Doran , asked me if I'd be interested in adapting this book,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/i-was-in-los-angeles-making-dead-again-and-the-producer-lindsay-doran/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [Adapting your own book is like performing open-heart surgery on your own child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/adapting-your-own-book-is-like-performing-open-heart-surgery-on-your/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [I'd love to be involved in the process of adapting a book to a script, but that's simply not my job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hero-fiennes-tiffin/i-d-love-to-be-involved-in-the-process-of-adapting-a-book-to-a-script/) [Hero Fiennes-Tiffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hero-fiennes-tiffin/) > [For 'So Cold the River,' I'm actually working on adapting the book with Scott Silver, who was just nominated for an Oscar for 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-koryta/for-so-cold-the-river-i-m-actually-working-on-adapting-the-book-with/) [Michael Koryta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-koryta/) > [Adapting a book is essentially a collaboration, whether the author is alive or dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/adapting-a-book-is-essentially-a-collaboration-whether-the-author-is/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [Adapting a book is the most difficult thing because half the time you are wondering what to remove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikramaditya-motwane/adapting-a-book-is-the-most-difficult-thing-because-half-the-time-you/) [Vikramaditya Motwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikramaditya-motwane/) ## More by Paul Thomas Anderson > [I don't think the competition's so rough, within the majority of movies made in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-don-t-think-the-competition-s-so-rough-within-the-majority-of/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [You write who you are. But you also cheat, and youwrite what you want to be. It's embarrasing to be the guy who madethe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/you-write-who-you-are-but-you-also-cheat-and-youwrite-what-you-want/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [I always had a dream about trying to make a movie that had no dialogue in it, that was just music and pictures. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-always-had-a-dream-about-trying-to-make-a-movie-that-had-no/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [I'm not really a Sundance baby, but they helped me so much I feel I have to acknowledge it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-m-not-really-a-sundance-baby-but-they-helped-me-so-much-i-feel-i/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [You have to be a brat in order to carve out your parameters, and you have to be a monster to anyone who gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/you-have-to-be-a-brat-in-order-to-carve-out-your-parameters-and-you/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [My older sister was at the cusp of new wave, and I had older brothers from my father's first marriage who were rock 'n'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/my-older-sister-was-at-the-cusp-of-new-wave-and-i-had-older-brothers/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [I think my job is to try and be as honest as I can with what is in my mind and how I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-think-my-job-is-to-try-and-be-as-honest-as-i-can-with-what-is-in-my/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [I've never been a fan of whimsical or confusing storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-ve-never-been-a-fan-of-whimsical-or-confusing-storytelling/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [I didn't have any desire I might have had 10 years ago to shoot every single word that I wrote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-didn-t-have-any-desire-i-might-have-had-10-years-ago-to-shoot-every/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [I don't think it's a director's job to peek behind the curtain too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-don-t-think-it-s-a-director-s-job-to-peek-behind-the-curtain-too/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [I'll rebel against powers and principalities, all the time. Always, I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-ll-rebel-against-powers-and-principalities-all-the-time-always-i/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [But I'd be lying if I didn't say that every time you go to make a film, you're desperate to either do it better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/but-i-d-be-lying-if-i-didn-t-say-that-every-time-you-go-to-make-a/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [It's so hard to do anything that doesn't owe some kind of debt to what Stanley Kubrick did with music in movies. Inevitably, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/it-s-so-hard-to-do-anything-that-doesn-t-owe-some-kind-of-debt-to/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [Film school is a complete con, because the information is there if you want it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/film-school-is-a-complete-con-because-the-information-is-there-if-you/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [You know, I'm really not that competent at describing things musically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/you-know-i-m-really-not-that-competent-at-describing-things-musically/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) [Explore all 51 Paul Thomas Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) ## More Adapting quotes > [For a struggling filmmaker running low on ideas, public domain is all we have for adapting books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/for-a-struggling-filmmaker-running-low-on-ideas-public-domain-is-all/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [If I can do concert recitals, adapting the repertoire to my needs, then no problem, that's good enough. But with operas, unless the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-carreras/if-i-can-do-concert-recitals-adapting-the-repertoire-to-my-needs-then/) [Jose Carreras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-carreras/) > [Firmino is a player who is really good at adapting to different positions. He is a No. 9, but he helps a lot in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabinho/firmino-is-a-player-who-is-really-good-at-adapting-to-different/) [Fabinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabinho/) > [Martial arts is not about picking your fights and picking how things go; it's about adapting to the how things are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-nelson/martial-arts-is-not-about-picking-your-fights-and-picking-how-things/) [Gunnar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-nelson/) > [I'm not in the business of adapting things that are popular for the sake of just getting it on the screen. I think there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/i-m-not-in-the-business-of-adapting-things-that-are-popular-for-the/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [I am like the fish in the aquarium, thinking in a different language, adapting to a life that’s not my natural habitat. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-am-like-the-fish-in-the-aquarium-thinking-in-a-different-language/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I'm always a big advocate for adapting to your new team, your new country and your new team-mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-m-always-a-big-advocate-for-adapting-to-your-new-team-your-new/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [Cinema reflects culture and there is no harm in adapting technology, but not at the cost of losing your originality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/cinema-reflects-culture-and-there-is-no-harm-in-adapting-technology/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [The fact that I made a special movie with an old-fashioned style - even if it's a mix between with modern and old-fashioned things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/the-fact-that-i-made-a-special-movie-with-an-old-fashioned-style-even/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I believe in having a few pupils at one time as it requires a constant alert observation of each individual in order to establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/i-believe-in-having-a-few-pupils-at-one-time-as-it-requires-a/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The brain is constantly adapting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-brain-is-constantly-adapting/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [One of the most difficult things for people who have been successful in sports is adapting to the daily world where you can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-people-who-have-been-successful/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [“(T)his is precisely the importance of the world-view described in the Book of Changes: there is no situation without a way out. All situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-and-hellmut-wilhelm/t-his-is-precisely-the-importance-of-the-world-view-described-in-the/) Richard and Hellmut Wilhelm > [Man is a shrewd inventor, and is ever taking the hint of a new machine from his own structure, adapting some secret of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-a-shrewd-inventor-and-is-ever-taking-the-hint-of-a-new-machine/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Sport is not about being wrapped up in cotton wool. Sport as about adapting to the unexpected and being able to modify plans at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/sport-is-not-about-being-wrapped-up-in-cotton-wool-sport-as-about/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) Browse all 251 Adapting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So with 'There Will Be Blood,' I didn't even really feel like I was adapting a book. 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