--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know one lens from another…" description: "\"I don't know one lens from another. That's not my job. It's the cinematographer's job. But I can talk to people.\" — Penny Marshall" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/penny-marshall-14280_another_i-don-t-know-one-lens-from-another-that_279418.png" --- # I don't know one lens from another. That's not my job… ![“I don't know one lens from another. That's not my job. It's the cinematographer's job. But I can talk to people.” quote by Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/penny-marshall-14280_another_i-don-t-know-one-lens-from-another-that_279418.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/penny-marshall-14280_another_i-don-t-know-one-lens-from-another-that_279418.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/penny-marshall-14280_another_i-don-t-know-one-lens-from-another-that_279418.png) > “I don't know one lens from another. That's not my job. It's the cinematographer's job. But I can talk to people.” [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She emphasizes that technical visual decisions belong to the cinematographer, not the director. **In simple terms:** Directors shouldn't dictate camera choices. Key Takeaway Respect specialist expertise. Themes film production collaboration roles Mood reflective professional Type advice industry insight When to use this quote - directing a film - working with cinematographers - film set meetings Key Concepts cinematography creative authority Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance creative input with respecting expertise? - When should a director intervene? A Different Perspective Directors may still influence visual style indirectly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinematographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinematographer/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) ## Related quotes > [I always wanted to know what lens they were on, how close they were. I didn't do it with a plan in mind, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-mills/i-always-wanted-to-know-what-lens-they-were-on-how-close-they-were-i/) [Donna Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-mills/) > ['La Notte' is my favorite of the Antonioni pictures and my favorite work of the master cinematographer Gianni di Venanzo, who also shot '8…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-paltrow/la-notte-is-my-favorite-of-the-antonioni-pictures-and-my-favorite/) [Jake Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-paltrow/) > [Laszlo Kovacs was marvelous. 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Janusz… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-ve-kept-the-people-who-ve-been-in-my-career-who-i-feel-are-my/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Really, anyone in the business who transitions into directing as a writer or editor or an actor or a cinematographer, at some point you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-savage/really-anyone-in-the-business-who-transitions-into-directing-as-a/) [Fred Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-savage/) ## More by Penny Marshall > [I'm not a hockey fan. I'm not a golf fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/i-m-not-a-hockey-fan-i-m-not-a-golf-fan/) [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) > [I'm very happy to watch a video at home with a friend rather than do dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/i-m-very-happy-to-watch-a-video-at-home-with-a-friend-rather-than-do/) [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) > [If you're not having a good time, find something else that gives you some joy in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/if-you-re-not-having-a-good-time-find-something-else-that-gives-you/) [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) > [I've directed seven movies and know a thing or two about dealing with unexpected crises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/i-ve-directed-seven-movies-and-know-a-thing-or-two-about-dealing-with/) [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) > [When I'm working, I'm obsessively working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/when-i-m-working-i-m-obsessively-working/) [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) > [The truth is that I am not a frump... 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Shit happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/one-night-i-m-at-a-basketball-game-the-next-i-m-being-held-up-by/) [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) > [Do whatever you can that doesn't compromise your morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/do-whatever-you-can-that-doesn-t-compromise-your-morals/) [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) > [I would much rather feel comfortable and feel beautiful, than to feel uncomfortable, but look fantastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/i-would-much-rather-feel-comfortable-and-feel-beautiful-than-to-feel/) [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) > [I don't mind if somebody texts me but I'm not a big texter, the things are too small. 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Everything is happening so fast, it feels like there's another studio, another session on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/new-york-is-so-serious-about-the-creation-of-work-everything-is/) [Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/) > [The fact of the matter is that the Internet has brought together millions of people who trust one another for reasons that are unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-huh/the-fact-of-the-matter-is-that-the-internet-has-brought-together/) [Ben Huh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-huh/) > [Everything about Washington is inconsistent, because they say one thing and do another, which is what my opponent, Claire McCaskill, is very, very good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-steelman/everything-about-washington-is-inconsistent-because-they-say-one/) [Sarah Steelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-steelman/) > [In Tunisia, the so-called Yasmin revolution has led to the installation of a relatively moderate Islamic government. 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