--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing with a film in mind - writing…" description: "\"Writing with a film in mind - writing like a screenplay - is a sureshot recipe for disaster.\" — Ravi Subramanian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/ravi-subramanian-5634_cinema_writing-with-a-film-in-mind-writing-like_2944543.jpg" --- # Writing with a film in mind - writing like a screenplay… ![“Writing with a film in mind - writing like a screenplay - is a sureshot recipe for disaster.” quote by Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/ravi-subramanian-5634_cinema_writing-with-a-film-in-mind-writing-like_2944543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/ravi-subramanian-5634_cinema_writing-with-a-film-in-mind-writing-like_2944543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/ravi-subramanian-5634_cinema_writing-with-a-film-in-mind-writing-like_2944543.jpg) > “Writing with a film in mind - writing like a screenplay - is a sureshot recipe for disaster.” [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing with a cinematic mindset can constrain narrative depth, leading to formulaic outcomes. **In simple terms:** Screenplay style limits storytelling. Key Takeaway Write for the story, not the screen. Themes writing film creativity Mood analytical reflective Type creative inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - workshops - publishing Key Concepts narrative structure genre constraints Questions to Reflect On - When does cinematic writing enhance a story? - How to balance visual and literary elements? A Different Perspective May dismiss visual storytelling benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Film Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-mind-2313169/) [Like Screenplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-screenplay-4407025/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Screenplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplay/) [Screenplay Sureshot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenplay-sureshot-4407026/) [Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-film-1273133/) ## Related quotes > [I try to write cinematically. Let me define what I mean by that. First of all, I try to write in a visual way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-peretti/i-try-to-write-cinematically-let-me-define-what-i-mean-by-that-first/) [Frank Peretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-peretti/) > [The novel's not organized like a screenplay. If you shot the novel, you'd have a twelve-hour movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-novel-s-not-organized-like-a-screenplay-if-you-shot-the-novel-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [There's a different film being made in every mind. And of course, the star of the film is the mind, the personality, the self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-s-a-different-film-being-made-in-every-mind-and-of-course-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Well consciously what we were doing when making the film was, we really wanted to make sure it was a film about - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-burk/well-consciously-what-we-were-doing-when-making-the-film-was-we/) [Bryan Burk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-burk/) > [I think writing a book with film in mind is a way to write a really bad books. You can usually tell those books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-think-writing-a-book-with-film-in-mind-is-a-way-to-write-a-really/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [Some people have told me they remember the film that one of my images is derived from, but in fact I had no film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/some-people-have-told-me-they-remember-the-film-that-one-of-my-images/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I'm as flighty as anybody. You put a lot out there. I've been through the process a lot. When I play a major role,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-as-flighty-as-anybody-you-put-a-lot-out-there-i-ve-been-through/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [“I do not recommend writing a screenplay in two weeks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-hall/i-do-not-recommend-writing-a-screenplay-in-two-weeks/) [Christy Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-hall/) > [Writing a screenplay is like climbing a mountain. When you’re climbing, all you can see is the rock in front of you and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/writing-a-screenplay-is-like-climbing-a-mountain-when-you-re-climbing/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [My experience is, I do a table reading, and it's literally like it's written in colossal neon lights what's wrong with the screenplay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/my-experience-is-i-do-a-table-reading-and-it-s-literally-like-it-s/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [It's really hard to write a screenplay, it's nauseating. All those great writers that tried to write screenplays, they couldn't do it, most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hampton-fancher/it-s-really-hard-to-write-a-screenplay-it-s-nauseating-all-those/) [Hampton Fancher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hampton-fancher/) > [I think longer that you sit on a screenplay the longer you sit. I'm a firm believer that you can write the magic out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-farmer/i-think-longer-that-you-sit-on-a-screenplay-the-longer-you-sit-i-m-a/) [Todd Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-farmer/) > [A screenplay is really an instruction manual, and it can be interpreted in any number of ways. The casting, the choice of location, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/a-screenplay-is-really-an-instruction-manual-and-it-can-be/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [I don't generate a storyline and then fill it out in the course of writing. The story actually generates in the course of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/i-don-t-generate-a-storyline-and-then-fill-it-out-in-the-course-of/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [During script narrations, if I feel the screenplay mood jumping abruptly, I tell the director, and they work on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/during-script-narrations-if-i-feel-the-screenplay-mood-jumping/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) ## More by Ravi Subramanian > [The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it seven to eight times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have-to-work-on-it-seven-to-eight/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [As authors, we know that it is very difficult to unleash one's creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/as-authors-we-know-that-it-is-very-difficult-to-unleash-one-s/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [When you write stories linking reality to a big storyline, people relate to it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/when-you-write-stories-linking-reality-to-a-big-storyline-people/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [It is important to send your work to as many publishers as possible. For every one publisher who may show interest in your work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/it-is-important-to-send-your-work-to-as-many-publishers-as-possible/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [While a lot of management development books try to teach you a lesson or give you a scenario of what corporate culture and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/while-a-lot-of-management-development-books-try-to-teach-you-a-lesson/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [I read almost everything that comes my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/i-read-almost-everything-that-comes-my-way/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [To me, a good storyteller should be able to tell stories across genres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/to-me-a-good-storyteller-should-be-able-to-tell-stories-across-genres/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [To make time for writing, one has to take time out from somewhere. Obviously, a fair amount of time that you spend with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/to-make-time-for-writing-one-has-to-take-time-out-from-somewhere/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [In Indian companies, people aren't too worried about the pace of growth as long as you're setting up a business which will survive for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/in-indian-companies-people-aren-t-too-worried-about-the-pace-of/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [For me, writing is fun. The day I quit my job and take up writing full time, writing will become just another job. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/for-me-writing-is-fun-the-day-i-quit-my-job-and-take-up-writing-full/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [I cannot write in isolation. I write with people around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/i-cannot-write-in-isolation-i-write-with-people-around-me/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [Saying 'I am not interested in politics' is no guarantee that people will leave you alone. The politically-inclined will single you out as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/saying-i-am-not-interested-in-politics-is-no-guarantee-that-people/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [Any author gets inspired by the experiences and events that happen to him or his immediate circle. While that's where the seed or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/any-author-gets-inspired-by-the-experiences-and-events-that-happen-to/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [There's a market for fiction based on financial services. People wanted me to write stories based on this sector. There's a gap in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/there-s-a-market-for-fiction-based-on-financial-services-people/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [For 'The Bestseller'... there was hardly any research, but I had to give each person a quirk and develop their stories so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/for-the-bestseller-there-was-hardly-any-research-but-i-had-to-give/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) [Explore all 100 Ravi Subramanian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) ## 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": "Writing with a film in mind - writing like a screenplay - is a sureshot recipe for disaster.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ravi Subramanian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/writing-with-a-film-in-mind-writing-like-a-screenplay-is-a-sureshot/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/writing-with-a-film-in-mind-writing-like-a-screenplay-is-a-sureshot/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/ravi-subramanian-5634_cinema_writing-with-a-film-in-mind-writing-like_2944543.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/ravi-subramanian-5634_cinema_writing-with-a-film-in-mind-writing-like_2944543.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/ravi-subramanian-5634_cinema_writing-with-a-film-in-mind-writing-like_2944543.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Writing with a film in mind - writing like a screenplay - is a sureshot recipe for disaster.” — Ravi Subramanian", "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": "Ravi Subramanian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Writing with a film in mind...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/writing-with-a-film-in-mind-writing-like-a-screenplay-is-a-sureshot/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/writing-with-a-film-in-mind-writing-like-a-screenplay-is-a-sureshot/#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 } } ] } ```