--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Plays are nearly always about the…" description: "\"“Plays are nearly always about the consequences of events while films are usually about the events. The what-happens-next factor is essential in film.”..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/richard-toscan-272828_cinema_plays-are-nearly-always-about-the-conseq_1155291.jpg" --- # Plays are nearly always about the consequences of events… ![“Plays are nearly always about the consequences of events while films are usually about the events. The what-happens-next factor is essential in film.” quote by Richard Toscan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/richard-toscan-272828_cinema_plays-are-nearly-always-about-the-conseq_1155291.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/richard-toscan-272828_cinema_plays-are-nearly-always-about-the-conseq_1155291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/richard-toscan-272828_cinema_plays-are-nearly-always-about-the-conseq_1155291.jpg) > ““Plays are nearly always about the consequences of events while films are usually about the events. The what-happens-next factor is essential in film.”” Richard Toscan ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Films focus on events while plays emphasize consequences; the “what‑happens‑next” element is crucial in cinema. **In simple terms:** Films prioritize events; plays prioritize consequences. Key Takeaway Balance both for storytelling. Themes storytelling film theater structure cause‑effect Mood analytical thoughtful Type Cinema:1 Creative writing:1 Film:1 Plays:1 Screenwriting:1 Theater:1 Theatre:0 Consequences Events:0 Films Usually:0 Essential Film:0 When to use this quote - film studies - playwriting Key Concepts narrative theory screenwriting dramatic tension Questions to Reflect On - How does narrative focus affect audience? - Which format do you prefer? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Creative writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-writing/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Screenwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriting/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [“As is usually the case, those who lived at the time did not fully comprehend the enormous consequences of the events they witnessed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justo-l-gonz-lez/as-is-usually-the-case-those-who-lived-at-the-time-did-not-fully/) [Justo L. González](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justo-l-gonz-lez/) > [If 'Bhoot' was called 'Man Ke Rishte,' no one would be interested. The title is a very essential part of a film. It subconsciously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-gopal-varma/if-bhoot-was-called-man-ke-rishte-no-one-would-be-interested-the/) [Ram Gopal Varma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-gopal-varma/) > [Music is an essential part of any film, but when it comes to Mercury' it actually became a medium of communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santhosh-narayanan/music-is-an-essential-part-of-any-film-but-when-it-comes-to-mercury/) [Santhosh Narayanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santhosh-narayanan/) > [The road to Hell is paved with unbought stuffed dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-unbought-stuffed-dogs/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [War films usually so dark or dirty or intense, and sometimes they guide you to feeling a certain way against war, in general. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gabel/war-films-usually-so-dark-or-dirty-or-intense-and-sometimes-they/) [Seth Gabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gabel/) > [I don't watch a lot of films. I'm usually involved in making them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/i-don-t-watch-a-lot-of-films-i-m-usually-involved-in-making-them/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [When I do feature films, I usually have a very strong sense of what I want to do. I have topics and subjects, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithy-panh/when-i-do-feature-films-i-usually-have-a-very-strong-sense-of-what-i/) [Rithy Panh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithy-panh/) > [When people approach me about my films it is usually to tell me how much they hate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-winterbottom/when-people-approach-me-about-my-films-it-is-usually-to-tell-me-how/) [Michael Winterbottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-winterbottom/) > [With films it's not usually that I have a particular character I'm looking for; I'll read the character and my imagination will start spinning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-wilson/with-films-it-s-not-usually-that-i-have-a-particular-character-i-m/) [Lydia Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-wilson/) > [I'm interested in the kind of anti-establishment ethos that goes with making an independent movie. I like to bring that to studio films -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-m-interested-in-the-kind-of-anti-establishment-ethos-that-goes-with/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [I'm not always happy when Hollywood does remakes of films, but that's usually when they have a very, very, very good film, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-m-not-always-happy-when-hollywood-does-remakes-of-films-but-that-s/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Mindless films are usually far more entertaining because the audience just comes for a laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-dhupia/mindless-films-are-usually-far-more-entertaining-because-the-audience/) [Neha Dhupia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-dhupia/) > [All of a sudden, there are great Japanese films, or great Italian films, or great Australian films. It's usually because there are a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/all-of-a-sudden-there-are-great-japanese-films-or-great-italian-films/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [My films usually start with an idea that I get while walking the streets. For example, I got the idea for 'Guard Dog' when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-plympton/my-films-usually-start-with-an-idea-that-i-get-while-walking-the/) [Bill Plympton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-plympton/) > [When we look at films, we usually see only the action. Yet it is the decision to act that helps us understand how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-seger/when-we-look-at-films-we-usually-see-only-the-action-yet-it-is-the/) Linda Seger ## 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 > [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": "“Plays are nearly always about the consequences of events while films are usually about the events. The what-happens-next factor is essential in film.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Toscan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-toscan/plays-are-nearly-always-about-the-consequences-of-events-while-films/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-toscan/plays-are-nearly-always-about-the-consequences-of-events-while-films/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/richard-toscan-272828_cinema_plays-are-nearly-always-about-the-conseq_1155291.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/richard-toscan-272828_cinema_plays-are-nearly-always-about-the-conseq_1155291.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/richard-toscan-272828_cinema_plays-are-nearly-always-about-the-conseq_1155291.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Plays are nearly always about the consequences of events while films are usually about the events. The…” — Richard Toscan", "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": "Richard Toscan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-toscan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Plays are nearly always about the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-toscan/plays-are-nearly-always-about-the-consequences-of-events-while-films/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-toscan/plays-are-nearly-always-about-the-consequences-of-events-while-films/#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 } } ] } ```