Becomes Quote by Ridley Scott
“By going to a preview, a director becomes insidiously infected by the process, so by the end of it, you're thinking, 'It may be a bit too long.'”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2019 interview with Variety, 2019
Directors absorb a film's process during previews, leading to doubts about length.
In simple terms: Seeing a film early can make directors question its runtime.
Key Takeaway
Trust your instincts but stay open to feedback.
Themes
creative process
film length
director's intuition
Mood
cautious
thoughtful
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- film editing
- test screenings
- director's cut decisions
Key Concepts
editing
story pacing
preview screenings
Questions to Reflect On
- When should a director trust initial reactions?
- How can feedback be balanced with vision?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on early impressions may overlook later improvements.
![“When I go to the movies, and I have to sit through ten previews of films that look [alike] and tell the whole story, you know that we've reached an age of consensus. And consensus is the worst thing for us. We all agree to agree. That's where we lose it as a culture. We have to move away from that.” quote by Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cc1/oliver-stone-1812_age_when-i-go-to-the-movies-and-i-have-to-si_810722.jpg)
![“And how deeply do I let business considerations affect [screenwriting] choices that might otherwise be more or less esthetic? . . . Do I choose the upbeat rather than the downer ending because I know it will score better at the preview? Can the idea be sold in a single sentence? Can it compete…” quote by Edward Zwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/972/edward-zwick-24586_aliens_and-how-deeply-do-i-let-business-conside_302984.jpg)
