--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dean [Devlin, Emmerich's partner on…" description: "\"Dean [Devlin, Emmerich's partner on \"Independence Day\"] and I always said that we'd only do it when we had a really good story that excites us both, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/roland-emmerich-16132_dean_dean-devlin-emmerich-s-partner-on-indepe_479179.jpg" --- # Dean \[Devlin, Emmerich's partner on "Independence Day"\]… ![“Dean [Devlin, Emmerich's partner on "Independence Day"] and I always said that we'd only do it when we had a really good story that excites us both, and we have the story written. And we've had it for a year and a half, two years. So we've been ready.” quote by Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/roland-emmerich-16132_dean_dean-devlin-emmerich-s-partner-on-indepe_479179.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/roland-emmerich-16132_dean_dean-devlin-emmerich-s-partner-on-indepe_479179.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/roland-emmerich-16132_dean_dean-devlin-emmerich-s-partner-on-indepe_479179.jpg) > “Dean \[Devlin, Emmerich's partner on "Independence Day"\] and I always said that we'd only do it when we had a really good story that excites us both, and we have the story written. And we've had it for a year and a half, two years. So we've been ready.” [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. They only proceed with a project when they have a compelling story that excites both creators, emphasizing story quality over timing. **In simple terms:** Only start projects with a strong, exciting story. Key Takeaway Prioritize story strength before production. Themes film production story development collaboration excitement Mood determined optimistic strategic Type motivational pragmatic When to use this quote - film pitching - scriptwriting - team building Key Concepts creative partnership project management narrative impact Questions to Reflect On - What makes a story compelling enough to start a project? - How do you balance excitement with practicality? A Different Perspective Great stories can still fail without resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dean/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dean-devlin-4123207/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Good story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-story/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Independence day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence-day/) [Partners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partners/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-years/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“He's reading a book called Great Warlocks of the 18th Century, and to get this ball rolling before Dean Devlin shows up and rains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-fischer/he-s-reading-a-book-called-great-warlocks-of-the-18th-century-and-to/) [Rusty Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-fischer/) > [Dr. Okun. Who's named after a special-effects guy named Jeff Okun, who had done Stargate for Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, who did Independence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/dr-okun-who-s-named-after-a-special-effects-guy-named-jeff-okun-who/) [Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/) > [There are shots that I had to walk away from because we had to get the movie in the theaters. There are some in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/there-are-shots-that-i-had-to-walk-away-from-because-we-had-to-get/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [ That one \[in "2012"\] was different because it was all CG, getting washed away by water. In "Independence Day," everything was still done in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/that-one-in-2012-was-different-because-it-was-all-cg-getting-washed/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [ It's still the White House exploding \[in "Independence Day"\]. It was just so provocative, and no one had ever done it before. I remember… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/it-s-still-the-white-house-exploding-in-independence-day-it-was-just/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [I was actually privately in the White House like invited by Clinton to screen 'Independence Day,' so I know how the private residence looks.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/i-was-actually-privately-in-the-white-house-like-invited-by-clinton/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [At the dawn of history India started on her unending quest, and trackless centuries are filled with her striving and the grandeur of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/at-the-dawn-of-history-india-started-on-her-unending-quest-and/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [As for 'Independence Day,' we never intended to do any films in that series beyond the first one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/as-for-independence-day-we-never-intended-to-do-any-films-in-that/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [This is the day, That Our nation sings This is the day That the liberty bell starts to ring This is the day We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/this-is-the-day-that-our-nation-sings-this-is-the-day-that-the/) [Azgraybebly Joslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azgraybebly-joslan/) > [“And if we succeed... If we somehow accomplish this thing that seems so impossible, it will be the most glorious victory imaginable. The Fourth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/and-if-we-succeed-if-we-somehow-accomplish-this-thing-that-seems-so/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [We should take the pledge that Till our last breath we will fight terrorism, We will protect our country with all we have Happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/we-should-take-the-pledge-that-till-our-last-breath-we-will-fight/) [Azgraybebly Joslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azgraybebly-joslan/) > [“Independence means.. enjoying freedom and empowering others too to let them do so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn/independence-means-enjoying-freedom-and-empowering-others-too-to-let/) [Vikrmn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn/) > [I am going to take something I learned over in Israel. Their Independence Day is preceded the 24 hours before with Memorial Day, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/i-am-going-to-take-something-i-learned-over-in-israel-their/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [I've been lucky to be a part of many blockbuster movies... in which it's hard to get to that level of being memorable, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-pullman/i-ve-been-lucky-to-be-a-part-of-many-blockbuster-movies-in-which-it-s/) [Bill Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-pullman/) > [Think about way back then...turn your thoughts way back then...remember the essence way back then...treasured the memories way back then...Feel free to embrace the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/think-about-way-back-then-turn-your-thoughts-way-back-then-remember/) [Louaiq8](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louaiq8/) ## More by Roland Emmerich > [ I was, it was very high. Especially with international (box office), we did something that I didn't think this movie \["2012"\] would do. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/i-was-it-was-very-high-especially-with-international-box-office-we/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [I also, since we have digital cameras, the blue screen composites are so good that I would rather shoot on a stage than there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/i-also-since-we-have-digital-cameras-the-blue-screen-composites-are/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [ In the end \[of the "2012"\], there were no ships, no water, no nothing. Only the interiors \[were real\]. Everything else had to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/in-the-end-of-the-2012-there-were-no-ships-no-water-no-nothing-only/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [Nobody makes movies bad on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/nobody-makes-movies-bad-on-purpose/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [I'm finished with destroying for a while. It's not like I'm running around saying, 'What else can I destroy?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/i-m-finished-with-destroying-for-a-while-it-s-not-like-i-m-running/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [We have certain things where we know they exist or "everybody knows they exist," but naturally nobody can photograph them, because they are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/we-have-certain-things-where-we-know-they-exist-or-everybody-knows/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [A lot of stuff in Wikipedia is not true, and that goes for a lot of people. I sometimes think, "How can that happen?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/a-lot-of-stuff-in-wikipedia-is-not-true-and-that-goes-for-a-lot-of/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [I was actually privately in the White House like invited by Clinton to screen 'Independence Day,' so I know how the private residence looks.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/i-was-actually-privately-in-the-white-house-like-invited-by-clinton/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [I knew that Jaye Davidson would not last because of that. I really liked him and thought he had incredible screen presence and talent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/i-knew-that-jaye-davidson-would-not-last-because-of-that-i-really/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [I'm doing a much smaller movie. It's set in Germany and it's a totally different subject matter. I'm trying to break it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/i-m-doing-a-much-smaller-movie-it-s-set-in-germany-and-it-s-a-totally/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [It doesn't really matter if this movie's a success or not, because it's already out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/it-doesn-t-really-matter-if-this-movie-s-a-success-or-not-because-it/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [If you want to assemble the same people, then you have a big problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/if-you-want-to-assemble-the-same-people-then-you-have-a-big-problem/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [I'm only a stupid filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/i-m-only-a-stupid-filmmaker/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [There are many more good stories about Jaye Davidson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/there-are-many-more-good-stories-about-jaye-davidson/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [There's a rule in Hollywood: stay away from water and stay away from snow, and I had both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/there-s-a-rule-in-hollywood-stay-away-from-water-and-stay-away-from/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) [Explore all 41 Roland Emmerich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) ## More Dean quotes > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [Madaming is the sort of thing that happens to you - like getting a battlefield commission or becoming the dean of women at Stanford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-stanford/madaming-is-the-sort-of-thing-that-happens-to-you-like-getting-a/) [Sally Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-stanford/) > [The first time I met James Franco, he was dressed like James Dean. He was James Dean, literally, filming a biopic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/the-first-time-i-met-james-franco-he-was-dressed-like-james-dean-he/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [While opponents label (Howard) Dean a throwback liberal, The New York Times recently noted that as governor, Dean cut income taxes, reformed welfare and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/while-opponents-label-howard-dean-a-throwback-liberal-the-new-york/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Dean flashed me a smile that promised rule-breaking and breathlessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-kittredge/dean-flashed-me-a-smile-that-promised-rule-breaking-and-breathlessness/) [Caitlin Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-kittredge/) > [ Not only did he \[Dean Acheson\] not suffer fools gladly, he did not suffer them at all. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/not-only-did-he-dean-acheson-not-suffer-fools-gladly-he-did-not/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [There are three things in this world that will survive a nuclear explosion: Twinkies, cockroaches and Dean Ambroses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ambrose/there-are-three-things-in-this-world-that-will-survive-a-nuclear/) [Dean Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ambrose/) > [Dr Dean Burk, who has spent more than fifty years in cancer research, mainly at the National Cancer Institute states: 'More people have died…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-burk/dr-dean-burk-who-has-spent-more-than-fifty-years-in-cancer-research/) [Dean Burk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-burk/) > [George W. Bush is very vulnerable but not if you campaign the way the major candidates - except for Dean and Kucinich - are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/george-w-bush-is-very-vulnerable-but-not-if-you-campaign-the-way-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [So today if you see a person who looks like your teenage fantasy walking down the street, it's probably not your fantasy, but someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/so-today-if-you-see-a-person-who-looks-like-your-teenage-fantasy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Probably the first time I was a boss was when I was associate dean of the graduate school at the University of Southern California.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/probably-the-first-time-i-was-a-boss-was-when-i-was-associate-dean-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dean's California--wild, sweaty, important, the land of lonely and exiled and eccentric lovers come to forgather like birds, and the land where everybody somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/dean-s-california-wild-sweaty-important-the-land-of-lonely-and-exiled/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [It wasn't until I saw James Dean that I began to think that maybe I could actually do this. Movies didn't have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-stamp/it-wasn-t-until-i-saw-james-dean-that-i-began-to-think-that-maybe-i/) [Terence Stamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-stamp/) > [“I knew I could be everything for him that he was for me. I could heal his wounds, be his anchor, treasure him. Together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lane/i-knew-i-could-be-everything-for-him-that-he-was-for-me-i-could-heal/) [Nina Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lane/) > [“I still can’t work out how you two got the best-looking girls in the year,” muttered Dean. “Animal magnetism,” said Ron gloomily, pulling stray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/i-still-can-t-work-out-how-you-two-got-the-best-looking-girls-in-the/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) [Browse all 376 Dean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dean/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dean [Devlin, Emmerich's partner on \"Independence Day\"] and I always said that we'd only do it when we had a really good story that excites us both, and we have the story written. And we've had it for a year and a half, two years. 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