--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the entire script feels formulaic…" description: "\"If the entire script feels formulaic, then you know that the film will be like that. But if it's a really interesting script, and the character happens..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/185/rooney-mara-10551_character_if-the-entire-script-feels-formulaic-the_1626393.jpg" --- # If the entire script feels formulaic, then you know that… ![“If the entire script feels formulaic, then you know that the film will be like that. But if it's a really interesting script, and the character happens to be formulaic, then maybe there's a way of making them more interesting.” quote by Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/185/rooney-mara-10551_character_if-the-entire-script-feels-formulaic-the_1626393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/185/rooney-mara-10551_character_if-the-entire-script-feels-formulaic-the_1626393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/185/rooney-mara-10551_character_if-the-entire-script-feels-formulaic-the_1626393.jpg) > “If the entire script feels formulaic, then you know that the film will be like that. But if it's a really interesting script, and the character happens to be formulaic, then maybe there's a way of making them more interesting.” [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A script’s formulaic nature can be offset by making characters interesting; otherwise the film feels predictable. **In simple terms:** Interesting characters can rescue a formulaic script. Key Takeaway Add depth to characters. Themes storytelling creativity character development Mood analytical creative Type instructional critical When to use this quote - script analysis - character workshops - film production Key Concepts film writing narrative structure Questions to Reflect On - How can you break formulaic patterns? - What makes a character compelling? A Different Perspective Even with interesting characters, a formulaic plot may still feel stale. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ## Related quotes > [Success is not important to me, nor are power or money. If the script feels good, then I'm in. It's that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/success-is-not-important-to-me-nor-are-power-or-money-if-the-script/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [It's funny, every time I start work on a new script, it feels like I'm going outside my comfort zone. But by the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reichardt/it-s-funny-every-time-i-start-work-on-a-new-script-it-feels-like-i-m/) [Kelly Reichardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reichardt/) > ['Flying Jatt' is a different and interesting script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-fernandez/flying-jatt-is-a-different-and-interesting-script/) [Jacqueline Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-fernandez/) > [I've been saying yes to almost every interesting script that comes my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-kapur/i-ve-been-saying-yes-to-almost-every-interesting-script-that-comes-my/) [Pankaj Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-kapur/) > [I look for the character to be something interesting, the script to have a good story and be original, and a director that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hartnett/i-look-for-the-character-to-be-something-interesting-the-script-to/) [Josh Hartnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hartnett/) > [If someone comes with an interesting script where the negative role suits me, I will definitely take it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nani/if-someone-comes-with-an-interesting-script-where-the-negative-role/) [Nani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nani/) > [It's not the actor's job to be interesting; that's the script's job. It's our job to be truthful and brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-goth/it-s-not-the-actor-s-job-to-be-interesting-that-s-the-script-s-job-it/) [Mia Goth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-goth/) > [If I get an interesting script, I will surely do it. I just don't want to do cliche films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atif-aslam/if-i-get-an-interesting-script-i-will-surely-do-it-i-just-don-t-want/) [Atif Aslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atif-aslam/) > [ The script \[of Regression\] wasn't the draw for me. It was largely Alejandro \[Amenabar\] and his way of talking. To hear him talking about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/the-script-of-regression-wasn-t-the-draw-for-me-it-was-largely/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [ hen Baillie \[Walsh, writer and director\] wrote the movie for me I wasn't doing what I'm doing today, so when we actually came to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-craig/hen-baillie-walsh-writer-and-director-wrote-the-movie-for-me-i-wasn-t/) [Daniel Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-craig/) > [I don't have any ego, and I will go and audition for parts if I'm offered an interesting script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/i-don-t-have-any-ego-and-i-will-go-and-audition-for-parts-if-i-m/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [I just do what I want to do, and if it's a rather interesting script - which I found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-plummer/i-just-do-what-i-want-to-do-and-if-it-s-a-rather-interesting-script/) [Christopher Plummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-plummer/) > [I live life without limits and I will go after anything I want with no hesitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-morgan/i-live-life-without-limits-and-i-will-go-after-anything-i-want-with/) [Liv Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-morgan/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) ## More by Rooney Mara > [It's really hard coming of age in today's society, where society wants you to make the decision of what you want to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/it-s-really-hard-coming-of-age-in-today-s-society-where-society-wants/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [There's a certain way people are used to seeing nude women, and that's in a submissive, coy pose, not looking at the camera. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/there-s-a-certain-way-people-are-used-to-seeing-nude-women-and-that-s/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [I guess I don't really measure myself by what others think. So even though I have gotten to work with some amazing directors, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/i-guess-i-don-t-really-measure-myself-by-what-others-think-so-even/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [I try to eat food that hasn't been washed in ammonia and then packaged in the shape of breaded dinosaurs filled with cheese -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/i-try-to-eat-food-that-hasn-t-been-washed-in-ammonia-and-then/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [Marion Cotillard is one of my favorite actresses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/marion-cotillard-is-one-of-my-favorite-actresses/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [It's really helpful when you do something you don't like. You won't make that mistake again. It's like dating a bunch of people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/it-s-really-helpful-when-you-do-something-you-don-t-like-you-won-t/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [There's only so many movies you can do. I start to get really self-loathing and sick of myself. And I think in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/there-s-only-so-many-movies-you-can-do-i-start-to-get-really-self/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [How do we get to equality? I don't think it comes from fear. I think it comes from understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/how-do-we-get-to-equality-i-don-t-think-it-comes-from-fear-i-think-it/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [If the character should be nude in the scene and it makes sense and I trust the person making the film then I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/if-the-character-should-be-nude-in-the-scene-and-it-makes-sense-and-i/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [As a 12-year-old, I think everything seems scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/as-a-12-year-old-i-think-everything-seems-scary/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [I'm not at all funny. I can do dark comedy pretty well, but straight-up comedy, I don't know. I'm much darker. I've been like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/i-m-not-at-all-funny-i-can-do-dark-comedy-pretty-well-but-straight-up/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [People think that I grew up going to Barneys for my back-to-school clothes. I went to the Gap. We lived in a nice house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/people-think-that-i-grew-up-going-to-barneys-for-my-back-to-school/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [I don't find myself intriguing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/i-don-t-find-myself-intriguing/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [I like being alone. I need a lot of alone time as a human. And especially on a movie set when you're around people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/i-like-being-alone-i-need-a-lot-of-alone-time-as-a-human-and/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [I can understand wanting to be invisible and mistrusting people and wanting to understand everything before you engage with the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/i-can-understand-wanting-to-be-invisible-and-mistrusting-people-and/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) [Explore all 64 Rooney Mara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the entire script feels formulaic, then you know that the film will be like that. 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