--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We hate it when movies, right off the…" description: "\"We hate it when movies, right off the bat, tell you who this character is, where they're from, why they are the way they are. Even 'Vertigo,' one of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ryan-fleck-12805_character_we-hate-it-when-movies-right-off-the-bat_1407752.jpg" --- # We hate it when movies, right off the bat, tell you who… ![“We hate it when movies, right off the bat, tell you who this character is, where they're from, why they are the way they are. Even 'Vertigo,' one of the greatest movies ever made, starts off by explaining why Jimmy Stewart has this fear of heights.” quote by Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ryan-fleck-12805_character_we-hate-it-when-movies-right-off-the-bat_1407752.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ryan-fleck-12805_character_we-hate-it-when-movies-right-off-the-bat_1407752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ryan-fleck-12805_character_we-hate-it-when-movies-right-off-the-bat_1407752.jpg) > “We hate it when movies, right off the bat, tell you who this character is, where they're from, why they are the way they are. Even 'Vertigo,' one of the greatest movies ever made, starts off by explaining why Jimmy Stewart has this fear of heights.” [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes early exposition that tells audience character backstory, reducing mystery. **In simple terms:** Dislikes upfront character explanations that kill intrigue. Key Takeaway Prefer subtle character reveal. Themes storytelling film analysis character development Mood analytical critical Type film criticism narrative theory When to use this quote - screenwriting - film viewing - education - creative writing Key Concepts narrative mystery audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - How does early exposition affect your immersion? - When is explicit backstory useful? A Different Perspective Some stories benefit from context; not all audiences dislike exposition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hitchcock/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) ## Related quotes > [Vertigo is probably my favourite Hitchcock film and probably one of my favourite films of all time. It's a film that I'm obsessed with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/vertigo-is-probably-my-favourite-hitchcock-film-and-probably-one-of/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [Champagne and Hitchcock's Vertigo...a perfect combination, if I do say so myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-brie/champagne-and-hitchcock-s-vertigo-a-perfect-combination-if-i-do-say/) [Alison Brie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-brie/) > [I loved cinema from a very young age. I was also obsessed with Hitchcock and actresses like Kim Novak in Vertigo. They all played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erdem-moral-oglu/i-loved-cinema-from-a-very-young-age-i-was-also-obsessed-with/) [Erdem Moral?oglu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erdem-moral-oglu/) > [That's a little homage in a way to that and also to create that sort of creepy atmosphere that Hitchcock did. Vertigo was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kaufman/that-s-a-little-homage-in-a-way-to-that-and-also-to-create-that-sort/) [Philip Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kaufman/) > [I think Hitchcock had a thing about hills: think of the house on the hill in 'Psycho.' Then, in 'Vertigo,' Scottie is forever traversing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-coulter/i-think-hitchcock-had-a-thing-about-hills-think-of-the-house-on-the/) Allen Coulter > [I hate movies that take a long time to shoot or directors that labor over every shot or do excessive amounts of coverage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-hate-movies-that-take-a-long-time-to-shoot-or-directors-that-labor/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [As much as I hate his movies, Oliver Stone has an aspiration I admire, and that is that he wants his art to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/as-much-as-i-hate-his-movies-oliver-stone-has-an-aspiration-i-admire/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [I hate movies. They're so boring. So tedious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-hate-movies-they-re-so-boring-so-tedious/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [If there's one thing I hate, it's the movies. Don't even mention them to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-there-s-one-thing-i-hate-it-s-the-movies-don-t-even-mention-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even if people hate my other movies, and hate me, or whatever, I think from this point of view, Postal is the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwe-boll/even-if-people-hate-my-other-movies-and-hate-me-or-whatever-i-think/) [Uwe Boll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwe-boll/) > [There are movie sites that love movies and there are movie sites that are just bitter people that just hate movies. I find Movieline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/there-are-movie-sites-that-love-movies-and-there-are-movie-sites-that/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [I hate those movies where hundreds of people get blown up and there are jokes afterward. They poison the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reiner/i-hate-those-movies-where-hundreds-of-people-get-blown-up-and-there/) [Rob Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reiner/) > [I hate movies that tell people what to think. I'm proud that Democrats thought 'Thank You For Smoking' was their film and Republicans thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reitman/i-hate-movies-that-tell-people-what-to-think-i-m-proud-that-democrats/) [Jason Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reitman/) > [One thing I hate in movies is when the camera starts circling around the characters. I find that totally fake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeshi-kitano/one-thing-i-hate-in-movies-is-when-the-camera-starts-circling-around/) [Takeshi Kitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeshi-kitano/) > [I really hate the movies that you can see the stunt double.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iko-uwais/i-really-hate-the-movies-that-you-can-see-the-stunt-double/) [Iko Uwais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iko-uwais/) ## More by Ryan Fleck > [I think anyone who wants to go up against Captain Marvel ought to be worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/i-think-anyone-who-wants-to-go-up-against-captain-marvel-ought-to-be/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [We had no interest in making a traditional sports movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/we-had-no-interest-in-making-a-traditional-sports-movie/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [That's the most important quality for any actor, for us: someone who can communicate what they're feeling without saying, 'This is how I feel...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/that-s-the-most-important-quality-for-any-actor-for-us-someone-who/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [Everything is a mess around our house. We do all our work here, but we try to get out once a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/everything-is-a-mess-around-our-house-we-do-all-our-work-here-but-we/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [Well, going way back, when we were making short films, it was just the two of us. Literally, Anna had her little camcorder and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/well-going-way-back-when-we-were-making-short-films-it-was-just-the/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [Filmmaking is kind of a vain hobby when maybe we should all be taking to the streets. But it seems irresponsible not to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/filmmaking-is-kind-of-a-vain-hobby-when-maybe-we-should-all-be-taking/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [Do the Right Thing' was really the first movie I'd seen that not only entertained me - it made me laugh and I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/do-the-right-thing-was-really-the-first-movie-i-d-seen-that-not-only/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [I think on our first two movies we weren't really writing for anybody else above us and that's not to say that movies aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/i-think-on-our-first-two-movies-we-weren-t-really-writing-for-anybody/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [Any industry where there's a lot of money to be made and there are poor people involved, there's going to be some exploitation on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/any-industry-where-there-s-a-lot-of-money-to-be-made-and-there-are/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [For us, the biggest thing is casting and making sure that every role has the right fit and that person understands the role, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/for-us-the-biggest-thing-is-casting-and-making-sure-that-every-role/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [It was cool to meet Stan Lee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/it-was-cool-to-meet-stan-lee/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [If I hear Anna say something, and I completely misheard her say it, and she goes, 'That's not what I said, but that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/if-i-hear-anna-say-something-and-i-completely-misheard-her-say-it-and/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [The casting process for 'Hate Mail' just got so difficult. Once you lock in one person and then you try to find the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/the-casting-process-for-hate-mail-just-got-so-difficult-once-you-lock/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [Nowadays when you're shooting HD people will walk in front of the camera, it can just be rolling all the time - nobody cares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/nowadays-when-you-re-shooting-hd-people-will-walk-in-front-of-the/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [We learned that, when people are looking around, waiting for you to decide on what to do next, it's often best to just say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/we-learned-that-when-people-are-looking-around-waiting-for-you-to/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) [Explore all 53 Ryan Fleck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) ## 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": "We hate it when movies, right off the bat, tell you who this character is, where they're from, why they are the way they are. 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