--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The biggest lesson we took was when…" description: "\"The biggest lesson we took was when Werner [Herzog] said in a meeting with us that the mother of all challenges is to get your film seen in theater. To..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/sam-pressman-33338_audience_the-biggest-lesson-we-took-was-when-wern_2129912.jpg" --- # The biggest lesson we took was when Werner \[Herzog\] said… ![“The biggest lesson we took was when Werner [Herzog] said in a meeting with us that the mother of all challenges is to get your film seen in theater. To finally share this film has been so gratifying. The way audiences have responded, too.” quote by Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/sam-pressman-33338_audience_the-biggest-lesson-we-took-was-when-wern_2129912.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/sam-pressman-33338_audience_the-biggest-lesson-we-took-was-when-wern_2129912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/sam-pressman-33338_audience_the-biggest-lesson-we-took-was-when-wern_2129912.jpg) > “The biggest lesson we took was when Werner \[Herzog\] said in a meeting with us that the mother of all challenges is to get your film seen in theater. To finally share this film has been so gratifying. The way audiences have responded, too.” [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The core challenge for filmmakers is getting their work shown in theaters, which brings fulfillment and audience reaction. **In simple terms:** Filmmakers need theater exposure for satisfaction and feedback. Key Takeaway Prioritize securing theatrical releases. Themes film distribution audience reception creative fulfillment Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - film festivals - independent cinema releases - release strategies - audience engagement Key Concepts cinema economics artistic validation Questions to Reflect On - How can independent films overcome distribution barriers? - What role does audience feedback play in a filmmaker’s growth? A Different Perspective Theatrical release may be limited by market constraints and streaming alternatives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Biggest Lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-lesson/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Challenges Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges-film-4385121/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Gratifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-gratifying-4075035/) [Film Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-seen-297462/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Share Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share-film-4385120/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Making a film is very gratifying and intoxicating. It does great things to your self-esteem, but pushing people and mentoring them to their full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-bhatt/making-a-film-is-very-gratifying-and-intoxicating-it-does-great/) [Mahesh Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-bhatt/) > [The traditional ways to make a film, the traditional ways to share a film, have all collapsed. There are no gatekeepers, per se, any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/the-traditional-ways-to-make-a-film-the-traditional-ways-to-share-a/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [If you've been in a film that's seen by millions and millions and millions of people, you're more likely to be recognized for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/if-you-ve-been-in-a-film-that-s-seen-by-millions-and-millions-and/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [You want your film to get seen by as many people as possible. I mean nobody makes movies for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-griffiths/you-want-your-film-to-get-seen-by-as-many-people-as-possible-i-mean/) [Megan Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-griffiths/) > [I'm very, very serious about what I do. I think there are a lot of people out there sort of thinking it's anybody's game.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leo/i-m-very-very-serious-about-what-i-do-i-think-there-are-a-lot-of/) [Melissa Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leo/) > [I measure the success of my work by the way I feel about a film before anyone else has seen it. I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-blecher/i-measure-the-success-of-my-work-by-the-way-i-feel-about-a-film/) [Sara Blecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-blecher/) > [As long as somebody finances you, can make a film and get it seen any place and in any language; then, hopefully, it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/as-long-as-somebody-finances-you-can-make-a-film-and-get-it-seen-any/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I feel you need a big film to be seen but then, you also need to do something where you get to perform. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-you-need-a-big-film-to-be-seen-but-then-you-also-need-to-do/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [The living experience of film only happens when a film is seen, and only within the spectator, because they project their own fears, desires,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-lelio/the-living-experience-of-film-only-happens-when-a-film-is-seen-and/) [Sebastian Lelio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-lelio/) > [I started with the fantasy film, 'Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne.' It was a film to be seen to be believed. It was made in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinnu-anand/i-started-with-the-fantasy-film-goopy-gyne-bagha-byne-it-was-a-film/) [Tinnu Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinnu-anand/) > [It is deeply moving, powerful, and disturbing. A film that must be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/it-is-deeply-moving-powerful-and-disturbing-a-film-that-must-be-seen/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [I had seen 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' and I thought that was a different kind of film than I'd seen before, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/i-had-seen-lock-stock-and-two-smoking-barrels-and-i-thought-that-was/) [Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/) > [Filmmaking, like any other art, is a very profound means of human communication; beyond the professional pleasure of succeeding or the pain of failing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-lonergan/filmmaking-like-any-other-art-is-a-very-profound-means-of-human/) [Kenneth Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-lonergan/) > [Taarzan' is a very clean film which can be seen with your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-takia/taarzan-is-a-very-clean-film-which-can-be-seen-with-your-family/) [Ayesha Takia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-takia/) > ['How to Train Your Dragon,' the first one, was a film I'd seen prior to being approached for the sequel. I don't often watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-harington/how-to-train-your-dragon-the-first-one-was-a-film-i-d-seen-prior-to/) [Kit Harington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-harington/) ## More by Sam Pressman > [Because of Walter, we did it the other way around. We also worked with an awesome sound designer named Will Patterson who just worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/because-of-walter-we-did-it-the-other-way-around-we-also-worked-with/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [First, the three of us holed up in winter in a cabin and took the 500 hours down to twelve hours. Then we found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/first-the-three-of-us-holed-up-in-winter-in-a-cabin-and-took-the-500/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [There were the classic challenges any tourist faces, like getting lost, getting sick, losing things, getting in a fight... All these things happened numerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/there-were-the-classic-challenges-any-tourist-faces-like-getting-lost/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [Fitzcarraldo is that metonymic character that's unwilling to give up on his dreams. Meeting Walter was the point in which all of these dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/fitzcarraldo-is-that-metonymic-character-that-s-unwilling-to-give-up/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [The lessons learned on a pure practical production standpoint were immense. It instilled a faith that you can accomplish what you want if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/the-lessons-learned-on-a-pure-practical-production-standpoint-were/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [I worked on "Tree of Life." It was just magical. It was like a little family. A fleeting, beautiful alliance to forge something meaningful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/i-worked-on-tree-of-life-it-was-just-magical-it-was-like-a-little/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [Herzog and Malick both have this very unique naturalist intentionality to their process. It's about creating the mood, creating the focus and having discipline,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/herzog-and-malick-both-have-this-very-unique-naturalist/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [It was Herzog, the man himself. He was so welcoming and kind and not at all the persona you'd seen in a magazine, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/it-was-herzog-the-man-himself-he-was-so-welcoming-and-kind-and-not-at/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [Fitzcarraldo is a mad dreamer. He's willing to sacrifice everything in order to make his vision of an opera house. That metaphor of pulling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/fitzcarraldo-is-a-mad-dreamer-he-s-willing-to-sacrifice-everything-in/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [Malick is so far on the other side of the spectrum in terms of his character. Malick is a complete recluse, and not at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/malick-is-so-far-on-the-other-side-of-the-spectrum-in-terms-of-his/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [It's organic. It's like a river. One stream comes in and it meets another stream and becomes the Amazon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/it-s-organic-it-s-like-a-river-one-stream-comes-in-and-it-meets/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [At one point, we were stuck at the border of Peru and Colombia and met this large Haitian population that was stranded there without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/at-one-point-we-were-stuck-at-the-border-of-peru-and-colombia-and-met/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [So to watch that production was just the most insane vision of a filmmaker being unrelenting in his will to create. Learning more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/so-to-watch-that-production-was-just-the-most-insane-vision-of-a/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [What we definitely agree with Walter on is that filmmaking is teamwork. It's one of the only arts that is truly based in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/what-we-definitely-agree-with-walter-on-is-that-filmmaking-is/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) [Explore all 15 Sam Pressman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. 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My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The biggest lesson we took was when Werner [Herzog] said in a meeting with us that the mother of all challenges is to get your film seen in theater. To finally share this film has been so gratifying. 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