--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The biggest mistake I made was not having…" description: "\"The biggest mistake I made was not having a full-time producer. I was securing locations and wardrobe and making sure people get called to show up on t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/shane-carruth-11440_biggest-mistake_the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-not-havin_1712015.jpg" --- # The biggest mistake I made was not having a full-time… ![“The biggest mistake I made was not having a full-time producer. I was securing locations and wardrobe and making sure people get called to show up on time and getting the film to the lab and getting the camera, and all this stuff that I'm happy to do, but if I'm doing every little thing, I'm not…” quote by Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/shane-carruth-11440_biggest-mistake_the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-not-havin_1712015.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/shane-carruth-11440_biggest-mistake_the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-not-havin_1712015.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/shane-carruth-11440_biggest-mistake_the-biggest-mistake-i-made-was-not-havin_1712015.jpg) > “The biggest mistake I made was not having a full-time producer. I was securing locations and wardrobe and making sure people get called to show up on time and getting the film to the lab and getting the camera, and all this stuff that I'm happy to do, but if I'm doing every little thing, I'm not concentrating on my story. So it never gets any better than the script.” [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on production details distracts from developing the story, limiting the film’s quality. **In simple terms:** Too many tasks dilute creative focus. Key Takeaway Delegate production to protect storytelling. Themes filmmaking focus delegation Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice industry. When to use this quote - independent film production - budget constraints - team building Key Concepts creative process project management Questions to Reflect On - What tasks could you outsource? - How does delegation improve narrative depth? A Different Perspective If you handle everything, the story suffers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-script-1255565/) [Biggest mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-mistake/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Concentrating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentrating/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Lab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-lab-1255564/) [Getting Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-film-353854/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Labs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labs/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Location](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/location/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistake Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-having-424908/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Producers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producers/) [Scripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripts/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Wardrobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wardrobe/) ## Related quotes > [There are mothers that feel they made a mistake by having a kid at a very young age and they didn't get to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letoya-luckett/there-are-mothers-that-feel-they-made-a-mistake-by-having-a-kid-at-a/) [LeToya Luckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letoya-luckett/) > [Any glamorous moment you might mistake me for having is always pretend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-dennings/any-glamorous-moment-you-might-mistake-me-for-having-is-always-pretend/) [Kat Dennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-dennings/) > [Never apologize on stage. Most people never notice when you make a mistake or if you are having a bad show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-prettyman/never-apologize-on-stage-most-people-never-notice-when-you-make-a/) [Tristan Prettyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-prettyman/) > [Improv plays such a huge role in finding great lines - you'll be surprised at what comes out of your mind inadvertently. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/improv-plays-such-a-huge-role-in-finding-great-lines-you-ll-be/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [I wake up to an email from the writers with the new script, and I always get so excited because I know it'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailee-madison/i-wake-up-to-an-email-from-the-writers-with-the-new-script-and-i/) [Bailee Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailee-madison/) > [Let me tell you what, reality is better than any script you could ever write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-white/let-me-tell-you-what-reality-is-better-than-any-script-you-could-ever/) [Dana White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-white/) > [The better the script, the less money there is. That's just the economics of the studio system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/the-better-the-script-the-less-money-there-is-that-s-just-the/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [If I were to write a book about the progress of getting to a third film, it would be a long one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/if-i-were-to-write-a-book-about-the-progress-of-getting-to-a-third/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [I don't want to just do any acting role that comes just for the sake of getting in a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sean/i-don-t-want-to-just-do-any-acting-role-that-comes-just-for-the-sake/) [Jay Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sean/) > [I've learned a lot about getting film sensibilities on digital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hillcoat/i-ve-learned-a-lot-about-getting-film-sensibilities-on-digital/) [John Hillcoat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hillcoat/) > [Getting into film production was obviously the next step once we had consolidated our music business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhushan-kumar/getting-into-film-production-was-obviously-the-next-step-once-we-had/) [Bhushan Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhushan-kumar/) > [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 think the whole DVD craze has provided opportunities for material that, for those interested in it, explains the whole history and background in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-bauer/i-think-the-whole-dvd-craze-has-provided-opportunities-for-material/) [Steven Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-bauer/) > [I come from a place where getting a call to do a film is a big thing. I would work double hard to better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-deverakonda/i-come-from-a-place-where-getting-a-call-to-do-a-film-is-a-big-thing/) [Vijay Deverakonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-deverakonda/) > [I'm always happy when I learn more about communication in the wide free scope of that word. So next is a move, getting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-andrews/i-m-always-happy-when-i-learn-more-about-communication-in-the-wide/) [Giuseppe Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-andrews/) ## More by Shane Carruth > [I never set out to make a movie that was everything to everybody; if that were the case, we could all just take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-never-set-out-to-make-a-movie-that-was-everything-to-everybody-if/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I feel like we want to compartmentalise things and say, 'Well, that's emotional, artistic and subjective, while this is intellectual, objective and measured.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-feel-like-we-want-to-compartmentalise-things-and-say-well-that-s/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I never got into 'MacGyver,' but 'All the President's Men' and 'The Conversation' were big for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-never-got-into-macgyver-but-all-the-president-s-men-and-the/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I've always been anxious about 'Primer.' There's good things about it, but all I've seen for a long time is the flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-ve-always-been-anxious-about-primer-there-s-good-things-about-it/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I think I'll always want to write and direct. I'm interested in producing and helping other people tell stories. But I'm still in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-think-i-ll-always-want-to-write-and-direct-i-m-interested-in/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [Going to grocery stores is almost my favorite thing to do to calm myself down. There's something about just walking aisle after aisle making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/going-to-grocery-stores-is-almost-my-favorite-thing-to-do-to-calm/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [All I know is that as an audience member, I am less and less inclined to go to the theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/all-i-know-is-that-as-an-audience-member-i-am-less-and-less-inclined/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I don't read books on how to write screenplays just because I'm stubborn. So it's all sort of made up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-don-t-read-books-on-how-to-write-screenplays-just-because-i-m/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [Probably the TV show I've watched the most is 'How It's Made' on the History Channel. I could watch 24 hours of 'How It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/probably-the-tv-show-i-ve-watched-the-most-is-how-it-s-made-on-the/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [My favorite films are the ones that I walk away from and I know I saw a story. I saw the core part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/my-favorite-films-are-the-ones-that-i-walk-away-from-and-i-know-i-saw/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [In school, when I got into upper-level math, there would be times when I would wake up from a dream and have - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/in-school-when-i-got-into-upper-level-math-there-would-be-times-when/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > ['Upstream Color' in particular, it's got to infect culture at some level in order to have a life of its own. Then it'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/upstream-color-in-particular-it-s-got-to-infect-culture-at-some-level/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I find 'Fatal Attraction' really romantic. I really like the seduction. Almost every time I see it, I'm surprised when it goes dark. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-find-fatal-attraction-really-romantic-i-really-like-the-seduction/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I don't believe that narrative works when it's trying to teach a lesson or speak a factual truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-don-t-believe-that-narrative-works-when-it-s-trying-to-teach-a/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I got a degree in math, from not a good school in Texas, and then I went to work as a software engineer. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-got-a-degree-in-math-from-not-a-good-school-in-texas-and-then-i/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) [Explore all 60 Shane Carruth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) ## More Biggest mistake quotes > [The biggest mistake girls make is thinking the guy who hurt them once wont do it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-mistake-girls-make-is-thinking-the-guy-who-hurt-them-once/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The biggest mistake I see with people who are new to CrossFit is trying to advance too quickly. Just because you can do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/the-biggest-mistake-i-see-with-people-who-are-new-to-crossfit-is/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [If you leave the one you love angry,without saying I Love You, or Goodbye, It could be the most biggest mistake of your life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-stewart/if-you-leave-the-one-you-love-angry-without-saying-i-love-you-or/) [Joy Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-stewart/) > [My biggest mistake is love you and take you for granted. I'll regret it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-biggest-mistake-is-love-you-and-take-you-for-granted-i-ll-regret/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The biggest mistake people make when trying to be authentic is just that: they try. They see these role models of what an "authentic"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/the-biggest-mistake-people-make-when-trying-to-be-authentic-is-just/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [I had a couple of agents, but then I went on my own. I thought I could negotiate my own deals and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-grobbelaar/i-had-a-couple-of-agents-but-then-i-went-on-my-own-i-thought-i-could/) [Bruce Grobbelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-grobbelaar/) > [The biggest mistake I've seen people make with their careers is, when they're good, after two or three years - and they happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-make-with-their-careers-is-when/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [The press keep asking me, 'What was your biggest mistake?' But if I had made a big mistake, they'd all be writing about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/the-press-keep-asking-me-what-was-your-biggest-mistake-but-if-i-had/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [The galleries are full of critics. They play no ball, they fight no fights. They make no mistakes because they attempt nothing. Down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-shoup/the-galleries-are-full-of-critics-they-play-no-ball-they-fight-no/) [David M. Shoup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-shoup/) > [“I’m sorry, babe. I’m sorry I hurt you. I was stupid. I fucked up. I thought I was doing you a favor by keeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-abel/i-m-sorry-babe-i-m-sorry-i-hurt-you-i-was-stupid-i-fucked-up-i/) [E.M. Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-abel/) > [“The biggest mistake we commit in life is to think that others will get affected by our action and we shall leave some effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himmilicious/the-biggest-mistake-we-commit-in-life-is-to-think-that-others-will/) [Himmilicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himmilicious/) > [“At the beginning of the semester, when you asked who I loved the most, an image of my mother popped in my head. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brianne/at-the-beginning-of-the-semester-when-you-asked-who-i-loved-the-most/) [Sarah Brianne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brianne/) > [“Truly Falling In Love With you is not one of the greatest mistake of my Life but Trusting you madly is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kashi-khan/truly-falling-in-love-with-you-is-not-one-of-the-greatest-mistake-of/) [Kashi khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kashi-khan/) > [I thought doing reality TV would be the greatest success of my life or the biggest mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethenny-frankel/i-thought-doing-reality-tv-would-be-the-greatest-success-of-my-life/) [Bethenny Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethenny-frankel/) > [Is that your ex? No, that's the biggest mistake of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-martin/is-that-your-ex-no-that-s-the-biggest-mistake-of-my-life/) [Brandon Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-martin/) [Browse all 337 Biggest mistake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-mistake/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The biggest mistake I made was not having a full-time producer. I was securing locations and wardrobe and making sure people get called to show up on time and getting the film to the lab and getting the camera, and all this stuff that I'm happy to do, but if I'm doing every little thing, I'm not concentrating on my story. 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