--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: John Wells and Christopher Chulack were…" description: "\"John Wells and Christopher Chulack were pretty honest from the get-go in our first meeting about 'Southland.' They were looking to create characters th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83f/shawn-hatosy-42810_about_john-wells-and-christopher-chulack-were_2204630.jpg" --- # John Wells and Christopher Chulack were pretty honest from… ![“John Wells and Christopher Chulack were pretty honest from the get-go in our first meeting about 'Southland.' They were looking to create characters that were believable in the environment of the LAPD - multi-dimensional, layered characters with real flaws; good-hearted cops mixed with the perfect…” quote by Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83f/shawn-hatosy-42810_about_john-wells-and-christopher-chulack-were_2204630.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83f/shawn-hatosy-42810_about_john-wells-and-christopher-chulack-were_2204630.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83f/shawn-hatosy-42810_about_john-wells-and-christopher-chulack-were_2204630.jpg) > “John Wells and Christopher Chulack were pretty honest from the get-go in our first meeting about 'Southland.' They were looking to create characters that were believable in the environment of the LAPD - multi-dimensional, layered characters with real flaws; good-hearted cops mixed with the perfect amount of heroism and irony.” [Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authentic, layered characters in police drama reflect real human flaws and heroism, creating compelling storytelling. **In simple terms:** Realistic characters make shows engaging. Key Takeaway Develop characters with depth and contradictions. Themes character development authenticity complexity media storytelling Mood analytical creative Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - screenwriting - casting - directing - audience engagement - critical analysis Key Concepts psychology narrative structure Questions to Reflect On - What makes a TV character feel real? - How do flaws enhance heroism? A Different Perspective Balancing realism with audience expectations can be tricky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Cops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cops/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Flaws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flaws/) [Heroism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroism/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Layered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/layered/) ## Related quotes > [I came from years and years in the direct marketing industry where everything is layered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-randolph/i-came-from-years-and-years-in-the-direct-marketing-industry-where/) [Marc Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-randolph/) > [“...flaky, crisp, layered, and multi-textured. Which was me. Sweet and sour. Soft and crisp. I discovered that these varied elements, that for so long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kergan-edwards-stout/flaky-crisp-layered-and-multi-textured-which-was-me-sweet-and-sour/) [Kergan Edwards-Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kergan-edwards-stout/) > [I get to do some unbelievably layered things. The material that I'm given is so complex, and I'm so grateful for it, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-get-to-do-some-unbelievably-layered-things-the-material-that-i-m/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [Sometimes people are layered like that. There's something totally different underneath than what's on the surface. But sometimes, there's a third, even deeper level,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/sometimes-people-are-layered-like-that-there-s-something-totally/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I have always been far more interested in sound than technique, and how sounds work together, how they can be layered. I think electronic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-have-always-been-far-more-interested-in-sound-than-technique-and/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [The more layered, more complicated the role... The more I enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nushrat-bharucha/the-more-layered-more-complicated-the-role-the-more-i-enjoy-it/) [Nushrat Bharucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nushrat-bharucha/) > [Generally speaking, I don't think people know a great deal about the Viking culture, apart from the label that is usually attached to them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/generally-speaking-i-don-t-think-people-know-a-great-deal-about-the/) [Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/) > [I write almost every single part of my songs, even the actual drum parts sometimes, whether they be simple or layered with many different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaki-king/i-write-almost-every-single-part-of-my-songs-even-the-actual-drum/) [Kaki King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaki-king/) > [There is no way that the Fourth Gospel was written by John Zebedee or by any of the disciples of Jesus. The author of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/there-is-no-way-that-the-fourth-gospel-was-written-by-john-zebedee-or/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [What we were trying to do differently was this sort of layered sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-may/what-we-were-trying-to-do-differently-was-this-sort-of-layered-sound/) [Brian May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-may/) > [I like the idea that I come into a room, and you think you're dealing with one thing, but the truth is I'm very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabelle-wallis/i-like-the-idea-that-i-come-into-a-room-and-you-think-you-re-dealing/) [Annabelle Wallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabelle-wallis/) > [All too often, female characters, in particular, aren't multi-layered enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bradley/all-too-often-female-characters-in-particular-aren-t-multi-layered/) [Ruth Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bradley/) > [I love watching Edie Falco; she's so layered, and her work is so great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/i-love-watching-edie-falco-she-s-so-layered-and-her-work-is-so-great/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) > [“We went for a walk on College Street and popped into Coco's for a snack. There, I revealed my future, much like the exquisitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-rosen/we-went-for-a-walk-on-college-street-and-popped-into-coco-s-for-a/) Amy Rosen > [I want to soundtrack people's layered feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelela/i-want-to-soundtrack-people-s-layered-feelings/) [Kelela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelela/) ## More by Shawn Hatosy > [I was curious. Here was a character where I just didn't know how they were going to write him into 13 episodes without it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-hatosy/i-was-curious-here-was-a-character-where-i-just-didn-t-know-how-they/) [Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) > [The one thing that I will never forget, going forward, from my experience on Southland is that, as an artist and as a professional,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-hatosy/the-one-thing-that-i-will-never-forget-going-forward-from-my/) [Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) > [I did a lot of research on villains, and guys who start behaving nefariously didn't start out as bad people. My research indicates that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-hatosy/i-did-a-lot-of-research-on-villains-and-guys-who-start-behaving/) [Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) > [It's kind of up to the actor to deconstruct the scene and deconstruct the character and figure out how to make it real. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-hatosy/it-s-kind-of-up-to-the-actor-to-deconstruct-the-scene-and-deconstruct/) [Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) > [Maybe I'm a little biased, but shows like 'Dexter' and 'Southland,' I'm just enthralled by that sort of storytelling, kind of clever and patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-hatosy/maybe-i-m-a-little-biased-but-shows-like-dexter-and-southland-i-m/) [Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) > [Wile E. Coyote is a coyote with nothing but good intentions. But Road Runner comes along and is unattainable, he wants it and can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-hatosy/wile-e-coyote-is-a-coyote-with-nothing-but-good-intentions-but-road/) [Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) > [We don't typically use music. We don't manipulate our audience into what we think it should feel. We tell the truth. That's 'Southland' Style'...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-hatosy/we-don-t-typically-use-music-we-don-t-manipulate-our-audience-into/) [Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) > [I get stopped all the time on the street. I can't believe how many people watch 'Dexter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-hatosy/i-get-stopped-all-the-time-on-the-street-i-can-t-believe-how-many/) [Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) > [On 'Southland,' when a helicopter joins our scene, we don't skip a beat. The actors talk louder because that's what cops do in real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-hatosy/on-southland-when-a-helicopter-joins-our-scene-we-don-t-skip-a-beat/) [Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) [Explore all 10 Shawn Hatosy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "John Wells and Christopher Chulack were pretty honest from the get-go in our first meeting about 'Southland.' 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