--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really appreciate Barry Jenkins as a…" description: "\"I really appreciate Barry Jenkins as a filmmaker and the fact that he's always wanting to push the envelope and challenge perspective and make people u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephan-james-17537_people_i-really-appreciate-barry-jenkins-as-a-f_1852413.jpg" --- # I really appreciate Barry Jenkins as a filmmaker and the… ![“I really appreciate Barry Jenkins as a filmmaker and the fact that he's always wanting to push the envelope and challenge perspective and make people uncomfortable in a way that doesn't seem like it's allowed anymore.” quote by Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephan-james-17537_people_i-really-appreciate-barry-jenkins-as-a-f_1852413.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephan-james-17537_people_i-really-appreciate-barry-jenkins-as-a-f_1852413.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephan-james-17537_people_i-really-appreciate-barry-jenkins-as-a-f_1852413.jpg) > “I really appreciate Barry Jenkins as a filmmaker and the fact that he's always wanting to push the envelope and challenge perspective and make people uncomfortable in a way that doesn't seem like it's allowed anymore.” [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Celebrating a filmmaker’s drive to innovate and provoke, challenging norms despite constraints. **In simple terms:** Pushing boundaries makes art uncomfortable but necessary. Key Takeaway Support bold, boundary‑pushing creators. Themes creativity challenge artistic risk Mood inspirational critical Type commentary motivational When to use this quote - film festivals - studio negotiations - public screenings - media criticism Key Concepts film theory cultural critique innovation Questions to Reflect On - How does discomfort foster growth? - What limits should art challenge? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating audiences or sponsors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) ## Related quotes > [The biggest misconception is that I'm only a documentary filmmaker, but in fact I have made many narrative shorts. My biggest inspirations are narrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hammond/the-biggest-misconception-is-that-i-m-only-a-documentary-filmmaker/) Alex Hammond > [“I love my life and my wife and kids, but I've always been somewhat quasi-suicidal, constantly wanting to push things past the edge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-love-my-life-and-my-wife-and-kids-but-i-ve-always-been-somewhat/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I guess because I never pictured myself wrestling, I find myself wanting to push every limit possible in this industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-guess-because-i-never-pictured-myself-wrestling-i-find-myself/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [I kept wanting to push my image as validity; I wanted to see my portrait on a wall and know it was okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyin-odutola/i-kept-wanting-to-push-my-image-as-validity-i-wanted-to-see-my/) [Toyin Odutola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyin-odutola/) > [I have received the digital camera as a blessing. It has really changed my life as a filmmaker, because I don't use my camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-have-received-the-digital-camera-as-a-blessing-it-has-really/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [As a filmmaker, you take reality and you tell a story from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/as-a-filmmaker-you-take-reality-and-you-tell-a-story-from-it/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [I think Frank Capra was a much craftier filmmaker, a wonderful filmmaker. He had enormous technique, and he knew how to manipulate the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-frank-capra-was-a-much-craftier-filmmaker-a-wonderful/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The terrorists who committed the 2003 Istanbul attacks were locals, that is, Turks. And when filmmaker Theo van Gogh was murdered in the Netherlands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/the-terrorists-who-committed-the-2003-istanbul-attacks-were-locals/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [Even from a really young age I was a huge movie buff - five, six, seven, eight. Just loved movies, but in a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-strong/even-from-a-really-young-age-i-was-a-huge-movie-buff-five-six-seven/) [Danny Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-strong/) > [Filmmakers get into trouble when they're watching too many DVDs and quoting all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mangold/filmmakers-get-into-trouble-when-they-re-watching-too-many-dvds-and/) [James Mangold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mangold/) > [What I would say to filmmakers, if I may be so bold or so arrogant, is to draw inspiration from other filmmakers, but go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/what-i-would-say-to-filmmakers-if-i-may-be-so-bold-or-so-arrogant-is/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I think it is kind of depressing how few female filmmakers there are. I think it is in general depressing how few women there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-bier/i-think-it-is-kind-of-depressing-how-few-female-filmmakers-there-are/) [Susanne Bier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-bier/) > [I love awards, especially if I get them. It's up to the courage of the filmmakers to make art in cinema, not just business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gazzara/i-love-awards-especially-if-i-get-them-it-s-up-to-the-courage-of-the/) [Ben Gazzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gazzara/) > [Love is all a matter of timing. It's no good meeting the right person too soon or too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/love-is-all-a-matter-of-timing-it-s-no-good-meeting-the-right-person/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [I still don't feel I know Hitchcock at all. I find that the more one looks, the more elusive he becomes. But my admiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-jones/i-still-don-t-feel-i-know-hitchcock-at-all-i-find-that-the-more-one/) [Toby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-jones/) ## More by Stephan James > [What I've learned about that word is context, where the world is coming from - in the era the film is set, it obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/what-i-ve-learned-about-that-word-is-context-where-the-world-is/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [My parents are from Jamaica, and I love reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/my-parents-are-from-jamaica-and-i-love-reggae-music/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [John Lewis is such a remarkable human being. Literally, such a beautiful human being. I remember the first time I met him. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/john-lewis-is-such-a-remarkable-human-being-literally-such-a/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [Jesse Owens had to be a very strong person. There were a lot of protests, but I think that he knew, despite the pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/jesse-owens-had-to-be-a-very-strong-person-there-were-a-lot-of/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I want to be a superhero, I want to be Spider-Man or Batman. Will you let me know if you have any connections? Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-want-to-be-a-superhero-i-want-to-be-spider-man-or-batman-will-you/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I enjoy challenging perspective - challenging ideas of what it means to be a black man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-enjoy-challenging-perspective-challenging-ideas-of-what-it-means-to/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I really believe in speaking things into existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-really-believe-in-speaking-things-into-existence/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I care a lot about who I'm working with as directors and other actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-care-a-lot-about-who-i-m-working-with-as-directors-and-other-actors/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [When is not a good time to speak up for our vets and support them in any way that we can?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/when-is-not-a-good-time-to-speak-up-for-our-vets-and-support-them-in/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [Everything I do is just an opportunity to tell a great story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/everything-i-do-is-just-an-opportunity-to-tell-a-great-story/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I feel like I've always been an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-feel-like-i-ve-always-been-an-actor/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [We have to start creating more material that gives a platform for people of colour, for women, for old people and young people alike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/we-have-to-start-creating-more-material-that-gives-a-platform-for/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [The issue of racism happens all over the world. Granted, people - especially Americans - don't know the the Canadian culture. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/the-issue-of-racism-happens-all-over-the-world-granted-people/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I've been a big fan of Barry Jenkins for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-ve-been-a-big-fan-of-barry-jenkins-for-a-long-time/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I know I'm a black actor, but really, I'm an actor who happens to be black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m-an-actor-who-happens-to-be/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) [Explore all 37 Stephan James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) ## More Film quotes > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) [Browse all 32,254 Film quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really appreciate Barry Jenkins as a filmmaker and the fact that he's always wanting to push the envelope and challenge perspective and make people uncomfortable in a way that doesn't seem like it's allowed anymore.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephan James" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-really-appreciate-barry-jenkins-as-a-filmmaker-and-the-fact-that-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Film" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-really-appreciate-barry-jenkins-as-a-filmmaker-and-the-fact-that-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephan-james-17537_people_i-really-appreciate-barry-jenkins-as-a-f_1852413.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephan-james-17537_people_i-really-appreciate-barry-jenkins-as-a-f_1852413.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/stephan-james-17537_people_i-really-appreciate-barry-jenkins-as-a-f_1852413.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I really appreciate Barry Jenkins as a filmmaker and the fact that he's always wanting to push the envelope…” — Stephan James", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephan James", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I really appreciate Barry Jenkins as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-really-appreciate-barry-jenkins-as-a-filmmaker-and-the-fact-that-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-really-appreciate-barry-jenkins-as-a-filmmaker-and-the-fact-that-he/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```