--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It never crossed my mind to make a film…" description: "\"It never crossed my mind to make a film about Muhammad Ali or the Queen or any of them! They just come out of the blue.\" — Stephen Frears" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/stephen-frears-28358_blue_it-never-crossed-my-mind-to-make-a-film_2108844.jpg" --- # It never crossed my mind to make a film about Muhammad Ali… ![“It never crossed my mind to make a film about Muhammad Ali or the Queen or any of them! They just come out of the blue.” quote by Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/stephen-frears-28358_blue_it-never-crossed-my-mind-to-make-a-film_2108844.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/stephen-frears-28358_blue_it-never-crossed-my-mind-to-make-a-film_2108844.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/stephen-frears-28358_blue_it-never-crossed-my-mind-to-make-a-film_2108844.jpg) > “It never crossed my mind to make a film about Muhammad Ali or the Queen or any of them! They just come out of the blue.” [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker expresses surprise that ideas for biopics about famous figures can appear spontaneously without prior planning. **In simple terms:** Ideas for films can arise unexpectedly. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected inspiration. Themes creativity film inspiration Mood curious enthusiastic Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - screenwriting - film development - creative brainstorming Key Concepts spontaneity biography storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How do you capture spontaneous ideas? - What steps turn a sudden concept into a film? A Different Perspective Ideas may still need research and rights clearance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ali Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ali-queen-4248960/) [Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-muhammad-4248961/) [Make Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-film/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muhammad/) [Muhammad ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muhammad-ali/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Queens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queens/) ## Related quotes > [I respect Muhammad Ali... he was the greatest, he was the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greatest-he-was-the-best/) [Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/) > [I learned to run backwards from Muhammad Ali. He told me about running backwards because you try to imitate everything you do in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-learned-to-run-backwards-from-muhammad-ali-he-told-me-about-running/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I researched and wrote 'Muhammad Ali: His Life And Times' for two years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hauser/i-researched-and-wrote-muhammad-ali-his-life-and-times-for-two-years/) [Thomas Hauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hauser/) > [We fought in 1974 - that was a long time ago. After 1981, we became the best of friends. By 1984, we loved each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/we-fought-in-1974-that-was-a-long-time-ago-after-1981-we-became-the/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [I wanted to get in the ring and be like Muhammad Ali.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-canino/i-wanted-to-get-in-the-ring-and-be-like-muhammad-ali/) [Bonnie Canino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-canino/) > [I was taught to fighter like Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali when I was growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nonito-donaire/i-was-taught-to-fighter-like-sugar-ray-leonard-and-muhammad-ali-when/) [Nonito Donaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nonito-donaire/) > [I've been many times to Dubai and the U.A.E., and I have friends that live there. It would be exciting to stage world heavyweight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladimir-klitschko/i-ve-been-many-times-to-dubai-and-the-u-a-e-and-i-have-friends-that/) [Wladimir Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladimir-klitschko/) > [No cares about the Muhammad Ali trophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dereck-chisora/no-cares-about-the-muhammad-ali-trophy/) [Dereck Chisora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dereck-chisora/) > [In fifty years of covering the sport, of course Muhammad Ali is by far the dominant figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/in-fifty-years-of-covering-the-sport-of-course-muhammad-ali-is-by-far/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [One of my favourite fighters to watch ever, and of course before I was a ring announcer, was Muhammad Ali.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/one-of-my-favourite-fighters-to-watch-ever-and-of-course-before-i-was/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [Muhammad Ali was a god, an idol and an icon. He was boxing. Any kid that had the opportunity to talk to Ali, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/muhammad-ali-was-a-god-an-idol-and-an-icon-he-was-boxing-any-kid-that/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [If I could've made Muhammad Ali smaller I would have fought him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-martinez/if-i-could-ve-made-muhammad-ali-smaller-i-would-have-fought-him/) [Sergio Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-martinez/) > [To me, Muhammad Ali, he was the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-baffert/to-me-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greatest/) [Bob Baffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-baffert/) > [And I remember leaving my place in L.A. and - my father is a big fight fan - and I said, 'Dad, I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilt-chamberlain/and-i-remember-leaving-my-place-in-l-a-and-my-father-is-a-big-fight/) [Wilt Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilt-chamberlain/) > [ I still can’t believe \[ Muhammad Ali \] knows my name. It astounds me he knows who I am. I first met Ali in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-still-can-t-believe-muhammad-ali-knows-my-name-it-astounds-me-he/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) ## More by Stephen Frears > [To be successful at anything, you need the right to fail, not just occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/to-be-successful-at-anything-you-need-the-right-to-fail-not-just/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [The only way you can learn about making films is by making them, by putting your stamp on the thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/the-only-way-you-can-learn-about-making-films-is-by-making-them-by/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [Audiences arent fools - their judgement really is important. And the true heroes of films are the investors. They take the risk, after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/audiences-arent-fools-their-judgement-really-is-important-and-the/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [I have people around me. I have a semi-permanent crew. If I make a film, they just turn up. They don't even invite themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/i-have-people-around-me-i-have-a-semi-permanent-crew-if-i-make-a-film/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [I like a lot of takes. I just go on until the actors get it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/i-like-a-lot-of-takes-i-just-go-on-until-the-actors-get-it-right/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [I want my films to get audiences. I am not interested in making them just for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/i-want-my-films-to-get-audiences-i-am-not-interested-in-making-them/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [When I go and teach, it sort of opens me up in some way. And when you're open, you're more receptive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/when-i-go-and-teach-it-sort-of-opens-me-up-in-some-way-and-when-you/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [I teach film directing, inasmuch as you can. Its not really possible to teach film direction, but I sit there as a sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/i-teach-film-directing-inasmuch-as-you-can-its-not-really-possible-to/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [I like making films about different cultures. I'm interested in things that I've never encountered before. I try to put myself in the audience's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/i-like-making-films-about-different-cultures-i-m-interested-in-things/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [I never thought I was very good at developing material. I grew up at the BBC where they sent you scripts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/i-never-thought-i-was-very-good-at-developing-material-i-grew-up-at/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [There's the physical life and the voice, but at some point you abandon all of that, you know what the spirit of the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/there-s-the-physical-life-and-the-voice-but-at-some-point-you-abandon/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [I've always found poverty a source of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/i-ve-always-found-poverty-a-source-of-strength/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [Truth is quite constricting, in a way. You endlessly see at the start of a film 'This is a true story'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/truth-is-quite-constricting-in-a-way-you-endlessly-see-at-the-start/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [I'm Jewish; I'm not religious at all, and I wouldn't pretend to know anything about Catholic politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/i-m-jewish-i-m-not-religious-at-all-and-i-wouldn-t-pretend-to-know/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) > [As a director, my job is to protect. I protect scripts, actors, cameramen, designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-frears/as-a-director-my-job-is-to-protect-i-protect-scripts-actors-cameramen/) [Stephen Frears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) [Explore all 19 Stephen Frears quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-frears/) ## More Blue quotes > [When I haven't any blue I use red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/when-i-haven-t-any-blue-i-use-red/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [If you're white and you're wrong, then you're wrong; if you're black and you're wrong, you're wrong. People are people. Black, blue, pink, green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/if-you-re-white-and-you-re-wrong-then-you-re-wrong-if-you-re-black/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [Memory revises me. Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [Human beings should stick together. Honestly, if I see a red-haired person with blue eyes now, I say, 'Is your granny black?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/human-beings-should-stick-together-honestly-if-i-see-a-red-haired/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. I am coming to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-modersohn-becker/the-louvre-the-louvre-has-me-in-its-clutches-every-time-i-m-there/) [Paula Modersohn-Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-modersohn-becker/) > [We live in a state with a wonderful climate and plenty of natural beauty, from the shores of Cumberland Island to the Chattahoochee River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-barnes/we-live-in-a-state-with-a-wonderful-climate-and-plenty-of-natural/) [Roy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-barnes/) > [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Mother, she likes the blue material just fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/mother-she-likes-the-blue-material-just-fine/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [You know, I'm the only one in this family who has no problems, . . . And you know why? Because any time I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-i-m-the-only-one-in-this-family-who-has-no-problems-and-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [it'll be this kind of deep blue”she said. “The kind of color that somehow sucks your eyes and your ears and all your words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/it-ll-be-this-kind-of-deep-blue-she-said-the-kind-of-color-that/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [It is moonlight. Alone in the silence I ascend my stairs once more, While waves remote in pale blue starlight Crash on a white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-aiken/it-is-moonlight-alone-in-the-silence-i-ascend-my-stairs-once-more/) [Conrad Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-aiken/) > [The grape Hyacinth is the favorite spring flower of my garden - but no! I though a minute ago the Scilla was! and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-morse-earle/the-grape-hyacinth-is-the-favorite-spring-flower-of-my-garden-but-no/) [Alice Morse Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-morse-earle/) > [I swam with my first shark in the 1980s. I was 20 miles off the coast of Rhode Island, working with a group of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-skerry/i-swam-with-my-first-shark-in-the-1980s-i-was-20-miles-off-the-coast/) [Brian Skerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-skerry/) [Browse all 3,452 Blue quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It never crossed my mind to make a film about Muhammad Ali or the Queen or any of them! 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