--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't try to tackle a two-hour feature…" description: "\"Don't try to tackle a two-hour feature movie as your first project. Cut your teeth on a smaller level and work through the kinks at that level and buil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/stephen-kendrick-12724_cutting_don-t-try-to-tackle-a-two-hour-feature-m_2718050.png" --- # Don't try to tackle a two-hour feature movie as your first… ![“Don't try to tackle a two-hour feature movie as your first project. Cut your teeth on a smaller level and work through the kinks at that level and build your strength as you go.” quote by Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/stephen-kendrick-12724_cutting_don-t-try-to-tackle-a-two-hour-feature-m_2718050.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/stephen-kendrick-12724_cutting_don-t-try-to-tackle-a-two-hour-feature-m_2718050.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/stephen-kendrick-12724_cutting_don-t-try-to-tackle-a-two-hour-feature-m_2718050.png) > “Don't try to tackle a two-hour feature movie as your first project. Cut your teeth on a smaller level and work through the kinks at that level and build your strength as you go.” [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Begin with small projects before tackling a full‑length feature to develop skills and resolve issues gradually. **In simple terms:** Start small, then grow to larger films. Key Takeaway Build experience progressively. Themes career development skill building film production Mood practical encouraging Type creative professional When to use this quote - short films - workshops - film festivals Key Concepts learning theory project management Questions to Reflect On - What skills do you need for a feature? - How do you scale your learning? A Different Perspective Small projects may not fully prepare for feature challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Build Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-strength-330753/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Feature Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feature-movie-2859634/) [Features](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/features/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Kink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kink/) [Level Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level-build-2859635/) [Level Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level-work-2361556/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movie Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-project-2859633/) [Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects/) [Teeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teeth/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [We had the project 'The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman' that we had done for the Swedish National Radio as a radio music drama. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/we-had-the-project-the-seduction-of-ingmar-bergman-that-we-had-done/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) > [I was being generous. Gia Coppola wasn't even a filmmaker at that time, but I asked her to do it, because I believed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-was-being-generous-gia-coppola-wasn-t-even-a-filmmaker-at-that-time/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [I am extremely lucky, and I enjoy the level of work that I am able to work at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-am-extremely-lucky-and-i-enjoy-the-level-of-work-that-i-am-able-to/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [ \[A writer\] should try not to be too far, personally, below the level of his work. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/a-writer-should-try-not-to-be-too-far-personally-below-the-level-of/) [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) > [When I went to WWE, the level of work I put out every night was just balls to the wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-steamboat/when-i-went-to-wwe-the-level-of-work-i-put-out-every-night-was-just/) [Ricky Steamboat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-steamboat/) > [When you're home-schooled, you have to have a certain level of work ethic. Otherwise, you don't get anything done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/when-you-re-home-schooled-you-have-to-have-a-certain-level-of-work/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [“Mamma says God uses the bad times to build strength. Wonder how strong a person needs to be before things get easier.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-teepell/mamma-says-god-uses-the-bad-times-to-build-strength-wonder-how-strong/) [toni teepell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-teepell/) > [“My aim was to build up more and more that strength, hard and joyless, which had come to me when I heard the god's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/my-aim-was-to-build-up-more-and-more-that-strength-hard-and-joyless/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [I don't have to build up strength; I have been blessed with it. I do lift weights and train hard, but I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deontay-wilder/i-don-t-have-to-build-up-strength-i-have-been-blessed-with-it-i-do/) [Deontay Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deontay-wilder/) > [Don't be afraid to Dream,but build the strength and courage to Achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinaykumar/don-t-be-afraid-to-dream-but-build-the-strength-and-courage-to/) [VinayKumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinaykumar/) > [As much as we pump iron and we run to build our strength up, we need to build our mental strength up... so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/as-much-as-we-pump-iron-and-we-run-to-build-our-strength-up-we-need/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [Every time you make the right choice in the face of potential criticism you build strength that makes choosing the right easier the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/every-time-you-make-the-right-choice-in-the-face-of-potential/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-each-new-challenge-because-it-will-build-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Think of prayer as a fundamental exercise we use to build core spiritual strength. Like exercise for our bodies, it has to be consistent—every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-h-pearce/think-of-prayer-as-a-fundamental-exercise-we-use-to-build-core/) [Virginia H. Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-h-pearce/) > [I encourage you to be a person who is not afraid of responsibility. In meeting resistance you will build your strength. If you only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-encourage-you-to-be-a-person-who-is-not-afraid-of-responsibility-in/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## More by Stephen Kendrick > [Sometimes it wasn't even when we were knocking on doors, it would be, the phone would ring and somebody would say, "God told me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/sometimes-it-wasn-t-even-when-we-were-knocking-on-doors-it-would-be/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [There must be a stronger foundation than mere friendship or sexual attraction. Unconditional love, agape love, will not be swayed by time or circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/there-must-be-a-stronger-foundation-than-mere-friendship-or-sexual/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [With Courageous, it was the first film where we really began to pay our cast. Because the church owned the previous films and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/with-courageous-it-was-the-first-film-where-we-really-began-to-pay/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [“Instead of following your heart, you are choosing to lead to lead it. The world says to follow your heart, but if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/instead-of-following-your-heart-you-are-choosing-to-lead-to-lead-it/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [Get in God's word every day. God's word equips us for everything we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/get-in-god-s-word-every-day-god-s-word-equips-us-for-everything-we-do/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [“If you read a map with directions to get somewhere but you don’t follow it, you shouldn’t get mad at God when you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/if-you-read-a-map-with-directions-to-get-somewhere-but-you-don-t/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [“Your true heart is best revealed in secret. In other words, the secret you is the real you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/your-true-heart-is-best-revealed-in-secret-in-other-words-the-secret/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [“Children are God's homework assignment to parents. We are commissioned to love, teach and train them up for successful adulthood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/children-are-god-s-homework-assignment-to-parents-we-are-commissioned/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [“He created us to love Him, and something unexplainably beautiful happens when we direct all of who we are at delighting in all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/he-created-us-to-love-him-and-something-unexplainably-beautiful/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [Often parents have a great desire and hopes, and aspirations for their kids but they don't have any practical plans of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/often-parents-have-a-great-desire-and-hopes-and-aspirations-for-their/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [Love chooses to believe the best about people. It gives them the benefit of the doubt. It refuses to fill in the unknowns with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/love-chooses-to-believe-the-best-about-people-it-gives-them-the/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [You must choose to live by enouragement rather than by expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/you-must-choose-to-live-by-enouragement-rather-than-by-expectations/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [Too often, parents force their kids into becoming something they want them to become rather than trying unpack the treasure chest God wants them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/too-often-parents-force-their-kids-into-becoming-something-they-want/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [Almost every sinful action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive. It is a trait we hate in other people but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/almost-every-sinful-action-ever-committed-can-be-traced-back-to-a/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [“When Moses was on the mountaintop, he discovered why God kept putting up with His rebellious, complaining children: God was “compassionate and gracious, slow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/when-moses-was-on-the-mountaintop-he-discovered-why-god-kept-putting/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) [Explore all 53 Stephen Kendrick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) ## More Cutting quotes > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. 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Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [God holds each of us by a string. When we sin, we cut the string. But God ties it up again, making a knot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/god-holds-each-of-us-by-a-string-when-we-sin-we-cut-the-string-but/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [What's the difference between obsolete and cutting edge? Obsolete works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-negroponte/what-s-the-difference-between-obsolete-and-cutting-edge-obsolete-works/) [Nicholas Negroponte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-negroponte/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) [Browse all 6,010 Cutting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't try to tackle a two-hour feature movie as your first project. 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