--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Obviously, television is a writer's…" description: "\"Obviously, television is a writer's medium, so you get a lot more power and authority. With a film, the discipline is having a beginning, middle and en..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/steven-knight-2205_authority_obviously-television-is-a-writer-s-mediu_3227513.jpg" --- # Obviously, television is a writer's medium, so you get a… ![“Obviously, television is a writer's medium, so you get a lot more power and authority. With a film, the discipline is having a beginning, middle and end, and having it work in a specific space of time.” quote by Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/steven-knight-2205_authority_obviously-television-is-a-writer-s-mediu_3227513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/steven-knight-2205_authority_obviously-television-is-a-writer-s-mediu_3227513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/steven-knight-2205_authority_obviously-television-is-a-writer-s-mediu_3227513.jpg) > “Obviously, television is a writer's medium, so you get a lot more power and authority. With a film, the discipline is having a beginning, middle and end, and having it work in a specific space of time.” [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Television offers writers more flexibility and authority, while film demands a structured narrative within a set timeframe. **In simple terms:** TV is flexible; film is structured. Key Takeaway Choose medium based on storytelling goals. Themes storytelling medium structure Mood analytical creative Type educational insightful When to use this quote - TV series development - film scriptwriting - media production workshops Key Concepts narrative design creative control temporal constraints Questions to Reflect On - When is a flexible format preferable? - How does structure enhance impact? A Different Perspective Film may limit creative spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Beginning middle and end](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning-middle-and-end/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Discipline Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline-having-513895/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-discipline-6091841/) [Mediums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediums/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-writer-1994681/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm practicing the discipline of not having to have the last word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/i-m-practicing-the-discipline-of-not-having-to-have-the-last-word/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [When you work in television you're in the writer's room all the time. You can't take 10 days or a week to go watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/when-you-work-in-television-you-re-in-the-writer-s-room-all-the-time/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [I always felt that it was easier to take a funny person and teach them to write television than to take somebody who was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/i-always-felt-that-it-was-easier-to-take-a-funny-person-and-teach-2/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [Television is a very writer-driven business, and it's one of the few parts of entertainment where writers are treated with respect, only because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/television-is-a-very-writer-driven-business-and-it-s-one-of-the-few/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [Television's very much a writer's medium, as it probably should be, but if you're not the writer, then as the performer, you defer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/television-s-very-much-a-writer-s-medium-as-it-probably-should-be-but/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [In television, the writer-creator-showrunner is embraced as the creative mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rash/in-television-the-writer-creator-showrunner-is-embraced-as-the/) [Jim Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rash/) > [I can write any kind of novel I want, any time, and sell it, but there's not that many people watching it. Even a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-can-write-any-kind-of-novel-i-want-any-time-and-sell-it-but-there-s/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [When you decide you want to become a television writer, you naively assume it's going to be like the writers on the old 'Dick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-klarik/when-you-decide-you-want-to-become-a-television-writer-you-naively/) [Jeffrey Klarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-klarik/) > [I think the best thing I ever did was, years before I got the 'Late Night' show, when I first got out to Los…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/i-think-the-best-thing-i-ever-did-was-years-before-i-got-the-late/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [As a journalist you have to think quickly, you're exposed to all types of people and situations and you've got to synthesize your thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-spotnitz/as-a-journalist-you-have-to-think-quickly-you-re-exposed-to-all-types/) [Frank Spotnitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-spotnitz/) > [When you work in television, you're in the writer's room all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/when-you-work-in-television-you-re-in-the-writer-s-room-all-the-time-2/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [I think, in some ways, there's a point as a television writer that 'executive producer' is the natural credit you get, and it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abi-morgan/i-think-in-some-ways-there-s-a-point-as-a-television-writer-that/) [Abi Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abi-morgan/) > [I always felt that it was easier to take a funny person and teach them to write television than to take somebody who was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/i-always-felt-that-it-was-easier-to-take-a-funny-person-and-teach/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [I wanted to be a film and television writer and producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-wanted-to-be-a-film-and-television-writer-and-producer/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [There's a way in which filmmaking is a director's medium and television is a writer's medium, so even as TV gets more cinematic, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-taylor/there-s-a-way-in-which-filmmaking-is-a-director-s-medium-and/) [Alan Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-taylor/) ## More by Steven Knight > [There's a convention in English stuff that if something is more than 100 years old, people have to say 'do not' instead of 'don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/there-s-a-convention-in-english-stuff-that-if-something-is-more-than/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [There's lots of different ways of writing stuff and lots of different mindsets to have, but I think when it's your own creation, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/there-s-lots-of-different-ways-of-writing-stuff-and-lots-of-different/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [It's such a gift when you know who you're writing for and you know that that actor is capable of so much that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/it-s-such-a-gift-when-you-know-who-you-re-writing-for-and-you-know/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [I'm not a great film-goer, and I never have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-m-not-a-great-film-goer-and-i-never-have-been/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [There's no writers room, or any other writer involved. I write everything from beginning to end. Maybe it's just me not being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/there-s-no-writers-room-or-any-other-writer-involved-i-write/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [I've realized that the only thing I'm interested in is the performance. If the performance is right, then I'm happy. You offer up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-ve-realized-that-the-only-thing-i-m-interested-in-is-the/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [“It seems to me, that if there is a bad taste in your mouth, you spit it out. You don't constantly swallow it back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/it-seems-to-me-that-if-there-is-a-bad-taste-in-your-mouth-you-spit-it/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [With FX in particular, they've been fantastic and were really hands off. I mean, it helps that you've got Ridley Scott on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/with-fx-in-particular-they-ve-been-fantastic-and-were-really-hands/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [I often find in the film world, that it's very self-referring. If you talk to someone about films, they talk about them in terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-often-find-in-the-film-world-that-it-s-very-self-referring-if-you/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [Whenever I went to L.A. the first thing people said in the meeting, no matter what it was about, was how much they loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/whenever-i-went-to-l-a-the-first-thing-people-said-in-the-meeting-no/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [ I've spent three hours with Snoop Dogg, talking about how he loved \[Peaky Blinders series\]. And David Bowie loved it. The late Leonard Cohen… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-ve-spent-three-hours-with-snoop-dogg-talking-about-how-he-loved/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [I think the best research is people you meet and things that they say, rather than second hand accounts of something. I think when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-think-the-best-research-is-people-you-meet-and-things-that-they-say/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [Writing, when it works, one needs to access whatever it is that creates dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/writing-when-it-works-one-needs-to-access-whatever-it-is-that-creates/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [Making a film is hard because you're not dealing with the intangible. When you're writing, it's perfect because it's only in your head and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/making-a-film-is-hard-because-you-re-not-dealing-with-the-intangible/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [There's a grown-upness about television now that wasn't there before. You do know you're doing stuff for adults who can tell the difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/there-s-a-grown-upness-about-television-now-that-wasn-t-there-before/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) [Explore all 179 Steven Knight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Obviously, television is a writer's medium, so you get a lot more power and authority. With a film, the discipline is having a beginning, middle and end, and having it work in a specific space of time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Knight" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/obviously-television-is-a-writer-s-medium-so-you-get-a-lot-more-power/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/obviously-television-is-a-writer-s-medium-so-you-get-a-lot-more-power/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/steven-knight-2205_authority_obviously-television-is-a-writer-s-mediu_3227513.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/steven-knight-2205_authority_obviously-television-is-a-writer-s-mediu_3227513.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/steven-knight-2205_authority_obviously-television-is-a-writer-s-mediu_3227513.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Obviously, television is a writer's medium, so you get a lot more power and authority. With a film, the…” — Steven Knight", "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": "Steven Knight", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Obviously, television is a writer's medium,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/obviously-television-is-a-writer-s-medium-so-you-get-a-lot-more-power/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/obviously-television-is-a-writer-s-medium-so-you-get-a-lot-more-power/#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 } } ] } ```