--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Making a film that's supposed to be fun…" description: "\"Making a film that's supposed to be fun to watch is really hard - that's the weird irony of it.\" — Steven Soderbergh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/steven-soderbergh-2075_cinema_making-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-be-fun_3041211.png" --- # Making a film that's supposed to be fun to watch is really… ![“Making a film that's supposed to be fun to watch is really hard - that's the weird irony of it.” quote by Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/steven-soderbergh-2075_cinema_making-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-be-fun_3041211.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/steven-soderbergh-2075_cinema_making-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-be-fun_3041211.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/steven-soderbergh-2075_cinema_making-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-be-fun_3041211.png) > “Making a film that's supposed to be fun to watch is really hard - that's the weird irony of it.” [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating entertaining films is paradoxically difficult because fun must be engineered, not accidental. **In simple terms:** Making fun films is surprisingly hard. Key Takeaway Embrace the paradox and plan for entertainment. Themes creativity entertainment paradox Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - indie film - big-budget studio - comedy genre Key Concepts film production artistic intent Questions to Reflect On - What strategies balance fun and artistic integrity? - How do you measure “fun” in a film? A Different Perspective Audience expectations can clash with artistic vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-supposed-1628497/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Weird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-weird-2508114/) [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Making Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-film/) [Really Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-hard/) [Watch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watch/) [Weird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weird/) [Weird Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weird-irony-5013801/) ## Related quotes > [“These kids are all trying so hard to be weird. I'm genuinely weird, so I can spot the effort a mile away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-crawford/these-kids-are-all-trying-so-hard-to-be-weird-i-m-genuinely-weird-so/) [Brent Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-crawford/) > [I have a couple of really hard, weird laughs every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-falcone/i-have-a-couple-of-really-hard-weird-laughs-every-day/) [Ben Falcone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-falcone/) > [The feel of this film is supposed to be spooky and sort of eerie and I don't really have to think about it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/the-feel-of-this-film-is-supposed-to-be-spooky-and-sort-of-eerie-and/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [I think, in a film that's supposed to last an hour and a half, I think you have to really pay attention to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/i-think-in-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-last-an-hour-and-a-half-i-think/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [Even as a producer, I want to work with certain actors. Now, if they don't want to be a part of the film, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-morea/even-as-a-producer-i-want-to-work-with-certain-actors-now-if-they-don/) [Dino Morea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-morea/) > [I really fight hard to make things film where they're supposed to be filmed. If something is supposed to be in New York, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-prinze-jr/i-really-fight-hard-to-make-things-film-where-they-re-supposed-to-be/) [Freddie Prinze, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-prinze-jr/) > ['Housefull' is made with the express purpose of being an entertaining, time-pass film. No one is supposed to search for great art in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/housefull-is-made-with-the-express-purpose-of-being-an-entertaining/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [By its very nature, film is supposed to be an accessible medium to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/by-its-very-nature-film-is-supposed-to-be-an-accessible-medium-to/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I'm a producer, writer, director. I'm putting everything together very fast, and I'm strong and focused on making the next film as fast as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malgorzata-szumowska/i-m-a-producer-writer-director-i-m-putting-everything-together-very/) [Malgorzata Szumowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malgorzata-szumowska/) > [My father used to describe how he'd love going, early in the morning, out on a location and waiting for the trucks to arrive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-broccoli/my-father-used-to-describe-how-he-d-love-going-early-in-the-morning/) [Barbara Broccoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-broccoli/) > [I'll tell you one thing, and this is banal to say because it just makes it sound like it's all planned, and nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilda-swinton/i-ll-tell-you-one-thing-and-this-is-banal-to-say-because-it-just/) [Tilda Swinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilda-swinton/) > [I enjoy the making of the film and it's something for me to do. If nobody ever comes to my films, if people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-enjoy-the-making-of-the-film-and-it-s-something-for-me-to-do-if/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [When you're making a film, you have an obligation to fill the frame with life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/when-you-re-making-a-film-you-have-an-obligation-to-fill-the-frame/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Everything that goes into making a film, when it's the finished product, us as the actors look at the film and go: "Oh man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-klein/everything-that-goes-into-making-a-film-when-it-s-the-finished/) [Chris Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-klein/) > [There's always gonna be people with a lot of money making film, and the goal is to make profit and carry on. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-howard/there-s-always-gonna-be-people-with-a-lot-of-money-making-film-and/) [Clint Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-howard/) ## More by Steven Soderbergh > [I was lucky that I was getting exposed to a lot of different kinds of films, and I was liking them all. So it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/i-was-lucky-that-i-was-getting-exposed-to-a-lot-of-different-kinds-of/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [Truth and facts have to trump partisanship. There has to be something that's true regardless of what your angle is on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/truth-and-facts-have-to-trump-partisanship-there-has-to-be-something/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [I have a friend whose theory is that you're from wherever you went to high school. I think that's mostly true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/i-have-a-friend-whose-theory-is-that-you-re-from-wherever-you-went-to/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [In nature, if a cell gets too big, it divides. You can't come up with a set of rules that's going to work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/in-nature-if-a-cell-gets-too-big-it-divides-you-can-t-come-up-with-a/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [You should never assume anything coming from a critical standpoint. You should go into everything assuming you're going to get crushed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/you-should-never-assume-anything-coming-from-a-critical-standpoint/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [I'm sure some people will say, 'Why do this?' And my response is, 'Why wouldn't you?' The film business in general is using a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/i-m-sure-some-people-will-say-why-do-this-and-my-response-is-why/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [A movie is something you see, cinema is something that’s made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/a-movie-is-something-you-see-cinema-is-something-that-s-made/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [If you're a painter and you want people to know who you are and recognize your work, you've got to build some long-term value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/if-you-re-a-painter-and-you-want-people-to-know-who-you-are-and/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [Everybody, including me, has to submit to what it needs to be. The thing is at the top of the pyramid, the best version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/everybody-including-me-has-to-submit-to-what-it-needs-to-be-the-thing/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [A big part of making an album is that you want to have enough material - you want to have enough stuff for people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/a-big-part-of-making-an-album-is-that-you-want-to-have-enough/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [The reverberation of the freedom of making 'Schizopolis' absolutely resulted in 'Out of Sight' and everything that followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/the-reverberation-of-the-freedom-of-making-schizopolis-absolutely/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [ I've never been a snob. It \[movie\] is just about stories. And I've never felt just because it's a big screen and you plop… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/i-ve-never-been-a-snob-it-movie-is-just-about-stories-and-i-ve-never/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [The ought to be a worldwide cultural taskforce that just stops you when you have ideas like combining The Red Desert with an armored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/the-ought-to-be-a-worldwide-cultural-taskforce-that-just-stops-you/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [There's definitely a way of thinking and a way of being in the South that has its advantages and disadvantages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/there-s-definitely-a-way-of-thinking-and-a-way-of-being-in-the-south/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [All I care about is the story and telling the story. I don't care how people ingest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/all-i-care-about-is-the-story-and-telling-the-story-i-don-t-care-how/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) [Explore all 187 Steven Soderbergh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [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/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [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/) > [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 even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Making a film that's supposed to be fun to watch is really hard - that's the weird irony of it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Soderbergh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/making-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-be-fun-to-watch-is-really-hard-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/making-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-be-fun-to-watch-is-really-hard-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/steven-soderbergh-2075_cinema_making-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-be-fun_3041211.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/steven-soderbergh-2075_cinema_making-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-be-fun_3041211.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/steven-soderbergh-2075_cinema_making-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-be-fun_3041211.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Making a film that's supposed to be fun to watch is really hard - that's the weird irony of it.” — Steven Soderbergh", "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 Soderbergh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Making a film that's supposed to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/making-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-be-fun-to-watch-is-really-hard-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/making-a-film-that-s-supposed-to-be-fun-to-watch-is-really-hard-that/#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 } } ] } ```