--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only time I'm totally happy is when…" description: "\"The only time I'm totally happy is when I'm watching films or making them.\" — Steven Spielberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f3/steven-spielberg-963_film_the-only-time-i-m-totally-happy-is-when_560564.jpg" --- # The only time I'm totally happy is when I'm watching films… ![“The only time I'm totally happy is when I'm watching films or making them.” quote by Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f3/steven-spielberg-963_film_the-only-time-i-m-totally-happy-is-when_560564.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f3/steven-spielberg-963_film_the-only-time-i-m-totally-happy-is-when_560564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f3/steven-spielberg-963_film_the-only-time-i-m-totally-happy-is-when_560564.jpg) > “The only time I'm totally happy is when I'm watching films or making them.” [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness comes from watching or making movies. **In simple terms:** Films bring joy when experienced or created. Key Takeaway Pursue filmmaking for fulfillment. Themes art entertainment joy Mood joyful creative Type personal reflective When to use this quote - film festivals - screenwriting workshops - home video projects - team collaborations Key Concepts Aesthetic experience creative flow Questions to Reflect On - Which medium sparks your joy? - How to share that joy with others? A Different Perspective Joy may be limited to niche interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I still enjoy watching films more than making them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-winterbottom/i-still-enjoy-watching-films-more-than-making-them/) [Michael Winterbottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-winterbottom/) > [I want everyone to go back home feeling happy after watching all my films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-dhawan/i-want-everyone-to-go-back-home-feeling-happy-after-watching-all-my/) [Varun Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-dhawan/) > [“You laughed and were happy. I was watching you. I understand the stories your face tells so much better than I did before. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/you-laughed-and-were-happy-i-was-watching-you-i-understand-the/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [I'm happy watching 'The Simpsons' at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/i-m-happy-watching-the-simpsons-at-home/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [No actor is totally happy with the roles they get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashish-vidyarthi/no-actor-is-totally-happy-with-the-roles-they-get/) [Ashish Vidyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashish-vidyarthi/) > [Peace and contentment come from being to totally happy with who you are and what you have, independent of anyone or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/peace-and-contentment-come-from-being-to-totally-happy-with-who-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mostly, I'm totally happy in my own space at home with the door closed with my family and friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/mostly-i-m-totally-happy-in-my-own-space-at-home-with-the-door-closed/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I have faith in the idea that there will be another hit, but I'm also totally happy if there's not, because I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gnash/i-have-faith-in-the-idea-that-there-will-be-another-hit-but-i-m-also/) [Gnash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gnash/) > [The day I write a totally happy song... I'll retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-lewis/the-day-i-write-a-totally-happy-song-i-ll-retire/) [Dean Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-lewis/) > [We are not always totally happy about how we are portrayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/we-are-not-always-totally-happy-about-how-we-are-portrayed/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [I just make the music feel the way I want it to feel, and I don't put it out until I'm totally happy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-just-make-the-music-feel-the-way-i-want-it-to-feel-and-i-don-t-put/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [I don't know about the totally happy album, though. I don't know if that will ever come from me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grant/i-don-t-know-about-the-totally-happy-album-though-i-don-t-know-if/) [John Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grant/) > [I'm totally happy with my big, fat self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/i-m-totally-happy-with-my-big-fat-self/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [If I were going to stay in coaching, I would have stayed right there because I was totally happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-royal/if-i-were-going-to-stay-in-coaching-i-would-have-stayed-right-there/) [Darrell Royal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-royal/) > [The only person that can make us totally happy is the one who made us lonely..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-that-can-make-us-totally-happy-is-the-one-who-made-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Steven Spielberg > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Making a movie and not directing the little moments is like drinking a soda and leaving the little slurp puddle for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/making-a-movie-and-not-directing-the-little-moments-is-like-drinking/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Once scouting fully opens its doors to all who desire the same experience that so fully enriched me as a young person, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/once-scouting-fully-opens-its-doors-to-all-who-desire-the-same/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I don't dream at night, I dream at day, I dream all day; I'm dreaming for living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-don-t-dream-at-night-i-dream-at-day-i-dream-all-day-i-m-dreaming/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I think the secret of great acting is that you have to bring your imagination to the party. You have to have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-think-the-secret-of-great-acting-is-that-you-have-to-bring-your/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I think the greatest thing about DVD is the quality of sound and picture; the real estate to put more extras on; and, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-think-the-greatest-thing-about-dvd-is-the-quality-of-sound-and/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Audience members are only concerned about the story, the concept, the bells and whistles and the noise that a popular film starts to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/audience-members-are-only-concerned-about-the-story-the-concept-the/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I was fifteen, or sixteen. I was in high school. I was spending a summer in California with my second cousins. And I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-was-fifteen-or-sixteen-i-was-in-high-school-i-was-spending-a-summer/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [You know, I don't really do that much looking inside me when I'm working on a project. Whatever I am becomes what that film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/you-know-i-don-t-really-do-that-much-looking-inside-me-when-i-m/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Casting sometimes is fate and destiny more than skill and talent, from a director's point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/casting-sometimes-is-fate-and-destiny-more-than-skill-and-talent-from/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [The costume the actors wear and if they're in stylized makeup and wigs in a live-action movie let's say, in a big costume drama,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/the-costume-the-actors-wear-and-if-they-re-in-stylized-makeup-and/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I didn't read reviews earlier in my career, but I read them now as I'm older. I read them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-didn-t-read-reviews-earlier-in-my-career-but-i-read-them-now-as-i-m/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Whatever affect any of my films have on audiences, I just kind of stop at the door. I make them and I just don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/whatever-affect-any-of-my-films-have-on-audiences-i-just-kind-of-stop/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [ I've kept the people who've been in my career who I feel are my family. Kathy \[Kennedy\] had been with me since 1978. Janusz… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-ve-kept-the-people-who-ve-been-in-my-career-who-i-feel-are-my/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Desperate times require desperate measures. What Lincoln and the Lobbyist for the Amendment and the Manager of the Amendment and himself, what they did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/desperate-times-require-desperate-measures-what-lincoln-and-the/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) [Explore all 319 Steven Spielberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) ## 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": "The only time I'm totally happy is when I'm watching films or making them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Spielberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/the-only-time-i-m-totally-happy-is-when-i-m-watching-films-or-making/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Film" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/the-only-time-i-m-totally-happy-is-when-i-m-watching-films-or-making/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f3/steven-spielberg-963_film_the-only-time-i-m-totally-happy-is-when_560564.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f3/steven-spielberg-963_film_the-only-time-i-m-totally-happy-is-when_560564.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f3/steven-spielberg-963_film_the-only-time-i-m-totally-happy-is-when_560564.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only time I'm totally happy is when I'm watching films or making them.” — Steven Spielberg", "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 Spielberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only time I'm totally happy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/the-only-time-i-m-totally-happy-is-when-i-m-watching-films-or-making/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/the-only-time-i-m-totally-happy-is-when-i-m-watching-films-or-making/#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 } } ] } ```