--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always think that the difference…" description: "\"I always think that the difference between film and theater is like the difference between masturbation and making love. Because, in film, you just hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/susan-sarandon-2799_audience_i-always-think-that-the-difference-betwe_3195365.jpg" --- # I always think that the difference between film and… ![“I always think that the difference between film and theater is like the difference between masturbation and making love. Because, in film, you just have to get one moment right; you're practically by yourself. And in theater, you actually have to have a relationship with the audience.” quote by Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/susan-sarandon-2799_audience_i-always-think-that-the-difference-betwe_3195365.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/susan-sarandon-2799_audience_i-always-think-that-the-difference-betwe_3195365.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/susan-sarandon-2799_audience_i-always-think-that-the-difference-betwe_3195365.jpg) > “I always think that the difference between film and theater is like the difference between masturbation and making love. Because, in film, you just have to get one moment right; you're practically by yourself. And in theater, you actually have to have a relationship with the audience.” [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Film is solitary and moment-focused; theater demands shared, relational experience. **In simple terms:** Film isolates creator; theater connects creator and audience. Key Takeaway Choose medium based on desired connection. Themes art film theater relationship Mood analytical inspirational Type comparative philosophical When to use this quote - directing a film - acting on stage - creative workshops - educational curricula Key Concepts Solitude vs collaboration performance dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What does each medium offer that the other cannot? - How can creators bridge the gap between film and theater? A Different Perspective Both mediums can blend elements, blurring lines. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Difference Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-film-508977/) [Difference Masturbation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-masturbation-5910470/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-theater-232942/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [Making love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-love/) [Masturbation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masturbation/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theater Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-actually-1042486/) [Theater Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-like-1195718/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The difference between film and theater is that in film, an actor is sort of under a magnifying glass and everything that they do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/the-difference-between-film-and-theater-is-that-in-film-an-actor-is/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [Theater actually took time to pique my interest. It just wasn't a part of my upbringing. I don't have anyone in the arts in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gabriel/theater-actually-took-time-to-pique-my-interest-it-just-wasn-t-a-part/) [Betty Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gabriel/) > [I did enjoy theater. I actually do prefer making films and television, but it was a learning experience for me, because I got into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lewis/i-did-enjoy-theater-i-actually-do-prefer-making-films-and-television/) [Matthew Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lewis/) > [Talking about theater, actually, I built a little barn in upstate New York, and I call it 'the smallest theater in the world,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/talking-about-theater-actually-i-built-a-little-barn-in-upstate-new/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [As an artist, I think it's critical for keeping yourself alive that you try to get your hands into something a little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-siff/as-an-artist-i-think-it-s-critical-for-keeping-yourself-alive-that/) [Maggie Siff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-siff/) > [I don't know that a political climate - as long as it's still a free country - makes much difference in the film world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/i-don-t-know-that-a-political-climate-as-long-as-it-s-still-a-free/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [The difference between film and TV, for me, is just that huge thing of knowing that there's a script that is not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gabel/the-difference-between-film-and-tv-for-me-is-just-that-huge-thing-of/) [Seth Gabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gabel/) > [Stax was rejoicing in the difference in who we are, and that's what you see in the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lange/stax-was-rejoicing-in-the-difference-in-who-we-are-and-that-s-what/) [Ted Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lange/) > [The difference between film and TV is the pace. You don't have the leisure of time in television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ball/the-difference-between-film-and-tv-is-the-pace-you-don-t-have-the/) [Alan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ball/) > [I can't frankly see much difference in the film industry at all. The only difference might be that they don't take as much time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-ford/i-can-t-frankly-see-much-difference-in-the-film-industry-at-all-the/) [Glenn Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-ford/) > [There's not much of a difference shooting something for TV and shooting something for film; the difference is film is in a cinema and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rhys-meyers/there-s-not-much-of-a-difference-shooting-something-for-tv-and/) [Jonathan Rhys Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rhys-meyers/) > [The other main difference between film and television is that you have the opportunity to flush out a character, over a longer period of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-wood/the-other-main-difference-between-film-and-television-is-that-you/) [Elijah Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-wood/) > [The difference between a film that ends up three hours and a film that is envisioned as three hours is that it's written that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/the-difference-between-a-film-that-ends-up-three-hours-and-a-film/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [My biggest difference with our film and those kinds of science fiction films is that they are going from one special effect set piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-jones/my-biggest-difference-with-our-film-and-those-kinds-of-science/) [Duncan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-jones/) > [There's a real difference now in what you can get out of film and the rise of digital platforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/there-s-a-real-difference-now-in-what-you-can-get-out-of-film-and-the/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) ## More by Susan Sarandon > [I'm happy to be considered desirable. I love it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-happy-to-be-considered-desirable-i-love-it/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [Being a Catholic, I was drawn to the mystery of the Latin and the smoke and the mirrors and all of that. That part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/being-a-catholic-i-was-drawn-to-the-mystery-of-the-latin-and-the/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [It's still not easy to find roles that offer more complex images of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/it-s-still-not-easy-to-find-roles-that-offer-more-complex-images-of/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I'm always trying to have a good time on set because that's when things happen. That's when you're playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-always-trying-to-have-a-good-time-on-set-because-that-s-when/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [To each person, their own way of death - with dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/to-each-person-their-own-way-of-death-with-dignity/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [To become a lapsed Catholic, first go to a Catholic university.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/to-become-a-lapsed-catholic-first-go-to-a-catholic-university/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [To know that once you decide to look at life outside of the narrow limits of just your world and start to understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/to-know-that-once-you-decide-to-look-at-life-outside-of-the-narrow/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [You have to take away the idea that something you do is right or wrong. I don't think there's a right or a wrong;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/you-have-to-take-away-the-idea-that-something-you-do-is-right-or/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I hesitate to direct even though I feel I contribute a lot on a set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-hesitate-to-direct-even-though-i-feel-i-contribute-a-lot-on-a-set/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I think looking at your own life, on- and offscreen, you can motivate anything, or you can delude yourself into anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-think-looking-at-your-own-life-on-and-offscreen-you-can-motivate/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [It is a different world than when I was growing up, and you started to just kind of maintain at thirty-five and just hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/it-is-a-different-world-than-when-i-was-growing-up-and-you-started-to/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I'm a native New Yorker. Everything to do with New York feels like my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-a-native-new-yorker-everything-to-do-with-new-york-feels-like-my/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I try to live my life every day in the present, and try not to turn a blind eye to injustice and need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-try-to-live-my-life-every-day-in-the-present-and-try-not-to-turn-a/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I hope they're present in their lives and feel some kind of empathy. I think a lot of the mistakes that have been made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-hope-they-re-present-in-their-lives-and-feel-some-kind-of-empathy-i/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [If you walk down the street and see someone in a box, you have a choice. That person is either the other and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/if-you-walk-down-the-street-and-see-someone-in-a-box-you-have-a/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) [Explore all 149 Susan Sarandon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. 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