--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always said that, first and…" description: "\"I've always said that, first and foremost, I make films for New Zealanders. They're my target audience. Then after that, if people appreciate my storie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/taika-waititi-3300_always_i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost_443327.jpg" --- # I've always said that, first and foremost, I make films… ![“I've always said that, first and foremost, I make films for New Zealanders. They're my target audience. Then after that, if people appreciate my stories from outside this country, then that's an added bonus.” quote by Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/taika-waititi-3300_always_i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost_443327.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/taika-waititi-3300_always_i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost_443327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/taika-waititi-3300_always_i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost_443327.jpg) > “I've always said that, first and foremost, I make films for New Zealanders. They're my target audience. Then after that, if people appreciate my stories from outside this country, then that's an added bonus.” [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prioritizes local audiences, viewing international appeal as a bonus, not the primary goal. **In simple terms:** Make films for your own people first. Key Takeaway Focus on your core audience. Themes local culture audience focus humility Mood pragmatic proud Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - film festivals - community screenings - marketing strategies Key Concepts filmmaking cultural identity Questions to Reflect On - What value does a local audience bring? - How can you expand appeal without compromising core values? A Different Perspective Risk of limiting global reach if too inward‑focused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Appreciate Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate-stories-3884487/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Make Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-films-271136/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New Zealanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-zealanders-341097/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target/) [Target audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target-audience/) [Zealanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zealanders-341096/) ## Related quotes > [If I had to take hell, I would use the Australians to take it and the New Zealanders to hold it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-rommel/if-i-had-to-take-hell-i-would-use-the-australians-to-take-it-and-the/) [Erwin Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-rommel/) > [We don't tell New Zealanders we can stop the global recession, because we can't. What we do tell them is we can use this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-key/we-don-t-tell-new-zealanders-we-can-stop-the-global-recession-because/) [John Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-key/) > [I don't know that you're ever going to persuade New Zealanders that they're not going to own their own homes and I'm not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/i-don-t-know-that-you-re-ever-going-to-persuade-new-zealanders-that/) [Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/) > [It's not ok when around 1 million New Zealanders don't vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metiria-turei/it-s-not-ok-when-around-1-million-new-zealanders-don-t-vote/) [Metiria Turei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metiria-turei/) > [I grew up in Australia so I've got aspects of both cultures. New Zealanders tend to be very persistent, you know? And Australians are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-crowe/i-grew-up-in-australia-so-i-ve-got-aspects-of-both-cultures-new/) [Russell Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-crowe/) > [New Zealanders are so chill. I know they say Australians are chill, and I feel like Australians are chill, but I keep thinking, "If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/new-zealanders-are-so-chill-i-know-they-say-australians-are-chill-and/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I think thats what all New Zealanders who are fair-minded want - a good chance for everybody to get ahead, whether its education or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cunliffe/i-think-thats-what-all-new-zealanders-who-are-fair-minded-want-a-good/) [David Cunliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cunliffe/) > [When you think of famous New Zealanders, there aren't many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-mckenzie/when-you-think-of-famous-new-zealanders-there-aren-t-many/) [Bret McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-mckenzie/) > [I think the film and TV industry - the acting world - has a tendency to attract a lot of people for the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-starr/i-think-the-film-and-tv-industry-the-acting-world-has-a-tendency-to/) [Antony Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-starr/) > [New Zealanders who emigrate to Australia raise the IQ of both countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-muldoon/new-zealanders-who-emigrate-to-australia-raise-the-iq-of-both/) [Robert Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-muldoon/) > [When you think about going back to the States you start to become more aware of the violence there and how we pollute the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-o-connor/when-you-think-about-going-back-to-the-states-you-start-to-become/) [Renee O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-o-connor/) > [New Zealanders who leave for Australia raise the IQ of both countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-muldoon/new-zealanders-who-leave-for-australia-raise-the-iq-of-both-countries/) [Robert Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-muldoon/) > [We are being colonised without New Zealanders having some say in the numbers of people coming in and where they are coming from. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-peters/we-are-being-colonised-without-new-zealanders-having-some-say-in-the/) [Winston Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-peters/) > [Most New Zealanders want to travel overseas. We're a great travelling nation. It's hard to imagine simply not moving from here, especially as time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-karlson-stead/most-new-zealanders-want-to-travel-overseas-we-re-a-great-travelling/) [Christian Karlson Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-karlson-stead/) > [So I think that we're in a very heightened and somewhat unusual period of politics and polling around the countries that New Zealanders take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bolger/so-i-think-that-we-re-in-a-very-heightened-and-somewhat-unusual/) [Jim Bolger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bolger/) ## More by Taika Waititi > [I come from a big extended family, so it's very normal to be around babies for us, but when it's your own, it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-come-from-a-big-extended-family-so-it-s-very-normal-to-be-around/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [That's what attracts me to the kind of characters I try and write - that they're not cut and dried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/that-s-what-attracts-me-to-the-kind-of-characters-i-try-and-write/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [Music - it's motivational and just makes you relax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/music-it-s-motivational-and-just-makes-you-relax/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [ In a couple of years I think it \[sequel to What We Do\] will come out as a script and we'll shoot that. Or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/in-a-couple-of-years-i-think-it-sequel-to-what-we-do-will-come-out-as/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [When you're on set, you're like, 'Everyone's judging me because I'm the director, and everyone thinks I'm doing this because I just love myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/when-you-re-on-set-you-re-like-everyone-s-judging-me-because-i-m-the/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [My father is a visual artist, so I was influenced by him, and my mother is an English teacher who forced me to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/my-father-is-a-visual-artist-so-i-was-influenced-by-him-and-my-mother/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [New Zealand was such a weird place in the 1980s. For instance, we used to have this commercial in the late 1970s where this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/new-zealand-was-such-a-weird-place-in-the-1980s-for-instance-we-used/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [I think... part of life skills is also socialising... I think many people make the mistake of not going out... You can spend a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-think-part-of-life-skills-is-also-socialising-i-think-many-people/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [ I loved him \[Ke Huy Quan as Short-Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom\] - everyone loved him when I saw the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-loved-him-ke-huy-quan-as-short-round-in-indiana-jones-and-the/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [You have to write what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/you-have-to-write-what-you-know/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [I find that a lot of child actors are ruined once they've done a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-find-that-a-lot-of-child-actors-are-ruined-once-they-ve-done-a-job/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [There are lots of parts of filmmaking that I don't like. At the end of the day, especially on features, the film turns into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/there-are-lots-of-parts-of-filmmaking-that-i-don-t-like-at-the-end-of/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [My main thing was painting; I was just going to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/my-main-thing-was-painting-i-was-just-going-to-do-that/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [I always wanted to play a dapper gentleman, and I also always wanted to play my mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-always-wanted-to-play-a-dapper-gentleman-and-i-also-always-wanted/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [People overcoming the odds is actually a really important part of humanity, and I don't think we kind of get to celebrate that as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/people-overcoming-the-odds-is-actually-a-really-important-part-of/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) [Explore all 134 Taika Waititi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always said that, first and foremost, I make films for New Zealanders. They're my target audience. Then after that, if people appreciate my stories from outside this country, then that's an added bonus.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Taika Waititi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost-i-make-films-for-new/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost-i-make-films-for-new/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/taika-waititi-3300_always_i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost_443327.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/taika-waititi-3300_always_i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost_443327.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/taika-waititi-3300_always_i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost_443327.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've always said that, first and foremost, I make films for New Zealanders. They're my target audience. Then…” — Taika Waititi", "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": "Taika Waititi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've always said that, first and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost-i-make-films-for-new/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost-i-make-films-for-new/#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 } } ] } ```