--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important question in American…" description: "\"The most important question in American cinema, I've learned, is 'When is lunch?'\" — Tommy Lee Jones" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/tommy-lee-jones-9811_cinema_the-most-important-question-in-american_1179699.jpg" --- # The most important question in American cinema, I've… ![“The most important question in American cinema, I've learned, is 'When is lunch?'” quote by Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/tommy-lee-jones-9811_cinema_the-most-important-question-in-american_1179699.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/tommy-lee-jones-9811_cinema_the-most-important-question-in-american_1179699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/tommy-lee-jones-9811_cinema_the-most-important-question-in-american_1179699.jpg) > “The most important question in American cinema, I've learned, is 'When is lunch?'” [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The key concern for filmmakers is timing of breaks for cast and crew, reflecting work-life balance in production. **In simple terms:** Lunch timing matters in film sets. Key Takeaway Schedule regular breaks. Themes workplace film production balance Mood practical reflective Type industry operational When to use this quote - film set - long shoots - crew morale - budget constraints Key Concepts time management crew welfare Questions to Reflect On - How do break schedules affect on‑set performance? - What policies improve crew wellbeing? A Different Perspective Ignoring breaks can cause fatigue and errors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-cinema/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Cinema Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema-ve-3455396/) [I've learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-ve-learned/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Learned Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-lunch-3455394/) [Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lunch/) [Question American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-american-3455395/) ## Related quotes > [Whether I am or am not a Communist is irrelevant. The question is whether American citizens, regardless of their political beliefs or sympathies, may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-robeson/whether-i-am-or-am-not-a-communist-is-irrelevant-the-question-is/) [Paul Robeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-robeson/) > [ The question's whether or not there's an American interest in the Civil War \[in Syria\]. The question is whether or not a military strike… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-question-s-whether-or-not-there-s-an-american-interest-in-the/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In the old days, you dealt with one regulator. Now it's five or six. You all should ask the question how American that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/in-the-old-days-you-dealt-with-one-regulator-now-it-s-five-or-six-you/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [The question of whether we were misled into the war in Iraq isn't a liberal or conservative or Republican or Democratic question, it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-question-of-whether-we-were-misled-into-the-war-in-iraq-isn-t-a/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ The first question \[American college kids\] asked me was, 'What state is Kuwait in?' They thought Kuwait was in America. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayshay/the-first-question-american-college-kids-asked-me-was-what-state-is/) [Ayshay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayshay/) > [I've learned that by returning my calls between 11:00 a.m. and noon and 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. I can keep them short and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-larkin/i-ve-learned-that-by-returning-my-calls-between-11-00-a-m-and-noon/) [Geri Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-larkin/) > [I don't want all of American cinema to be big cartoons that are just made to be digested by the entire world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-don-t-want-all-of-american-cinema-to-be-big-cartoons-that-are-just/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [Hollywood films have become a cesspool of formula and it's up to us to try to change it... I feel like a preacher! But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/hollywood-films-have-become-a-cesspool-of-formula-and-it-s-up-to-us/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [I felt privileged to be a facet of such a jewel in the crown of American cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/i-felt-privileged-to-be-a-facet-of-such-a-jewel-in-the-crown-of/) [Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/) > [When I first envisioned 'Funny Games' in the mid-1990s, it was my intention to have an American audience watch the movie. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/when-i-first-envisioned-funny-games-in-the-mid-1990s-it-was-my/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [The main difference I'd say is that European cinema has always used less music than American cinema for historical reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/the-main-difference-i-d-say-is-that-european-cinema-has-always-used/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [Boxing is a big part of American cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/boxing-is-a-big-part-of-american-cinema/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [It's a mistake and misconception to think that one has to state everything clearly and simply for the audience to be able to follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asghar-farhadi/it-s-a-mistake-and-misconception-to-think-that-one-has-to-state/) [Asghar Farhadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asghar-farhadi/) > [Modern American cinema seems to me superficial. The intention is to understand a certain reality, and the result is nothing but a photographing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-puig/modern-american-cinema-seems-to-me-superficial-the-intention-is-to/) [Manuel Puig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-puig/) > [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/) ## More by Tommy Lee Jones > [The world's not a very comfortable place if you have a nightmare to face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/the-world-s-not-a-very-comfortable-place-if-you-have-a-nightmare-to/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [I'm always happy to have a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/i-m-always-happy-to-have-a-job/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [I don't see people as groups, I see them as individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/i-don-t-see-people-as-groups-i-see-them-as-individuals/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [I personally don't live a nihilistic life, I don't have any use for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/i-personally-don-t-live-a-nihilistic-life-i-don-t-have-any-use-for-it/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [I think that no matter how much you don't like yourself or the drama of your life you can still find some comedy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/i-think-that-no-matter-how-much-you-don-t-like-yourself-or-the-drama/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [No director wants to be directed, but no good director... would shy away from the good ideas of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/no-director-wants-to-be-directed-but-no-good-director-would-shy-away/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [I fear other actors who are not prepared. And I fear directors who are afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/i-fear-other-actors-who-are-not-prepared-and-i-fear-directors-who-are/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [I don't play just villains. I like to have parts that are not simply villains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/i-don-t-play-just-villains-i-like-to-have-parts-that-are-not-simply/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [If you don't hurt anybody or try to steal anything, you'll be fine in the South.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/if-you-don-t-hurt-anybody-or-try-to-steal-anything-you-ll-be-fine-in/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [I try as hard as I can for everything to be different from one movie to the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/i-try-as-hard-as-i-can-for-everything-to-be-different-from-one-movie/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [As an actor I want to do as many takes as I can. I wanna shoot the scene... or shoot the shot 'til they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/as-an-actor-i-want-to-do-as-many-takes-as-i-can-i-wanna-shoot-the/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [Partnerships are good engines for narrative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/partnerships-are-good-engines-for-narrative/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [Ethnic stereotypes are boring and stressful and sometimes criminal. It's just not a good way to think. It's non-thinking. It's stupid and destructive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/ethnic-stereotypes-are-boring-and-stressful-and-sometimes-criminal-it/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [As a child of West Texas, I identify with Hispanic culture every bit as much as I do North American culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/as-a-child-of-west-texas-i-identify-with-hispanic-culture-every-bit/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [If you want to know about my politics, the only way to do that is to look at my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/if-you-want-to-know-about-my-politics-the-only-way-to-do-that-is-to/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) [Explore all 70 Tommy Lee Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) ## 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": "The most important question in American cinema, I've learned, is 'When is lunch?'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tommy Lee Jones" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/the-most-important-question-in-american-cinema-i-ve-learned-is-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/the-most-important-question-in-american-cinema-i-ve-learned-is-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/tommy-lee-jones-9811_cinema_the-most-important-question-in-american_1179699.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/tommy-lee-jones-9811_cinema_the-most-important-question-in-american_1179699.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/tommy-lee-jones-9811_cinema_the-most-important-question-in-american_1179699.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most important question in American cinema, I've learned, is 'When is lunch?'” — Tommy Lee Jones", "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": "Tommy Lee Jones", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most important question in American...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/the-most-important-question-in-american-cinema-i-ve-learned-is-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/the-most-important-question-in-american-cinema-i-ve-learned-is-when/#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 } } ] } ```