--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's all about special effects and…" description: "\"It's all about special effects and explosions now. It leaves me just cold when I walk out of the theater. There's no heart; there's no soul. Movies use..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/vilmos-zsigmond-9377_cold_it-s-all-about-special-effects-and-explo_378013.png" --- # It's all about special effects and explosions now. It… ![“It's all about special effects and explosions now. It leaves me just cold when I walk out of the theater. There's no heart; there's no soul. Movies used to be about people. It's as though we don't tell stories any more. The studios have to make money, and if you want to make $20 million, you have…” quote by Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/vilmos-zsigmond-9377_cold_it-s-all-about-special-effects-and-explo_378013.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/vilmos-zsigmond-9377_cold_it-s-all-about-special-effects-and-explo_378013.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c73/vilmos-zsigmond-9377_cold_it-s-all-about-special-effects-and-explo_378013.png) > “It's all about special effects and explosions now. It leaves me just cold when I walk out of the theater. There's no heart; there's no soul. Movies used to be about people. It's as though we don't tell stories any more. The studios have to make money, and if you want to make $20 million, you have to spend $200 million.” [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern movies prioritize spectacle over story, losing emotional depth and soul. **In simple terms:** Films focus on effects, neglecting human stories. Key Takeaway Value storytelling over visual spectacle. Themes film art commercialism Mood critical nostalgic Type film cultural commentary When to use this quote - movie reviews - screenwriting workshops - film festivals - budget planning Key Concepts narrative cinematography industry trends Questions to Reflect On - Can you find films that balance effects and narrative? - How might studios prioritize story without sacrificing profit? A Different Perspective High budgets can still produce heartfelt stories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Explosions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explosions/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Making money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-money/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Special effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-effects/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [We don't program movies. We don't run studios. We make movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/we-don-t-program-movies-we-don-t-run-studios-we-make-movies/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [I want studios that make story-based games to start taking their stories more seriously. And that doesn't mean hiring a big shot writer from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-druckmann/i-want-studios-that-make-story-based-games-to-start-taking-their/) Neil Druckmann > [There's not one film that I've ever made that could get made today by a studio, not one - even 'A Few Good Men'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reiner/there-s-not-one-film-that-i-ve-ever-made-that-could-get-made-today-by/) [Rob Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reiner/) > [Nowadays the big Hollywood studios only make about three movies a year, and they cost about $200 million each. There's no room for error…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-coltraine/nowadays-the-big-hollywood-studios-only-make-about-three-movies-a/) [Robbie Coltraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-coltraine/) > [The audience has realized how much money the studios make from games now. They're making more money from games than they are from feature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-conroy/the-audience-has-realized-how-much-money-the-studios-make-from-games/) [Kevin Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-conroy/) > [I have a lot of films that I haven't gotten made, and that continues to trouble me. But someday, some way or another, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/i-have-a-lot-of-films-that-i-haven-t-gotten-made-and-that-continues/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [I didn't have the kind of budget to compete with the big studios, therefore I had to make my films more outlandish, more outrageous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/i-didn-t-have-the-kind-of-budget-to-compete-with-the-big-studios/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [Movies used to be like 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' and 'Home Alone:' That's a regular guy in this movie that you enjoy watching. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-bargatze/movies-used-to-be-like-planes-trains-and-automobiles-and-home-alone/) [Nate Bargatze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-bargatze/) > [Making movies used to be fun in the old days. It isn't any longer. It's a coldhearted business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lorre/making-movies-used-to-be-fun-in-the-old-days-it-isn-t-any-longer-it-s/) [Peter Lorre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lorre/) > [I don't see as many movies as I used to. Or, I should say, as many movies as I would like to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/i-don-t-see-as-many-movies-as-i-used-to-or-i-should-say-as-many/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [I remember in the movies we used to do two pages a day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-macmurray/i-remember-in-the-movies-we-used-to-do-two-pages-a-day-one-in-the/) [Fred MacMurray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-macmurray/) > [Scary movies, for me, I used to be insanely scared of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/scary-movies-for-me-i-used-to-be-insanely-scared-of/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [Well, we knew it. Women can't sell movies". That's what it used to be like. "Well, this movie did well, but it's a fluke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/well-we-knew-it-women-can-t-sell-movies-that-s-what-it-used-to-be/) [Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/) > [Mainstream movies used to be more adventurous because people went to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/mainstream-movies-used-to-be-more-adventurous-because-people-went-to/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [A lot of talent, a lot of the currency that movies used to have, has spilled over into TV. People talk about TV the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-specktor/a-lot-of-talent-a-lot-of-the-currency-that-movies-used-to-have-has/) [Matthew Specktor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-specktor/) ## More by Vilmos Zsigmond > [I look at a picture like Scarecrow and think, 'Jesus, how could they have let us make that?' I mean, if you used technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-look-at-a-picture-like-scarecrow-and-think-jesus-how-could-they/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I hope that film is going to stay as an artform and that people won't forget that there are good movies also to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-hope-that-film-is-going-to-stay-as-an-artform-and-that-people-won-t/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I like to say that lighting is about taking the light away. I often like to use the shadows more than the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-like-to-say-that-lighting-is-about-taking-the-light-away-i-often/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I am actually retired - yes, I am retired. But I like to work. So I'm retired until someone calls me up to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-am-actually-retired-yes-i-am-retired-but-i-like-to-work-so-i-m/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I'm always looking in the lighting to tell the story in a different way than it actually looks in real life because it's, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-m-always-looking-in-the-lighting-to-tell-the-story-in-a-different/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [With television, it's difficult to do some things. You have to shoot so many minutes a day, so you always have to be prepared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/with-television-it-s-difficult-to-do-some-things-you-have-to-shoot-so/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I think that the audience should not be able to tell if it is real or not real - it should be an enhanced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-think-that-the-audience-should-not-be-able-to-tell-if-it-is-real-or/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I'm always looking for directors who are very strong, they have great ideas, but on the other hand, that need help. It means they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-m-always-looking-for-directors-who-are-very-strong-they-have-great/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [Each story has a different approach for me and I try to work with lighting that will tell you visually the story better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/each-story-has-a-different-approach-for-me-and-i-try-to-work-with/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I encourage film students who are interested in cinematography to study sculpture, paintings, music, writing and other arts. Filmmaking consists of all the arts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-encourage-film-students-who-are-interested-in-cinematography-to/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [In a period piece, particularly a fantasy, the lighting is your own choice, the lenses are your own choice. It's really a great thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/in-a-period-piece-particularly-a-fantasy-the-lighting-is-your-own/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [European films had art. And it was easy to make a European film. They didn't come from the studio system, they weren't shot in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/european-films-had-art-and-it-was-easy-to-make-a-european-film-they/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I should mention Vittorio Storaro, who was Bernardo Bertolucci's cinematographer. You watch those films and they are exceptional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-should-mention-vittorio-storaro-who-was-bernardo-bertolucci-s/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I don't think there is any advantage to digital unless it's in a case like Slumdog Millionaire, where you have to get a shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-don-t-think-there-is-any-advantage-to-digital-unless-it-s-in-a-case/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [When you are shooting a movie, you have to collaborate with many, many, many people. First of all, the director with all his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/when-you-are-shooting-a-movie-you-have-to-collaborate-with-many-many/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) [Explore all 73 Vilmos Zsigmond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) ## More Cold quotes > [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Of course Messi could handle a cold Tuesday night in Stoke. He'd be drinking tea and relaxing beforehand. Me? I'd probably be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/of-course-messi-could-handle-a-cold-tuesday-night-in-stoke-he-d-be/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [You start playing when it's cold and you want to be playing when it's cold again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimy-williams/you-start-playing-when-it-s-cold-and-you-want-to-be-playing-when-it-s/) Jimy Williams > [It would be a piece of ingenuousness to accuse the man of today of his lack of moral code. The accusation would leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/it-would-be-a-piece-of-ingenuousness-to-accuse-the-man-of-today-of/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [I would have touched it like a child But knew my finger could but have touched Cold stone and water. I grew wild, Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/i-would-have-touched-it-like-a-child-but-knew-my-finger-could-but/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [What's to become of the morally sound? Left out in the cold, I suppose. We must heal the sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/what-s-to-become-of-the-morally-sound-left-out-in-the-cold-i-suppose/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [When I first started, all the reviews of Cold Chisel would say, 'This singer won't have a voice in six months.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/when-i-first-started-all-the-reviews-of-cold-chisel-would-say-this/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [One of the problems trying to play an instrument outside in the cold is your fingers give up on you and you can't wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/one-of-the-problems-trying-to-play-an-instrument-outside-in-the-cold/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [God tempers the cold to the shorn sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-etienne-sainte-claire-deville/god-tempers-the-cold-to-the-shorn-sheep/) Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville > [Those nights lying alone are not discontinuous with this cold hectic dawn. It is who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-carson/those-nights-lying-alone-are-not-discontinuous-with-this-cold-hectic/) [Anne Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-carson/) [Browse all 5,381 Cold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's all about special effects and explosions now. It leaves me just cold when I walk out of the theater. There's no heart; there's no soul. Movies used to be about people. It's as though we don't tell stories any more. 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