--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The life of a character doesn't just…" description: "\"The life of a character doesn't just exist between action and cut.\" — Walton Goggins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/walton-goggins-13029_action_the-life-of-a-character-doesn-t-just-exi_3157996.png" --- # The life of a character doesn't just exist between action… ![“The life of a character doesn't just exist between action and cut.” quote by Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/walton-goggins-13029_action_the-life-of-a-character-doesn-t-just-exi_3157996.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/walton-goggins-13029_action_the-life-of-a-character-doesn-t-just-exi_3157996.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/walton-goggins-13029_action_the-life-of-a-character-doesn-t-just-exi_3157996.png) > “The life of a character doesn't just exist between action and cut.” [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character’s depth is shaped by more than just actions and visual cuts. **In simple terms:** Character depth goes beyond actions and edits. Key Takeaway Focus on internal motivations and backstory. Themes character development storytelling depth psychology Mood reflective analytical Type literary educational When to use this quote - scriptwriting - acting workshops - character analysis - novel writing Key Concepts motivation backstory emotional nuance Questions to Reflect On - How do internal thoughts shape a character? - What role do visual cuts play in storytelling? A Different Perspective It may underplay the importance of visual storytelling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“It is to do nothing that the elect exist. Action is limited and relative. Unlimited and absolute is the vision of him who sits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-to-do-nothing-that-the-elect-exist-action-is-limited-and/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [But, for me, the character lives between action and cut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nazriya-nazim/but-for-me-the-character-lives-between-action-and-cut/) [Nazriya Nazim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nazriya-nazim/) > [I don't want the director to have to make any decisions except to say "action" and "cut."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-almodovar/i-don-t-want-the-director-to-have-to-make-any-decisions-except-to-say/) [Pedro Almodovar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-almodovar/) > [I feel like I'm a filmmaker; I don't feel I need to yell action and cut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/i-feel-like-i-m-a-filmmaker-i-don-t-feel-i-need-to-yell-action-and-cut/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [You take the job very seriously and between action and cut, that's where your focus should be. And then there's a lot of levity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/you-take-the-job-very-seriously-and-between-action-and-cut-that-s/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [I never say "Action" or "Cut." Never. I think that would disturb the life from happening in and around everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramin-bahrani/i-never-say-action-or-cut-never-i-think-that-would-disturb-the-life/) [Ramin Bahrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramin-bahrani/) > [From the very first movie I ever made to the current time, there have been times between action and cut when I've sensed some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-stamp/from-the-very-first-movie-i-ever-made-to-the-current-time-there-have/) [Terence Stamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-stamp/) > [What happens between action and cut for me is a blur, I go almost into a whiteout, and then I see the film and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/what-happens-between-action-and-cut-for-me-is-a-blur-i-go-almost-into/) [Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/) > [If youre carrying the weight of a production on your shoulders, you can tend to get a little serious. I had a very intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-crowe/if-youre-carrying-the-weight-of-a-production-on-your-shoulders-you/) [Russell Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-crowe/) > [Whatever works, you know. As long as you get to that place between action and cut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-elordi/whatever-works-you-know-as-long-as-you-get-to-that-place-between/) [Jacob Elordi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-elordi/) > [You really need to learn how to turn it on for 'action' and off for 'cut.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/you-really-need-to-learn-how-to-turn-it-on-for-action-and-off-for-cut/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [British actors are pretty good, by and large, at turning on at 'action' and off at 'cut.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/british-actors-are-pretty-good-by-and-large-at-turning-on-at-action/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [When you are writing a character, what the character says is obviously crucial. But what the character doesn't say is absolutely as important as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-busch/when-you-are-writing-a-character-what-the-character-says-is-obviously/) [Frederick Busch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-busch/) > [You are playing a character obviously, and everything you are saying is filtered through that person. It is not you that is saying it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-louise-plowman/you-are-playing-a-character-obviously-and-everything-you-are-saying/) Anna-Louise Plowman > [I feel like a good director provokes you to ask questions about your character, but doesn't answer them for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-reed/i-feel-like-a-good-director-provokes-you-to-ask-questions-about-your/) [Crystal Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-reed/) ## More by Walton Goggins > [ Quentin \[Taranino\] will say, "We've got it, but we're gonna do it one more time. Why?" And then, the entire cast and crew chimes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/quentin-taranino-will-say-we-ve-got-it-but-we-re-gonna-do-it-one-more/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [If you ever get the opportunity to work with Quentin Tarantino, you had better believe that it will be an experience of extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/if-you-ever-get-the-opportunity-to-work-with-quentin-tarantino-you/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [Success in TV-showmaking is just a matter of being authentic and doing the best you can, and you hope that people watch it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/success-in-tv-showmaking-is-just-a-matter-of-being-authentic-and/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [T I was doing Predators, this new movie for FOX simultaneously, and this character that I play in the movie is "Walter Stands," and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/t-i-was-doing-predators-this-new-movie-for-fox-simultaneously-and/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [Unfortunately, when you're the king of the hill, there's really only one way to go, and that's down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/unfortunately-when-you-re-the-king-of-the-hill-there-s-really-only/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [Like everybody, I've had a lot of pain in my life and I'm a work in progress. You must have a true desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/like-everybody-i-ve-had-a-lot-of-pain-in-my-life-and-i-m-a-work-in/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [No, but there are people I grew up with from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains that would give any person on 'Justified'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/no-but-there-are-people-i-grew-up-with-from-the-foothills-of-the-blue/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [You can go to a history class with one teacher and want to stick a pencil in your throat, and then go to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/you-can-go-to-a-history-class-with-one-teacher-and-want-to-stick-a/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I aimlessly travel, meaning I have no agenda other than to get small in the world, be quiet and observe people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-aimlessly-travel-meaning-i-have-no-agenda-other-than-to-get-small/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I think I've made a career out of making despicable people likable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-think-i-ve-made-a-career-out-of-making-despicable-people-likable/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I find that I have no problem getting a table at a restaurant when I walk in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-find-that-i-have-no-problem-getting-a-table-at-a-restaurant-when-i/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I'm drawn to villains that are three-dimensional and raw and that I can kind of see in my own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-m-drawn-to-villains-that-are-three-dimensional-and-raw-and-that-i/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [We want to see ourselves reflected in our heroes. Unfortunately most of us don't look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/we-want-to-see-ourselves-reflected-in-our-heroes-unfortunately-most/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [But probably my favorite music, believe it or not, is sad music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/but-probably-my-favorite-music-believe-it-or-not-is-sad-music/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [An actor that tells you that they have real choices between material is, for the most part, lying. There are very few people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-real-choices-between-material/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) [Explore all 52 Walton Goggins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The life of a character doesn't just exist between action and cut.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walton Goggins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/the-life-of-a-character-doesn-t-just-exist-between-action-and-cut/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/the-life-of-a-character-doesn-t-just-exist-between-action-and-cut/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/walton-goggins-13029_action_the-life-of-a-character-doesn-t-just-exi_3157996.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/walton-goggins-13029_action_the-life-of-a-character-doesn-t-just-exi_3157996.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/walton-goggins-13029_action_the-life-of-a-character-doesn-t-just-exi_3157996.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The life of a character doesn't just exist between action and cut.” — Walton Goggins", "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": "Walton Goggins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The life of a character doesn't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/the-life-of-a-character-doesn-t-just-exist-between-action-and-cut/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/the-life-of-a-character-doesn-t-just-exist-between-action-and-cut/#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 } } ] } ```