--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real difficulty for smaller films…" description: "\"The real difficulty for smaller films, when they're made independently and it's time to go for a distributor, sometimes if it's a tough film and the pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/willem-dafoe-4486_deals_the-real-difficulty-for-smaller-films-wh_2528436.jpg" --- # The real difficulty for smaller films, when they're made… ![“The real difficulty for smaller films, when they're made independently and it's time to go for a distributor, sometimes if it's a tough film and the people who financed it need their money back right away, it's much easier and lucrative to take a DVD deal.” quote by Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/willem-dafoe-4486_deals_the-real-difficulty-for-smaller-films-wh_2528436.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/willem-dafoe-4486_deals_the-real-difficulty-for-smaller-films-wh_2528436.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/willem-dafoe-4486_deals_the-real-difficulty-for-smaller-films-wh_2528436.jpg) > “The real difficulty for smaller films, when they're made independently and it's time to go for a distributor, sometimes if it's a tough film and the people who financed it need their money back right away, it's much easier and lucrative to take a DVD deal.” [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Independent filmmakers often face pressure to accept quick DVD deals over longer theatrical runs due to financing constraints. **In simple terms:** Small films may choose fast money over broader exposure. Key Takeaway We financing options early. Themes film industry finance distribution Mood pragmatic concerned Type advisory realistic When to use this quote - independent film release - budget planning - distribution negotiations Key Concepts risk management market strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can filmmakers balance immediate cash needs with long‑term exposure? - What alternative financing could reduce pressure for quick DVD sales? A Different Perspective A DVD deal may limit long‑term audience reach and artistic impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty/) [Distributor Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distributor-tough-1319949/) [Distributors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distributors/) [Dvd Deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dvd-deal-1319948/) [Dvds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dvds/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Films Independently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films-independently-1319947/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lucrative Dvd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucrative-dvd-1319946/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Smaller Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smaller-films-235998/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) ## Related quotes > [There are not a lot of opportunities in movies and TVs like it used to be for African-Americans. Back in the 90s, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-davidson/there-are-not-a-lot-of-opportunities-in-movies-and-tvs-like-it-used/) [Tommy Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-davidson/) > [All I've learned is that you need the studio system sometimes, if your budget is a certain size, and other films you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/all-i-ve-learned-is-that-you-need-the-studio-system-sometimes-if-your/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [You've got to do the big studio movies to get your name, but as an actor and for your own well-being you kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-cook/you-ve-got-to-do-the-big-studio-movies-to-get-your-name-but-as-an/) [A. J. Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-cook/) > [The smaller films just take a longer period of time to build their fan base because people don't see them as soon as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/the-smaller-films-just-take-a-longer-period-of-time-to-build-their/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [Smaller films that have a great run at the festivals usually result in the audience promoting the film on social media and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vetrimaaran/smaller-films-that-have-a-great-run-at-the-festivals-usually-result/) [Vetrimaaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vetrimaaran/) > [I remember being inspired myself when smaller films, whether it's 'Beasts' or 'Winter's Bone,' wound up in the Oscars lineup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/i-remember-being-inspired-myself-when-smaller-films-whether-it-s/) [Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/) > [Casting couch exists as far as smaller films are concerned... B and C grade types.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kashmira-shah/casting-couch-exists-as-far-as-smaller-films-are-concerned-b-and-c/) [Kashmira Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kashmira-shah/) > [My partner, Beth Alexander, and I want to produce smaller films, but commercially viable films that will enable me to make the kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/my-partner-beth-alexander-and-i-want-to-produce-smaller-films-but/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [Generally speaking I would say I enjoy the smaller films more because there's a less sense of pressure and often the material is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/generally-speaking-i-would-say-i-enjoy-the-smaller-films-more-because-2/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [Generally speaking I would say I enjoy the smaller films more because there's a less sense of pressure and often the material is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/generally-speaking-i-would-say-i-enjoy-the-smaller-films-more-because/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [The older I get, the more I'm drawn to the smaller films, but I still hope to keep bigger films in my repertoire. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-m-drawn-to-the-smaller-films-but-i-still/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [I really loved making 'A Walk to Remember', so I'm not afraid of making smaller films. But for me, I just need to connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-really-loved-making-a-walk-to-remember-so-i-m-not-afraid-of-making/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [I want to diversify a bit. I don't wanna throw myself into another big blockbuster or another big franchise anytime soon. So smaller films,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-want-to-diversify-a-bit-i-don-t-wanna-throw-myself-into-another-big/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [There are many great writers out there and, actually, great scripts. The problem is - and this is what I've always felt, even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudd/there-are-many-great-writers-out-there-and-actually-great-scripts-the/) [Paul Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudd/) > [It's gotten out of control. It's taking bigger and bigger names to make smaller and smaller films. I worry that important films without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/it-s-gotten-out-of-control-it-s-taking-bigger-and-bigger-names-to/) [Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/) ## More by Willem Dafoe > [I was doing community theater, and I was always interested in acting, but I was also interested in sports. I was interested in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-was-doing-community-theater-and-i-was-always-interested-in-acting/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I knew very little about 'Spider-Man'. I grew up more in the 'Superman' generation. 'Spider-Man' - I didn't know so much. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-knew-very-little-about-spider-man-i-grew-up-more-in-the-superman/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [When you have something to work with, then you fly with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/when-you-have-something-to-work-with-then-you-fly-with-it/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [When I was a kid I was very interested in the idea of the will, finding out what you're capable of. I liked those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-very-interested-in-the-idea-of-the-will/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Film is an editor's medium. You can create very good raw material and they can make it horrible, or you can do not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/film-is-an-editor-s-medium-you-can-create-very-good-raw-material-and/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I'm more interested in talking about what I do. And I don't think people are interested in my personal life. I've never had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-m-more-interested-in-talking-about-what-i-do-and-i-don-t-think/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [ Mounting those red stairs \[in Cannes\] is something I've done with a very different intention many times. So it's interesting any time you witness… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/mounting-those-red-stairs-in-cannes-is-something-i-ve-done-with-a/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [In films you do a scene, you play around with it and unless you're doing a lot of reshooting, which no one has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/in-films-you-do-a-scene-you-play-around-with-it-and-unless-you-re/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [For every role, you have to always find a different way to approach it, one that's specific and suits what the key is. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/for-every-role-you-have-to-always-find-a-different-way-to-approach-it/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Celebrity is okay as long as you know it's not about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/celebrity-is-okay-as-long-as-you-know-it-s-not-about-you/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [All the time, as an actor, you want to be asking what's next and where things are going. If you're not asking those questions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/all-the-time-as-an-actor-you-want-to-be-asking-what-s-next-and-where/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I'm learning in my old age that the only thing you can do to keep your sanity is to stay in the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-m-learning-in-my-old-age-that-the-only-thing-you-can-do-to-keep/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I was watching 'Wild at Heart,' and I can honestly say I did nothing for that apart from show up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-was-watching-wild-at-heart-and-i-can-honestly-say-i-did-nothing-for/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Truth is, generally I like film festivals; somewhere at some level there's an exchange of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/truth-is-generally-i-like-film-festivals-somewhere-at-some-level/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I don't think people are interested in my personal life. I've never had a Hollywood life. I've always been a worker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-don-t-think-people-are-interested-in-my-personal-life-i-ve-never/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) [Explore all 110 Willem Dafoe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) ## More Deals quotes > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [When you reach that competing point, when you reach that time when the gun is about to go off, everyone's level is pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/when-you-reach-that-competing-point-when-you-reach-that-time-when-the/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't really resent being on the red carpet as much as I do having to deal with the paparazzi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-don-t-really-resent-being-on-the-red-carpet-as-much-as-i-do-having/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [I think kids growing up, if they were picked on and feeling inferior at 12, they're going to feel that way at 72. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-think-kids-growing-up-if-they-were-picked-on-and-feeling-inferior/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I deal with the obvious. I present, reiterate, and glorify the obvious - because the obvious is what people need to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/i-deal-with-the-obvious-i-present-reiterate-and-glorify-the-obvious/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) [Browse all 7,121 Deals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The real difficulty for smaller films, when they're made independently and it's time to go for a distributor, sometimes if it's a tough film and the people who financed it need their money back right away, it's much easier and lucrative to take a DVD deal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Willem Dafoe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/the-real-difficulty-for-smaller-films-when-they-re-made-independently/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/the-real-difficulty-for-smaller-films-when-they-re-made-independently/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/willem-dafoe-4486_deals_the-real-difficulty-for-smaller-films-wh_2528436.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/willem-dafoe-4486_deals_the-real-difficulty-for-smaller-films-wh_2528436.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/willem-dafoe-4486_deals_the-real-difficulty-for-smaller-films-wh_2528436.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The real difficulty for smaller films, when they're made independently and it's time to go for a…” — Willem Dafoe", "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": "Willem Dafoe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The real difficulty for smaller films,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/the-real-difficulty-for-smaller-films-when-they-re-made-independently/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/the-real-difficulty-for-smaller-films-when-they-re-made-independently/#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 } } ] } ```