--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To make films, it always begins with two…" description: "\"To make films, it always begins with two words: what and how. First of all, you have to find a story, or what are you going to tell? And you have to fi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/wong-kar-wai-9417_always_to-make-films-it-always-begins-with-two_1058900.png" --- # To make films, it always begins with two words: what and… ![“To make films, it always begins with two words: what and how. First of all, you have to find a story, or what are you going to tell? And you have to find a way to tell it visually.” quote by Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/wong-kar-wai-9417_always_to-make-films-it-always-begins-with-two_1058900.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/wong-kar-wai-9417_always_to-make-films-it-always-begins-with-two_1058900.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/wong-kar-wai-9417_always_to-make-films-it-always-begins-with-two_1058900.png) > “To make films, it always begins with two words: what and how. First of all, you have to find a story, or what are you going to tell? And you have to find a way to tell it visually.” [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective storytelling requires a clear concept and a visual method to convey it. **In simple terms:** Story and visual method are essential. Key Takeaway Define story, then choose visual style. Themes storytelling visual storytelling creativity Mood inspired determined Type practical creative When to use this quote - film pitch - script development - storyboarding - directing Key Concepts cinematography narrative structure visual language Questions to Reflect On - How do you translate abstract ideas into visual scenes? - What visual techniques best serve your narrative? A Different Perspective A strong story alone may not succeed without technical skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [Are you a storyteller, Thomas Covenant?" Absently he replied, "I was, once." "And you gave it up? Ah, that is as sad a tale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-donaldson/are-you-a-storyteller-thomas-covenant-absently-he-replied-i-was-once/) [Stephen R. Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-donaldson/) > [“in other words, his story was part boast, part confession.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/in-other-words-his-story-was-part-boast-part-confession/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [The juxtaposition of words - the color, feeling, and sound of the words together - has as much to do with the story as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-smith/the-juxtaposition-of-words-the-color-feeling-and-sound-of-the-words/) [Chad Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-smith/) > [It is infinitely more useful for a child to hear a story told by a person than by computer. Because the greatest part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-smith/it-is-infinitely-more-useful-for-a-child-to-hear-a-story-told-by-a/) [Frank Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-smith/) > [“Tiffany took a deep breath. This was about words, and she knew about words. ‘Here is a story to believe,’ she said. ‘Once we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/tiffany-took-a-deep-breath-this-was-about-words-and-she-knew-about/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“A great book does not have to be a literary masterpiece with complicated sentences and words no one has heard of. It has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mackey/a-great-book-does-not-have-to-be-a-literary-masterpiece-with/) Amanda Mackey > [“It is easy to arrange the words in a story born out of a dream; for a story without a dream, a story itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/it-is-easy-to-arrange-the-words-in-a-story-born-out-of-a-dream-for-a/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“There's something delicious about writing those first few words of a story. You can never quite tell where they will take you. Mine took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrix-potter/there-s-something-delicious-about-writing-those-first-few-words-of-a/) [Beatrix Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrix-potter/) > [We read novels. We read hundreds of pages of words, when the story is good because we're willing to stay there. I hope the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veena-sud/we-read-novels-we-read-hundreds-of-pages-of-words-when-the-story-is/) [Veena Sud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veena-sud/) > [“To live is to change, to acquire the words of a story, and that is the only celebration we mortals really know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/to-live-is-to-change-to-acquire-the-words-of-a-story-and-that-is-the/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“A picture is worth a thousand words. A story is worth a thousand images”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-m-kin/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words-a-story-is-worth-a-thousand-images/) M.M. Kin > [There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrix-potter/there-is-something-delicious-about-writing-the-first-words-of-a-story/) [Beatrix Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrix-potter/) > [He made a story for all of them, a story to give them strength. The words of the story poured out of his mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-marmon-silko/he-made-a-story-for-all-of-them-a-story-to-give-them-strength-the/) [Leslie Marmon Silko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-marmon-silko/) > [It's only a story, you say. So it is, and the rest of life with it - creation story, love story, horror, crime, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/it-s-only-a-story-you-say-so-it-is-and-the-rest-of-life-with-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Each production has certain circumstances that will bring you to a certain way of making it. It is not intentional, it is not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/each-production-has-certain-circumstances-that-will-bring-you-to-a/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) ## More by Wong Kar-wai > [Love is all a matter of timing. It's no good meeting the right person too soon or too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/love-is-all-a-matter-of-timing-it-s-no-good-meeting-the-right-person/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [In our case, we have no script. So the only people we can work with are people who have been working with us in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/in-our-case-we-have-no-script-so-the-only-people-we-can-work-with-are/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [Each production has certain circumstances that will bring you to a certain way of making it. It is not intentional, it is not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/each-production-has-certain-circumstances-that-will-bring-you-to-a/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [I didn't know anything about martial arts. I'm a big fan, but I never practiced martial arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/i-didn-t-know-anything-about-martial-arts-i-m-a-big-fan-but-i-never/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [We love what we can't have, and we can't have what we love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/we-love-what-we-can-t-have-and-we-can-t-have-what-we-love/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [When I look at 'Fallen Angels,' I realize it is not a film that is truly about Hong Kong. It's more like my Hong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/when-i-look-at-fallen-angels-i-realize-it-is-not-a-film-that-is-truly/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [Ip Man was an extraordinary man who lived during extraordinary times. He was born to a rich family when the country was still a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/ip-man-was-an-extraordinary-man-who-lived-during-extraordinary-times/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [It is always good to work with a very regular group of people because we know how high we can fly and what are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/it-is-always-good-to-work-with-a-very-regular-group-of-people-because/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [What makes international cinema so interesting is that each territory has its own sensibility. When you look at an Indian or French film, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/what-makes-international-cinema-so-interesting-is-that-each-territory/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [For 'Chungking Express,' the way we shot the film was all handheld and with all this existing light, and that became very popular. Everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/for-chungking-express-the-way-we-shot-the-film-was-all-handheld-and/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [I always think to shoot action scenes is not really about the stunts. It's more about an expression and about imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/i-always-think-to-shoot-action-scenes-is-not-really-about-the-stunts/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [When it's time to let go, I don't look back, and I start another project as soon as possible. One thing I remind myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/when-it-s-time-to-let-go-i-don-t-look-back-and-i-start-another/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [This is what the difference is between Hong Kong and Chinese cinema - Chinese cinema was made for their own communities. It was for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/this-is-what-the-difference-is-between-hong-kong-and-chinese-cinema/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [I'm not coming from film school, I learned cinema in the cinema watching films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/i-m-not-coming-from-film-school-i-learned-cinema-in-the-cinema/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [I never studied film formally at school, but as a kid, I spent most of my time in cinemas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/i-never-studied-film-formally-at-school-but-as-a-kid-i-spent-most-of/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) [Explore all 73 Wong Kar-wai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) ## 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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To make films, it always begins with two words: what and how. 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