Some of what I consider my best work, and some of the best films that I've ever worked on, kind of disappear without a trace. There's no accounting for it. Something connects, or something doesn't.
Roger DeakinsRead
You can’t learn your craft by copying me or anyone else. I hope what I do can do is in some way inspire others but I would be appalled if I thought my work was being studied as ‘the right way to do the job’. My way is just one of an infinite number of ways to do the job.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Originality in one's craft is essential, and inspiration should come from various sources rather than imitation.
This quote emphasizes that true mastery in any craft is achieved through personal exploration and creativity. Roger Deakins asserts that while he hopes to inspire others, he would dislike the notion that his unique methods are considered the only correct approach. Instead, he acknowledges that there are countless ways to achieve excellence, encouraging individuals to find their own path rather than mimic others.
Themes
OriginalityInspirationCreativityCraftIndividuality
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a workshop to encourage participants to embrace their unique styles.
More from Roger Deakins
All quotes →Am I nostalgic for film? … I mean, it’s had a good run, hasn’t it? You know, I’m not nostalgic for a technology. I’m nostalgic for the kind of films that used to be made that aren’t being made now.
Roger DeakinsRead
If you shoot with a billion cameras, then there's no perspective. You want to use one shot at a time, so it's better to discover what that is before you shoot, rather than trying to make something in the cutting room, and then it just becomes generic.
Roger DeakinsRead
Someone said to me, early on in film school... if you can photograph the human face you can photograph anything, because that is the most difficult and most interesting thing to photograph.
Roger DeakinsRead
There's nothing worse than an ostentatious shot or some lighting that draws attention to itself, and you might go, 'Oh, wow, that's spectacular.' Or that spectacular shot, a big crane move, or something. But it's not necessarily right for the film — you jump out, you think about the surface, and you don't stay in there with the characters and the story.
Roger DeakinsRead
Some of the smallest things on a smaller film, to me, are greater achievements than on a big film when you have the resources and the time and everything else.
Roger DeakinsRead
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