Everything is so finite but that’s what makes our time and specific moments so important.
Ethan HawkeRead
One of the things that separates a good genre movie from a bad genre movie, I always think, ironically, is when you care about the people. The dime a dozen ones are where you don't have any awareness of the character.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A good genre movie engages the audience by developing characters that evoke empathy.
Ethan Hawke highlights the importance of character development in genre films, suggesting that emotional investment in characters often distinguishes quality movies from mediocre ones. The best genre films create a connection with the audience, making them care about the characters, which is lacking in the less impactful ones.
Themes
GenreMoviesCharactersEmpathyStorytelling
In practice
Example use cases
In a film class discussion, you might reference this quote when analyzing the impact of character development on viewer engagement.
More from Ethan Hawke
All quotes →We all have this fantasy of finding our one true love who's going to be the perfect fit. It's just not a reality.
Ethan HawkeRead
If you can understand the inner life, then you can wear the uniform, the tattoos, or whatnot and realize that the things that are different about us become superficial.
Ethan HawkeRead
There's something about knowing life is finite that makes it so precious.
Ethan HawkeRead
I think it's my job to risk looking foolish. One of the things I've learned from the actors I've worked with is you don't get something for nothing. If you don't risk looking foolish, you'll never do anything special.
Ethan HawkeRead
In all of our society, but especially in Hollywood, there is an obsession with perfection that can lead to self-loathing and neurosis and all that kind of stuff.
Ethan HawkeRead
Similar quotes
Fiction, poetry, music...these are the places (for me) where loneliness is countenanced, stared down, transfigured, treated.
David Foster WallaceRead
Never play a thing the same way twice.
Louis ArmstrongRead
Jazz is like blues with a shot of heroin!
Miles DavisRead
A good poet's made as well as born.
Ben JonsonRead
Animation is different from other parts. Its language is the language of caricature. Our most difficult job was to develop the cartoon's unnatural but seemingly natural anatomy for humans and animals.
Walt DisneyRead
The worst thing you can do is censor yourself as the pencil hits the paper. You must not edit until you get it all on paper. If you can put everything down, stream-of-consciousness, you'll do yourself a service.
Stephen SondheimRead