David O. Selznick Quotes

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you want to make the audience suffer, make them care."

David O. Selznick's quote emphasizes the importance of emotional engagement in storytelling. By making the audience care about characters or events in a story, the creator can amplify the impact of any challenges or conflicts they experience, thereby increasing the emotional response of the viewers. This heightened emotion ultimately makes the audience more invested and, consequently, suffer along with the protagonists as they face obstacles or adversity.

"The small parts are not small, they're just hard to play."

This quote highlights that while a role may appear minor or brief in a production, it doesn't diminish its significance. In fact, the challenges of delivering a convincing performance in a smaller part can be greater due to fewer lines, less screen time, or less character development. Selznick emphasizes the importance of every role in telling a story effectively and consistently.

"Every picture is a gamble."

David O. Selznick's quote, "Every picture is a gamble," encapsulates the inherent risk and uncertainty involved in filmmaking. Every movie production is an investment of time, money, and creative energy with the hope that it will resonate with audiences and yield a profit. The outcome is never guaranteed, hence, every picture (film) is essentially a bet or gamble.

"I have a perfect memory for faces and voices but I forget names quickly."

This quote suggests that while David O. Selznick has an excellent ability to recall visual and auditory details, such as people's faces and voices, he struggles with remembering their names. It implies a strong sensory memory but a weak short-term memory for verbal information. This can be seen in many individuals and is often referred to as "face blindness" or prosopagnosia when it's severe, although Selznick did not appear to have this condition based on available information.

"Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and aspirations of life."

This quote by David O. Selznick underscores the significant role movies play in shaping the minds and values of the younger generation, particularly in the realm of entertainment. Movies can inspire and influence young viewers to aspire towards noble ideals and admirable lifestyles, helping them to grow into well-rounded individuals with a positive outlook on life. It emphasizes the responsibility that filmmakers have in creating content that fosters growth and development among their audience, especially the youth.