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Ivan Reitman Quotes

Powerful Ivan Reitman for Daily Growth

About Ivan Reitman

Ivan Reitman, born on February 27, 1946, in Komarin, Soviet Union (now Belarus), is a renowned Canadian filmmaker, producer, and actor, best known for his work in comedy cinema. Raised in Canada, he is the elder son of entertainment industry pioneers Enia (nee Segal) and Shirley Reitman, Jewish immigrants who fled Poland prior to World War II. Reitman's early life was deeply influenced by his family's love for movies. His father, a theatrical agent, instilled in him an appreciation for cinema from a young age. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from McMaster University in 1967, Reitman co-founded the Toronto Film Group, one of Canada's earliest film production companies. His directorial debut, 'Canadian Multiculturalism', was a short documentary that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short in 1973. This recognition paved the way for his feature film directorial debut, 'Ghostbusters' (1984), which became a cultural phenomenon and solidified Reitman as a major player in Hollywood. Throughout his career, Reitman has produced and directed numerous successful films, including 'Stripes' (1981), 'Kindergarten Cop' (1990), 'Twins' (1988), and 'Evolution' (2001). His work often features a blend of humor, action, and social commentary. Reitman's impact on the film industry is significant, particularly in the realm of comedy, where he has nurtured the careers of many talented comedians. In recent years, Reitman has taken a step back from directing but continues to produce films through his company, Ivan Reitman Productions. His influence on the entertainment industry remains undiminished, as does his love for storytelling and the power of cinema.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Creativity is contagious, pass it on."

This quote emphasizes that creativity, much like a virus (but in a good way!), has the ability to spread rapidly among individuals. When one person exhibits creative thinking or ideas, it can inspire others around them to be creative as well. Encouraging creativity is essential for fostering innovation and progress in any field or industry. By cultivating an environment where creativity is valued and shared, we help ignite a chain reaction of inspiration that benefits us all.

"It's not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen."

This quote by Ivan Reitman emphasizes that it's essential to not just have ideas, but to also execute them. Ideas are the seeds of potential accomplishments, but they bear no fruit unless acted upon. Therefore, it underscores the significance of taking action to transform thoughts into tangible outcomes.

"The best way to guarantee a bad idea is to not allow enough time for good ideas to incubate."

This quote by Ivan Reitman emphasizes the importance of patience and thoughtfulness in the creative process. He suggests that rushing through the development of an idea without giving it sufficient time to grow, evolve, and mature can lead to suboptimal results. Good ideas often require incubation, during which they can be refined, improved upon, and ultimately become great. Conversely, stifling this incubation period by rushing the process can result in "bad ideas" being brought to fruition.

"You have to throw the ball in the pool before you know if your dog can swim."

This quote suggests that it's important to take action or test your assumptions before you truly understand their outcomes. Just as a dog can't demonstrate its swimming ability until thrown into the water, one can't determine their own capabilities without putting themselves in situations where those skills are tested. It encourages taking calculated risks and learning through experience.

"When I'm making a movie, I'm really an editor. That's where my primary skill lies – in the cutting room."

Ivan Reitman, famed film director, acknowledges that his primary creative strength lies in the post-production phase of movie-making, specifically editing. This statement emphasizes the importance of proper editing in crafting a coherent, engaging, and effective film narrative – shaping raw footage into a compelling story for audiences to enjoy.

A good actor is someone who knows how to take the part and make it real and make it honest and be effective in it. If it's in a funny movie and, as long as they are cast in an appropriate way, humor will come from it.

- Ivan Reitman

Appropriate, Funny Movie, Actor

In many ways, I think that, while we've been remarkably violent in our media, there's been a real schizophrenia. In private, on the Internet, and on public-affairs shows or talk radio, we're way more explicit than we've ever been.

- Ivan Reitman

Been, Private, Violent, Remarkably

Then my first film was something called Cannibal Girls, which sounds like a horror movie but was actually kind of a goofy comedy with horror elements. Like a horror spoof.

- Ivan Reitman

Horror, Horror Movie, Which, Spoof

I think Junior is certainly a science fiction premise as is Twins, as is Dave, beyond Ghostbusters.

- Ivan Reitman

Think, Dave, Certainly, Premise

When you have a performer as talented as Bill Murray or as Harold, that can write as well as they can perform, you can do a final draft on the set if you think of it that way.

- Ivan Reitman

Think, Performer, Set, Harold

I'd always been a science fiction enthusiast.

- Ivan Reitman

Always, Fiction, Been, Science Fiction

I've always been a fan of science fiction films, and I've never been able to put my particular spin on it.

- Ivan Reitman

Always, Been, Films, Science Fiction

I'm not sure I agree with the thesis, because I think that even though something grotesque or gross has been part of film since way back, what we accept or what we can get away with on the screen is broader now.

- Ivan Reitman

Away, Been, I Think, Broader

I call it like the domino theory of reality. If you can go one step at a time and it seems to make sense, you can then take your audience into an area that is relatively outlandish.

- Ivan Reitman

Audience, Like, Area, Outlandish

I don't think there will be another Ghostbusters. I think we're all too old to do it. I think we've done it a couple times and there is not that much to get out of it, to do that would be fresh in it.

- Ivan Reitman

Think, I Think, Couple, Fresh

The home viewing experience is slightly different and there's room for these kinds of extra excursions.

- Ivan Reitman

Experience, Slightly, Kinds, Extra

I remember when first, Stripes, and then Animal House came out - which I was really proud of, even though it was kind of loose and quite raucous - there were imitative movies that were not quite as good.

- Ivan Reitman

I Remember, Remember When, Loose

Well, actually, I did start out in comedies. Very, very early.

- Ivan Reitman

Start, Very, Actually, Comedies

I always see things that I can improve. But frankly with Stripes, I'm surprised at how effective it is, even today, and how vibrant that movie is and how juicy the performances all are.

- Ivan Reitman

Movie, Always, Vibrant, Surprised

I've always believed in populating my films with characters who we like, who we have some warmth for, who have warmth for each other, who we would like to hang out with, who we emulate in one way or another.

- Ivan Reitman

Some, Always, Films, Believed

My first student film was Orientation, which was basically the set-up for Animal House. There are a couple of scenes that we later borrowed in some form.

- Ivan Reitman

Some, Orientation, Which, Scenes

Movies either work or they don't work and they're either funny or they're not and we work very hard. To achieve that kind of work is really kind of delicate stitching.

- Ivan Reitman

Work, Delicate, Very, Stitching

We got some devastating reviews on Animal House at the start.

- Ivan Reitman

Start, Some, Reviews, Devastating

I always thought that Bill Murray was one of the great actors that I've worked with. And I've worked with all kinds of people who are known primarily for their dramatic work.

- Ivan Reitman

Work, Thought, Always, None

Everybody says how hard comedy is, but, when it comes time to honor things, whether it's on a weekly critical basis or whether it's award time, at that time of the year, comedy is the poor, dumb child of dramatic work.

- Ivan Reitman

Year, Critical, Everybody, Weekly

I love horror and sci-fi.

- Ivan Reitman

Love, Horror, I Love, Sci-Fi

Also watching a movie on DVD is different than watching it in the theater.

- Ivan Reitman

Movie, Theater, Than, DVD

In a comedy it helps enhance things that were already there.

- Ivan Reitman

Comedy, Things, Were, Enhance

My sense is, I think it's okay for directors to do movies that speak to other work in their career.

- Ivan Reitman

Career, Think, Other, Okay

It's been about 15 years, and I've never really worked seriously in CGI and I thought that here was an opportunity to do the kinds of things that I was not able to do on Ghostbusters.

- Ivan Reitman

Thought, Here, Been, CGI

I don't think my sense of humor has changed at all; I was born with this, for better or for worse.

- Ivan Reitman

Sense Of Humor, Think, Born, I Was Born

It's sort of the most important thing for acting, is to listen to the person you're dealing with.

- Ivan Reitman

The Most Important, Sort, Dealing

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