Marshall Herskovitz Quotes

Powerful Marshall Herskovitz for Daily Growth

About Marshall Herskovitz

Marshall Herskovitz, born on January 18, 1952, in Manhattan, New York, is an esteemed American writer, producer, and director, known for his poignant and thought-provoking work in television and film. Growing up in a middle-class Jewish family, Herskovitz developed a keen interest in the arts at an early age. He attended Brown University, where he studied literature and theater. His college years were instrumental in shaping his creative vision, as he delved into various forms of storytelling, from playwriting to filmmaking. After graduating, Herskovitz moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. He found success as a writer on popular television shows like "Falcon Crest" and "Thirtysomething," where he met his long-time collaborator Edward Zwick. Together, they created iconic series like "My So-Called Life," "Relativity," and "Once and Again." Their most notable collaboration is the critically acclaimed miniseries "Traffic" (2000), which won them an Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries. The story, about the war on drugs, showcased Herskovitz's ability to tackle complex societal issues through compelling narratives. In 2004, Herskovitz and Zwick ventured into filmmaking with "Blood Diamond," a dramatic thriller that was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film, which deals with the conflict in Sierra Leone and the global trade of conflict diamonds, is a testament to Herskovitz's commitment to storytelling that resonates beyond entertainment. Throughout his career, Marshall Herskovitz has demonstrated a deep understanding of human nature and a keen eye for capturing the complexities of modern life. His work continues to influence contemporary television and film, reflecting his commitment to telling stories that matter.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The best stories are about people who are trying to change."

This quote by Marshall Herskovitz suggests that compelling narratives revolve around characters who undergo transformation or striving for change. The focus is on individuals with a desire to better themselves, overcome challenges, or evolve in some way, which makes their journey relatable and engaging. Such stories reflect the universal human experience of growth and self-improvement.


"Great stories have always been about love and loss."

The quote by Marshall Herskovitz, "Great stories have always been about love and loss," highlights a timeless theme that resonates in many narratives across cultures. Love here encompasses not just romantic affection, but also familial bonds, friendships, and the deep connections we establish with people, places, and things that matter to us. Loss is an inherent part of life, symbolizing separation from these valuable attachments, which can be caused by death, estrangement, or simply growing apart. By exploring this duality, stories allow us to grapple with complex human emotions such as joy, pain, hope, and despair, fostering empathy and helping us navigate our own lives more effectively.


"I don't believe in endings. I believe in new beginnings."

This quote emphasizes the importance of viewing life as a series of continuous transformations rather than fixed, definitive end points. It suggests that even when one chapter ends (a job, a relationship, a phase of life), it opens up the opportunity for something new to begin. The focus is on embracing change, growth, and new possibilities as an integral part of personal development and living a fulfilling life.


"A great story always has a question at its heart. That question is what keeps the story moving."

The quote underscores the essential role of a compelling question in storytelling. A well-crafted story should have an intriguing query or dilemma that drives its progression, engages the audience, and propels them to seek resolution. This question serves as the engine that fuels the narrative, keeping both the characters and readers engaged until the story's conclusion.


"The most powerful moments are often the simplest, where less is more."

This quote emphasizes that profound or impactful experiences often come from simplicity rather than complexity. In other words, it suggests that sometimes the greatest effects can be achieved through minimal means, by stripping away unnecessary elements to reveal the essence of a situation or interaction. It encourages us to appreciate the power of simplicity and understatement in our lives.


It's interesting: I went 25 years without watching a single television show. I was one of those people, because I was so inside how a television show was made, if I would turn on somebody else's show, I would sit there and analyze it, like, 'Oh, so they had four hours in this location and had to get out and the number of set-ups, etc.'

- Marshall Herskovitz

Turn, Show, Had, Etc

The world is filled with terrible things that can influence children, and movies have depicted them since time immemorial. Should every terrible thing warrant an R-rating?

- Marshall Herskovitz

Immemorial, Filled, Depicted, Terrible Thing

OK, I have to admit that I go on TheSuperficial.com. That guy is so funny, he's just so funny... you know, I'm a news junkie, so I regularly flip between HuffingtonPost.com, CNN.com, and a site that's called MyWay.com, which shows me six different news feeds. And I go on DrudgeReport.com about once a day.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Guy, About, Regularly, OK

Remember: the ratings system is a voluntary infringement of First Amendment rights, an uneasy bargain between the needs of parents, the needs of artists, and the needs of large media corporations to make profits. Any time we chip away at the First Amendment, we should at least do it with some reverence.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Some, Away, Amendment, Ratings

Even the most brilliant accomplishments on the Internet are essentially cold. Google has changed the world, but you don't snuggle up to it. YouTube is a giant carnival, filled with freaks and mountebanks, a place to gawk and laugh and get bored. Certainly not a place to feel anything.

- Marshall Herskovitz

YouTube, Cold, Feel, Freaks

Even those who don't believe in climate change believe we should develop renewable energy. Americans get it: it's time. This is not controversial. It's actually right in the wheelhouse of American business.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Change, Business, American, Controversial

After I graduated from Brandeis, I took all the money I had in the world, which was $5,000, and I made a short film. I made every mistake you could possibly make. It was a total disaster as a piece of work, and yet, you know, it was ambitious in some way.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Disaster, Some, Had, Possibly

For reasons we don't have to get into, climate change has become an incredibly polarized issue in the United States. I think that is sad. My own personal view is that we're in a planetary emergency such has not been seen in 600,000 years.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Been, I Think, Reasons, Polarized

In my personal belief, the big problem with climate change is getting people to understand the magnitude and scale that we're dealing with. If you buy a vehicle that gets 35 miles to the gallon, that means nothing; it's not enough. We need to make changes across society and in every piece of the energy pie.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Changes, Big, Buy, Gallon

Hey, if I had my choice for social engineering, I'd declare an automatic R-rating for any movie that depicts television commercials. There's a truly dangerous influence on our children.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Movie, Social, Declare, Hey

The further I've gotten into the Internet, the more I've become convinced that we've explored only a tiny corner of what it can mean and what we can feel there.

- Marshall Herskovitz

More, Feel, Gotten, Explored

The notion that moving toward renewable energy will kill jobs is an absurdity on its face. The notion that we have to live smaller lifestyles; not have the American way of life or give up the American Dream is just ridiculous. It is the opposite of the case; a new energy paradigm will create opportunity.

- Marshall Herskovitz

American, Paradigm, Smaller, Lifestyles

Our founding fathers could not have foreseen that freedom of the press might eventually be threatened just as much by media consolidation as by government.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Founding Fathers, Fathers, Just As Much

If there is a public perception at all, they see the producer as a big old guy who smokes a cigar and has lots of money and lots of power. That's not what a producer is and, if it ever was what a producer was, it certainly hasn't been for a long time.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Big, Been, Certainly, Perception

Producers are now employees, not creators.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Now, Creators, Producers, Employees

The producer is at the center of entertainment. The producer is being forgotten, and producers must seize the center of activity.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Activity, Entertainment, Producers

Hollywood is the perfect conduit for the urgent message about climate change. We raise awareness all the time. We routinely take a film that nobody knows about and get 80 percent of the public to know about it in just 30 days. That's called marketing. We need to harvest Hollywood for climate change awareness.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Perfect, Hollywood, About, Urgent

The pilot system in television is utterly broken. It's a huge waste of money.

- Marshall Herskovitz

Broken, Pilot, Waste, Utterly

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