Patricia Riggen Quotes

Powerful Patricia Riggen for Daily Growth

About Patricia Riggen

Patricia Riggen is a renowned Mexican-American film director, screenwriter, and producer, known for her poignant storytelling and ability to capture complex human emotions on screen. Born in Mexico City in 1976, Riggen spent her childhood between Mexico and the United States, which significantly influenced her multicultural perspective and storytelling style. Riggen's passion for filmmaking was ignited at a young age. She studied film direction at the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (CCC) in Mexico City, where she honed her skills under the tutelage of renowned Mexican directors such as Alfonso Cuarón and Carlos Carrera. Riggen's directorial debut came with the critically acclaimed short film 'La Misma Luna' (2007), which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. The success of this film opened doors for her in Hollywood, leading to her directing the romantic drama 'Under the Same Moon' (2007), a feature-length adaptation of 'La Misma Luna'. In 2013, Riggen directed 'The 33', a dramatic recount of the 2010 Chilean mining disaster. The film starred Antonio Banderas and Juliette Binoche and was praised for its gripping narrative and emotional depth. Her latest work, 'Miracles from Heaven' (2016), tells the true story of a young girl with an incurable disease who experiences a miracle that changes her life. Riggen's work is characterized by her ability to delve deep into human emotions, creating narratives that resonate with audiences around the world. Her films often focus on themes of family, resilience, and the power of hope. As Riggen continues to tell stories that touch hearts and challenge perceptions, she cements her place as a significant figure in contemporary cinema.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

This quote by Patricia Riggen emphasizes that every significant endeavor or achievement, regardless of its magnitude, starts with a small, initial action. It's an encouragement to start taking steps, no matter how small they may seem, towards the larger goals we aspire to achieve, be it in our personal lives or professional pursuits. The message is to not be daunted by the vastness of the goal, but rather focus on the first, essential step to embark upon the journey.


"Believe in yourself and take risks. Life is an opportunity, not a problem."

This quote encourages individuals to embrace confidence in their abilities and to seize opportunities instead of viewing life's challenges as obstacles. By believing in oneself and taking calculated risks, one can unlock their potential and make the most out of life. Essentially, it is a call to action for personal growth, resilience, and living a fulfilling life.


"In life, we are all actors on the stage of our own play, and every day is a new scene."

This quote suggests that each individual has their unique role (as actors) in the grand narrative of life. Just as scenes change in a play, our lives progress through various stages or experiences. Each day represents a fresh scene, offering new opportunities, challenges, and events to shape our personal journey. It encourages us to actively engage with our lives, recognizing that we have control over our actions and responses to the changing circumstances.


"Success isn't about perfection, it's about perseverance."

This quote by Patricia Riggen emphasizes that success is not attained through flawless execution or "perfection," but rather through unwavering determination and persistence in the face of challenges and setbacks. It encourages individuals to keep pushing forward even when they fall short, viewing each obstacle as an opportunity to learn and grow, ultimately leading them closer to their goals.


"The challenges we face in life only make us stronger if we choose to learn from them."

This quote by Patricia Riggen emphasizes that adversity, or challenges, can serve as catalysts for personal growth when we actively seek to learn from them. The resilience developed in the face of hardship not only enhances our character but also equips us with valuable insights and skills, making us stronger individuals as a result.


I am tired of having to prove myself constantly, even after being hired. Every single day, every single idea, I need to prove myself. I am tired of it!

- Patricia Riggen

Need, Prove, Having, Every Single Day

I have worked steadily since I started, but things are very hard for women and need to change.

- Patricia Riggen

Need, Very, Worked, Steadily

It never crossed my mind to be a director, and I'll tell you why: because I'm a woman. It just didn't occur to me, but I knew I had to be in film.

- Patricia Riggen

Woman, Mind, Director, Crossed

Every single line, every single thing has to be fought over. There's kind of like an intrinsic doubt from absolutely everyone in my crew, my producer, everyone. It's not just the film industry - it's a worldwide thing. It's the culture of the world to doubt women.

- Patricia Riggen

Line, Single Thing, Fought, Intrinsic

I think the three Mexican directors that came before me did a very good job in Hollywood because they came in and started directing things like 'Harry Potter.'

- Patricia Riggen

Think, I Think, Very, Potter

It's a very tricky relationship, the cinematographer and the director as a woman.

- Patricia Riggen

Woman, Director, Very, Cinematographer

I finally, you know, moved to Mexico City, where the film industry is. I started working there as a producer, which is a very, very valid thing for women to do, because we always produce for men, right?

- Patricia Riggen

City, Very, Moved, Film Industry

I love the Kathryn Bigelow example: she didn't just do war movies - she did them better than other directors.

- Patricia Riggen

Love, Other, Directors, War Movies

I think the three Mexican directors - Alejandro Inarritu, Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro - gave all of us foreign, and particularly Latino, directors a big break.

- Patricia Riggen

Think, Big, I Think, Big Break

Directors only have instinct to work out of, because there is no formula. Formulas don't work. Actually, if you follow a formula, you will probably end up with a bad movie.

- Patricia Riggen

Bad, Will, Movie, Bad Movie

There are a lot of female directors in documentary, very talented. But it's always lower budget.

- Patricia Riggen

Always, Very, Lot, Budget

The problem of working in a mine, you are inside the belly of the monster, and it controls you. The air you breathe, the stones that fall on your head, we had to be on guard.

- Patricia Riggen

Controls, Belly, Mine, Breathe

To get a movie star, you have to give them two hours of screen time.

- Patricia Riggen

Give, Movie, Hours, Movie Star

I have years of saying ideas that are not listened to. Then, weeks after, of producers finding out that I was right when some other guy comes in and says it. Sometimes I just tell my idea to my editor or to some other guy with maybe gray hair to share it, and then it's brilliant!

- Patricia Riggen

Some, Other, Weeks, Gray Hair

I went to New York City to Columbia University, and with the first directing exercise, I knew I was a director.

- Patricia Riggen

City, New, University, Directing

I wish I had seen some women directing before - that would have given me the idea of who I was.

- Patricia Riggen

Some, I Wish, Given, Directing

Chile's mines are very dangerous; the country has a lot of earthquakes.

- Patricia Riggen

Very, Lot, Mines, Chile

When I was in college, my graduation thesis was called 'Female Directors.' I interviewed all of the important female directors from Mexico. There were four. That was it.

- Patricia Riggen

College, Mexico, Directors, Thesis

The idea that women compete or don't like each other or undermine each other or sabotage each other, that's a big miss. That is not true at all. At all. My women connect with each other instantly and help each other.

- Patricia Riggen

Big, Compete, Undermine, Sabotage

I've always seen movies in English with Spanish subtitles. For audiences around the world, the language is less important than if it's a good film.

- Patricia Riggen

Always, Spanish, Subtitles, Good Film

I like making movies that people feel inspired by, a film that they will think about a few days after seeing it, and not entertainment that is completely forgettable the moment you walk out of the theater.

- Patricia Riggen

Think, Making, Like, Making Movies

I do find that it's easier to get Latino-themed movies... but I don't think there's that stigma anymore. I think that what's harder is to be a woman, not to be a Latina.

- Patricia Riggen

Think, I Think, Stigma, Latina

If your film is in English, it makes it that much easier to get a wide release.

- Patricia Riggen

Release, English, Get, Wide

The only thing I have is instinct and intuition and just staying very, very connected to the moments and try to bring in what your gut is telling you.

- Patricia Riggen

Instinct, Very, Telling, Intuition

I have a handicap in that English is not my first language. So even though I'm a writer, I don't write anymore because it's just harder in English.

- Patricia Riggen

Language, Anymore, Though, Handicap

Americans are more likely to watch a film in their own language. For the rest of the world, it doesn't matter so much.

- Patricia Riggen

Rest, Own, More, Likely

I am grateful that I'm working, but I also have to say I've worked really, really hard and had to fight a lot.

- Patricia Riggen

Say, Had, Also, Grateful

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