Paul Feig Quotes

Powerful Paul Feig for Daily Growth

About Paul Feig

Paul Feig, born on October 23, 1962, in Detroit, Michigan, is an acclaimed American film director, producer, writer, and actor, best known for his work in comedy films. Growing up in a Jewish family, Feig developed a love for cinema at an early age, often attending movie theaters with his father. This interest led him to study film production at Wayne State University before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the industry. Feig's breakthrough came as a writer for the popular sketch comedy series "Saturday Night Live" (SNL), where he worked from 1986 to 1995, contributing to several successful sketches and earning two Emmy Awards. During his time at SNL, Feig also directed episodes of other shows, including "Mad About You" and "The Larry Sanders Show." In 2004, Feig made his directorial debut with the comedy film "Freaks and Geeks," a critically-acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful series that was later hailed as a cult classic. The show is often cited for its authentic portrayal of teenage life in the 1980s. Feig's directorial career continued with movies like "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" (2005), "Knocked Up" (2007), and "Bridesmaids" (2011). These films established him as a talented comedic filmmaker and helped cement his reputation as a champion of female-led comedy. Notable Paul Feig quotes include: 1. "Comedy is truth in strange clothing." - A testament to his belief that great humor often comes from recognizable, relatable situations. 2. "You have to make the things you love, and if enough people love what you make, then you can make a living out of it." - Offering advice to aspiring artists and creators. 3. "There's no such thing as writer's block, only dabbler's block." - A reminder that consistent work is key for creative success.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm a big believer in the power of 'Yes.' If you want to make an idea happen, you have to say yes and then figure it out later."

This quote by Paul Feig emphasizes the importance of a proactive, positive mindset when it comes to realizing ideas or making things happen. By saying "yes" to opportunities or ideas, one is willing to take on the challenge and find solutions later. It highlights the value in taking action, embracing change, and overcoming obstacles through determination and problem-solving abilities.


"The best thing about making movies is that every day is a brand new start, a chance to create something fresh and exciting."

This quote highlights the invigorating nature of movie-making for director Paul Feig. Each new day offers an opportunity to begin anew, to craft something original and captivating. It emphasizes the creative freedom and continuous potential for innovation that filmmaking provides. Essentially, it is a reminder that each day brings fresh possibilities and the chance to bring unique visions to life on the big screen.


"Comedy, like any genre, should be about truth and emotion. It's just finding the funny in those truths and emotions."

This quote by Paul Feig highlights the importance of authenticity and emotional depth in comedy. He emphasizes that comedy is not merely about creating amusement, but also about exploring and expressing human experiences and feelings through a humorous lens. The essence of good comedy lies in its ability to resonate with audiences on an emotional level while still making them laugh. In other words, the humor serves as a vehicle for revealing truths about the human condition, and this duality is key to creating successful comedic works.


"I don't really understand the whole 'difficult second album' thing. I think every project is a challenge in its own way."

Paul Feig's quote suggests that every new creative endeavor, or "album" as he refers to projects, presents unique challenges, making the concept of a "difficult second album" relative rather than universal. He implies that each project is distinct from the previous one and thus, it should not be compared based on perceived difficulty levels; instead, they should be approached with equal amounts of challenge and determination.


"I try to create environments where everyone feels free to be themselves, because that's when you get the best work out of people."

This quote emphasizes the importance of fostering an inclusive and comfortable work environment. When individuals feel free to express their authentic selves without fear of judgment or repercussion, they are more likely to produce their best work. By promoting such a space, Paul Feig suggests that creativity, productivity, and overall success can be optimized.


Throughout my teens, I just wanted to go somewhere I could wear a Donald Duck pin and no one would care.

- Paul Feig

Go, Could, Donald, Duck

So many stars who have shows are intimidated by having people around them be funnier than them. It's always the unsuccessful ones. Look at Seinfeld - he's great because he let everyone be hilarious.

- Paul Feig

Always, Funnier, Having, Hilarious

Getting away from a white or light colored tuxedo shirt is always a little dangerous. Certain staples shouldn't be mixed with. Light pink or blue is not bad, but again, you're just breaking from a classic.

- Paul Feig

Pink, Always, Away, Tuxedo

For years, it's driven me crazy that women don't have better roles, especially in comedies. I know so many funny women but I always felt... misogynist streak is too strong a term - but a dismissiveness.

- Paul Feig

Strong, Always, Roles, Streak

I love funny people, and when I'm with funny people, or people who are amusing in their weirdness, I love it. Because that to me is funny, as opposed to someone who stops and says, 'Hey let me tell you a joke.'

- Paul Feig

Love, Funny People, Opposed, Joke

Yeah, you know, I like to throw myself on the sword so that others may feel better about themselves. I tell the stories that you all want to forget, but when you remember it, it hopefully makes you laugh.

- Paul Feig

Feel, Tell, About, Sword

Women comedy is different than men comedy. Guy comedy is very aggressive, it's about insulting each other, name-calling, and kind of busting each other's chops, and that's not what women's comedy is.

- Paul Feig

Comedy, Other, Very, Chops

I'm kind of a failure. I mean, I'll be honest. I'm successful in that I'm getting to work on great stuff, but I think I'm a failure in all the personal stuff that is most important to me.

- Paul Feig

Think, Kind, I Think, Great Stuff

As far I'm concerned, being an adult is way more fun than being a kid. But then I was a kid who wanted to be an adult. I'd watch shows like 'Bewitched' and see Darren come home and mix a martini and I'd go, 'That looks awesome! I want to do that!'

- Paul Feig

Kid, Concerned, Bewitched, Martini

'Nuclear' is nothing but trouble. Do you say 'new-clear' or do you say 'nuke-you-ler'? Whoever invented that word had obviously never studied the human mouth. We don't have enough muscles in our face to make that group of letters come out smoothly. The word is missing a middle syllable, for cryin' out loud.

- Paul Feig

Out, Had, Our, Smoothly

Wearing a tuxedo isn't as simple as it sounds. I've been to a lot of award shows in Hollywood over the years and have seen some pretty sad tuxes. It's surprisingly easy to go off the rails.

- Paul Feig

Some, Over, Been, Surprisingly

Where there seems to be a difference between guys being nuts and women being nuts is that guys are much more open in calling each other on stuff; lots of insults and dirty names. Whereas women will talk frankly and honesty, but there also seems to be more passive aggressiveness.

- Paul Feig

Honesty, Other, Frankly, Passive

If you're not connected emotionally to a story, then you're dead. You're really just opening the door for people to lose interest and their minds to wander, for them to start picking it apart.

- Paul Feig

Door, Start, Lose, Wander

'Constitutional' is just a real pip of a word. Positively rolls off the tongue. In fact, it's downright fun to say. 'Con-stit-too-shun-al.' It's the verbal equivalent of skipping down the street with an ice cream cone in your hand. It's like a semantic bag of Lays potato chips. You simply can't just say it once.

- Paul Feig

Fact, Chips, Equivalent, Downright

I'm glad I took the leap away from acting into going behind the camera because it's much more satisfying - I love acting and I still do, but it's much more satisfying to be able to make the stuff.

- Paul Feig

Love, Behind, Took, Satisfying

I've never been to a class reunion or anything because I'm always afraid of that one - there's going to be some 'Carrie'-like incident.

- Paul Feig

Some, Always, Been, Incident

Period costume films are fun to discover, but they're not relatable. It's more, 'Wow, that's cool - did it really look like that back then?' Whereas with a comedy, you're like, 'Yeah, that's me, that's my friends.' No matter what, I want people to relate.

- Paul Feig

Matter, Back, Yeah, Whereas

Hey, I'm like the Wayne Gretsky of the entertainment biz - I have other people do my dirty work while I skate around and get to be a nice guy. What can I say? I'm a coward.

- Paul Feig

Dirty, Other, Like, Hey

The greatest way for people to experience a comedy is to go in not knowing anything about it. But because of marketing, it's impossible. Marketing meaning that in order to get people to come you can't just go, 'Hey, there's a great movie - we're not going to show you anything from it but trust us!'

- Paul Feig

Trust, Movie, About, Hey

My style of comedy is very real and bittersweet, and sort of always on the verge of kind of being tragic.

- Paul Feig

Comedy, Always, Very, Bittersweet

You can never have a thousand percent batting average on jokes - it's just never going to happen.

- Paul Feig

Never, Average, Happen, Jokes

The reason most comedies don't win awards is that the filmmakers put the comedy first. This means you have to create a story around the jokes.

- Paul Feig

Comedy, Reason, Means, Jokes

What's great about the geek spirit is that life never seems to stop us, and they never seem to kill our enthusiasm, our optimism and our hunger to experience the world. We keep our sense of humor, we protect our dignity, we talk to our friends about the experience and then we start again fresh the very next day.

- Paul Feig

Sense Of Humor, Next, Very, Fresh

The dueling maturity levels in high school is such a source of comedy to me. I was always such a late developer. I was last to walk. I was last to ride a bike. I was last to have sex. That's why it's fun to portray one side of your childhood onscreen.

- Paul Feig

Why, Source, Your, Levels

I always hated high-school shows and high-school movies, because they were always about the cool kids. It was always about dating and sex, and all the popular kids, and the good-looking kids. And the nerds were super-nerdy cartoons, with tape on their glasses. I never saw 'my people' portrayed accurately.

- Paul Feig

Glasses, Movies, About, Portrayed

I was brought up in a very religious household and did a lot of praying throughout a big part of my life and always thought of God as being not only a powerful father figure and the ruler of all time and dimension but also as a friend with whom I could chat and ask questions to and get advice from.

- Paul Feig

My Life, Religious, Very, Father Figure

Whatever you wear, you have to own it. Make it yours.

- Paul Feig

Own, Wear, Make, Yours

In my years of acting, the one thing I was never able to do convincingly was to laugh on camera. Fake-laugh.

- Paul Feig

Never, Years, One Thing, Camera

I'm from Mt. Clemens, Michigan. It's right outside Detroit. The suburbs. I was always very heavily involved in theater back then. I was always in drama club or forensics. Anything that you could do that had some performing, I was doing it.

- Paul Feig

Some, Very, Suburbs, Detroit

A lot of comedies fall apart because they just go from joke to joke, and the characters are all sort of being crazy off on their own.

- Paul Feig

Own, Go, Sort, Apart

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